Fort Palaces in Orchha

Raja Rudra Pratap founded Orchha in the early 16th century, but most of the early construction work in the town was carried out by his successor, Raja Bharti Chand. He built the city walls, and the citadel that, unfortunately, is in ruins now. ¤ Raja Mahal Work on the Raja Mahal was started by Raja Rudra Pratap, but he died in 1531, leaving the construction incomplete. His son, Bharti Chand, completed the front and the main portion of the palace, but could not complete the building during his lifetime. The final touches to the Raja Mahal were added by one of the most prominent rulers of Orchha, Madhukar Shah built several other monuments in the town as well. ¤ The Magnificent Architecture The Raja Mahal is a fine example of Mughal architecture with typical stone jali (lattice) work and multifaced arches at the entrance. The palace is in the shape of a perfect square that is further divided into two courtyards. The main courtyard is flanked by the palace which has a four-storeyed building at one end of it. The other three sides have five-storeyed apartments. The Raja Mahal’s facade is simplicity personified with hardly any ornamental detailing, but the interiors house some splendid paintings. The outer courtyard has some beautiful arches arranged in floral patterns and carved out in lime mortar. ¤ Inside Attractions of The Palace Inside the Mahal, the two places worth a look are the Durbar-e-Khas and the Diwan-i-Am. The Durbar-e-Khas, or the Durbar Hall, is situated on the first floor of the palace and is surrounded by high battlement walls. It is well fortified, and right above it are a number of musket holes through which the enemy was shot at. The Diwan-i-Am is an assembly hall where the king often held meetings with his council of ministers. The hall has three platforms, and from the highest one, the king held forth on affairs of the state. The Diwan-i-Am has massive columns and the ceiling has been decorated with paintings belonging to the Mughal and the Bundela schools of art. The exterior of the palace is decorated with elephant and lotus-shaped brackets. The entire architecture of the Raja Mahal is exquisite and speaks loftily of the stone carvers who sculpted it. ¤ Jahangir Mahal The intricately carved Jahangir Mahal has an aura of grandeur and opulence. Built on the lines of Emperor Akbar’s Hamam Saras in Agra, it is nevertheless representative of the Bundela school of architecture. The palace is five-storeyed and houses as many as eight pavilions. The third floor has a court where the rulers of Orchha met with their subjects. The court is raised over superimposed arcades with a wide gallery overlooking it. A long line of elephant brackets flanks the entrance to the monument, and a reddish-brown cornice runs along the periphery of the court. The façade of the Jahangir Mahal is decorated with a plethora of geometric patterns, and paintings of peacocks and flowers. ¤ The History Behind The Construction of The Jahangir Mahal As the very name of the monument suggests, it was built in honour of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, by the Orchha ruler, Vir Singh. The friendship between the two went back a long way, much before either of them became monarchs. Before he became Maharaja, Vir Singh owned the fief of Badoni, situated midway between Orchha and Gwalior. Meanwhile, in the Mughal Court, the relationship between Emperor Akbar and his eldest son, Salim (later to be known as Jahangir), was always a tempestuous one. Prince Salim was a bit too susceptible to affairs of the heart, and his dalliance with Anarkali had riled the emperor no end. Abul Fazl, one of the Navratnas, or Nine Jewels, in Akbar’s court thrived on the rift and persuaded Akbar to forfeit Salim’s heirship to the Mughal throne. Inevitably, Salim revolted against this, and Akbar deputed none other than the Machiavellian Abul Fazl to quell the rebellion. Fazl began a march to Agra to meet Salim’s army in battle, but first he had to travel through Badoni, which was en route. At this crucial juncture, Vir Singh decided to help his friend Salim in his hour of trial by attacking Fazl’s army and vanquishing it. Not content with that, he chopped off Fazl’s head and presented it to Salim. This was in 1602, and three years later when Akbar died and Jahangir replaced him as the emperor, it was time for him to repay the favour to his old friend. Accordingly, he bestowed the whole of Bundelkhand to Vir Singh and even attended his coronation in 1606. It was on this occasion that Vir had the Jahangir Mahal built to receive Emperor Jahangir when he visited Orchha. The palace today stands as a memorial to the great friendship between the two erstwhile rulers. ¤ Rai Praveen Mahal Built in circa 1618 by Maharaja Indrajit Singh, the three-storeyed palace is also variously known as the Anand Mandal Bagh and the Rai Praveen Manika Bhavan. A lush garden, with shrubs and flowerbeds pruned in very many artistic shapes, surrounds the palace. Quite obviously, the art of topiary has been in existence in Orchha for centuries. The Mahal was built in honour of the ‘Nightingale of Orchha’, Rai Praveen, and the second floor is resplendent with scenes of Nritya Mudra, the poses and postures of Indian dance. ¤ The Glorious Beauty of Rai Praveen Rai Praveen was as well known for her enchanting beauty as for her poetry and music. The paramour of Indrajit Singh, in whose court she performed, her fame inevitably spread far and wide and finally reached the Imperial Court of Akbar. The Mughal emperor was smitten by her, and he arrogantly summoned her to his durbar. Indrajit Singh, Rai Parveen’s paramour, was too weak-kneed a ruler to defy the Imperial summons. ¤ Emperor Akbar Moved By Charms of Poetess So, Rai Praveen went to Akbar’s court, where, accompanied by her tutor, Keshava Dasa, she regaled the court with her singing and dancing skills. A bewitched Akbar asked her to jilt the contemptible Indrajit (who had abandoned her to her fate in any case) and take up residence with him in his harem. He enticed her with the fabulous riches of the Mughal court, which, he told her, were more suitable for a lady of her accomplishments. However, Rai Parveen refused. Akbar, finding all his inducements falling on deaf ears and touched by her loyalty, decided to restore her to Orchha. Rai Praveen returned to Orchha with both her dignity and that of her kingdom intact. The palace is a fitting memorial to this lady. The fort also houses a Tope Khana (canon foundry) which kept a vigil round the clock, guarding against any external threat from the enemies of Orchha.

