The Rudra Mahalaya (Palace) of Siddhpur

The Rudra Mahalaya built in sandstone is situated on the bank of the river Saraswati in the city of Siddhpur at Patan. Moolraj Solanki of the Solanki dynasty which was the founder of the Chalukyan style had this palace built at Patan. Siddharaj had it renovated. By looking at the ruins of Rudra Mahalaya it seems difficult even to imagine what the original Rudra Mahalaya looke like. Yet, we cannot but be convinced of the grandeur of the original palace and its artistic richness after observing the four pillars and the artistic engravings on them.

The Rudra Mahalaya with its fascinating sculptures and artistic carvings is 70 m long and 49 m broad. According to the information available with the Archaelogical Department, the Rudra Mahalaya was a two-storeyed structure and its height was 150 feet. Around the Rudra Mahalaya, there were twelve small temples of the twelve Rudras (twelve forms of Lord Shiva). On the top of this temple of Shiva there were numerous golden summits. There were nearly 1700 banners on the domes. The edges of the Meeting Hall were engraved with incidents and events from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Today we see only a small part of the Rudra Mahalaya as a relic. Yet the Rudra Mahalaya as it stands today, gives us a glimpse of the richness of the art of the Solanki Age.

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