venu15-blog

[venu15-blog]

8 Marvellous Hill Forts of Rajasthan

Aptly known as the ‘Land of kings’, Rajasthan is also the largest state in the Republic of India. Formerly known as Rajputana, Rajasthan was divided into various regions, which were ruled by various clans, the notable clans include Meenas, Gurjars, Rajputs and Jats which were responsible for the building of the state of Rajasthan, and were responsible for building various historical monuments which in turn provided the rich cultural heritage found in the state. The monuments of Prime importance are the various hill forts, mostly based in the Aravalli Mountain Range, and built between the 5th century AD and 17th – 18th century AD. The Hill forts of Rajasthan are long standing masterpieces of architecture and have housed the rich cultural heritage of the Princely Clans that built them. It’s really hard to cover all the hill forts in the state but the ones mentioned below are guaranteed to keep you spell bound for months to come.

1. Chittorgarh Fort

The largest fort in India, it was constructed in the 7th century AD by the Mauryans and was named after the Maurya Ruler Chitrangada Mori. It was later ruled by the Sisodiya clan of Rajputs. In the year 1567, Emperor Akbar invaded and took siege of the place and the fort was finally abandoned in 1568, it lies at a height of 590.06 ft and spans across an area of 691.09 acres. Chittorgarh was the former capital of Mewar before Maharaja Udai Singh II left the fort following his defeat at the hands of Akbar and founded a more secure, Udaipur as the capital of Mewar in 1559. The fort has a total of 7 gates, namely Pandan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and the largest gate, the Ram Pol. The fort is exemplary of the marvellous architecture of the Maurya period. The fort also houses various historical monuments like the Vijay stambh, Kirti Stambh, Fatah Prakash palace, Rana Kumbha palace, Gaumukh reservoir and Padmini’s palace. Apart from these, the fort also houses various temples dedicated to the various Hindu deities. The fort is reminiscent of the rich culture of Rajasthan which is too vast to be contained in a small article like this and is a “must visit” tourist attraction in Rajasthan.

2. Amer Fort

Also known as Amber Fort is located in the Amer village, 11 kilometres away from the city of Jaipur. It was built in 1592 AD on the remnants of an earlier structure by Maharaja Man Singh of the Kachwaha Rajput clan and was expanded by his descendant Maharaja Jai Singh I.  The structure underwent numerous improvements for the next 150 years till in 1727, the then ruler Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who founded the new Capital city of Jaipur. This massive fort has a total of 4 courtyards, the 1st courtyard , also known as the ‘Jaleb Chowk’, which was the place for soldiers to assemble, and various parades were held here, the 1st courtyard also houses an elegant temple called the Shila Mata temple, and is still visited by millions. The 2nd courtyard was the place where the ‘Diwan-Ai-Aam’ or the public assemblies were held, it contains a raised platform with 27 colonnades, each of which mount elephant shaped galleries above them. The 3rd courtyard houses the private quarters of the Maharajas, the Mughal Gardens, the Tripolia gate, the Lion gate and the Sheesha mahal or the mirror palace and is an example of the awe-inspiring architecture from the Rajput and Mughal period, the 4th courtyard was the place where the Queen, courtesans and other women lived. The Amer fort is one of the top tourist attractions in Rajasthan, which is frequented by a whopping 5000 visitors per day and houses the rich cultural flamboyancy and the marvellous architectural competence of the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan.

3. Mehrangarh Fort

The 15th Rathore Rajput ruler Maharaja Rao Jodha Singh, who realised that the 1000 years old Mandore Fort was no longer a secure location, decided to move the capital of Marwar to Jodhpur and thus in 1459 laid the foundations of this impregnable Citadel of Mehrangarh. The fort is situated 400 feet above the city of Jodhpur, surrounded by thick impregnable walls; the fort houses various palaces and courtyards which are a fine example of Rajputana style of architecture. The fort has 7 gates, 4 of which have real historical importance as they were built by the rulers to celebrate the clan’s various victories. There are 4 notable period rooms in the fort namely, Moti Mahal – The Pearl Palace, Sheesha Mahal – The Hall Of Mirrors, Phool Mahal – The Palace Of Flowers and Takhat Vilas – Maharaja Takhat Singh’s Chamber.  Apart from these, the fort also has a museum which has various galleries which display various artefacts, an armoury and numerous paintings of the Rathore rulers and their various Conquests. One of the major attractions in the fort is the Chamunda Mataji Temple, which is till date the royal family’s adopted goddess, the Idol was brought by Rao Jodha from the old capital of Mandore and is worshipped by most of the citizens of Jodhpur. Mehrangarh Fort is one of the prime tourist attractions in the marvellous city of Jodhpur. Although it is not among forts of Rajasthan in the UNESCO world heritage list, the rich culture, the marvellous architecture and the historic importance that it houses cannot be avoided.

