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

Saturday, 7 March 2015

Fatehpur Sikri - India

Fatehpur Sikri was founded in 1569 by the Mughal emperor Akbar.
It's in the state of  Uttar Pradesh. It's a short 40 km drive from Agra
The Emperor (1556-1605) decided to construct it on the same site where
the birth of his son was predicted by the wise & holy man, Shaikh Salim Chisti (1480-1572).
It's regarded as Akbar's crowning architectural legacy. The palaces, public buildings, gazebos, mosques, pavilions & halls were planned with great care for he intended FS to be his capital.

This only lasted between 1571 & 1585. Lack of water finally forced Akbar to move the capital to Lahore (in present day Pakistan) and then back to Agra (1598).

Akbar planned the complex around Persian principles that were derived from tent encampments.
The complex consists of independent pavilions arranged around central squares.


But the beautiful thing about all this was the fusion of styles. His adopted land of India, can be seen throughout.
Inner view of Buland Darwaza (Bulland Gate)

All the buildings here were made of the local red stone. And he used indigenous craftsmen throughout in the construction. One can see Hindu & Jain architecture mixed with Islamic elements.
The monuments at Fatehpur Sikri thus reflect the genius of Akbar. He successfully combined diverse regional architectural styles. This layout definitely influenced later town planning which can be seen in cities such as  Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi).

(Buland Darwaza) Bulland Gate, Fatehpur Sikri
Built to commemorate Akbar's victory against the Kingdom of Gujarat.

Bulland Gate (Buland Darwaza). This gateway is 55 metres tall. Completed in 1575, it's according to the locals the largest triumphal arch in the world. The Arch de Triomphe is 50m high. The Brandenburg Gate is 26m. The arch of Titus in Rome is 15m. One "gate" that is taller is the Arch of St. Louis, Missouri. It's 190m though it's debatable as to whether it's a triumphal arch or just a gateway. ???

Bulland Gate (Buland Darwaza)


The Horseshoe Gate at Fatehpur.
This is the central gate of the  Buland Darwaza. The horseshoes are nailed for good luck.


Tomb of Salim Chishti
A marble encased tomb for the saint who foretold the birth of a son  for Akbar. Beautiful Jali screens encircle the central room that houses the body of the saint.

The Tomb of  Shaikh Salim Chisti (1480-1572)
These screens are cut from single sheets of marble.



Anup talao (pond), the platform to the right was used for singing competitions

Anup Talao Platform

Panch Mahal
This is one of the most unusual structures of Fatehpur Sikri. It's a 5 tiered palace.
Also known as "The Pavilion of the Winds". This was used by ladies of the Royal Harem who were given privacy with Jali screens.

Diwan-I-Aam

Diwan-I-Aam - interior
The "Hall of Private Audience". It is here that Akabar had representatives of the different religions discuss their faiths in peace & friendship. The central pillar has 36 voluted brackets.

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

The Baby Taj - Agra - India

This site is the Tomb of I'timād-ud-Daula " the Treasurer of the Empire".
It's a Mughal mausoleum in the city of Agra (the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh).

Nur Jehan, the wife and queen of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir built this tomb for her father, Mirza Shiyath Beg. Soon after her marriage, Mirza was appointed Prime Minister & Treasurer.

Mirza must have done his job well as treasurer to have earn't this tribute.

It's a jewel that most tourists miss in their rush to see the Taj Mahal which is only 6km away.

The tomb was built between 1622 and 1628. In the history of Indian architecture this site is very important. It marks the transition from the old monumental style of red sandstone with marble decoration (seen in the Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and Akbar's tomb in Sikandra) to structures built completely from white marble and pietra dura inlay (the pinnacle being the Taj Mahal).

Pietra Dura or pietre dure is the art of stone inlay. The aim is to cut the stone so precisely that contacts between the edges are invisible. This art was made famous in Renaissance Italy, esp in Florence & Rome.
The walls of this site are completely constructed with white marble from Rajasthan.

Marble encrusted with semi-precious stones – agate, carnelian, garnet, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, and topaz.
This ornamentation is so beautiful. Floral, arabesque, geometrical - very stylised.- inspired by the plant studies of Ustad Mansur.
 These screens (called  jālī screens) are also carved from white marble. So delicate & beautiful.
 
Many of its design elements can be found in the later Taj Mahal. These Islamic mausoleums are of great architectural interest. Notice firstly that the main tomb stands on a plinth on red sandstone. 
The Tomb is square with octagonal towers.
They are both situated in the centre of a park which is then divided into 4 gardens (Char-Bagh). The gardens are formed of 4 raised avenues which have waterways running through them. We also see the usual enclosing walls & side buildings

There is also a multi-storied open pleasure pavilion on the western side which overlooks the river.
This is made of red sandstone, inlayed with white marble. The tomb is situated on the left bank of the river Yamuna.
Above is a view of the Western Pavilion which overlooks the river. Notice that it's built in the older "Monumental Style" of red sandstone/marble inlay.

This layout evokes the "Persian Paradise".... the fountain of life plays in the centre from which 4 holy rivers gush.... the deceased is in the centre of paradise for eternity.

The central room of the mausoleum (qubba) is a cube. In this case it is not covered with the usual domed ceiling. Here, the building is roofed with a square "Barahdari".


Above, we have the Northern Pavilion. It's identical to the Southern Pavilion. They have a single storeyed "Iwan" in the middle, and double storeyed wings on their sides. There are rooms and halls on the first floor of these pavilions. There are also stairways on the sides. The very top "crown" is called a "Chhatris".





This is the main entrance to the tomb (The Eastern Gate). Notice the use of red sandstone with white marble inlay.

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

The Tower of Victory ("Vijay Stambha" in Hindi) - Chittorgarh Fort - Rahasthan - India

This tower which was built in 1449 is located in Chittorgarh fort in Rajasthan.
Google Map of Chittorgarh

Called the "Tower of Victory", it was built to commemorate the victory of king Rana Kumbha over the combined armies of Mewar and Gujarat in 1446. There are 9 stories. It's built of red sandstone & marble.
Though dedicated to the god Vishnu, it is adorned with statues of other Hindu gods.
It stands nearly 40 metres high.

Each story is adorned with beautiful sculptures of Hindu gods.


The 8th floor Terrace. The 9th floor is closed to tourists.



 
The interior staircase. There are around 157 narrow steps leading to the terrace.

Each of the nine stories have openings and balconies that overlook Chittorgarh Fort,




These designs are carved out of blocks of sandstone & marble.




 The lattice work is simply stunning.

If you wait patiently, a time will come when you are alone in this magical place.
It's like you are surrounded by jewels.

The "Tower of Victory" perpetuates the model established by the previous Jain Temple - the 13th century "Tower of Glory" that was built by a Jain merchant near the Mahariva temple.

The 13th century Jain Temple in Chittorgarh