Maharaja Ranbir Singh Bahadur greeting the then Prince of Wales in #Calcutta in 1875.
This is an important meeting, for the Prince told the Maharaja, I've heard much of your state, which will be the first among princely states i'm going to visit"

Now, why it's important?

Because it was for this visit that Maharaja #Ranbir Singh got the first metalled road built in his territory from #Suchetgarh till #Tawi, a distance of about 26kms.

Narsingh Das says that the work of construction was entrusted to Diwan Arjan Mal Gondlia

The Prince of Wales now on their way to J&K reached the frontier town of #Jammu on 20 January 1876. This was the furthest point of their journey north, and their reception by the #Maharajah was, by all accounts, the most splendid..

#Maharaja raised a huge edifice in #Mandi complex for the Prince of Wales which was known as Ajaib Ghar, which was equipped with some fine #Venetian Mirrors and you'll be surprised to hear that it's the same building that today houses the Dogra Art Museum

And this is how one of the chroniclers has described the entire experience at #Jammu.....

Don't miss Trikuta...

Another glorious saga of #Mubarak Mandi, when #Jammu outpoured its love for an outsider Gora in the state......

Some of the witnesses just called #Jammu MAGNIFICENT. For them, #Mubarak Mandi was no less than Windsor Castle...

They further said that #Jammu made them forget their western heritage!!!!!

@VoiceofDogras @KhajuriaManu