27 October 2024 - Created by Barry Thompson ©
2024 - All Rights Reserved
Iconic Buildings In
India-2
Mehman Khana or the Guest House lies to the east of the mausoleum on the
same platform and overlooks the Yamuna river. One of the lesser known
structures inside the complex, the Mehman Khana pleases its visitors with
intricate marble inlay work and floral decorations on the walls and ceilings
made up of red sandstone. This mammoth structure was built much later than
the mausoleum of the complex and served as the residence for the guests
visiting the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Built as a jawab (answer) to the mosque,
the structures resemble each other to the hilt. The composition of the trio of
buildings on the platform makes for a perfect panorama for the visitors of the
Taj Mahal.
The Hawa Mahal Palace of Wind, is a palace
in the city of Jaipur. Built from red and pink
sandstone, it is on the edge of the City
Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the Zenana,
or women's chambers.
The structure was built in 1799 by the
Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of
the city of Jhunjhunu in the state of
Rajasthan. He was so inspired by the unique
structure of Khetri Mahal that he built this
grand and historical palace.
It was designed by Lal Chand Ustad. Its five-
floor exterior is akin to a honeycomb with its
953 small windows called Jharokhas
decorated with intricate latticework. The
original intent of the lattice design was to
allow royal ladies to observe everyday life
and festivals celebrated in the street below
without being seen. This architectural feature
also allowed cool air from the Venturi effect
to pass through, thus making the whole area
more pleasant during the high temperatures
in summer. Many people see the Hawa
Mahal from the street view and think it is the
front of the palace, but it is the back.
Amer Fort or Amber Fort is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan, India. Amer is a
town with an area of 4 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi) located 11 kilometres
(6.8 mi) from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Located high on a hill, it is the
principal tourist attraction in Jaipur. Amer Fort is known for its artistic style
elements. With its large ramparts and series of gates and cobbled paths, the
fort overlooks Maota Lake, which is the main source of water for the Amer
Palace.
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is a collection of 19 astronomical instruments built
by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur, Rajasthan. The
monument was completed in 1734. It features the world's largest stone
sundial. It is near City Palace and Hawa Mahal. The instruments allow the
observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. The observatory is
an example of the Ptolemaic positional astronomy which was shared by
many civilisations.
The monument features instruments operating in each of the three main
classical celestial coordinate systems: the horizon-zenith local system, the
equatorial system, and the ecliptic system. The Kanmala Yantraprakara is
one that works in two systems and allows transformation of the coordinates
directly from one system to the other. It has the largest sundial in the world.
The Jaswant Thada is a cenotaph located in Jodhpur, in the Indian state of
Rajasthan. It was built by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in
memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, and serves as the
cremation ground for the royal Rajput family of Marwar.
The cenotaph is built out of intricately carved sheets of Makrana marble.
These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow
when illuminated by the Sun.
The cenotaph's grounds feature carved gazebos, a tiered garden, and a
small lake. There are three other cenotaphs in the grounds. The cenotaph of
Maharaja Jaswant Singh displays portraits of the rulers and Maharajas of
Jodhpur.
Mehrangarh Fort covers an area of 1,200 acres (486 hectares) in Jodhpur,
Rajasthan, India. The complex is located on a hilltop around 122 metres
above the surrounding plain, and was constructed c. 1459 by Rajput ruler
Rao Jodha, though most of the existing structure is from the 17th century.
Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate
carvings and expansive courtyards, as well as a museum housing various
relics. A winding road leads to and from the city below.
Ranakpur Jain temple or Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara is a Śvētāmbara Jain
temple at Ranakpur dedicated to Tirthankara Rishabhanatha. The temple is
located in a village of Ranakpur near Sadri town in the Pali district of
Rajasthan.
Darna Shah, a local Jain businessperson, started construction of the temple
in the 15th century following a divine vision. The temple honours Adinath, the
first Tirthankar of the present half-cycle (avasarpiṇī) according to Jain
cosmology. The Ranakpur temple is one of the largest and most important
temples of Jain culture. The campus includes various temples such as
Chaumukha temple, Surya temple, Suparshvanatha temple and Amba
temple.
City Palace (Raj Mahal), Udaipur is a palace complex situated in the city of
Udaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was built over a period of nearly
400 years, with contributions from several rulers of the Mewar dynasty. Its
construction began in 1553, started by Maharana Udai Singh II of the Sisodia
Rajput family as he shifted his capital from the erstwhile Chittor to the
newfound city of Udaipur. The palace is located on the east bank of Lake
Pichola and has several palaces built within its complex.