City Palace

In India a city Palace forms one of the most famous tourist attractions and a major landmark. The beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his reign. Among the various forts and palaces of Jaipur, City Palace stands apart, with its outstanding art and architecture. City Palace complex covers a huge area, which is divided into a series of gardens, courtyards and buildings. Initially, Raja Jai Singh built the outer wall occupying a huge area. The additional grand buildings were constructed later by the succeeding rulers. A part of the exquisite Palace still makes home for the former Maharaja/ King. The premises consists several buildings like Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani's Palace, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. One would come across the Mubarak Mahal, as one enters the first square. Mubarak Mahal was built by Sawai Madho Singh in the 19th century to entertain his guests. Today, it has converted into a costume gallery, which displays royal attires of the Kings. After crossing the first square, a beautiful gateway welcomes to Diwan-I-Khas, a hall meant for private audience. It has two sterling silver vessels on display and they are acclaimed to be the world's largest silver vessel. These vessels were made for Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II to carry water from River Ganga to drink on his trip to England. Diwan-I-Aam, which was meant for public audience, forms the other attraction of this courtyard. At present, it makes an art gallery showcasing enthralling painted ceilings and rare ancient handwritten original manuscripts of Hindu scriptures. In the series, Maharani's Palace, which was meant for royal queens, has been converted into a museum, showcasing weapons dated back to 15th century. Chandra Mahal is essentially regarded as the best part, out of the whole tour to City Palace. It has seven stories and each story is known by a different name. The topmost story is known as Mukut Mahal. The wonderful architecture of this Palace with delicate paintings, mirror work on walls and floral decorations, makes it a "must-see" for every visitor. In the present day, this palace serves as the residence of ex-ruler. Badal Mahal stands opposite to Chandra Mahal and while crossing the path, one would find Govind Dev Ji Temple between them. Above all these, the Palace also offers delicacies in its multi cuisine restaurant. To sum up, the City Palace is a structure of historical importance and a souvenir of the regal past. The palace, with its royal grace stands as a symbol of magnificence. All these features of City Palace leave the tourists with no other option, but to visit it.

