Rajasthan Fort and palaces
Introduction
Rajasthan's
architecture is a unique blend of Rajput and Mughal styles. All over
Rajasthan, you can dine a profusion of delicately sculpted arches and
balconies. The dozens of forts of Rajasthan, exquisitely sculpted temples
and havilies are the highlights of Rjasthan's architectural heritage
Jaipur
Moving out of the hill-fort (also
spelled Amber) in AD 1727, Jai Singh descended to the plain below, planning
a grand capital for himself with the able assistance of a Bangali architect
Vidyadhar.
Jaipur has been laid out in nine grids according to
the tenets of the "Shilp Shastra" - and ancient Hindu treatise of
architecture. Each grid consists of a square and these have been planned in
such a way that the city palace is the heart of the city. Spread out around
it are public building, neatly arranged in rows - these are the houses of
the noblemen, the living and trading quarters of the merchants and artisans
and of course, temples straight wide roads run through the city while a
high, crenellated wall encircles the town, served with its seven gateways.
Today these walls may be a bit difficult to spot, but they are ample proof
that though-Jaipur saw no great siege; it was adequately prepared for it.
Vidyadhar was a strict planner and even the drawings for the
private residences and trading establishments had to be submitted and met
with his approval. This is the reason for the homogeneity of the facades of
the buildings in the bazaars of the old city. However, a myth links him to
the characteristic autumnal pink color. This was dome much later. While
preparing for the visit of the Prince of Wales (Later king Edward VII) in
1876, it was decided by the maharajas to paint the entire city in pleasing
sandstone-pink since it came closest to the color of the sandstone used in
the buildings. To date, this tradition has endured, though the highlights
and picked in white.
A look at the city palace complex gives you
and idea of the blend. Of Mughal and Rajput styles of architecture, over a
period of time. In the Mughal tradition, the durbar hall or court area
became much more open, characterized by a series of arched pavilions held on
delicately crafted pillars. Ornamentation, which had always been a part of
Rajputana's heritage now, became more pronounced. The private wings of the
palace extended their areas used for entertainment with the tie-up with the
Mughals, defense was not the primary concern and so, larger, more ornamental
windows were built to overlook the streets or courtyards outside the wings.
Gardens were no longer planned within the internal courtyard only but were
added to the external vistas. In came fountains and canals.
Some of
these experiments had started in the Amer itself. Here it must be noted that
a distinguishing feature of Mughal palaces was the use of marble and pietra
dura inlay. Amer and later Jaipur achieved the same results on polished wall
surfaces using a mixture of lime and eggshell, in a style called "arayish".
Rather than stone inlay, the masters of arayish work preferred the delicate
art of wall paintings, especially religious and historical themes, which is
incidentally forbidden in Islamic art. The concept of sheesh Mahal or palace
of Mirrors was favored in both architectural traditions. It has small, even
sized mirrors embellishing the surface in such a manner that when a match is
lit in a darkened room, its tiny flame bounces off them, producing a starlit
night effect.
Amer represents the early phases of kachhawa
architrave. Maharaja Man Singh laid the foundations are impressive. A steep
ramp leads to the Jai pol or Gate of Victory. Today tourists can go up the
incline on top of an elephants. Even after the establishment of Jaipur, the
royal family would come here for ceremonial occasions and to pray at the
Kali shrine. The image of kali was carried all the way from Bengal by Man
Singh during one of his expeditions.
Amer had reasons to be
concerned with external with threats and the builders had taken adequate
precautions. Like other Rajput palaces, it consists of narrow passages and
staircases that can be defended by a couple of swordsmen, ridge ramps to
allow cavalry to move within the fort, high walls that can't be scaled
easily and windows at only the highest levels. While the exterior is
forbidding, the interiors are lavishly decorated more so since the royalty,
especially the women spent almost their entire lives inside the palace.
In Jaipur, the facades of the building are particularly notable
especially in the Hawa Mahal. Part of the city palace complex, this is a
familiar landmark- its pierced window overlooking the street below. Its
purpose was to allow the ladies of the family to view the ceremonial
procession seated behind the windows, without being seen themselves. Jaipur
has much to offer visitor - everything from pageants and festivals, museums,
cuisine, handicrafts and sightseeing - that will occupy their time. However,
should the simply choose to walk around the streets of the old city, they
will not regret it. All of jaipur is an architectural gem and no scheduled
sightseeing can do enough justice to this rare city
Forts
& Palaces
The Rajputs were prolific builders who left behind a
legacy of some have the most imposing and magnificent forts and palaces in
the world.
