Hill Palace Museum

The Hill Palace Museum

Hill Palace is the largest archaeological museum in Kerala, near Tripunithura, Kochi, It was the administrative office of Kochi Rajas. Built in 1865, the Palacecomplex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style, spreading across in 54 acres (220,000 m2). The complex has an archaeological museum, a heritage museum, a deer park, a pre-historic park and a children’s park. The campus of the museum is home to several rare species of medicinal plants. Presently the palace has been converted into a museum by The Kerala State Archaeology Department and is open to public all days except Mondays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 

Thripunithura Hill palace Museum, is the largest archaeological museum in Kerala and the erstwhile official residence of the Cochin Royal Family, was built in 1865. The palace complex consists of 49 buildings in the traditional architectural style of Kerala and is surrounded by 52 acres of terraced land with ponds, fountains, garden and lawns. A full fledged ethno archaeological museum and Kerala's first ever Heritage museum are the main attractions here. Hill Palace is located 16km east of Cochin in Trippunithura, a satellite town of Cochin.

In 1980, the palace was taken over by the Department Of Archaeology and later converted into a Museum. It was opened to the public in 1986. Set on top of a hillock and surrounded by terraced garden with fountains, ponds and lawns, this palace-turned-museum displays 14 categories of exhibits including paintings, murals, sculpture in stone and plaster of paris, manuscripts, inscriptions, carvings etc. Recently, the museum has been renovated by Archaeological Department with a few additions such as a two-metre wide walkway built around the palace complex lit by fancy lamps on decorated cast iron pillars and two hundred lamp posts to light up the locale during early morning and at night. Apart from repairing and restoring the doors and windows, Archeology Department also done 

Bhadra Fort

The Bhadra Fort

The Bhadra Fort of Ahmedabad is another place to be visited in the city. The place is a venue for Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations in Ahmedabad. This fort of Ahmedabad fort has a temple devoted to the Mother Goddess, Bhadrakali; hence the name Bhadra Fort. Once housed royal palaces and beautiful gardens. It has the temple of Bhadrakali and was built in 1411 during the Maratha rule. The huge and grand Teen Darwaza (Triple Gateway) is another place to be seen in Ahmedabad. Teen Darwaza servedthe purpose of a royal entrance to the Royal Square of the Bhadra Fort.

This fort is also famous for abiding famous Bhadrakali Temple which is dedicated to Hindu goddess, 'Bhadra' (incarnation of goddess Kali). This Hindu sanctum was built in 1411 A.D. during Maratha rule in Ahmedabad. These days, the fort has been converted to flag hosting ground during Independence and Republic Day celebrations in India. It also houses some government offices within its vicinity. 

When it comes to monuments in Ahmedabad, Bhadra fort is one name that indeed deserves a special mention. Constructed in the year 1411 A.D. during the rule of Marathas, it was established by Sultan Ahmed Shah, the founder of Ahmedabad city. Bhadra fort in Ahmedabad is a royal fort that occupies the top most position in the Ahmedabad sightseeing tour. The fort houses a magnificent palace, the arches and balconies of which are ornately embellished. People are of the belief that, Goddess Lakshmi had once visited the Bhadra fort and blessed the Sultan that, his city would always remain prosperous. Since times immemorial, people of Ahmedabad have been wealthy and infact, Ahmedabad has throughout been the hub of trade and commerce in the state of Gujarat.

Daulatabad fort

Daulatabad fort

Daulatabad fort, in Aurangabad is a rare kind of construction, which is a combination of the ground fort and the hill fort. The imposing fort is built on an isolated pyramid-shaped natural mountain peak. The rock around is chiselled sklifully making the climb impossible.

The fort area is sorrounded by three concentric walls (fortifications) known as kots. The outer one, Amberkot covers the Daulatabad old town (a few shopts on both sides of the road). The National Highway 211, connecting Aurangabad to Ellora passes through the area covered by Amberkot.The second one, Mahakot, is currently the boundary of the fort for all practical purposes. Around Mahakot, sorrounding the fort is a water body (it is dry now). The main entrance is in Mahakot and has eight gates. The third one is Kalakot.

It is believed that this fort, originally known as Deogiri, was built by theRashtrakuta kings, who built the world famous Kailas caves. The earliest recorded history is that Yadav dynasty ruled this fort between 1187 to 1318 AD. In 1294, Alauddin Khilji attacked this fort, but the kingdome remained with the then rulers under a treaty. This was followed by Malik Kafur's attack in 1307 and later by Qutubuddin Mubarak Khilji in 1318.