Kerala Palaces

Kerala Palaces are one of the most important monuments of Kerala, and attracting tourists all over the world. Padmanabhapuram Palace is located in a small village called Padmanabhapuram, 65 kilometers from Trivandrum, (Thiruvananthapuram) in Kerala State, Thucklai, on the way to Kanyakumari.It is a vivid reminder of the rulers of Old Travancore or Venad State. Ruler Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal (1592 A.D. and 1609 A.D.) constructed the palace complex in 1601 AD, but the construction was completed in 1744 AD, in the Travancore architectural style. After the construction work was over, it was named Sri Padmanbha Perumal Palace in dedication of Lord Padmanabha.This is famous for its 17th and 18th century murals, carved mahogany ceiling, colored mica windows, secret underground passages, inner courtyards, durbal hall, museum, four poster medicinal bed, Belgian mirror, pictures of Lord Krishna, granite dance halls and special black shiny floors. The palace is a well preserved structure of Kerala palaces,and stands as a proud example of the cultural heritage of Travancore. It displays the splendor of the craftsmanship of the people of the bygone days. Padmanabhapuram Palace is a magnificent structure that speaks volumes about the ancient architecture of Kerala. On a visit to this palace one can experience the beauty of the traditional wooden architecture of Kerala. It is one of the famous Kerala palaces and tourist destinations. Sakthan Thampuran Palace is located at Trichur (Thrissur) in Kerala. It is an important landmark in the town and also has much historical significance. It is built in Dutch style in 1795. It is also called as Vadakkekara Palace. The Shakthan Thampuran Palace highlights several interesting and outstanding aspects of the former rulers of Kochi. The main structure of the palace has a two-storied building and a conventional Kerala style Naalukettu. Among Kerala palaces, it is a major tourist attraction and all history lovers will definitely want to go through this magnificent piece of historical monument. Poonjar Palace is located at Poonjar on the Pala-Erattupetta route, Kottayam District. The Poonjar Palace is a glorious testimony to the regal opulence of a bygone era. Near the palace is an amazing replica of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. The palace has an amazing collection of royal antiques like palanquin, weapons of warfare, grand chandeliers, jewel boxes and beautiful sculptures of Nataraja (dancing poses of Lord Shiva). The most fascinating thing here is the Chuttuvilakku (row of lamps) carved out on the stonewalls of the Sastha Temple nearby. Koyikkal Palace is located at Nedumangad, 18 kilometers from Trivandrum, on the way to the Ponmudi hill station and the Courtalam waterfalls of the Thiruvananthapuram district. This ancient palace is built in the traditional Kerala architectural style with slanting roofs and a courtyard inside. It was built for the queen of the Venad Royal family who ruled this land between 1677 and 1684. The Place has a popular folklore museum, as well as a Numismatics Museum, set up by the archeological department. The Folklore museum, set up in 1992 has a valuable treasure of musical instruments, occupational utensils, folk art models etc. The Numismatics Museum in the ground floor of the palace is one of its kind, exhibiting a rare and historically priceless collection of coins. It is yet another major tourist attraction. Bolghatty Palace is located on the Bolghatty Island just off the coast of Cochin, the Queen of the Arabian Sea. It was built in 1744 AD by the Dutch traders. Later it was leased to the British. This Palace was used as a British Governor's residence whenever he was in India. It was later handed over to the Kerala Government in 1947. Set amidst lush, tropical greenery, this prestigious heritage hotel is the property of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. Now it is the largest chain of hotels in the state. It is considered to be the pearl of the Indian Ocean. The Bolghatty palace is two-storied building containing well-decorated bed chambers and a huge lounge, which exhibits historical portraits. It is one of the mostly visited places of Kerala palaces. It is easily accessible with the help of the ferry services that are provided for tourists. Mattancherry Palace is located at Mattacherry in Kochi. It was built by the portuguese for the Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi in 1555 at Mattancherry. It was renovated in 1663 and since then it is also known as Dutch Palace. It has a large central courtyard and a temple. The styles of painting, used in the murals decorate the walls. The Central Hall on the upper storey was once used as the venue for the coronation of Cochin's rajas, and has a beautifully carved wooden ceiling. The palace with a Bhagavathi temple in the central courtyard is built similar to the typical Kerala style mansion, the Nalukettu- the home of the nobility, aristocracy and upper classes; with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard. There is an entire gallery of regal memorabilia, including costumes, palanquins, turbans and weaponry from the days of the Cochin rajas in the Palace. It is one of the important monuments of Kerala palaces. Krishnapuram Palace is located in Kayamkulam, about 47 km from Alappuzha.This palace was restructured during the 18th century and again renovated using scientific techniques. The most interesting exhibits displayed here is the Gajendra Moksham, spread over 49 sq meters, which is the largest band of mural painting that has been discovered in Kerala. The family deity of the Kayamkulam rajas was Lord Vishnu and His mural was placed at the palace entrance so that the kings could worship Him after their bath. The other attractive features of the Krishnapuram Palace are the beautiful gardens, the newly constructed Buddha Mandapam, rare antique bronze sculptures and remarkable paintings at the Museum. It is also one of important places of Kerala tourist attractions and also of Kerala palaces. Alwaye Palace stands overlooking the Periyar River and offers a beautiful sight from its circular balconies. Kanakakunnu Palace is situated in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city. It is where the Travancore royal family once entertained their guests is on top of a hill. Now it belongs to the Government. Today this palace, among the Kerala places, is the the venue for many cultural meets and programmes. An all India Dance Festival Nishagandhi (October to March) is organised by the Department of Tourism every year in the palace ground . During this period the classical Indian Dance Performances are conducted every day. The festival organised by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation is free and is usually accompanied with vocal, instrumental or fusion music. The Festival also showcases the traditional handicrafts of Kerala and the cuisines of India in the adjacent Sooryakanthi Fair Ground, also within the palace.

