Report on Agra Nd Jaipur

8/8/2019 Report on Agra Nd Jaipur

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EDUCATIONAL TOUR REPORT :-

AGRA AND JAIPURTAJ MAHAL:-

The Taj Mahal in Agra India is considered one of the best examples of Mughal architecture inIndia. The history of the Taj Mahal is one of the great love stories of the world.

The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658 and was married to ArjumandBano Begum in 1612 A.D. He called his wife Mumtaz Mahal or Crown of the Palace,

because she was so precious to him. Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan had 14 children and thequeen accompanied Shah Jahan everywhere, even on military campaigns. It was on one of

these campaigns, in Burhanpur in central India, that Mumtaz Mahal died in 1631, shortlyafter giving birth to her 14th child. Her dying wish to Shah Jahan was that he should "build atomb in her memory such as the world had never seen before." The history of the Taj Mahal

begins with Mumtaz Mahal's tragic end.

Shah Jahan fulfilled her wish, creating the most beautiful mausoleum the world had everseen. Shah Jahan was deposed by his son Aurangzeb. He spent the last years of his life underhouse arrest in the Agra Fort. He used to spend his time looking across the Yamuna River at

the beautiful tomb he had built for his beloved empress, waiting for the day they could beunited again. After Shah Jahan's death in 1666 A.D., he too was laid to rest beside his


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beloved Mumtaz Mahal. Their real tombs are in abasement of the Taj Mahal. The two ornately decoratedtombs on the ground floor, sheltered by the dome ofthe Taj Mahal are part of the stylistic design of this

beautiful monument in Agra India. The history of the

Taj Mahal is the history of the steadfast love of aMughal Emperor for his Queen.

It took 22 years for the Taj Mahal to be completed. Ahuge labor force of 20,000 workers led by MuhammedHanif, the head of the masons and the Persian architect Ustad Isa or Ustad Ahmad Lahauri,were employed in its construction. Finished in 1648, the Taj Mahal cost the Mughalexchequer 32 million rupees. The Taj Mahal has been described by the poet Sir EdwinArnold, as"Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of anemperor's love wrought in living stones."

The aesthetic beauty of this beautiful mausoleum is enhanced by the romantic story thatinspired its construction. Tourists come from around the world come to Agra, to feel the auraof eternal love that surrounds the Taj Mahal. The history of the Taj Mahal is a love story thattranscends time and continues to be retold each day to the tourists who visit the Taj Mahal inAgra India.

History of Agra FortAgra Fort- The History Akbar, king at 14, began consolidating his empire and, as an assertionof his power built the fort in Agra between 1565 and 1571, coeval with the construction ofHumayun's tomb in Delhi. The Agra fort retains the irregular outline of the demolished mud-wall fort of the Lodis. The lofty battlements o the new fort cast its protective shadow over thefar stretching mansions of court that nobles and princes built along the riverfront. Themagnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majestic gateways symbolized the confidenceand power of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar.

The fort contains splendid palaces both in red sandstone and white marble built by twogenerations of prolific builders Akbar and later Jehangir and Shahjahan. Of the nearly 500Akbari buildings built in the Bengal and Gujarati traditions only a few have survived, arrayed

in a band on the riverfront.

The fort is auricular in shape and its colossal double walls rise 20 m in height and measure2.5 m in circumference. The fort is encircled by a fetid moat. The lofty battlements of theAgra fort cast its protective shadow over the far stretching mansions of nobles and princes

built along the riverfront. The magnificent towers, bastions and ramparts and majesticgateways symbolized the confidence and power of the third Mughal emperor.


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Agra Fort - Monuments Inside

Jahangiri Mahal

Undoubtedly, the most noteworthy building inside AgraFort is the Jahangiri Mahal (Jahangir's Palace), which was

the principal zenana palace (palace for women belongingto the royal household), used mainly by the Rajput wivesof Akbar. A splendid gateway leads to an interiorcourtyard surrounded by grand halls covered with profuse carvings on stone, heavilyfashioned brackets, piers, and crossbeams. One can still spot remnants of decoration in goldand blue done in the prevalent Persian style. Jahangiri Mahal mixes Transoxanian (CentralAsian) features, such as the verandah on the east front with its high slender columns (atranslation into stone of the timber iwan of vernacular Transoxanian architecture), withcourtyard halls styled in the broader Gujarat-Malwa-Rajasthan tradition as it had been passedonto the Mughals by the early 16th-century architecture of Raja Man Singh of Gwalior. Thisexotic medley and adventurous eclecticism suggests a daring approach in architecture. The

typically Gujarati brackets-fabulously carved animal and floral motifs-register a dominatingeffect on the few Islamic features such as the verandah on the eastern front with exquisitelyslender pillars facing the riverfront. Jahangiri Mahal is the most important building of theAkbari period in the Agra Fort.

