|
|
Forts In Jaipur
The City Palace
One of the most magnificent marvels or Jaipur is
the City Palace Complex which has a rare
combination of the finest blends of Rajasthani
and Mughal architecture. In the heart of the old
city, it has vast area. The outer wall was built
by Jai Singh and additions made up to the 20th
century. Many buildings, well-planned gardens
and huge courtyards are a part of the complex.
For visiting dignitaries, Sawai Madho Singh II,
constructed Mubarak Mahal (welcome palace) as a
reception centre. The mahal comes before the
main complex, though it now forms a part of the
Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. The museum
has an array of royal costumes, shawls,
embroideries, Benares silk sarees, the
maharaja's pyjamas, chogas and pyjamas of other
rulers, jamawars, kamarbands, musical
instruments like the giant sized tanpura and
sarangis and a set of the clothes of Sawai Madho
Singh I who was just over seven feet tall, over
four feet wide and supported a Goliathic weight
of 250 kilograms. A delight is the Maharani's
Palace, now the armory with arms to the 15th
century which include the deadly Rajput
scissor-action daggers which have a unique
working action (after the dagger entered the
body, the handles were released and the blades
spread. during withdrawal, killing the victim).
The guns include the ones that also served as
walking sticks, one of the size of a small canon
fired from a camel's back, double-barrel guns,
early handguns, matchlocks and percussion cap
guns, swords with pistols attached to the
blades, daggers with handles of crystal and
invory, katars, chhuris, peak-kubz jambhiya,
Persian and Rajput swords. Deccan hand, bows and
arrows, battle axes, shields, maces, breast and
shoulder plate gutzis and the ruby and emerald
encrusted sword presented by Queen Vicoria to
Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh (1835-1880). On display
are a big range of shields of rhino, crocodile
and turtle skin, the shield of Sawai Pratap
Singh and Raja Man Singh' sword weighing about 5
kilograms. Diwan-e-Khas (hall of private
audience) is housed between the art gallery
(once the diwan-e-aam-hall of public audience)
and the armoury. The most attractive feature are
the two sterling silver vessels (in the
marble-paved gallery) in which Maharaja Madho
Singh II, a devout Hindu, took holy Ganga water
during a visit to Europe. The two vessels are
massive standing 160 cm and have a capacity of
9000 litres each. They are listed in the
Guinness book of Records as the biggest silver
vessels in the world. From the ceiling of the
hall hang a number of chandeliers which are
covered with plastic to prevent dust and bird
droppings falling on them. Amber Fort
Situated just over 10 kilometres away from
Jaipur on the Jaipur-Delhi highway is Amber,
which was the ancient capital of Jaipur State. A
bus leaves from Hawa Mahal every 30 minutes and
a well-laid out road takes the visitor out of
the city and very soon one witnesses lush green
hills. One then notices a lake and standing
next to it is the majestic Amber Fort which
several rulers of the erstwhile State of Jaipur
recognized as a vantage military building. The
excursion start of Jaipur recognized as a
vantage military building. The excursion starts
with the Dil-E-Aaram Garden which is laid out in
the traditional Mughal style. The complex of
palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples
was built by Raja Man Singh, The Rajput
commander of Akbar's Army, Mirza Raja Jai Singh
an Sawai Jai Singh, over a period of about two
centuries. One can climb up to the fort from the
road in about 10 minutes, go up by a jeep or
even on elephant back. The diwan-E-aam (hall of
public audience) has latticed galleries and
double row of columns each having a capital in
the shape of elephants on the top. To the right
are steps that lead to the Kali Temple where
everyday a goat was sacrificed right up to 1980
when the practice was banned by the state
government. The temple offers a wonderful sight
and has huge doors made of silver. It is said
that Maharaja Man Singh prayed to the goddess
for victory during a particular battle. The
goddess was said to have come in his dream and
said that if he won the battle, then he should
retriever her image which was lying at the
bottom of the sea. he won the battle, retrieved
the image and installed it at the temple of
Shitla Devi. The maharaja's residence is at a
higher elevation and can be entered through a
decorated gateway. The Jai Mandir (hall of
victory) has a glittering ceiling of mirrors and
elegant inlaid panels. In front of the Jai
Mandir is the Sukh Niwas (Hall of pleasure) with
a door made of sandalwood, inlaid with ivory
with a channel running through which once
carried cool water. The zenana or women's
apartments were designed in a manner which could
easily facilitate the entry of the maharaja to
various chambers without any of the concubines
aware of any visitor. Mohan Bari or Kesar Kyari
in the centre of the Maotha lake gives a
scintillation view from the palaces above it.
Jaigarh Frot
The western skyline is dominated by the
extensive parkotas (walls), watch towers and
gateways of Jaigarh. It is one of the few
military structures of mediaeval India preserved
almost intact containing palaces, gardens, open
and covered reservoirs, a granary, an armory, a
well planned cannon foundry, several temples, a
tall tower and a giant mounted cannon the Jai
Ban one of the giggest in the World.
Nahargarh Fort
It is 15 kilometers from Jaipur beyond the hills
of Jaigarh and is like a watchful sentinel
guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful capital.
Much of the original structures are in ruins.
From atop a hill, the fort offers a scenic view
of the city be low. Rajasthan Tourism has
started a cafeteria where Beer and snacks are
available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