4. Kumbhalgarh Fort

Built in the 15th century AD by Rana Kumbha and was enlarged throughout the 19th century, was also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. The fort is built 1100 meters above sea level and is situated 82 kilometres northwest from the city of Udaipur; it’s the second most important Fort for the Mewar rulers after Chittorgarh. The perimeter of the wall that surrounds the fort extends to 36 kilometres and is 15 -25 feet thick making it the second largest wall in Asia after the Great Wall of China. The fort contains over 360 temples within its walls. It was occupied by the Sisodiya Rajput family till the late 19th century and is now open to public as a tourist attraction.

5. Jaigah fort

Located 400 Feet above the Amer fort, on a hill top named the ‘Cheel ka teela’ or the hill of eagles, was built by the Kachwaha Rajput ruler Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the year 1726. Fashioned in order to protect the Amer Fort and was named after the king, the structure is similar in design to the Amer fort, the palace complex comprises of 4 courtyards, Laxmi Vilas, Lalit Mandir, Vilas Mandir and Aram Mandir and has a well tended garden which were the residence of the royal family for many years. The Subhat niwas was the assembly hall of the warriors; the fort also had an armoury, a cannon foundry and a museum which hold many artefacts and paintings which belong to the royal family, there are 2 temples in the fort; the Ram Harihar temple of 10th century vintage and the Kal bhairav temple of the 12th century vintage. The fort has an impressively designed water harvesting system over a 4 kilometre distance, the water was stored in 3 underground reservoirs the largest of which can hold upto 6 million gallons of water. One of the prime artefacts housed by the Citadel is the world’s largest cannon on wheels, the Jaivana cannon, which was manufactured in 1720 at the foundry located in the fort itself. Although never fired in battle, was only test fired once with a charge of 100 kilograms of gunpowder and a 50 kilogram cannonball, which is said to have covered a distance of 35 kilometres in the direction of the town of Chaksu, and the impact as said by many, was powerful enough to create a depression causing the creation of a pond which can be seen today as well.

6. Ranthambore fort

Founded in the 944 AD by the Nagil jats, The Jat king Raja Sajraj Veer Singh Nagil the then ruler of Ranthambore, in order to protect his kingdom from invaders, raised the citadel 700 feet above the surrounding plain to make the area suitable for defence. The fort was occupied and re-occupied by the Nagil jats till the rule passed in the hands of the Chauhans and then by the Sultans in 1301. The land was ruled by various Rulers of different regions including the Mewar Rajputs, Sultan Bahadur Shah till the Mughal invasion of Akbar and subsequently passed in the hands of the Kachwaha Rajput family and the surrounding areas became hunting grounds for the royal family until the independence of India in 1947. The walls of the fort surround an area of around 4 kilometres, mines created to obtain the stone for making this fort were later turned into ponds for water storage and the fort also has various temples that can be dated back to the 12th century. A must see site for all people who visit Ranthambore.

7. Jaisalmer fort

Jaisalmer fort was built in the year 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput king Rao Jaisal and thus was given the name Jaisalmer, situated on the Trikuta hill in the stretches of the Thar Desert has massive yellow sandstone walls, hence giving the Citadel the nickname ‘Sonar Quila’ or the Golden Fort. The defences of the fort contain 99 bastions, the major attraction in this fort include The Raj Mahal (the royal palace), Jain Temples, Lakshminath Temple and the 4 massive gateways. At one point of time, the entire population of the city lived inside the fort. The fort enshrines various merchant havelis or houses, built by the wealthy merchants of Rajasthan, the havelis can contain many floors and countless rooms, with decorated windows known as jharokhas, doors and balconies. Most of the Havelis have been turned into museums but a few are still housed by the descendants of the Merchants that built them in the first place. The fort also has an effective drainage system that allows easy drainage of rainwater from the fort in all four directions; various eateries including French, Italian and Native cuisines are also worth checking out. The fort is considered to be the most breath taking monuments in human history.