Khas Mahal and Sheesh Mahal

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Both Jahangir (Akbar's son) and Shahjahan (Akbar's grandson) were enamored of the

sensuous effect of white marble; in their quest to make buildings of marble, they demolishedmany of Akbar's red sandstone structures.In the Khas Mahal enclosure (built by Shahjahan),


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later Mughal architecture comes of age. The Khas Mahal isan airy edifice, overlooking the specially laid Angoori Bagh(grape garden; a simple formal Mughal garden). Windowsclosed with jali (intricately perforated decorative stonescreens) present fabulous view of the riverfront.The two

copper-roofed pavilions built in the Bengali traditions weremeant for prominent ladies of the harem. On three sides ofthis garden are residential quarters of women.SheeshMahal(mirror palace) or the royal hammam (bath) is decorated with myriad glass pieces and acentral fountain.

Musamman Burj

Musamman Burj is the most romantic, ornamental pavilion wherein lived two most beautifuland powerful Mughal queens-Nurjahan and Mumtaz Mahal. The quality of pietra duradecoration is fabulous and perfect. Here Shahjahan spent his last few years as a captive held

by Aurangzeb. Shahjahan languished and dies looking at the Taj Mahal.

Diwan-I-khas

Diwan-I-khas(Hall of Private audience) is a small hall with double marble columns inlaidwith pietra dura decoration. Shahjahan built the structure between 1636 and 1637 and it iswhere the emperor used to receive the important dignitaries. On the terrace, in front of thishall, are two marble thrones. The black throne belongs to Jehangir who, as Prince Salim inrebellion against Akbar at Allahabad, had ordered it for himself. Below this terrace lies thegrand courtyard of Machchi Bhawan, meant for the harem functions. On another side stands asmall mosque built for Shahjahan by Aurangzeb.

Diwan-I-Aam

Diwan-I-Aam (Hall of Public audience) was again a building constructed by Shahjahan whoreplaced an earlier wooden structure.The arches are covered with white lime polished to asmooth finish. The triple arched royal canopy has lavish pietra dura ornamentation Here waskept the famous Peacock Throne ordered by Shahjahan. He met officials and commoners andlistened to the petitioners in the Diwan-I-Aam.


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Moti Masjid

Further north stands the Moti Masjid (pearl mosque), its three domes in white marble raisingtheir heads over the red sandstone wall. Moti Masjid is known for its sheer grandeur and

perfect proportions.

Fatehpur Sikri - The Architectural Style

At Sikri, the various royal palaces have been built inGujarati and Rajasthani architectural styles, using ornatecolumns, fanciful jali work (intricately perforated

decorative stone screens), sumptuous carving, and surfaceornamentation. Most of the buildings located insideFatehpur Sikri are a unique blend of architecturaltraditions flourishing at that time in India. These small

palaces are largely a sequence of connected rectangular courtyards; these are aligned with thepolar axes and so have to be grouped in a staggered formation across, the top of the narrowdiagonal ridge. The overwhelmingly Hindu architectural vocabulary, however, cannotconceal the Islamic norms followed in the large-scale planning that is supposed to havederived from Arab and Central Asia tent compartments!

Fatehpur Sikri - Monuments Within

Diwan-I-Aam


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Top of Form

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`nine gateways on the way to the palace complex, Diwani-I-Aam, or the hall of publicaudience 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-Khas

The royal enclosure lies behind the Diwan-I-Aam. At the northern corner stands a small butgrand 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


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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 isthe 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 haremincluded 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.


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ITIMAD-UD-DAULAH:-

Itmad-ud daulah, one of the most beautiful of Mughal tombs, stands across the river Yamunafrom the Taj Mahal, nearly one and a half kilometers up-stream. Belonging to the age ofJahangir, it contains cenotaphs of Mirza Ghiyas and Asmat Begum, parents of the powerfulMughal Empress Nurjahan queen of Jahangir, an exceptional beauty and an astuteadministrator. Mirza Ghiyas had left Persian in sheer penury in search of better prospects atthe Mughal court. He benefited much from the influence of his daughter who he had onceabandoned in the desert. Akbar offered him a good rank and privileges. Jahangir made himhis prime minister with the title Itmad-ud-daulah (Pillar of the State). Nurjahans brother AsafKhan later became prime minister of Shahjahan. This Persian family formed at the Mughalcourt giving the grand Mughals two most celebrated queens-Nurjahan and Mumtaz Mahal(Lady of the Taj), daughter of Asaf Khan.

The tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah was built during 1622-28. Standing at the center of a high-walled charbagh laid out in the typically Persian style, this 540 feet square plot has fourgatways in red sandstone. The eastern gate is for entrance and the northern and southerngateways for symmetry. The western end has a double-storeyed pavilion with a galleryoverlooking the river. Laid out during the lifetime of Mirza Ghaiyas, the garden was the

pleasure haunt of his family. The channels dividing the garden have four sections withflagged pathways and parterres for cultivating flower beds. Roses, tulips, iris, lilies andnarcissus-reminiscent of the Persian spring, were grown here. Cypresses were planted nearthe walls to retain an unobstructed, full view of the tomb in the center.

The square tomb, only 70 feet in diameter, is a small structure with octagonal corner towerswhich are circular in form above the terrace and topped by circular chattris (kiosks). Thestunted and stout look of the towers and the experimental design of the chattris strike aslightly discordant note does the rood pavilion which looks inconsequential. The mainstructure has three openings on each side. The central arch provides entry and and the twoflanking arches are closed with exquisitely crafted trellis screen. The board chajja (eave) andthe brackets provide the architectural balance and allow for light and shade on the outerwalls. The central chamber contains cenotaphs of Asmat Begum at the central and of MirzaGhiyas to her right. The same symmetrical arrangement stands repeated in the upper pavilion,this reappearing at the Taj. In both cases, the wife predeceased the husband that could

perhaps account for this deviation from the normal symmetry. In the absence of any screensurrounding the cenotaphs, this arrangement is less pronounced here than it is at the Taj. Alsoresting in one of the corner rooms is Ladli Begum, Nurjahans daughter by her first marriage.

The tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah has always been much admired for the most exquisite surfacedecoration of outer walls with pieces of precious and semi-precious stones in colour,

providing the fist example of such splendid ornamentation in geometrical, floral andconventional patterns. Elegant execution of designs in subdued hues of stones considerablyreduce the dazzle of the white marble and the aesthetic restraint in decoration which is

profuse but not overdone can be clearly seen. The stones were chosen for their texture so thatthe mosaics felt like an architecture of Braille!


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The relatively diminutive size of the tomb was dictated by the small size of the pre-existentgarden. If it gives the impression of a gem within a casket or an enlarged precious object, it is

because the tomb was originally intended to be built entirely in silver, a plan wiselyabandoned in favour of white marble.

Nurjahan settled for a small but most exquisite architecture in miniature covered with themost prolific decoration in pietra dura, first of its kind on such a scale and a tremendousimprovement on similar decoration done on red sandstone at the entrance gateway of Akbarstomb at Sikandra, which had been supervised by Jahangir. Itmad-ud-daulahs ornamentationmakes the tomb suggestive less a tomb than of a reliquary. It is simply marvelous, tooexquisite for words-a fitting tribute to the memory of her parents.

JAIPUR :-

Hawa Mahal :-

Hawa Mahal, or the "Palace of Winds", is apalace in Jaipur, India. It was built in 1799by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, anddesigned by Lal Chand Usta. It forms part ofthe City Palace and extends the Zenana orwomen's chambers, the chambers of theharem. Its original intention was to allowroyal ladies to observe everyday life in thestreet below without being seen.It has five stories and is constructed of redand pink sandstone, highlighted with white

quick lime. The side facing the street outsidethe palace complex has 953 small windows,and the breeze (hawa) which circulatesthrough these windows gives the palace itsname, and keeps it cool even in hot months.

The entrance opens onto a courtyard with a double-storied building on three sides, and one onthe eastern wing with three more stories, which is just one room wide. There are no stairs toreach the upper floors, only ramps.


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This five storeyed pyramid structure was designed by Lal Chand Ustad who dedicated hiswork to Lord Krishna and Radha. The pyramid shape of the Mahal gives it an appearance ofthe crown that adorned the head of Lord Krishna. The Mahal stands on a podium and is fiftyfeet high. The thickness, however, is less than even a foot. The entrance is through the CityPalace from where doors open into a commodious courtyard with double storeyed buildings

covering three sides. The building today houses an Archaeological Museum. The upper twostoreys have just a single room. There are no stairs to reach the upper floors. Rather, there areramps meant for carrying the palanquin of the royal ladies.

The entire structure is made up of 953 small casements each with small lattice worked pinkwindow, small balconies and arched roofs with hanging cornices. Cool breezes enter throughthe window and keep the inner atmosphere extremely pleasant and airy.

Visitors will be surprised to notice that in sharp contrast to its rich exteriors, the interiors ofthe Hawa Mahal is strikingly simple. However, it is from here that visitors can have some ofthe finest views of the modern city of Jaipur.

Amber Fort

Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, India and one of the mostpopular tourist destinations around the globe. The city of Jaipur ispopularly known as the Pink City. There are many attractions inthe beautiful Pink City Jaipur, Rajasthan, India includingmagnificent forts and palaces which all are worth visiting.