Indian Palaces

Palaces

Over the hundred countries India has been known for its rich culture some other major buildings as a world heritage monuments, architectural splendor, tremendous wealth, grandeur and majesty. And nowhere is it more evident than in the many royal forts, palaces homes and retreats that dot the country's landscape. It in these royal homes that one gets to see the ultimate in craftsmanship of Indian artists be it in stone, clay, leather, wood or ivory. In fact prior to Independence 40% of the subcontinent was ruled by royalty. In all there were 562 princely states ruled by maharajas and raos, walis and nizams who were known for their outrageous wealth and whimsical fancies. The aristocrats lost their kingdoms with Partition, and their perks when the government abolished their privy purses prompting them to find ways to maintain their lifestyles. Today, three decades later, much of India's royalty is determined to restore their lost glory and lifestyle and they are doing so by opening up their homes and palaces much to the delight of the new age traveler. Many royal palaces, forts, hunting lodges, retreats and havelis (mansions) are now being turned into heritage hotels and offer travellers an experience of royal living and the grandeur that comes with it. While Rajasthan has some of the most splendid palaces others across the country are no less grand. Since most are heritage hotels, one can actually stay in many of them and enjoy the regal experience. Some of the best known palace hotels in Rajasthan include Jaipur's Rambagh, Laxminiwas and Samode palaces. Jodhpur has the spectacular Umaid Bhavan - a fantastic monument that incorporates the art deco architecture that was in vogue when the palace was built in the last century. A relatively new palace it was built as a part of a famine relief project. Udaipur has several beautiful palaces built by generations of royalty and the jewel among them is the Lake Palace built as a royal summer residence on an island. Even smaller, relatively unknown places in Rajasthan boast of pretty royal homes and you can be sure to find one where ever you go. An excellent example of a royal home and township is Fatehpur Sikri built by the Mughal emperor Akbar. Though it lies abandoned today, it is a fascinating piece of architecture and town planning complete with royal homes. In the western state of Gujarat , one of the most beautiful palaces is in Wankaner. Now a heritage hotel one can enjoy staying in the royal suites while checking out the Maharaja's fantastic collection of vintage cars, many of them made to order. In central India , Madhya Pradesh's many towns and cities have many beautiful places, hunting lodges, and jungle retreats such as Mandu, Orcha, and Shivpuri. The many forts across the country also doubled up as royal homes. In fact many had several palaces like the medieval fortress of Narwar in Madhya Pradesh. Many of its palaces are decorated with gold lacquer and glass beads. In the South, Mysore and Bangalore in Karnataka both have palaces that are a must visit on any itinerary. Tamil Nadu's temple towns also house lovely royal homes with their own unique architecture that was largely let untouched by Mughal influences. Madurai 's highly ornamented Nayak palace built in 1636 by King Thirumalai Nayak is a remarkable synthesis of varied decorative elements. Kerala's Padmanabhapuram Palace showcases some of the finest craftsmanship in the country The palace was once the capital of the Travancore and it also has beautiful murals of the 17th & 18th century.