8. Gagron Fort

The foundations of the fort was laid in the 7th century AD and was completed in the 14th century AD by king Bijaldev of the Pramara dynasty; it is surrounded by the rivers Ahu, Kali and Sindh on three sides, behind the fort are forests and the Mukundarrah Range of hills giving the fort a one of a kind location. It has been a witness to many battles and is reminiscent of the heroic Valor and martyrdom of Rajputs of the Khichi Chauhan Clan who stood valiantly against the Mandu ruler Hosheng Shah. It is situated 12 kilometres from the city of Jhalawar; right outside the fort lays the Dargah of Sufi saint Mittheshah, where a splendid fair is held every year during the month of Moharram. Inside the fort is a temple dedicated to the Hindu deities Shiva, Ganesha and Durga.

Rajasthan being the land of kings has numerous forts and palaces, but the aforementioned places are the ones which you might find the most mesmerising. The best time to go on a trip to Rajasthan is between October till the end of February, with great weather to roam about and experience the pomp and splendour of this culturally rich State, we can assure you that you will never forget your visit to these great tourist spots and count your visit among your most cherished memories.

[venu15-blog]

CULTURAL HERITAGE OF JAIPUR

Jaipur’s rich cultural heritage is displayed in the traditions, customs, lifestyle, art and architecture of this place. In fact the best understanding of Jaipur’s culture can be attained through its art, music and architecture.

    1. Jaipur Art:

The Mughal and Rajput rulers used to invite skilled artists and craftsmen from all over India and abroad to display and share their abilities with the people of Jaipur. Many of them settled here leading to development of Jaipur as the heaven of rich art and culture. Some of the artful talents of artisans include: Bandhani; Block printing; Stone carving and Sculpture; Tarkashi; Zari, Gota, Kinari and Zardozi; Silver  Jewellery; Gems, Kundan, Meenakari and Jewellery; Miniature paintings; Blue Pottery; Ivory carving; Shellac work; Leather ware, etc.

2. Cuisine

The pink city presents to you scrumptious cuisines that are known throughout India; dishes like Dal Bati Churma, Missi Roti, and sweets like Ghevar, Feeni, Gajak, to name a few.

3. Jaipur Fairs And Festivals

This city witnesses various fairs and festivals at different time of the year. Some of the festivals are Gangaur festival, Jaipur Literature festival, Kite festival. The colourful  city becomes even more lively and lovely.

4. Jaipur Jewellery:

Today Jaipur is known all over the world over a Gem centre. It is the world capital for Emerald because 80% of all finished Emerald work of the world originated from Jaipur. From costly Emerald to semi-precious and artificial Gems, 84 kind of Gems are cut and finished here. Jaipur is a centre of excellent Meenakari, Kundan and Stone set and Lack jewellery.

[venu15-blog]

JANTAR MANTAR

The Jantar Mantar monument in Jaipur, Rajasthan is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II , and completed in 1734 CE.  It features the world's largest stone sundial, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Located near City Palace and Hawa Mahal of Jaipur, the monument features masonry, stone and brass instruments that were built using astronomy and instrument design principles of ancient Hindu Sanskrit texts. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. The monument expresses architectural innovations, as well as the coming together of ideas from different religious and social beliefs in 18th century India. The observatory is an example of the Ptolemaic positional astronomy which was shared by many civilizations.

The monument features instruments operating in each of the three main classical celestial coordinate systems: the horizon-zenith local system, the equatorial system and the ecliptic system. The Kapala Yantraprakara is one that works in two systems and allows transformation of the coordinates directly from one system to the other.

The monument was damaged in the 19th century. Early restoration work was undertaken under the supervision of Major Arthur Garrett, a keen amateur astronomer, during his appointment as Assistant State Engineer for the Jaipur District.

[venu15-blog]

Jaigarh Fort is situated on the promontory called the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli range; it overlooks the Amber Fort and the Maota Lake, near Amber in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The fort was built by Jai Singh II in 1726 to protect the Amber Fort and its palace complex and was named after him.

