Jaipur forts and monuments :-
Hawa Mahal, or the "Palace of Winds",
is a palace in Jaipur, India. It was built in 1799 by Maharaja
Sawai Pratap Singh, and designed by Lal Chand Usta. It forms
part of the City Palace and extends the Zenana or women's chambers,
the chambers of the harem. Its original intention was to allow
royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without
being seen.
It has five stories and is constructed of red and pink sandstone,
highlighted with white quick lime. The side facing the street
outside the palace complex has 953 small windows, and the
breeze (hawa) which circulates through these windows gives
the palace its name, and keeps it cool even in hot months.
The entrance opens onto a courtyard with a double-storied
building on three sides, and one on the eastern wing with
three more stories, which is just one room wide. There are
no stairs to reach the upper floors, only ramps.
Nahagarh 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 breath taking. Along
with Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort it formed a strong defence
ring for the city. During the Sepoy revolt of 1857, Nahagarh
served as a refuge for Europeans fleeing from the havoc created
by mutineers in neighboring states. The word Nahargarh means
the abode of tigers. Legends say that it was name after Prince
Nahar whose spirit haunted the place and obstructed construction
of the fort.
Amber Fort, located in Amber 11 km from
Jaipur, Rajasthan state, India, is an example of Rajput architecture.
Built over the remnants of an earlier structure, the palace
complex which stands to this date was commenced under the
reign of Raja Man Singh, Commander in Chief of Akbar’s
army and a member of the Emperor's inner circle of nine courtiers
in 1592. Amber was modified by successive rulers over the
next 150 years, until the Kachwahas shifted their capital
to Jaipur during the time of Sawai Jai Singh II.
Jaigarh Fort, located around 15 km from Jaipur
is one of the most spectacular forts in India, with almost
all its original facilities intact. While Jaigarh Fort is
on top of the hill, Amber Fort is at the bottom. Both the
forts are connected through well guarded passages. Many consider
the two together as one complex.
Jaigarh Fort was a center of artillery production for the
Rajputs and it is home to the world's largest canon on wheels,
the Jaivana. The foundries provide fascinating information
for the visitors. The manner in which they drew in blasts
of air from the desert is most intriguing.
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