Mysore Palace Inside, the palace has exquisitely carved doors and stunningly luxurious rooms. The Durbar Hall is richly decorated with ornate ceilings, intricately carved doors, gleaming floors, and frescoes depicting scenes from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The palace even has its own marriage pavilion - the Kalyana Mantapa. A fabulous art gallery has paintings depicting scenes of the city's famous Dassera processions led by the erstwhile Maharaja. Today the palace continues to be the residence of the scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, who is a Member of Parliament. The rear of the palace houses a private museum. The palace building also houses the office of the State Archeological Department and some temples, some of which are good examples of Dravidian architecture.The palace is illuminated at 7 p.m. every Sunday and on public holidays, and it makes for a magnificent sight.

Nalagrah

At the foothills of the Shivalik Ranges, in Himachal Pradesh, amidst a 20 acre-forest estate, is the quaint Nalagrah Palace. History states that Raja Ajai Chand, in 1100 AD, founded the kingdom of Hindur, and its capital Nalagarh. Today, Nalagrah is a retreat that is open to all and offers a royal holiday complete with grandeur, tranquility and modern facilities. Maintained by the Welcome Heritage chain of hotels, the palace has been renovated but continues to exude old world charm. Here one can watch the dawn rise over the fort walls, take a nature walk or enjoy a picnic in the royal orchards. The rooms are quaint and have well preserved antique furniture. One can also unwind with a Sansha Ayurvedic Massage. Near by is the Ramgarh fort that is worth a visit for its spectacular views of the Himalayas. The fastest way to get to Nalagarh is from Chandigarh - being just 60 kms away. One can fly from Delhi to Chandigarh, and take a taxi or bus to the resort. Alternately one can take a train to Kalka and then drive to Nalagarh. The best time to visit is between September and March.

Samode

40 kms north-west of Jaipur, the old palace of Samode is now a luxurious hotel surrounded by hills. It has a most exotic hall embellished with paintings and mirror work.

Sawai Madhopur Lodge This romantic, mini palace with regal interiors was built as a hunting lodge by the Maharaja of Jaipur. A beautiful lounge with a fireplace and bar adds to the ambience of the lodge. It is an ideal stop en route a visit to the Ranthambore National Park, 400 sq. km. of dry deciduous forest and one of the finest homes of the tiger.