The fort, rugged and similar in structural design to the Amber Fort, is also known as Victory Fort. It has a length of 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) along the north–south direction and a width of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi). The fort features a cannon named "Jaivana", which was manufactured in the fort precincts and was then the world's largest cannon on wheels.  The palace complex (Laxmi Vilas, Lalit Mandir, Vilas Mandir and Aram Mandir) located ), an armoury and a museum. Jaigarh Fort and Amber Fort are connected by subterranean passages and considered as one complex.

[venu15-blog]

THE CITY PALACE, JAIPUR

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.

[venu15-blog]

TOP 6 ATTRACTION IN JAIPUR RAJASTHAN

1. Pink City

To experience the originality, to experience the traditional touch of the glorious past, your stop should be at old city, famously known as the Pink City, which is famous for magnificent palaces. The founder was Sawai Jai Singh II. To offer cordial welcome to Prince of Wales in 1876, the entire city was painted in pink color, which resembles hospitality. You cannot help marvel the architectural brain as the construction of the city was planned on providing excellent ventilation through out. You will love the exclusive artwork in the jewellery. You need to commence your Jaipur tour from Pink City, considered the first planned Indian city.

2. City Palace

Once you are in Pink City, you will naturally be inclined to visiting City Palace, which is situated in Pink City. It was constructed by Sawai Jai Singh II between 1729 and 1732 AD. The palace complex comprises of Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal. Now, Chandra Mahal has been converted into museum that houses exclusive handcrafted products and other products that depict the cultural heritage of the kingdom. Not only will you enjoy the architecture, you will be awe struck by the glorious view of Pink City from here.

3. Hawa Mahal

A stunning presentation of the rich architectural expertise of the past, Hawa Mahal is a not-to-miss tourist places in Jaipur. The Mahal was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. True to the name it earned as the ‘Palace of the Winds’, Hawa Mahal has 953 windows to provide ventilation. The five-storey building does not have steps to reach upper floors. Slopes connect the storeys and it is said that the Mahal was constructed to enable the Royal women of Rajput family to view the happenings in the city. You would want to visit the archeological museum in Hawa Mahal during your visit.

4. Amber Fort

Also known as Amer Fort, it is located in Amer, which is around 11 kilometers from Jaipur. It was constructed by Raja Mansingh in the year 1592. It was later expanded by Raja Jai Singh I. The red sandstone and marble stone construction reflect a blend of Hindu-Muslim architecture. The main entrance faces east and there are three more entrances. There are four courtyards in Amber Palace. One of the courtyards has the Public Audience Hall, called the Diwan-i-AAm. The place provides you an opportunity to ride on elephant. Though it is only a ten-minute walk to the fort, which is uphill, you will want to try it on an elephant.

5. Jantar Mantar Observatory

If you have any doubts about having to spend your time at an observatory on your tour, reconsider it. Jantar Mantar is not just like any other average observatory; it is ranked amongst the largest observatories of the world. Built during the period of Maharaja Jai Singh II, the astronomical observatory has the largest sundial of the world. Maharaja Jai Singh II had avid interest in various subjects including architecture, astronomy, philosophy and astronomy. His keen interest in astronomy led him to construct the country’s largest observatory. The geometric devices available here are used in measuring time, observing constellations and orbits around the biggest star. The astrological instruments attract astronomers and architects from all parts of the world. Whatever your level of interest in space, you will be inspired by Jantar Mantar Observatory.

6. Dera Amer Elephant Safari

Being in Jaipur, you would not want to miss elephant safari. If you are keen to engage the adventurous spirit in you, the hills behind Amer fort is the right place. This is where Dera Amer is situated and it is the foothills of Aravali Range. You will enjoy the elephant safari in the serene atmosphere. The ride will take you through fields, fortress and to the camp in the middle of Aravali forests.

[venu15-blog]

JAIVANA - Worlds biggest Cannon

It was cast in 1720, by Jai Singh II of Jaipur the administrator of Jaigarh Fort during the reign of the Muhammad Shah. The formidable strength of its builder, the scientifically inclined warrior Sawai Jai Singh II, lay in the large number of artillery and copious supply of munitions which he maintained. Four elephants were used to swivel it around on its axis.

Now it is located at the Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur.