The most noteworthy monuments inside the fort are Jami Masjid, Bharatmata Mandir, the Chand Minar, Elephant Tank, Royal Places and 'Chini Mahal' or Chinese Palace. 

Built by Ala-ud-din Bahmani in the honor of his conquest of the fort in 1435, the Chand Minar is a 30 m high tower inside the Fort. It was used as a prayer hall and comprised of four storeys. 

'Chini Mahal' or Chinese Palace has a great significance in the history. It is located a little higher than Chand Minar. The last king of Golcunda, Abdul Hasan Tana Shah was imprisoned here for 13 years until his death by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. 

Jami Masjid was built by Qutub-ud-din Mubarak in 1318. It is a mosque inside the fort comprising 106 pillars. 

The large Elephant Tank was the water supply system of the Fort. The water was channeled through the two enormous terracotta pipes from the hills into the fruit and vegetable gardens.

Aga Khan Palace

Aga Khan Palace

The Aga Khan Palace was built by Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in Pune, India. Built in 1892, it is one of the biggest landmarks in Indian history. The palace was an act of charity by the Sultan who wanted to help the poor in the neighboring areas of Pune, who were drastically hit by famine.

On Nagar Road, this Palace is also recognized as Kasturba Gandhi Memorial or Kasturba Samadhi. This palace was built in 1892 by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Agakhan III and was donated to India in 1969 by Aga Khan IV. Aga Khan Palace was built in the year 1892 by Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan III in Pune. Since then it is one of the biggest landmark in Indian history. The Aga Khan Palace of Punewas an act of charity by the Sultan who wanted to help the poor in the neighboring areas of Pune who were drastically hit by the famine.Aga Khan Palace is one of the finest piece of architectural beauty in the western India. The exquisite palace is surrounded by the lavish green gardens all around. Aga Khan Palace in Pune also houses some lavishly decorated guest rooms and suites which take you back to the royal past of the heritage building.This palace that once belonged to the Agha Khan, served as quarters for imprisonment of Gandhi and his wife Kasturba towards the tail end of the British rule in India. Situated near the River Mula the palace is a simple memorial to Gandhi and his life and times. A special cenotaph honours Kasturba who died here. A shop attached sells khadi or cotton handloomed garments and textiles.

Kumbhalgarh Fort

Kumbhalgarh Fort

Kumbhalgarh Fort is the second most important fort of Rajasthan after Chittorgarh. Located at a distance of 64 km from Udaipur in Rajasmand district. Kumbhalgarh Fort is easily accessible from the city of Udaipur. This unconquerable fortress is secured under the kind protection of the Aravali ranges.

Built on a hilltop 1100 metres above sea level, the fort of Kumbhalgarh has perimeter walls that extend 36 kilometres.The frontal walls are fifteen feet thick. Kumbhalgarh has seven fortified gateways. There are over 360 temples within the fort, 300 ancient Jain and the rest Hindu. From the palace top, it is possible to look tens of kilometers into the Aravalli Range. The sand dunes of the Thar desert can be seen from the fort walls.

The Kumbhalgarh was built and ruled by Kumbha and his dynasty who were Sisodia descendents.

Kumbhalgarh in its present form was developed by, and said to be personally designed by Rana Kumbha. Rana Kumbha's kingdom of Mewar stretched fromRanthambore to Gwalior and included large tracts of erstwhile Madhya Pradesh as well as Rajasthan. Out of the 84 forts in his dominion, Rana Kumbha is said to have designed 32 of them, of which Kumbhalgarh is the largest and most elaborate.

Udaipur City Palace

Udaipur City Palace

Udaipur City Palace is one of the architectural marvels of Rajasthan, located peacefully on the banks of Lake Pichola. This majestic City Palace is the most-visited tourist attraction of Udaipur and often distinguished as the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Initially, Maharana Udai Singh built this superb wonder, but the present form of the Palace is the result of subsequent additions by his successors.

 

City Palace is favorite among the tourists to spend their vacation at the breathtaking view of Lake Pichola from the top of the city palace is the most favorite attraction for any outsider. The construction of the city palace had begun during the reign of Maharana Udai Singh, which was later completed by his predecessors. While visiting the palace you will enter it through 'elephant gate' or 'Hathi Pol'. 

