The Amar Mahal Museum was planned in 1862 by a
French architect, based on the lines of a
French Chateau. The building is heavily influenced by the
Queen Anne style. While the handiwork of Indian artisans
is quite clear, yet one can’t deny the
overwhelmingly European "feel" of the place.
This palace was the residence of the Royal Family.
Situated atop a hill at the northern end of the city, the
site offers a commanding view of the river Tawi and the
Shivalik ranges towards the north. Approached by a shaded
driveway that winds itself among mango groves, this
palace is known for its commanding presence amid
well-laid grounds. The building is well oriented
climatologically with the longitudinal axis of the
building about 20 degrees to 30 degrees South of East.
This affords North-South ventilation and accounts for
airy, cool rooms even in the hot summer of Jammu. Stones
have been used extensively to decorate the walls as it
stands out against the red bricks. The ground floor is
marked by a polygonal
protrusion from the front facade. The first floor has
French windows and a small balcony while the top floor
has a bay window. Except the eastern part of the
building, the other three sides of the building have a
long corridor around it. The corridor is covered by a
sloping corrugated tin roof resting on a wooden
framework. The coupled columns supporting the wooden
framework stand on a simplified brick pedestal emulating
the Greco-Roman style. The columns themselves are slender
ones of the composite order. The capital on the top has a
patera (flattened flowers) and acanthus growing
out of a basket. The middle of each column has a convex
bulge called Torus around it. One can even find tympanum
(triangular projections typical of classical Greek
architecture and later Roman architecture) supported by
ornate false columns over some of the windows. Windows
modify the character of the palace. There are a few Oriel
windows on the front facade with casements in the front
and Lancet windows on the sides and even a few wheel
windows. More traces of Indian architecture can be found
on the same facade with Oriel windows giving way to
windows that are very similar to Jharokhas. There
is even a distinct resemblance to the Jalli in
some of the woodwork.The ‘English bond’ type brick
work has stone used at quite a few places. Vermiculation
and rustication has been carried out on the stone.
The mouldings on the walls are an interesting study with
typically occidental styles, found along side some Indian
motifs like the lotus. The rooms are panelled with wood
and the frieze is ornate juxtaposed to bring out the dual
character of the palaces with its very European ivy,helix and with the lotus and bird motifs. Tiled
fireplaces create cosy looking corners in every room. One
of the large rooms has a barrel vaulted ceiling. It is
the Indian element, despite being only a small part that
modifies that European ‘feel’ of the palace.
based on the lines of a
French Chateau. The building is heavily influenced by the
Queen Anne style. While the handiwork of Indian artisans
is quite clear, yet one can’t deny the
overwhelmingly European "feel" of the place.
This palace was the residence of the Royal Family.
Situated atop a hill at the northern end of the city, the
site offers a commanding view of the river Tawi and the
Shivalik ranges towards the north. Approached by a shaded
driveway that winds itself among mango groves, this
palace is known for its commanding presence amid
well-laid grounds. The building is well oriented
climatologically with the longitudinal axis of the
building about 20 degrees to 30 degrees South of East.
This affords North-South ventilation and accounts for
airy, cool rooms even in the hot summer of Jammu. Stones
have been used extensively to decorate the walls as it
stands out against the red bricks. The ground floor is
marked 
by a polygonal
protrusion from the front facade. The first floor has
French windows and a small balcony while the top floor
has a bay window. Except the eastern part of the
building, the other three sides of the building have a
long corridor around it. The corridor is covered by a
sloping corrugated tin roof resting on a wooden
framework. The coupled columns supporting the wooden
framework stand on a simplified brick pedestal emulating
the Greco-Roman style. The columns themselves are slender
ones of the composite order. The capital on the top has a
patera (flattened flowers) and acanthus growing
out of a basket. The middle of each 
column has a convex
bulge called Torus around it. One can even find tympanum
(triangular projections typical of classical Greek
architecture and later Roman architecture) supported by
ornate false columns over some of the windows. Windows
modify the character of the palace. There are a few Oriel
windows on the front facade with casements in the front
and Lancet windows on the sides and even a few wheel
windows. More traces of Indian architecture can be found
on the same facade with Oriel windows giving way to
windows that are very similar to Jharokhas. There
is even a distinct resemblance to the Jalli in
some of the woodwork.The ‘English 
bond’ type brick
work has stone used at quite a few places. Vermiculation
and rustication has been carried out on the stone.
The mouldings on the walls are an interesting study with
typically occidental styles, found along side some Indian
motifs like the lotus. The rooms are panelled with wood
and the frieze is ornate juxtaposed to bring out the dual
character of the palaces with its very European ivy,
helix and with the lotus and bird motifs. Tiled
fireplaces create cosy looking corners in every room. One
of the large rooms has a barrel vaulted ceiling. It is
the Indian element, despite being only a small part that
modifies that European ‘feel’ of the palace.