The length of the barrel of the cannon is 6.15 m (20.2 ft) and it weighs 50 tons. The circumference near the tip of the barrel is 2.2 m (7.2 ft) and that of the rear is 2.8 m (9.2 ft). The diameter of the bore of the barrel is 28 cm (11 in) and the thickness of the barrel at the tip is 21.6 cm (8.5 in). The thickness gradually increases as one moves towards the rear of the barrel. The two thick rings on the barrel were used for lifting it with the help of a crane which, though incomplete, is still lying in Jaigarh. A 776-millimetre-long (30.6 in) elevating screw was used for raising and lowering the barrel.

The barrel has floral design. An elephant rests on the tip of the barrel and a pair of peacocks are carved in the center. A pair of ducks also decorates the rear of the barrel.

Jaivan rests on a high two-wheeled carriage. The wheels are 1.37 m (4.5 ft) in diameter. The carriage is equipped with two removable additional wheels for transport. The removable wheels are 2.74 m (9.0 ft) in diameter.

[venu15-blog]

SHEESH MAHAL - The Mirror Palace

The third courtyard is where the private quarters of the Maharaja, his family and attendants were located. This courtyard is entered through the Ganesh Pol or Ganesh Gate, which is embellished with mosaics and sculptures. The courtyard has two buildings, one opposite to the other, separated by a garden laid in the fashion of the Mughal Gardens. The building to the left of the entrance gate is called the Jai Mandir, which is exquisitely embellished with glass inlaid panels and multi-mirrored ceilings. The mirrors are of convex shape and designed with coloured foil and paint which would glitter bright under candlelight at the time it was in use. Also known as Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), the mirror mosaics and coloured glasses were a "glittering jewel box in flickering candle light". Sheesh mahal was built by king Man Singh in 16th century and completed in 1727. It is also the foundation year of Jaipur state. However, most of this work was allowed to deteriorate during the period 1970–80 but has since then been in the process of restoration and renovation. The walls around the hall hold carved marble relief panels. The hall provides enchanting vistas of the Maota Lake. The Mirrors used in Sheesh Mahal were specially imported from Belgium.

[venu15-blog]

DIWAN-E-AAM

The second courtyard, up the main stairway of the first level courtyard, houses the Diwan-i-Aam or the Public Audience Hall. Built with a double row of columns, the Diwan-i-Aam is a raised platform with 27 colonnades, each of which is mounted with an elephant-shaped capital, with galleries above it. As the name suggests, the Raja(King) held audience here to hear and receive petitions from the public. Patterned after similar halls in mughal palaces, the Diwan-i-Aam was the court where the raja gave audience to his subjects and met his officials. Festivities aur certain special occasions, like the celebration following a victory in battle, Dussehra, birthday of Raja were held here. The building was constructed on the orders of Raja Man Singh (1589-1614 A.D) in red sand stone and marble masonry. The beautifully ornamented in carved patterns of elephant head and vines, the detail are a charming confluence of decorative features found in the mughal and rajput style of architecture. The distinctively constructed roof is supported by two rows of columns. The outer one in coupled pairs, are of red sand stone and inner ones of cream marble. South of the Diwan-i-Aam are “27 kachehris or 27 offices running in a series. These colonnaded arches housed the government secretariat from where the administration of amber state was carried out.

[venu15-blog]

MAGIC FLOWER A particular attraction in Amer fort is the "magic flower" carved marble panel at the base of one of the pillars around the mirror palace depicting two hovering butterflies; the flower has seven unique designs including a fish tail, lotus, hooded cobra, elephant trunk, lion's tail, cob of corn, and scorpion, each one of which is visible by a special way of partially hiding the panel with the hands.

[venu15-blog]

SURAJ POL (Sun gate) and JALEB CHOWK

Suraj pol or sun gate is the main entrance to the Amber fort. The gate is named sun gate because it directly faces the east direction from which the sun rises. Royal cavalcade and dignitaries entered through this gate and also palaces guard duty was located on this gate. This gate directly leads to the jaleb chowk, the first main courtyard. This was the place where armies would hold victory parades with their war bounty on their return from battles, which were also witnessed by the Royal family’s women folk through the latticed windows.Jaleb Chowk is an Arabic phrase meaning a place for soldiers to assemble. This is one of the four courtyards of Amer Palace, which was built during Sawai Jai Singh’s reign (1693–1743 AD). The Maharaja’s personal bodyguards held parades here under the command of the army commander or Fauj Bakshi. The Maharaja used to inspect the guards contingent. Adjacent to the courtyard were the horse stables, with the upper level rooms occupied by the guards.