Historical legend narrated to the selection of the site for the palace is about a hermit meeting Maharana Udai Singh when he was on a hunting trail in the Udaipur hills. The Maharana met the hermit who was meditating on top of a hill above the Pichola Lake and sought the hermit’s blessings. The hermit advised the Maharana to build his palace at that very spot and that is where the palace complex came to be established at Udaipur

Devi Garh Palace

Devi Garh Palace

Palace is situated in the Aravalli hills. The principality of Devi Garh was awarded to Sajja Singh by Maharana Pratap in recognition of his loyalty and bravery to Maharana during the battle of Haldi Ghati in 1576. The fort was constructed in the 1760s under Raghudev Singh II. The rulers followed Raghudev Sigh further added new structures to the fort palace. Today Devi Garh Fort Palace is a fine hotel resort that comprises 30 suites and 8 tents. The hotel is well furnished and a lot of emphasis has been laid on the design and detail. The use of local marbles and semi-precious stones is clearly visible in the palace. Devi Garh is located 28 km north east of Udaipur and is just 45 minutes drive from the city. 

Overlooking the village of Delwara, the fort is surrounded by lush green fields and mountains on three sides. The hotel is located close to the temples of Eklingji and Nagda. The landscape of Devi Garh is dotted with traditional Rajasthani village, the towering fort and the temples, which present an interesting mix.

The principality of Delwara was given out to Raja Sajja Singh, one of the lieutenant of Maharana Pratap, after the 'Battle of Haldighati' in 1576 . First a rudimentary palace was built by Raghudev Singh II, which was later revamped a few years later in 1760s for a royal visit of the Maharani of Udaipur. The seven-storeyed hilltop fort palace in Rajasthani architecture was built in the 1760s

Bagore Ki Haveli

Bagore Ki Haveli

Bagore-ki-Haveli is a haveli in Udaipur in Rajasthan state in India. It is right on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat. Amir Chand Badwa, the Prime Minister of Mewar, built it in the eighteenth century.

Bagore Ki Haveli is an ancient building that stands on the platform of Gangori Ghat in the vicinity of Pichola Lake. The splendid architecture of the mansion shows delicate carved work and excellent glass work. In the 18th century, Bagore Ki Haveli was built by Amir Chand Badwa.

There are 138 rooms, as well as numerous corridors & balconies, courtyards and terraces. The interiors of the Haveli are embellished with intricate and fine mirror work. While strolling in the Haveli, you can also see the private quarters of the royal ladies, their bath rooms, dressing rooms, bed rooms, living rooms, worship rooms and recreation rooms.

 

The Chambers of the Royal Ladies still bear fine frescoes of the Mewari style and there are glorious coloured-glass windows in some of the rooms as well as two peacocks made with coloured glass mosaics that display the superb skills of the finest craftsmanship. 

DILWARA TEMPLE

DILWARA TEMPLE OF MOUNT ABU

The Jain Dilwara temples of India are located about 2½ kilometers from Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station. These temples dating back from the 11th to the 13th century AD are world famous for their stunning use of marble. The five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are a sacred pilgrimage of the Jains. Some consider them to be one of the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world & many even consider them architecturally superior to the Taj Mahal. 

Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan, some believe that none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection. The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvellous.

For the people who come to perform puja here, there are facilities to bathe and get ready,which is mandatory to perform puja to the idol. The facilities use passive solar power to heat up the water for bathing and other things. Guided tour hours for tourists are posted outside the temple.

Charminar

Charminar

The city of Hyderabad, with its delightful blend of the ancient and the modern, presents to the onlooker an interesting skyline with modern buildings standing shoulder to shoulder with fascinating 400 year old edifices.The Charminar in Hyderabad was constructed in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah. He built the Charminar to mark the end of plague in the Hyderabad city. Since the construction of the Charminar, the Hyderabad city has almost become synonymous with the monument. 

The monument is a magnificent square edifice of granite, built upon four grand arches facing North, South, East and West. These arches support two floors of rooms and gallery of archways. At each corner of the square structure is a minaret rising to a height of 24 meters, making the building nearly 54 meters tall. It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name 'Charminar'. Each minar stands on a lotus-leaf base, a special recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings.

The four minarets of the Charminar dominate the landscape of the region. The minarets, their domed finials rising from their lotus-leaves cushion, rise to 180 feet from the ground. The whole structure contains various small and ornamental arches arranged in vertical and horizontal fashion. The cornice on the first floor upholds a series of six arches and capitals on each portico, rising to the double-story gallery of the minarets.

The structure is made of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverised marble. Initially the monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal ancestral streets. There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the Golkonda to Charminar, possibly intended as an escape route for the Qutb Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the location of the tunnel is unknown

Charminar has the signature style of Islamic architecture. This great tribute to aesthetics looks sturdy and solid from a distance and, as one moves closer, it emerges as an elegant and romantic edifice proclaiming its architectural eminence in all its detail and dignity. Charminar is a beautiful and impressive square monument. Each of the corners has a tall, pointed minaret.

