Eternal beauty

Hawa Mahal,Jaipur

Amidst the main market area and bustling city of Jaipur, Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Wind appeared to me like a memento of colourful days of the Kings and Queens. With panoramic view of vast stretch of Aravalli hills, experiencing the upright example of Rajput architecture dipped in welcoming pink colour was like a splashing sensation filled my mind with delectation and conveyed the true flavour and grandeur of the vibrant city. It was very surprising to me that, instead of constructing interminable stretch of defensive walls or in lieu of exhibiting valour in the battlefield, the warriors built Hawa Mahal, to entertain the veiled royal ladies so that, they could watch the activities of the city, staying hidden in the curtain walls. The two hundred years old architectural curtain was in its untiring presence and was upstanding as ever with discriminating display of superbly carved windows.

Street of Pink city,Jaipur

The famous Hawa Mahal or literally the superb architectural veil with 953- windows, amidst main market of the Pink City was built by the king of Jaipur Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 for the royal ladies, so that they could watch the activities taking place in the bazaar and the surrounding streets behind the decorative stone-carved screens. The initiation of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II to shift their capital from the hilltop of Aravalli hills was the result of Jaipur city in 1727 and that was the foundation stone laid in the mind of the Rajput warriors to build such a picturesque city.
The mighty pyramidal shaped five storey building overlooks one of the Jaipur`s main streets with its shape like a crown adorning Lord Krishna`s head. Unique thinking and superb creativity is associated with the architecture. The site offers a superb view of the city, including many old palaces and houses, which were painted ochre-pink for the 1853 visit of Prince Albert.
Hawa Mahal, amidst the bustle of Jaipur city sweetly conveyed the message that there is no limit for innovative creations. Time has erased the memories of bloodsheds but, the legacy of art and architecture of the era of Kings and Queens has their effect of everlasting remembrance.

Signature of reverence

Tajmahal,Agra

                                                       “.......... a drop of tears,
                                                        On the cheek of time, dazzling and white,
                                                         This Tajmahal”
                      from the lines of poem “ Shahjahan” by Rabindranath Tagore

I was awestruck by the first sight, and charmed by the unique manifestation of love. Tajmahal was in front of me, doused in soft warmth of the Sun and adorned in the glistening snow white crown, like a grand celebration of love. I was gleefully stared at the spectacular Tajmahal, the heavenly creation on earth. Tajmahal, where a flawless painting on a huge structure of white marble has been interlaced the ever green symbol of love and romance of Emperor Shah Jahan. The spectacular result of 22-years hard work of an assemblage of finest artisans mingled their exquisite creativity with the doleful shades of an emperor in memory of his beloved wife.

Tajmahal,the poem of love on white marble

History has numerous examples of ruthless bloodsheds but, the Tajmahal is an exception to introduce us with the humane qualities of an emperor rather than his achievements as a warrior. It is the finest example, where love has achieved an overwhelming success over the fury of blood sheds. I felt the symbol of eternal love through its speechless presence was saying-“at last love rules.”

droplet of tear on the cheek of eternity,Tajmahal

“Tajmahal” the expression of deepest heartfelt pain of an emperor to depart from his beloved wife is portrayed in the architectural wonder on the bank of Yamuna. It is perhaps the greatest single building on earth designed to house the human remains. Built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaj after her death in 1631 and Shahjahan was buried by his son Aurangzeb beside Mumtaj after his death in 1666. Entirely built of White marble and based on Persian architecture, the architectural design known as interlocking arabesque has been used in construction. Each element of the structure can stand on its own and integrate with the main structure. The Tajmahal was named a United Nations World Heritage site in 1983.

The landmark of conquest

Qutub Minar, Delhi

In glimmer of Sun, the array of derelict and roofless structures in the premises of Qutub Minar, Delhi took us to a voyage of history. The voyage that emphasizing on the love for art, took us thousand years back to experience how a new form of art was born with Muslim invasion in India. The tallest stone tower on earth, Qutub Minar emerged unstintingly upright with its ever spectacular semblance and immediately hypnotised us with its discriminating beauty. The architectural legacy on red sandstone, embellished with Arabic inscriptions appeared like splendid piece of art.

