Vir Mahal or Bir Singh's Palace

It is an impressive structure crowning a scrub-covered hill. When seen from below, its reflection in an ancient reservoir at its feet makes it seem as if wavering illusion is emerging into reality. Massive encircling walls, heavy terraces rising to pavilions and squat cupolas, and the upward thrusting central floor growing like the bud of an ominous mushroom, give the impression of implacable and menacing authority.

The main gateway rises through arches and galleries which have a certain unexpected delicacy. Bundela architecture is full of such seemingly inconsistent touches. Bir Singh's overlords, the Mughals, had a strong Persian orientation in their culture and mores. In fact many of the ceilings inside in the palace have borders and medallions which seem to have been drawn from the rare carpets of Persia.