The monument is a magnificent square edifice of granite, built upon four grand arches facing North, South, East and West. These arches support two floors of rooms and gallery of archways. At each corner of the square structure is a minaret rising to a height of 24 meters, making the building nearly 54 meters tall. It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name 'Charminar'. Each minar stands on a lotus-leaf base, a special recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings.

The four minarets of the Charminar dominate the landscape of the region. The minarets, their domed finials rising from their lotus-leaves cushion, rise to 180 feet from the ground. The whole structure contains various small and ornamental arches arranged in vertical and horizontal fashion. The cornice on the first floor upholds a series of six arches and capitals on each portico, rising to the double-story gallery of the minarets.

The structure is made of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverised marble. Initially the monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal ancestral streets. There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the Golkonda to Charminar, possibly intended as an escape route for the Qutb Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the location of the tunnel is unknown

Charminar has the signature style of Islamic architecture. This great tribute to aesthetics looks sturdy and solid from a distance and, as one moves closer, it emerges as an elegant and romantic edifice proclaiming its architectural eminence in all its detail and dignity. Charminar is a beautiful and impressive square monument. Each of the corners has a tall, pointed minaret.

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb is octagonal and was constructed in 1570 in Delhi. The octagonal Tomb was constructed by the senior-most wife of Humayun – Haji Begum. Known as one of the garden tombs of India this is also considered as one of the Delhi World Heritage Sites. 

Visiting Humayun's tomb is a wonderful experience where you get to see the Mughal architecture and the history of Mughal India. Humayun's tomb is preceded by a tomb with blue dome. The dome has been made with Persian tiles which became very popular since Mughals came to India.

Humayun died in 1556, and his widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture. It is well known that Humayun picked up the principles of Persian architecture during his exile, and he himself is likely to have planned the tomb, although there is no record to that effect. The tomb was constructed at a cost of 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million).

It is said that the Begum spent one and a half million rupees on the tomb, which was constructed between nine and fourteen years after the death of the Emperor Humayun in 1556. You can see a beautiful view of Humayun's Tomb from the Humayun Darwaza, a gateway in the Purana Qila or Old Fort in Delhi. Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, the architect of Humayun's Tomb, designed it in a Persian 'charbagh' or square four-garden style enclosed by high walls on three sides, and the River Yamuna on the other. 

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple is one of the remarkable architectures of Bahai faith. It is located at Kalkaji in New Delhi. The temple looks like a lotus flower and is made of marble, cement, dolomite and sand. The temple has no restrictions for visitors and is open to people from all religions. The place provides immaculate environment for meditation, peace and wisdom. The Bahai temple was completed in 1986. Since then the temple has received recognition from all over the world for its splendid architecture and design. Lotus Temple is among the most visited monuments in India. The credit for building this beautiful structure goes to the Persian architect Fariborz Sahba from Canada.

The Bahá'í House of Worship in New Delhi, India, popularly known as the Lotus Temple because of its flowerlike shape, is a Bahá'í House of Worship and also a prominent attraction in Delhi. It was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent. It has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles

Since its inauguration to public worship in December 1986, the Bahá'í House of Worship in Delhi has, as of late 2002, attracted more than 50 million visitors, making it one of the most visited buildings in the world. Its numbers of visitors during those years surpassed those of the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. OnHindu holy days, it has drawn as many as 150,000 people; it welcomes four million visitors each year (about 13,000 every day or 9 every minute).

This House of Worship is generally referred to as the "Lotus Temple". In India, during the Hindu festival Durga Puja, several times a replica of the Lotus Temple has been made as a pandal, a temporary structure set up to venerate the goddess Durga. In Sikkim a permanent replica is of the Hindu Legship Mandir

Gateway of India

Gateway of India 

The Gateway of India is one of the distinguishing landmarks of Mumbai. Set at the tip of the 

reclaimed land of the Apollo Bunder, it adjoins the Mumbai Harbour and the Arabian Sea in the Colaba area of the city. 

The monument marks the area as one of India¹s major ports and as a principle point where many visitors originally arrived in India. Formerly it served to symbolize elements of the British grandeur and influence in India. 

Today it is a popular tourist attraction and meeting point.

This is one of the monuments that are having the combination of Muslim as well as Hindu Architectural style and the arch has been made in style of Muslim and decorations have been done in the Hindu style.

