thousands of years are located in Delhi, the capital of India and its third largest city. Located in the north, where it narrows between Pakistan and China to the west and the east of Tibet, Delhi is the capital of Muslim India from 12 to 19 century. It has historically been the center of vital trade routes and held a strategic position at the gateway to the fertile plain of the Ganges - social, religious and cultural salvation of India
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There are two cities of Delhi now, new and old. It was recorded at least eight cities in and around the site, the oldest Indraprastha, there is a third or fourth century BC There are many legends about the establishment of the city and some of the archaeological dates of his age. Tomar Rajputs established and fortified walls Dhillika, the first of the medieval towns, in the 9th century, and were destroyed in the 12th Century Cauhans Jaipur who built a second defensive wall. Turkish conquerors 1193rd year ended Hindu rule and began a new era of Islamic city. Additional cities are added to the neighborhood more ancient ones. Shah Jahan, the creator of the famous Taj Mahal, was responsible for the seventh Delhi, which he called Shahjahanabad. It was the Mughal capital until 1857th As Mughal power waned to be replaced by the British East India Company, Delhi, and lost his reputation and became just another provincial town.
In 1911 the British had chosen as its capital city of Delhi, transfer viceregal seat of Calcutta. Plans are under way, soon built New Delhi in the south of Shahjahanabad and Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, two British architects were brought in to design. At the heart of the plan consisted of Rashtrapati Bhavan, or viceregal lodge (which is now a presidential residence), Parliament House, Secretariat, the Memorial Arch and Connaught Circus. The city was designed in a blend of European renaissance and oriental style garden to provide a gracious setting for the colonial rulers, but after independence in 1947, the city began a wave of both horizontal and vertical growth and now includes all the older cities, and continues to expand as the population increases.
Thanks to its long history , manyrulers and religions , Delhi is a paradoxical city . It is within its borders of many of India's most ancient and sacred buildings and monuments, illustrating all stages of its development, and is also a bustling modern metropolis of nearly six million people.
Red Fort
on the west coast Yaumana River at the eastern edge of Delhi's walled city, stands the Red Fort. Residence and administrative center, was built from 1639 to 1648 under the supervision of two architects. This is a tremendous war, as well as the structure of the octagonal and round bastions and two symmetrical observation with a view to its red sandstone walls that surround an irregular octagon 3200-1600 meters and 100 meters high. It is surrounded by a deep moat fed from the river to the east. Only two large doors, Lahori Gate (main entrance) on the west wall and the Delhi gate on the south wall, and beyond the original five years.
within the Lahori Gate is the arcade shops, named Chata Chauk, which was originally for residential Shah Jahan's palace. Behind this is the Drum house, or Hathipol, parking for visitors elephants. Intricate carvings in the sandstone are typical of late Mughal design and were originally painted in gold and bright colors. Much of the original structure of the inner fortress is destroyed, especially during the Indian Mutiny in 1857, and lawns and gardens are now replaced with galleries that were built within the walls.
Hall of public audience, which is located between the inner court of the royal palace and was the administrative center of the city, but it was too irresistible theater. Much of its grandeur now has to be invented, but it is a marble throne, canopied with a backdrop of marble inserted in a classical style still remain. Six miniature palace stood along the eastern wall of the fortress and contains apartments for the royal household, including the harem. They are linked Paradise Stream, a small channel of scented water, Nahr-Bahisht. Five of these gems such as buildings remain intact. Also located along the eastern wall, but secluded behind the sandstone walls are the royal baths, which feature Pearl Mosque built by Aurangzeb. The exterior walls are aligned with the fortress walls, but interior walls are angled so that they are correctly aligned towards Mecca.
Life bestowing Gardens, originally the north of the mosque, were designed to mimic the gardens of paradise and contained pavilions, fountains and plants in a formal arrangement. Silver swings hung on silk cords inside the pavilion for the ladies of the court to sit and watch the rain during the Hindu festival of Teej, which marks the beginning of the monsoon.
Agra
Taj Mahal - "Palace crowned"
Probably the most famous structures in the world and one of the most beautiful, graceful lines of the Taj Mahal are among the many architectural splendors attributed Shan Jahan, who brought him worldwide recognition.
Built in memory and enshrine his first wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the building began to her death in the 1631st influential and beloved companion and adviser, Mumtaz Mahal is still consulted on state affairs and was really one to put the royal seal on official documents. She died during the birth of their fourteenth child and she is sadly mourned by her husband who, as a widower, has radically changed their way of life. He gave a lot of responsibility for government functions and the military efforts of his sons and devoted energy to its longtime interest in architecture.
