Courbevoie:
Barely seven kilometres outside Paris, a wooden structure called 'The Pavilion of India" has been opened to public for the first time in 135 years. It was originally constructed for the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1878 to display Indian art and crafts. Prince of Wales (the future King of England, Edward VII) ordered its construction to display jewels and precious objects he had got back from his India visit in 1876. It was set up inside a larger building, on the spot where the Eiffel tower was later built. 16 million people visited the pavilion in 1878 in Paris.
It is now being called the "Little Taj Mahal of France".
The structure was nearly destroyed and sold in separate parts to different owners. Now, the Pavilion stands on the bank of the River Seine in a town called Courbevoie. A set of shiny domes covered in 10,000 gold foils stand out in the otherwise urban looking neighbourhood.
The architecture and the interiors are an eclectic mix of styles and are not strictly Indian. The site is a classified historical monument and has been restored at a cost of 2.5 million euros. The director of the "Pavilion des Indes", Emanuelle Trief-Touchard says, "It's a vision that we had of India, of the far-east, at that time. We've freely mixed the styles, forms and colour to give an idea of the exoticism at the end of the 19th century."
The large glass windows of the Pavilion offer a view of the Eiffel Tower. Only 19 visitors are allowed at a time as the wooden structure is fragile. Visits have to be reserved in advance and little is said about Europe's dubious colonial past during the guided visit.
The pavilion was conceived as a show window of the British empire for its prized possession, India. An interesting place for visitors to Paris looking for something a little off the beaten path.
It is now being called the "Little Taj Mahal of France".
The structure was nearly destroyed and sold in separate parts to different owners. Now, the Pavilion stands on the bank of the River Seine in a town called Courbevoie. A set of shiny domes covered in 10,000 gold foils stand out in the otherwise urban looking neighbourhood.
The architecture and the interiors are an eclectic mix of styles and are not strictly Indian. The site is a classified historical monument and has been restored at a cost of 2.5 million euros. The director of the "Pavilion des Indes", Emanuelle Trief-Touchard says, "It's a vision that we had of India, of the far-east, at that time. We've freely mixed the styles, forms and colour to give an idea of the exoticism at the end of the 19th century."
The large glass windows of the Pavilion offer a view of the Eiffel Tower. Only 19 visitors are allowed at a time as the wooden structure is fragile. Visits have to be reserved in advance and little is said about Europe's dubious colonial past during the guided visit.
The pavilion was conceived as a show window of the British empire for its prized possession, India. An interesting place for visitors to Paris looking for something a little off the beaten path.
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