Shiv Niwas Palace

Shaped like the crescent moon, resembling a magnificent tiara, this magnificent palace gazes down into the blue calm of Lake Pichola. 'Shiv Niwas', used to be the imperial guesthouse of the Mewar rulers. Built in the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh (1884-1930), Shiv Niwas has been host to visiting royalty and important people from all over the world, including King George V, in 1905. This elegant palace is now a luxury hotel and you can stay in any of its' imperial, royal, historic, deluxe or regular suites, or rooms, all centrally air-conditioned and heated. The Ram Bagh Palace

The beautiful Ram Bagh Palace is in Rajasthan's capital Jaipur. The state capital is known as the "Pink City" because of the colour of the stone used exclusively in the walled city. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Ram Bagh Palace is now a luxury hotel and named after Maharaja Swai Ram Singh II (1835 -80) who organized it into a hunting lodge and gave it its name Ram Bagh or the Garden of Ram. More rooms were added during 1887 to accommodate the Royal Guests of Maharaja Madho Singh and it was transformed into a luxurious 26 rooms mansion. In 1931 Maharaja Mannish enlarged and modernized the palace. 1n 1940 when Maharaja Mansingh married the ravishing Princess Gayatri Devi, he revamped the Royal Suites. The 106 elegantly decorated rooms have been done up in traditional Rajasthani style with 4 special princely suites, of course with all modern amenities. You can go utterly decadent in the Maharaja Suite with a large canopied bed, Maharani Suite with mirrored bathroom and Princess Suite with fountains and private terrace garden. What's even more beautiful is the sound of peacocks as you awaken every morning.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur traveled to England in 1925, in search of an architect. He commissioned the London firm Lanchester and Lodge, and 15 years later, some 3000 people had built the Maharaja this spectacular sandstone palace, the Umaid Bhawan Palace . Jodhpur 's royal residence, this splendid palace is considered the largest private residence in the world. Designed by Henry Vaughan Lanchester, it took 14 years to build and was completed in 1943, the last of India 's great palaces. The withdrawal of titles, privileges and privy purses from the former rulers of the states, in 1971, by the Government of India, made it difficult for the princely families to maintain the palaces that were their homes. That's when the young Maharaja Gaj Singh started exploring the possibilities of turning a part of the palace into a hotel. Subsequently, the Umaid Bhawan was opened as the finest luxury hotel in India . It has 95 rooms and suites and is reputed to be amongst the finest palace hotels in the world. The sumptuous art deco interiors have been carefully restored. The hotel has its own post office, museum, library, auditorium, underground swimming pool, tennis courts, marble-floored squash courts, a billiards room and gardens which can accommodate 6000 people. Residents can amble through the Throne Room and garages stabling vintage cars. The Hotel's kitchens are known for their Marwari and Rajasthani food.

Fatehpur Sikri- Tha Symbol Of Mughal Architect

Fatehpur Sikri This is true that India has so many secretes in its depth. Therefore it has an incredible Culture and some peoples helped to make this culture differ to any other. A concern person as a Akbar who helped the India to made a same above by construct the forts, the tombs, and some beautiful miniatures. Fatehpur Sikri is an one if them. Before one month I was in India for a tour of great Golden triangle Delhi-Agra-Jaipur. I left the Taj city Agra and drive down for Jaipur via Fatehpur Sikri. I didn’t heard this Before but when I visited that monument then I found, Fatehpur Sikri Greatest of all the Mughal Emperors who ruled India, Akbar ascended to the throne in 1556 at the tender age of 14 years. Apparent reason of ascending throne was the sudden demise of his father, Humayun. Akbar turned his attention towards building a magnificent Imperial capital at Agra as soon as he consolidated his power. Instant result of his interest was impressive Agra Fort, which was a great asset militarily as well as it served as the royal residence. In due course of time Akbar decided to shift his capital to nearby. There is a difference of opinion among historians about this decision of Akbar. According to the legends Akbar used to visit the hamlet of Sikri to take the blessings of the great Sufi saint Salim Chisti in order to have an heir to his throne. Akbar's visitations were fruitful, for he was blessed with three sons. He built the new city according to the instructions of Salim Chisti whose mausoleum is a part of Fatehpur Sikri. Another set of historians say that he built the new city at Fatehpur Sikri as it was falling on the highway towards South India from North India. From this place he was able to control all parts of the country and move in any direction without much trouble. The new city was set on a hilltop that made it reasonably safe from future attacks. The new city, built on a ridge, grew into a magnificent township larger than contemporary London. Akbar did not stayed in this magnificent city for long and reasons for deserting Fatehpur Sikri are as much mysterious as was its construction. Fatehpur Sikri - The Architectural Style At Sikri, the various royal palaces have been built in Gujarati and Rajasthani architectural styles, using ornate columns, fanciful jali work (intricately perforated decorative stone screens), sumptuous carving, and surface ornamentation. Most of the buildings located inside Fatehpur Sikri are a unique blend of architectural traditions flourishing at that time in India. These small palaces are largely a sequence of connected rectangular courtyards; these are aligned with the polar axes and so have to be grouped in a staggered formation across, the top of the narrow diagonal ridge. The overwhelmingly Hindu architectural vocabulary, however, cannot conceal the Islamic norms followed in the large-scale planning that is supposed to have derived from Arab and Central Asia tent compartments! Fatehpur Sikri - Monuments within