[venu15-blog]

AMER FORT, JAIPUR

The Amer Fort, situated in Amber, 11 kilometers from Jaipur, is one of the most famous forts of Rajasthan. Amer, originally, was the capital of the state before Jaipur. It is an old fort, built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh. This fort is also very popularly known as the Amer Palace. The Amer Fort was built in red sandstone and marble and the Maotha Lake adds a certain charm to the entire Fort.

Earlier to the Kachwahas, Amer was a small place built by Meenas in the town they consecrated to Amba, the Mother Goddess, whom they knew as ‘Gatta Rani’ or 'Queen of the Pass’.[7] The fort is originally believed to have been built by Raja Man Singh during 967 CE. Amer Fort, as it stands now, was built over the remnants of this earlier structure during the reign of Raja Man Singh, the Kachwaha King of Amber. The structure was fully expanded by his descendant, Jai Singh I. Even later, Amer Fort underwent improvements and additions by successive rulers over the next 150 years, until the Kachwahas shifted their capital to Jaipur during the time of Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1727.The current Amer Palace, was created in the late 16th century, as a larger palace to the already existing home of the rulers. The older palace, known as Kadimi Mahal (Persian for ancient) is known to be the oldest surviving palace in India. This ancient palace sits in the valley behind the Amer Palace.

The Palace is divided into four main sections each with its own entry gate and courtyard. Main entry is through the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) which leads to Jalebi Chowk, the first main courtyard. This was the place where armies would hold victory parades with their war bounty on their return from battles, which were also witnessed by the Royal family’s women folk through the latticed windows. An impressive stairway from Jalebi Chowk leads into the main palace grounds. Here, at the entrance to the right of the stairway steps is the Sila Devi temple where the Rajput Maharajas worshipped, starting with Maharaja Mansingh in the 16th century until the 1980s, when the animal sacrifice ritual (sacrifice of a buffalo) practiced by the royalty was stopped. Ganesh Pol, or the Ganesh Gate,named after the Hindu god Lord Ganesh, who removes all obstacles in life, is the entry into the private palaces of the Maharajas. It is a three-level structure with many frescoes that was also built at the orders of the Mirza Raja Jai Singh (1621–1627). Above this gate is the Suhag Mandir where ladies of the royal family used to watch functions held in the Diwan-i-Aam through latticed windows. On the right side of the Jalebi Chowk there is a small but an elegant temple called the Sila Devi temple (Sila Devi was an incarnation of Kali or Durga). The entrance to the temple is through a double door covered in silver with a raised relief. The main deity inside the sanctum is flanked by two lions made of silver. The legend attributed to the installation of this deity is that Maharaja Man Singh sought blessings from Kali for victory in the battle against the Raja of Jessore in Bengal. The goddess instructed the Raja, in a dream, to retrieve her image from the sea bed and install and worship it. The Raja, after he won the battle of Bengal in 1604, retrieved the idol from the sea and installed it in the temple and called it Sila Devi as it was carved out of one single stone slab. At the entrance to the temple, there is also a carving of Lord Ganesha, which is made out of a single piece of coral.The second courtyard, up the main stairway of the first level courtyard, houses the Diwan-i-Aam or the Public Audience Hall. Built with a double row of columns, the Diwan-i-Aam is a raised platform with 27 colonnades, each of which is mounted with an elephant-shaped capital, with galleries above it. As the name suggests, the Raja(King) held audience here to hear and receive petitions from the public. Third courtyard is where the private quarters of the Maharaja, his family and attendants were located. This courtyard is entered through the Ganesh Pol or Ganesh Gate, which is embellished with mosaics and sculptures.

Overall Amer fort is worth the hype and a must watch for any tourist who comes to rajasthan and even India for that matter. With more attractions like nahargarh fort, Jaigarh fort, Aravalli range all under 20 km radius Amer fort Amer fort gives people more sooth to the eyes. Main things to visit are Sheesh Mahal, Diwan-i-Aam and Sukh Mahal also and the Light and Sound show which gives you a glimpse of the vast and interesting history of Amber.