The Indian gateway is one of the monuments that are located in Mumbai and this city was initially known as Bombay, India.

There was an era, when this monument was seen by all those people that used to arrive through the help of boat and they would be witnessing the Bombay city.

This Gateway of India is situated at Apollo waterfront Bunder Area in the southern Mumbai.

This gateway is one of the basalt arches and is located 26 meters high. This is one of the monuments that were used as the crude jetty through the fisher folks and then it was renovated.

British governors used this place as the landing place and it was occupied by the distinguished passengers as well.

The Gateway faces the vast Arabian Sea, flanked by Mumbai's another attraction, Marine Drive, a road running parallel to the sea. The majestic monument is a must-visit at night, in its pristine glory against the backdrop of the sea. It is visited by millions of people across the world every year and is a very significant figure in the lives of the people of Mumbai, as the Gateway defines the grandeur of the city that is a culmination of both, historic and modern cultural environment.

Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal stands upright as the entrance to the City Palace, Jaipur. An important landmark in the city, Hawa Mahal is an epitome of the Rajputana architecture. The splendid five-storey “Palace of the Winds” is a blend of beauty and splendor much close to Rajasthan’s culture. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built Hawa Mahal in 1779. The pyramid shape of this ancient monument is a tourist attraction having 953 small Windows

.

Jaipur's signature building, the Hawa Mahal, a multi layered palace, was built by Sawai Pratap Singh (grand son of Sawai Jai Singh and son of Sawai Madhoo Singh) in 1799 A.D. and Mr. Lal Chand Usta was the architect. Famous for it's beehive like structure, the Hawa Mahal is an interplay of red and pink sand stone, carefully and painstakingly outlined with white borders and motifs. This five storey building, which looks out over the main street of the old city, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry, with its pink semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed sandstone windows. It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household, to watch the everyday life and processions of the city.

India Gate

India Gate

At the centre of New Delhi stands the 42 m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like archway in the middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during the World War I. The memorial bears the names of more than 13,516 British and Indian soldiers killed in the Northwestern Frontier in the Afghan war of 1919.

India Gate is constructed as a memorial and was built in the memory of 90,00 soldiers who laid down their lives during world war I. Located at Rajpath, India Gate Delhi is 42 m high and is a popular relaxation area during the summer evenings. India Gate also act as popular pinic spot during winter. Also known as the All India War Memorial or the Gate of India, India Gate was designed and constructed by Lutyens. He was the one who is considered the chief proclaimer in designing the New Delhi plans. 

The foundation stone of India Gate was laid by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught in 1921 and it was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The monument was dedicated to the nation 10 years later by the then Viceroy, Lord Irwin. Another memorial, Amar Jawan Jyoti was added much later, after India got its independence. The eternal flame burns day and night under the arch to remind the nation of soldiers who laid down their lives in the Indo-Pakistan War of December 1971.

Red Fort

The Red Fort

The Red sandstone walls of the massive Red Fort (Lal Qila) rise 33-m above the clamour of Old Delhi as a reminder of the magnificent power and pomp of the Mughal emperors. The walls, built in 1638, were designed to keep out invaders, now they mainly keep out the noise and confusion of the city.

The main gate, Lahore Gate, is one of the emotional and symbolic focal points of the modern Indian nation and attracts a major crowd on eachIndependence Day.Tourists can easily take a taxi or other mode of transport to reach the place. If you are new to the city, the city map can be of great help. You can also find the right road to reach the place and check out the nearby places as well. Red Fort is situated on the banks of the river Yamuna and is still a significant monument that provides a glimpse of the grandeur of the past. Apart from the magnificent fort, one can also find various beautiful structures inside the fort like the halls of public, marble palaces, mosque, gardens, and plush apartments all in their rich architecture that shows you the prosperous past of the Emperor. The fort even today continues to mesmerize visitors with its impressive red sandstone wall, huge bastions, and some of the finest and intricate work done on the walls that are not to be seen anywhere in other structures.

Red fort is an enjoyable excursion and you will love to see the various attractions that the fort has. The royal baths or Hammams as it was rightly called was the place where the royals took bath in all their pleasure. The Shahi burj was the working place of Shahjahan that has some wonderful work done inside. The Moti Masjid is another structure that is worth seeing, but was built by Aurangzeb, son of Shahjahan. A special place for the ladies of the fort is also built called the Ran Mahal. This place is a real treat to the eyes and you can see delicately painted walls, intricate worked mirrors, gilded turrets, ceiling complete with gold and silver designs reflects its beauty in the central pool inside the palace on the marble floor.