A bid of survival in the harsh desert and history replete
with tales of velour, romance and tragedy - the fort and palaces are a
microcosm of the images from the glorious past. Some forts occupied
commanding heights such as Jodhpur and Alwar. At Amer and Bundi, the palace
cuts into the hillside. The forts of Kumbalgarh, Jaisalmer and the fabled
Chittorgarh housed the entire town. In eastern Rajasthan, Bharatpur and Deeg
had moats. Both in interior decoration and in structure, the forts were
built as reflection of the personalities of their rulers.
Rajasthan
has a fort every 10 miles on an averagel note that smaller destinations may
have an equally fascinating architectural and historical at heritage
Many small forts and palaces have been converted into Heritage Hotels where
you can stay as guests of the erstwhile rulers.
Amber Fort
What
stand today with magnificent glory are the complex of palaces, halls,
pavilions, gardens and temples built by the Jaipur rulers over a period of
one hindered and twenty five years. Centuries of disuse have not withered
their pristine beauty. The palace complex rising from the placid waters of
the Maota Lake is approached through a steep path, often traversed by
tourist on elephant back.
Chittaurgarh
Chittor
is the most important fort in Rajasthan. Built on a tong rugged hill and
covering over 280 hectares with its fortfic, palaces, towers & temple,
it is a testament to the glory of the land, historic, battles and valiant
people who preferred death to dishonour.
City Palace
Chittor
is the most important fort in Rajasthan. Built on a tong rugged hill and
covering over 280 hectares with its fortfic, palaces, towers & temple,
it is a testament to the glory of the land, historic, battles and valiant
people who preferred death to dishonour.
Fateh
Prakash Palace Museum
Inside the historical Chittorgarh
Fort, one big portion of Fateh Prakash palace was converted into a museum
in the year 1968. It has a fine collection of sculpture. Among the
important ones are Ganpati (8th-9thcentury) from pangarh. Indra and Jain
Ambica statues from Rashmi village of post-medieval period.
Jaisalmer
Fort
Like a yellow sand stone fabric that seems to issue
skywards from the golden sands, Jaisalmer Fort is sheer magic standing
proud to a height of hundred meters over the city with its 99 bastions,
the fort is a splendid sight at any time of the day its double lined
rampart enclose a palace complex, the carved sandstone havilies of rich
jain merchants and Hindu temples.
Junagarh
Fort
Built around 1587, to protect 37 palaces, temples and
pavilions within it, Junagarh is one of its kinds, remaining unconquered
till date except once. The palaces within it are very well preserved, the
most notable of which are the Badal Mahal, Karan Mahal and Anup Mahal.
Mehrangarh
Fort
In the turbulent political times of the 15th century,
the ruler of Marwar, Rao Jodha was advised by a saint to establish an
impregnable head-quarter, and so the Mehrangarh Fort was built atop a
steep hill. This formidable hilltop fort is one of the finest in India,
both from the defense point of view,
Temples in Rajasthan
For thousands of years, the followers of
Hinduism and later Jainism built the finest temples all over Rajasthan Their
life-like stone carvings and embellishments, apart from their tranquil
surroundings make them an ideal place to spend some time. The Jain temples
of Ranakpur and Mount Abu are amongst the finest in the world on account of
their carvings and unique architecture.
Inside all forts, there
were temples dedicated to the family deity of the rulers; the rulers ensured
that they got the finest sculptors to work from them.
Today, off
the beaten track you can find ancient temples that tell a tale. A very
moving experience for some…
Ranakpur
Renowned
for its marvelously carved temples in amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the
finve holy spots of the Jains. Rana Kumbha of Mewar gave the land in a
grant to the Jains. These 15th century temples are fine examples of man's
devotion to his deity,
Dilwara
Jain Temples
Jain temple architecture is characterizes by
its profusion of sculpting. The stone is moulded, chiseled, scooped out
and developed so that each grain becomes a part of the grand design. Nor
are patterns always repeated… There are architectural embellishment
of such amazing fluidity that is impossible to disassociate architecture
from sculpture.
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