Diwan-I-Aam

As one enters Sikri from the Agra Gate, one of the nine gateways on the way to the palace complex, Diwan-I-Aam, or the hall of public audience appears first. It is a huge rectangular walled-in courtyard where petitions were heard, proclamations made, embassies received and entertainment programs held. The royal balcony, set within a frame of jail screens, appears on the western front. In front of the royal seat, a stone hook is still found embedded in the ground. As per tradition, Akbar's pet elephant Hiran was tied to this hook to crush to death under its feet the head of the guilty. If it refused to obey thrice, the victim was freed. Diwan-I-KhasThe royal enclosure lies behind the Diwan-I-Aam. At the northern corner stands a small but grand single-storey structure of Diwan-I-Khas with the most magnificently sculptured and most photographed stone column at the center of the hall. It bursts forth into a set of 36 closely set vaulted and pendulous brackets supporting a circular platform from which radiate four passages. Is it really the famous Ibadat-Khana where Akbar initiated religious discourses amongst diverse religious groups-Hindu, Muslim, Jain, and Jesuit etc? Panch Mahal Panch Mahal, a five storeyed pavilion, stands on the western line of the courtyard. This is the badgir, the Persian wind tower for ladies of the harem. The jail screens between the 176 differently carved pillars have disappeared. Once these screens provided purdah (cover) to queens and princess on the top terraces enjoying the cool breezes and watching splendid views of Sikri fortifications and the town nestling at the foot of the ridge. In the courtyard Akbar played pachisi (checker board) with dancing girls as live pieces. Jami Masjid The mosque at Sikri was the first structure to be built in 1571. The exterior is modest but the interior carries the most gorgeous ornamentation in the floral arabesques and ingenious geometrical patterns in brown, red, turquoise, black and white. The spacious courtyard adds a stately charm to the place. It could accommodate ten thousand men at prayer. Akbar was so enthusiastic about this mosque that he occasionally swept the floor and gave azan (call for prayer). On June 26, 1579, Akbar even read the khutba himself, a great innovation, earlier attempted only the Timur and Mirza Ulugh Beg. Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti In 1580-81 eighty years after the saint died in 1572, Akbar built the tomb in red sandstone. In 1606, Qutubuddin Khan Koka, on orders from Jehangir, covered the edifice in white marble. Much later in 1866, a district magistrate of Agra replaced the plaster dome with white marble. The magnificence of the splendid jail screens carved out of huge marble slabs shows a rare perfection of craftsmanship. The dramatic serpentine brackets supporting the wide chajja on all four sides of the edifice have an amazing grace. The real grave lies in an undisturbed repose in the crypt, closed to visitors. Women devotees longing for a child come here and tie a colored thread to the jails. In a gesture of thankfulness they come back when their wish is granted. Buland Darwaza Buland Darwaza, the colossal triumphal arch, was built in 1575 on the southern wall of the courtyard. It celebrates Akbar's conquest of Gujarat. The towering portal has the height of 176 feet from ground level and 134 feet over the top step. The grand recessed central arch is the most magnificent of its kind in the entire range of Mughal architecture in India. Modest ornamentation with calligraphy contains a famous line: The world is but a bridge: Pass over but build no houses on it. The Buland Darwaza commands the landscape for miles. Palaces in the Harem Abdul Fazl, Akbar's historian, mentions that the royal harem had nearly 5000 wives. The queens always brought with them a great entourage of maids and dancers. The queen mother and princess had innumerable slave girls as their attendants. The member of concubines, families of courtiers away on royal duty, and dancing girls was always on the rise. The harem included not only the chief wives but all women inmates. Haresara (female quarters) occupies the largest central area in the royal enclosure at Sikri. Jodha Bai's palace belonged to Harkha, the Amber princess and mother of Jehangir, and the other Rajput wives from Bikaner, Marwar, Jaisalmer, Merta and Durgapur and their companions. No wife of Akbar was called Jodha Bai. One of Jehangir's wives was so called. This is a high-walled edifice, guarded by a grand gateway leading to a spectacular courtyard. With double storeyed pavilions at the center of colonnades on all four sides, this place has some striking Hindu architectural features like ornamental columns, bells and chain motifs, heavy brackets and niches on the wall for the deities worshipped by Rajput ladies.The other smaller but beautiful palace belonged to Akbar's mother, Hamida Banu Begun, widow of Humayun. She was the most respected lady of the harem with the title Mariam-Makani. This palace is also called Sunehra Makan (golden house) because of the golden paint on the faded murals. The third palace in the harem quarters belonged to Akbar's two senior wives: Ruqayya Sultan Begum (who brought up Jahangir's son Khurram later called Shahjahan), and Salima Sultan Begum-widow of Bairam Khan. Maybe here lived Birbal's daughter who was married to Akbar hence its present name, Birbal Mahal. Surely no male could have been allowed to stay within the corner of the Sikri ridge.

