Before the British Raj, Indian royal families were among the richest in the world. Its magnificent palaces, which still stand today, are a testimony to those wonderful days.
In reality, their ancestors are still alive and well, living a royal life of luxury. But what did the royals do with treasure chests full of cash but no new Apple products to spend it on? Furthermore, because these people would surely be surrounded by ‘yes men’, no one dared to disagree with the king.
A combination of both factors provided our Indian royal families with the flexibility to do things that may seem strange to the average person. So, here are some of the strangest facts about our Indian royalty:
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- 1. The Extravagant Paperweight
- 2. The Curse of Queen Alamelamma
- 3. A strange walk of fame
- 4. 800 dogs
- 5. Bring your own water
1. The Extravagant Paperweight
Mir Osman Ali Khan was the last Nizam of the princely kingdom of Hyderabad. The Guinness Book of Records named him the richest man in the world during his reign in the state. He owed his fortune to the Golconda mines, which were the sole supplier of diamonds to the world market during the 18th century.
With literally a mine at his feet, the Nizam used the 185-carat Jacob diamond, the fifth largest and most expensive diamond in the world, as a simple paperweight. However, most of their wealth was confiscated by the Indian government after independence.
2. The Curse of Queen Alamelamma
The Curse of Talakadu Talakad is an archaeological site with interesting legends associated with it. All 30 temples here are covered in sand. The city is said to have been cursed by Queen Alamelamma after the death of her husband, Sri Ranga Raya of the Vijayanagar family. pic.twitter.com/7kfytStGGv
— The Clio Chronicles (@CliosChronicles) January 11, 2021
In 1612, a family known as the Wadiyars attacked Mysore and dethroned the ailing Tirumalaraja. After taking their place in the palace, the Wadiyars requested that all royal jewels be taken away from Queen Alamelamma.
During this time, the queen ran towards a ledge overlooking the Kaveri River. She said before jumping to her death: “Talakadu MaraLagali, Malangi Maduvagali, Mysooru Arasarige Makkalaagadirali” (May Talakadu become a barren land, Malangi become a whirlpool and the rulers of Mysore never have children).
The Wadiyars have even created an idol of the queen to protect themselves from the curse, but they continue to suffer the effects. The Wadiyar royal dynasty is still led by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, a distant relative of the late king Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, who died childless.
3. A strange walk of fame
Remember the famous Game of Thrones moment where Cersie is forced to walk naked in front of her kingdom to atone for her sins? This is similar, however, it is a matter of pride rather than shame. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was a man of diverse interests. Not only did he own the most expensive gems straight from the Cartier factories, but he was also married ten times and had numerous consorts. The Maharaja had around 88 children from all his societies.
According to the book Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins, the maharaja had the custom of “appearing once a year before his subjects naked, except for his diamond breastplate and his organ in full and glorious erection.” According to the narrative, his walk was received with great enthusiasm and many believed that his organ possessed mystical qualities capable of driving away evil spirits from the area.
4. 800 dogs
The eccentric maharaja of #JunagadhMuhammad Mahabat Khan III (1900-1959) owned more than 800 #dogs, each with their own room, telephone and assistant. It is believed that he invited Lord Irwin to the marriage of his favorite pet, Roshanara, but the viceroy understandably refused. pic.twitter.com/c6UbBFHALL
— PeepulTreeWorld (@PeepulTreeWorld) May 2, 2018
Muhammad Mahabat Khan III, the Maharaja of Junagadh, had 800 dogs, each with his own apartment and personal servant. When the dogs were unwell, they were transported to a British veterinarian for treatment.
A state day of mourning was established if a beloved pet died. If you thought that was strange, consider this: when two of his favorite canines mated, the good Maharaja allegedly spent around Rs 20 lakh on his “wedding” and even invited the viceroy to attend. Naturally, the day was declared a state holiday.
5. Bring your own water
Sawai Madho Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur from 1880 until his death in 1922, was a model ruler of the old type, famous for his tolerance, kindness and patronage of art. He was an enthusiastic patron of education, whose generosity and donations were unknown… (1/3) pic.twitter.com/nvIhfz2YpL
– Royal Archives (@oroyalarchives) March 15, 2023
The former king of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, entered the Guinness Book of Records when he had two gigantic sterling silver vessels made, the largest in the world, to transport ‘Ganga jal’ on his trips to England.
14,000 silver coins were melted down to build these enormous jars. These “Gangajalis” are still displayed in the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and are a great attraction for visitors.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn