After being camera shy for about two and a half decades, Lalbagh Palace, an icon of royal architecture in Indore now allows visitors to click pictures, giving a major boost to tourism. An order issued by the Directorate of Archeology last month permits photography inside the Lalbagh Palace, Rajwada, Chhatris and Museum after paying a camera fee.
So if you want to capture the finesse of the Italian white marble and intricate details that make up this historical site too, check out how much you need to shell out to take your cameras here:
Lights, camera, Lalbagh Palace!
DSLRs, phone cameras, video camcorders and other digital cameras have recently shifted their focus on the exquisitely restored interiors of the Lalbagh Palace, revealing beautiful paintings, vintage furniture and other artefacts of the Royal Holkar family that once lived here.
As per the reports, the palace has managed to earn over a lakh rupees by entry tickets since the announcement of the new order. A nominal charge of ₹20 is levied on clicking pictures by phone cameras. Those taking in professional DSLRs have to pay ₹200. Video cameras, on the other hand, are permitted at a cost of ₹400.
It may be noted here that the Lalbagh Palace is now also open to pre and post wedding photo shoots, commercial photoshoots, documentary filming and other purposes.
Why was Lalbagh Palace on a camera-hiatus?
A report published in 1995-96 highlighted the damaging reperussions of camera flashes on the delicate interiors of the Lalbagh Palace. It pointed out the disintegration of the Italian marble, the fading of sofa and bed colours and grains in the paintings due to the same. As such, all cameras were effectively prohibited here by the Archaeological Department.
However, the new order is aimed at increasing the tourism and generating revenue. Earlier when people visited the Lalbagh Palace or any of the above listed monuments, officials confiscated their phones at the entry gate. However, the new order revokes all such bans with an aim to increase tourism activity at these locations and generating revenue.
As per the reports, restoration work will be conducted at regular interval to ensure that the use of the camera flash do not harm the interiors.