Gwalior Fort

GWALIOR FORT The Mughal emperor Babar referred to the Gwalior Fort as “the pearl amongst fortresses in India” and although you may beg to differ, you will probably agree that this, the dominating feature of Gwalior’s skyline, is definitely a citadel worth seeing. With a turbulent and pretty eventful past, the Gwalior Fort spreads out over an area of 3 square km, bounded by solid walls of sandstone, which enclose three temples, six palaces and a number of water tanks. Regarded as North and Central India’s most impregnable fortress, the Gwalior Fort was built by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th century. In the five hundred years since then, the fort has changed hands many times- it has been held by the Tomars, Mughals, Marathas and British, who finally handed it over to the Scindias. Today it’s a must-see sight on any Gwalior itinerary, and just the ride up to the fort gives you a taste of what’s coming: the southern path is bounded by rock faces with intricate carvings of the Jain tirthankars. As you enter the fort, you’ll see lots more to impress and interest you: palaces and temples, impressive gates and historic water tanks. Of the temples in the Gwalior Fort, the most famous are the Teli-ka-Mandir- a 9th century Dravidian-style shrine which is notable for its profusely sculpted exterior; the Saas-Bahu Temples- two pillared temples which stand next to each other, one larger than the other; and the Chaturbhuj Mandir, a Vaishnavite shrine dating back to the 9th century. Among the fort’s most prominent palaces is the amazingly ornate Man Singh Palace, built by Man Singh in the 15th century. Embellished with a vivid pattern in tile and paint, the palace spreads over four levels, and despite its picture-pretty appearance, has a somewhat gory history: Mughal emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned and later murdered his brother Murad here. Equally grisly is the Jauhar Kund, which marks the spot where the women of the harem burnt themselves to death after the defeat of the king of Gwalior in 1232. Other palaces within the Gwalior Fort which are worth seeing include the Karan Palace, the Jahangir Mahal, the Shahjahan Mahal and the Gujri Mahal (the latter built by Man Singh for his favourite queen, Mrignayani).