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Location:Begum Samru's Palace can be reached by taking the road just before the Kumar Cinema Hall on the main Chandni Chowk Road when coming from the direction of Red Fort.
Famous as: Bhagirath Palace
Time to Visit: Open on all days
Preferred Timings: sunrise to sunset
Admission Fees: Free and open to all
Photography charges: nil
How to Reach:Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this structure located in South Delhi, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or metro rail.
Nearest Railway Station: Old Delhi Railway Station
Nearest Metro Station:Delhi Main
Functional Metro Station: Delhi Main
Nearest International Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport
Time required for sightseeing:1 hour
(All data as of October 2005)
Begum Samru's Palace can be reached by taking the road just before the Kumar Cinema Hall on the main Chandni Chowk Road when coming from the direction of Red Fort. Popularly known as the Bhagirath Palace and North India's biggest electrical goods wholesale market, Begum Samru's Palace is located just behind a Hindu shrine surrounded by trees.
Now a very busy commercial place, it is difficult for a visitor to imagine the building in its original grandeur with a lovely sprawling garden stretching till Chandni Chowk, when it was owned by an witty Kashmiri Muslim woman, Begum Samru. Born in 1753, Begum Samru proudly lived in this large white mansion that was considered one of the grandest houses in Delhi with massive columns and large rooms. She commanded great respect in the city as Mughal Emperor Shah Alam could call upon her trained private army when in need.
Soon, she married an English mercenary soldier from Luxembourg who was holder of the fief of Sardana in Meerut District. His name was Walter Reinhard whom his friends lovingly called 'Sombre' because of his long brooding face and thus the title 'Samru' was derived and became locally popular. A good administrator, the Begum held the fief after Reinhard's death and converted herself to Christianity for strategic and personal reasons in Agra, in 1781. Her new name became Joanna but she was still popular as Begum Samru in the area. Begum Samru was also famous in the European social circle for throwing lavish social gatherings at her residence, in the early 19th century, before her death in 1836.
The building is also the same place where the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah was brought as a captive after the 1857 war. He was later sent to Rangoon in exile.
Nearby Tourist Attractions
Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Salimgarh Fort, Kashmeri Gate, St James Church, Dara Shikoh Library, Lothian Cemetery, and Rajghat
Nearby Places to Eat
Karim Hotel, Ghantewala sweet shop, food stalls near Jama Masjid, Paranthewali gali, Natraj hotel, Chor Bizarre of Broadway Hotel, Daryaganj's Flora, Peshwari, Moti Mahal Restaurant, Worker's canteen of Inter-State Bus terminal and many roadside food stalls are there for refreshment.
Nearby Shopping Venues
Chandni Chowk (curios, souvenirs, silver and glass bead jewelry) Nai Sarak (books), Chor bazaar (electronic goods), Daryaganj book market (on Sunday) and Chatta Chowk in Red Fort (traditional and contemporary jewelry and handicrafts)
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