The frieze from the Arabic texts

The premise of decrepit roofless structures, with the thousand years old upstanding and spectacular minaret was like a reminder of medieval History of India. The assortments of decrepit structures survived through centuries are the witness of important phase of Indian history. It has witnessed beginning of a new era of art and architecture with political conquest, which evolved and attained the height of excellence.

embellished body of Qutub Minar, Delhi

It is among the top rated and most visited tourist destination and one of the top Indian monuments recognised worldwide. The impressive architecture with 238ft. height is considered as a landmark of the beginning of Muslim rule in India. Qutub Minar, Delhi. The UNESCO World heritage site was built 1192 by Qutub-ud-Din-Aibak and sultan`s successor and son-in-law, Iltutmis, completed it. In 1368 Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the fifth and the last storey. The development of architectural styles from Aibak to Tughlak is quite evident in the minaret.

array of colonnade in the Qutub Minar complex 

I was surprised to know that Qutub Minar is not the tallest or the oldest minaret on earth. But, the aura of history associated and impressions architectural development that is imprinted on this architecture is matchless.

Qutub Minar,Delhi

India has a history of numerous invasions, apart from mass killing which also had a tremendous impact on its pre-existing art and culture but, at the end nobody acclaimed immortality except their unique impressions of love for art.

Statue of bereft grit

Purana Qila,Delhi

The panoramic lake, abutting boundary of Purana Qila, Delhi might have kept the fort insuperable from enemies is now used for boating. The breathtaking view of crowned gateway of the decrepit fort was like a reminder of a bereft grit. According to History, I was standing at Indraprastha, the capital of Pandavas of Mahabharata. Purana Qila is also popularly known as the fort of Pandavas. It was built, demolished, re-built and renamed several times and through the ages different human civilizations have kept here their impressions of existence.

Entrance of Purana Qila,Delhi

In the premises of crumbling ruins of Purana Qila, excavations have revealed the settlements and construction works during Sunga, Saka, Kushana, Gupta era dating back to even third century B.C., was like a treasure of curiosity for the History lovers and like a natural treatise of human civilizations. The area under vast stretch of derelict ramparts was a symbol of power and happened to be erstwhile capital of Rajputs, Mughals, Afghans, where the trumpets of war elephants, sound of hooves of horses of warriors reverberated or a place once it was filled with bustles of human activities now bereft of human habitation and deserted.

Qila-e-Kuhna mosque,or Sher Shah mosque,Purana Qila,Delhi

It was inexplicably ecstatic experience to share the soil for awhile, within the vast stretch of rampart, I was standing at a place where the greatest warriors of History have laid their footprint, the creepers have overrun the stone walls with their banners of existence like numerous settlements existed and vanished towards extinction. It was rather like a walk of present age, on numerous human settlements buried under the earth.

The crowned gateway of Purana Qila,Delhi

Mughal emperor Humayun, named the place Dinpanch and it served the as capital of Humayun and Sher Shah Suri during their reign. The structures survived over centuries of the decrepit fort have their own story to tell about the incidents and mishaps of History happened here. The library also called Sher Mandal where Humayan slipped from stairs and died or the spectacular Qila-e-Kuhna mosque built by Sher Shah Suri in 1541were still upright. The silent witness of many incidents it was the place where the Humayun was buried initially before his body was shifted to its existing place and it is the place where dreams of a Hindu King shattered after second battle of Panipat, or served as the shelter for refugees after partition of India.

In the approaching evening we finished our Purana Qila visit and before leaving, once again I looked back. Like mirth of destiny the gloomy desolate capital was like waiting, might be looking towards regaining its lost sheen.

A Paradise on earth

Humayun`s tomb

Second mughal emperor Humayun died in 1556 following an accident while coming down in haste, he toppled from the stairs of his personal library at Purana Qila, Delhi, the place happened to be the capital of his empire. In the library at Purana Qila, Delhi he enjoyed studying and also used to feed the pigeons on the roof. He died at the age of 48.

The library at Puraba Qila,Delhi where Humayun fell from stairs

The tomb of emperor Humayun was initially built in Purana Qila, Delhi and was finally shifted to its present position. Construction of tomb was completed in 1572 under the supervision of his Persian wife Hamida Begum. The replica or cenotaph of the emperor is built in the main building and the main tomb of Humayun lies in the basement as per their religious rule. Situated beside river Yamuna it was engineered to meet the requirement of water to run the fountains and irrigation for gardens by lifting the river water.

New look of the renovated entrance of Humayun`s tomb,delhi

The tomb clad in red sandstone, with white marbles used for ornamentations is an excellent instance of spectacular works in Persian style. It can be called a garden tomb or a tomb spectacularly surrounded by garden which was first in India and that inspired many of its later architectures. The tomb was so designed by the architect, to look like a garden of paradise as per their belief. The garden tomb was built on a geometric pattern on an area of 26 acres, is a combination of four major square garden (Char -bag) and each square was divided into nine equal parts and on the area of ninth part of each major square, the enormous platform of the tomb was built, with an array of arches. The tomb is a World heritage site awarded by UNESCO. Through the ages the tomb complex undergone serial of changes and severe damages. Serious measures of restoration for revival of the tomb were carried out to bring back its original glory and finally the tomb was inaugurated on 18 September 2013.

