Showing posts with label Travel (Not Synth Related). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel (Not Synth Related). Show all posts

Friday, 13 February 2015

Jodpur Markets - Rajasthan, India

The central markets of downtown Jodpur are a colourful place to while away the hours if you enjoy people watching.
Jodpur markets with the medieval fortress of Mehrangarh in the background






These panoramas were all taken using a cheap galaxy phone.








Saturday, 7 February 2015

Amer Fort - Rajasthan - India

The Amer Fort & palace was built in the 16th century by the Rajput Maharajas.
The Palace & castle are divided into 4 sections or courtyards, each with it's own gate, style and history. It's just 11kms from Jaipur.

Lattice window.

The Jaleb Chowk (Main Courtyard).
This is where returning armies would display their war booty to the populace ... parading around the courtyard. Women would often view this area from the veiled windows of the palace above the crowds.



Diwan- E- Aam or The Hall of Public Audience.

These 40 pillars were erected by Mirza Raja Jai Singh between 1631-40. It's an assembly hall built of red sandstone and white shell plaster - looks like marble. Each  column is topped by a capital in the shape of an elephant.
 
Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) - on the right.
To the left (not in view) is the Moon Gate

Diwan- E- Aam or The Hall of Public Audience
 The Maharajahs used to receive the public here, listening to their problems regarding the kingdom.
This space is significant as it combines both Hindu and Muslim architecture.


Maota Lake and Garden


The Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory) or the Mirror Palace is noted for its inlaid panels and multi-mirrored ceiling. The painted glass & mirrors was imported from Belguim.

  A carved marble relief panel. These can be see all over the hall. So delicate.

Baradhari pavilion at Man Singh I Palace Square.


Friday, 30 January 2015

Flying Fox - Jodhpur - India

What a great way to see the fortress of Mehrangarh in Jodhpur, India.
Flying over these magnificent battlements is so exciting.





Zip 6: The Magnificent Marwar (300m) You fly over two lakes an land on the tip of a fortified tower that rises 30 metres out of Ranisar Lake.

Battlements of Rajasthan

 Flying Fox - cable - over Mehrangarh Fort.


The medieval "Blue City" of Jodpur.

Sunday, 25 January 2015

Udaipur - India

This is such an underrated place.
So very very beautiful. Reminds me of Venice.
It's quite a big city with lots to see.

Give yourself at least 4 days. A week would be nice.
Some pics of the water front:
 Panorama from one of the bridges.

 It's New Years Eve: the calm before the storm.

Udaipur is very romantic. It is  the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar,
in the state of Rajasthan
Udaipur was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh. With the  emergence of artillery warfare in the 16th century it was decided to move the capital to a more secure location... away from the old fortress of Kumbhalgarh.


 Roof top nightclub. The perfect place to see the New Year in.


Lobby of the Lake Pichola Hotel

The lake Palace is in the distance.
The Lake Palace covers an entire island in the Pichola Lake.



Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Akbar's Tomb - Agra, India

Akbar is arguably the most famous ruler from India's past. He was India's Mughal Emperor from 1556 until his death in 1605. His grandson (Shah Jahan) is famous for building the Taj Mahal.
These are pictures from his tomb.


 The ceilings are magnificent. The tomb is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture. It was built between 1605 & 1613. It is situated in 48 Ha (119 acres) of grounds in Sikandra, a suburb of Agra

During his rule he enlarged the Mughal Empire to include the whole of the Indian subcontinent north of the Godavari river.

This is not his main tomb. It's just an out house.

What I find facinating about the man is how he kept the empire together....... through diplomacy, and conciliation. He was Muslim by birth but tried to unite the many faiths in his diverse country.


He tried to bring about religious unity and tolerance. It's a ideal we still strive for today.
I wonder what he would make of today's situation?


Akbar had 36 wives and over 300 women in his harem, but the legend goes that he had 3 favourite wives... One Muslim, one Hindu and one Christian. Whether this story is true I'm not sure, but you can see the fusion of the three forms of architecture throughout his palaces. He even promoted a new religion called Din-e Ilahi where he tried to take the best parts of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism and Zoroastrianism and merge these into one.

Akbar concluded that no single religion could claim the monopoly of truth. 



These grills are carved from single blocks of stone.