But no one can think about a complete tour of Jaipur City withouttaking an excursion trip for Amber to visit grand Amber Fort also known as Amer Fort.Amber is located just at a distance of 11 km from the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. AmberFort was the old fort of the Kachhwaha clan of Amber and used to be as the capital till it wasmoved to Jaipur.

Man Singh I started the construction of the Amber Fort in the year of 1592 and hisdescendant Jai Singh I finished the construction. The Amber Fort is located at hill atop. TheAmber Fort is built with white marble and red sandstone and gives an attention-grabbing look

because of Maota Lake in the foreground.

One can clear enchanting reflection of imposing Amber Fort on the lake. The Amber Fort isan excellent example of Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. On the walls of theAmber Fort one can see beautiful paintings showing various hunting scenes. The walls aredecorated with a lot of work, intricate carvings and minute mirror work.

Some major attractions of Amber Fort which are worth seeing are Old Amber Palace, ShilaMata Temple, Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience, Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of PrivateAudience), Sukh Niwas, Jai Mandir & Jas Mandir, and Ganesh Pol & Suhaag Mandir.

The structure which is known today as Amber Fort was initially a palace complex within theoriginal fort of Amber that is today known as Jaigarh Fort. Connected to Amber via fortified

passages, Jaigarh Fort is located on a hill above the Amber complex, and is constructed of red

sandstone and white marble. It overlooks Maotha Lake, and was reputed to be the treasurevault of the Kacchwaha rulers.


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Like the entire fort complex, Amber Fort is also constructed of white and red sandstone. TheFort is unique in that its outside, an imposing and rugged defensive structure, is markedlydifferent from its inside, an ornate, lavish interior influenced by both Hindu and Muslim(Mughal) styles of ornamentation. The walls of the interior of the fort are covered with

murals, frescoes, and paintings depicting various scenes from daily life. Other walls arecovered with intricate carvings, mosaic, and minute mirror work.

Amber Fort is divided into four sections. Each is accessible via large staircases from a centrallocation, or from a broad pathway leading to each of the sections. The pathways are currentlyused to transport tourists via an elephant ride. The main entrance of Amber Fort, Surajpol,leads to the Jaleb chowk, the main courtyard of the Fort where the staircase to the palace islocated. In ancient times, Jaleb Chowk was the area where returning armies were paraded

back home.

Just prior to the palace entrance is a narrow staircase leading to the Kali Temple, also known

as the Shila Devi Temple, made popular for its enormous silver lions. The origins andpurpose of these large lions is still unknown. The Kali Temple is known for its silver doorswith raised reliefs. According to legends, Maharaja Man Singh I had worshiped Kali for avictory over the rulers of Bengal. The legend says that Kali appeared in the Maharaja's dreamand ordered him to recover her statue from the Jessore seabed (now in Bangladesh) and placeit in an appropriate temple. The accuracy of the legend has not been verified. However, it issaid that the Maharaja recovered the statue from the bed of the sea and created the temple. Atourist curiosity is an image of Ganesha at the temple entrance, carved entirely from a single

piece of coral.

City Palace JaipurLocation: Next to the renowned Hawa MahalBuilt by: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh

Highlights:A blend of Rajasthani and MughalArchitecture

How to reach:You can easily reach City Palace by takinglocal Buses, Rickshaws and Taxis

City Palace forms one of the most famous touristattractions and a major landmark in Jaipur. The

beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai JaiSingh during his reign. Among the various forts and

palaces of Jaipur, City Palace stands apart, with itsoutstanding art and architecture. City Palace complexcovers a huge area, which is divided into a series ofgardens, courtyards and buildings. Initially, Raja JaiSingh built the outer wall occupying a huge area. Theadditional grand buildings were constructed later bythe succeeding rulers.

A part of the exquisite Palace still makes home for the former Maharaja/ King. The premisesconsists 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 theMubarak Mahal, as one enters the first square. Mubarak Mahal was built by Sawai Madho


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Singh in the 19th century to entertain his guests. Today, it has converted into a costumegallery, which displays royal attires of the Kings.

After crossing the first square, a beautiful gateway welcomes to Diwan-I-Khas, a hall meantfor 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 SinghII to carry water from River Ganga to drink on his trip to England. Diwan-I-Aam, which wasmeant for public audience, forms the other attraction of this courtyard. At present, it makes anart gallery showcasing enthralling painted ceilings and rare ancient handwritten originalmanuscripts of Hindu scriptures.

In the series, Maharani's Palace, which was meant for royal queens, has been converted into amuseum, showcasing weapons dated back to 15th century. Chandra Mahal is essentiallyregarded as the best part, out of the whole tour to City Palace. It has seven stories and eachstory is known by a different name. The topmost story is known as Mukut Mahal. Thewonderful 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 asthe residence of ex-ruler.

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Report on Agra Nd Jaipur