Humayun`s tomb,Delhi

The resting emperor

Few kilometres away from the Taj Mahal it was a picture contrast at Sikandra, with no queue at the ticket counter or any tightened security at the entrance or without the overwhelming crowd of photo enthusiasts like the Taj Mahal the premises of the tomb of greatest mughal emperor at Sikandra looked like a palatial nest of eternal peace. Animals and birds in the premises of nicely maintained garden have added a natural look in the serenely imposing ambience.

Entrance of Sikandra,Agra

His long reign of nearly five decades forms the bright chapter of the Indian History during which the country made rapid progress in all walks of life. He introduced a new Divine faith (Din-i-Ilahi) combining the good points of all religions. The brave general and capable administrator of a huge empire, he was passionate for knowledge in spite of illiteracy, under his patronage art, architecture, literature attained new heights. He was Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, greatest of the Mughal emperors and one of the ablest kings the world has ever seen.

Sikandra,Agra

Akbar`s lifetime was associated with interminable incidents and stories in Agra, he founded Fatehpur Sikri, refurbished the Agra fort. Prolific examples of composite architectural styles within the Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri, were his brain child. Akbar himself initiated the work of his tomb at Sikandra in his life time. Akbar died in 1605 and was buried at Sikandra, Agra and the tomb was completed by his son Jehangir in 1612 as per the design of Akbar.

Inside Sikandra,Agra

Sikandra has many features to mesmerize the tourists. Right from the entrance gate, the calligraphic inscriptions in Persian were eye catching, the environment was definitely an exception among the other crowded monuments of Agra. Dome less structure of Sikandra tomb was built on red sandstone, and its top only was made of white marble, with its four marble minarets at the gate were placed by Jahangir, believed to have inspired by the architecture of Charminar, Hyderbad. In the spacious room of the actual tomb of Akbar, the building acoustic was extremely fascinating. We heard an effect of sound to fade away soothingly after getting nicely reverberated in the surrounding. Not sunk under the burden of prestigious title, the four hundred years old architecture, housing the tomb of the greatest mughal emperor will surely reign in the heart of history lovers for an endless century.

view of the tomb of Akbar,Sikandra,Agra

Majestic

View of the Rastrapati Bhawan

The gloomy weather of New Delhi nearly ended our most awaited visit. As the drizzles of early morning turned into incessant rain. The weather saddened our mood. Despite the gloomy weather, our journey began on the rain doused streets of New Delhi and slowly the blue dome of Rastrapati Bhavan appeared, on the canvas of reality.

Rastrapati Bhawan,India

Through a newspaper clip and a TV programme, I came to know that Rastrapati Bhavan of India will remain open for public viewing for specific days of week and online request can be submitted for having a glimpse of the house, its museum and the Mughal garden. I conveyed my online request accordingly, to the secretariat of Rastrapati Bhavan and it was readily approved from their end, with a specific registration number, and a route map. So, before our New Delhi tour began, my request to visit to the Rastrapati Bhavan was accepted.

Rastrapati Bhawan,New Delhi,India

At the entry gate, after verification of registration, our vehicle got permitted to enter in the premises of Rastrapati Bhavan of India. Defying the odd weather, finally when we looked at the enormous architecture of Edwin Landseer Lutyens, it was indeed an inexplicable delectation. Wade slowly on the rain soaked sand paved entrance, though; I continued capturing our evanescent moments at the Rastrapati Bhavan. It was impossible to confine the entire face of the building within the meagre frame of camera.

Rastrapati Bhwan,New Delhi 

Compulsorily we had to deposit our mobile phone, camera, bag at the reception, and got our identity verified. As the huge door opened after all formalities, the guided tour of Rastrapati Bhavan began, accompanying only our inquisitive mind queued after the guide, leaving all the electronic gadgets behind. It went sometime under the basement, through the stairs, at the first floor, on listening the fascinating stories and comprehensible details on the spot about the historic halls, conference halls, reading room, dining hall. The museums had meticulous collection and discriminating display of gifts, painting, photographs, sculptures, many more to recall.

Finally, the story ended with collecting mementoes at the curio shop and our vehicle left the premises to join the crowd again. By the time, rain ceased pouring and Sunshine was slowly brightening the day from torn clouds.