[venu15-blog]

JAL MAHAL - A PALACE ON WATER Jal Mahal (meaning "Water Palace") is a palace located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city, the capital of the state of Rajasthan, India. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber. The Jal Mahal palace has got an eye-popping makeover. Traditional boat-makers from Vrindavan have crafted the Rajput style wooden boats. A gentle splashing of oars on the clear lake waters takes you to Jal Mahal. You move past decorated hallways and chambers on the first floor to climb all the way up to the fragrant Chameli Bagh. Across the lake, you can view the hills, dotted with temples and ancient forts, and on the other side, bustling Jaipur. The lake, situated to the north of Jaipur city lies between Amer, the historic city and Jaipur, the provincial headquarters of Rajasthan state. It has a water spread area of 300 acres (121 ha) and is enclosed by the Aravalli hills on the north, west and eastern sides, while the southern side consists of plains that are intensely inhabited. There is the Nahargarh Fort in the hills that provides a commanding view of the Man Sagar Lake and the Jal Mahal palace, in addition to a beautiful view of the city of Jaipur. The lake was created by constructing a dam across the Darbhawati River, between Khilagarh hills and the hilly areas of Nahargarh, in the 16th century.

[venu15-blog]

NAHARGARH FORT, JAIPUR Nahargarh Fort stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the pink city Of Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The view of the city from the fort is impressive. Nahargarh once formed a strong defense ring for the city. The fort was originally named Sudarshangarh, but it became known as Nahargarh, which means 'abode of tigers'. Many people belief that Nahar here stands for Nahar Singh Bhomia, whose spirit haunted the place and obstructed construction of the fort. Nahar's spirit was pacified by building a temple in his memory within the fort, which thus became known by his name. Built mainly in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, the fort was constructed as a place of retreat on the summit of the ridge above the city. Walls extended over the surrounding hills, forming fortifications that connected this fort to Jaigarh, the fort above the old capital of Amber. Though the fort never came under attack during the course of its history, it did see some historical events, notably the treaties with the Maratha forces who warred with Jaipur in the 18th century. During the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the Europeans of the region, including the British Resident's wife, were moved to Nahargarh fort by the king of Jaipur, Sawai Ram Singh, for their protection. The fort was extended in 1868 during the reign of Sawai Ram Singh. In 1883-92, a range of palaces was built at Nahargarh by Dirgh patel at a cost of nearly three and a half lakh rupees. The Madhavendra Bhawan, built by Sawai Madho Singh had suites for the queens of Jaipur and at the head was a suite for the king himself. The rooms are linked by corridors and still have some delicate frescoes. Nahargarh was also a hunting residence of the Maharajas.

[venu15-blog]

AMER , RAJASTHAN

Amer (or Amber), now a part of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, was a city of the Rajasthan state, India. Founded by Meena Raja Alan Singh(from Chanda clan of Meenas), Amer was a flourishing settlement dating as far back as 967 AD.

[venu15-blog]

5 BOLLYWOOD FILM SHOT IN JAIPUR

1. SHUDH DESI ROMANCE:  The very recent Yashraj production, starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra was extensively shot in Jaipur. Stills of several famous spots including the Jal Mahal, Amer Fort and the Hawa Mahal, around the city can be seen through the length of the movie.

2. BOL BACCHAN:  This movie starring Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan was shot in the Chomu Palace of Jaipur. Chomu Palace is a heritage hotel which is 300 years old and has thus been a witness of the luxurious lives led by the rulers in their time.

3. RANG DE BASANTI:  Once an anthem for the new generation the song, ��Masti ki Pathshala’ from ‘Rang De Basanti’ was shot at the Nahargarh Fort of Jaipur. The fort was built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Perched on the Aravali hills, this fort was mainly established for the purpose of retreat and recreation. It is said that several Europeans took shelter in this fort, during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

4. JODHA AKBAR:  The Ashutosh Gowarikar directorial venture 'Jodha Akbar’ was shot at the Amer Fort. This elaborate period drama starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwariya Rai has several stills from in and around the fort. The Amer Fort was built in 1592, and is considered to be one of the oldest and most famous forts of Jaipur. A witness to several battlements and invasions, this fort continues to be one of the must-visit tourist locations of all times.

5. BAJIRAO MASTANI: Sanjay leela Bhansali’s period drama on Peshwa Bajirao staring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra was shot in Amer Fort. The fort is originally believed to have been built by Raja Man Singh during 967 CE. Amer Fort, as it stands now, was built over the remnants of this earlier structure during the reign of Raja Man Singh, theKachwaha King of Amber. The structure was fully expanded by his descendant, Jai Singh I.