Bada Bagh (Big Garden)
Distance : 5km from
Jaisalmer
¤ Main Attractions of the Bagh
Bada Bagh which literally means ‘Big Garden’ is located on
the Ramgarh road. It was commissioned by Maharawal Jait Singh in the
early 16th century and completed by his son Lunakaran after his death.
The site itself consists of a tank, a dam and a garden. Nearby you
will find the Govardhan Stambh (pillar) on which are engraved the
names of the dam and the water tank which are called the Jait Bandh
and the Jaitsar respectively, dedicated to the man who constructed
them. The Jait Bandh is a colossal structure, about 1,200 feet in
length and 350 feet in width and built out of solid blocks of stone,
as are the stepwells.
¤ The Magnificent Drainage System
The interesting feature of the dam is the five tier drainage system
which is known locally as Bhanvaria, spanned by a bridge.The
split-level drains ensure that when the tank fills up there is a
natural outflow of water which minimises the risk of flooding. The
drains on the other side are called Ramnal. The piece de resistance of
Bada Bagh is the Shrine of Bhaironji believed to be a folk
manifestation of Lord Shiva The popular image depicting him with his
legendary dog is worshipped all over Rajasthan and is particularly
visited by childless or infertile women who make offerings to him of
their kanchlis (corsets).
¤ Cenotaph Attractions
On the nearby hill lie the imperial chhatris or cenotaphs of the
rulers – a tribute to the valourous Bhatti dynasty. The oldest
among them are the cenotaphs of Maharawal Jait Singh and his
predecessor Devidas who reigned from 1470-1506. The newest cenotaph is
that of Jawahar Singh who was Maharawal at the time of Indian
independence. Jawahar Singh’s chhatri was left incomplete as his
son died within a year of his accession to the throne which was
considered a bad omen by the family. From then on the practice of
building a valedictory memorial to the ruling clan has been
discontinued.
¤ Maharawal Bairisal's Chhatri
One of the more notable monuments till recently at Bada Bagh was
Maharawal Bairisal’s chhatri (reigned 1863-1901) until it
collapsed. Each chhatri contains inscribed tablets and a statue of the
Maharawal on a horse along with his queen standing nearby. The size of
the chhatris is indicative of the individual’s status, with the
king’s memorial obviously larger than any of his brothers. If a
maharaja and his maharani are depicted together on a tablet it
indicates that she committed sati on the death of her husband, while
smaller tablets depicting women are usually of their concubines called
paswans. The memorials represent an amalgam of the Paliwal, Mughal and
Rajput styles of architecture and Badi Bagh is the typical oasis in
the desert.
¤ Grove of Mango Trees
Bada Bagh also contains a rare sight for sun-burnt Jaisalmer – a
grove of mango trees with Kanwar Pada being the most notable of the
gardens.
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