Since his teen years, when he transformed his apartment in Kabul with great skill and taste, Shah Jahan had always actively participated in the impressive building projects of his reign. He designed the structure and decoration of the scale, working models, and supervised the building. The experience prepared him well for what was supposed to be his crown, the Taj Mahal. There has been much speculation about who might have been the architect and various people have suggested, the Venetian jeweler to a Turk named Isa Usted Afandi (a former student of Sinan, the most famous Turkish architect) and an Indian from Lahore called Usted Ahmad. It is very likely, though, that while many architects, artisans and craftsmen contributed to the construction and modification, and the concept of controlling the arm was Shah Jahan. style is a synthesis of existing properties Mughal architecture. use of gardens and stone streams reminiscent of a style prevalent in Kabul, which was used by Babur. slender minarets and coverings in marble are seen in other tombs as it is Akbar, while the swelling dome and arched alcoves in the Persian style. Taj Mahal is felt that the content of Mughal architecture.
The project has progressed so well that in 1643 an annual memorial service for Mumtaz Mahal was held within its walls, although this will be another ten years before the complex was complete. Builders and designers of the Taj Mahal is familiar with the rules of perspective and successfully incorporated many features that enhanced symmetry and grace of the structure of an optical illusion. Although the height and width are the same buildings, the appearance is one of the high altitude. Reflections in the water to add to this illusion, while rows of cypress and evergreen emphasize perspective.
made of white marble, the outer facing of the main octagonal structure is decorated with Koranic verse carved in stone. Designed and executed by the Persians, AMAT Khan Shirazi, the most talented calligrapher in the empire, writings decorative panels is further enhanced by floral patterns in a realistic style, geometric shapes and graceful arabesques. The base is also a white marble 300 feet square, and inside are inset with mosaics of semi-precious stones. The central chamber is above the burial vaults, and two houses cenotaphs alabaster surrounded by openwork screens, also decorated with semi-precious stones. The interior is illuminated by diffuse light of day filtered through the translucent alabaster domes and intricately perforated window screen of the same material.
terrace surrounds and protects the main structure at each corner of the slim, well proportioned minaret, every 133 meters, which provide balance and grace to a massive central building. rectangular lake in the foreground acts as a reflective surface and adds perspective. Taj Mahal is reminiscent of two-dimensional fin Persian and Mughal miniatures depicting ethereal fairy tale palaces, while its size, complexity and architectural perspective of scientific precision and symmetry causes it to fascinate and delight all who visit it.
Jaipur, Pink City "
Pink city of Jaipur in Rajasthan, was built in 1728 by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II. It is not pink at its inception. It is painted the traditional colors welcome in honor of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, who visited the 1883rd The city is an eclectic mix of Hindu, Mughal, Persian, and Jain style. It replaced the old capital of Amber, which is more vulnerable to attack. It was arranged in a network of eight squares around the central square, which contained the palace and administrative buildings. North of the central block Brahmapur (City of God), the home of a priest and scientist, who is protected by gardens and lakes. northwest quadrant is actually a hill from which Nahargarh, or Tiger Fort, overlooked and protected the city. From this point of view the appearance of the city can be clearly seen. street are in perfect proportion, the main roads are 108 feet wide (Hindu holy number), and reduction in size, according to use. Standardization of the shop size, wide sidewalks, and even from home and even height (half-width of the street) all give the city a gracious, elegant look. Deep awnings to protect the stone shop fronts of the merciless sun and create a pleasant atmosphere in which to browse.
a bustling commercial center, Jaipur is reminiscent of the ancient Near East, people straight out of "Arabian Nights". women's jewelry is abundant wealth of the family and can be quite overwhelming. This is one of the last strongholds in practice hours, the custom of Indian women immolating themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands. Although this is illegal since 1829, recently reported case was in 1980 and received much support from local women.
Fatehpur Sikri "Victory City"
for four hundred years of pilgrims, both Hindus and Muslims, visited the tomb of Shaikh Salim Chrishti at Fatehpur Sikri. It was built by the Mughal emperor Akbar in honor of the Muslim mystic who, after being assured that his lack of heirs was not continuous, he promised not one but three sons of the emperor. When the first of these sons was born the following year, Great Mosque and the new capital to Sikri were built in honor of the occasion, and when he died in 1572 Sheikh's mausoleum was added to the site.
Akbar wealth has not changed for the better and the following year he managed to conquer the vast kingdom of Gujarat in the west. To commemorate this success has built the largest gateway in India, 176 meters high, to grace his new City of Victory. This city has become a focal point and home to artists, artisans, soldiers and priests --- a huge population of all work directly or indirectly, for the comfort and luxury of the emperor.
During the year 1584, only fourteen years after the inauguration of the new capital, Akbar left on one of his campaign in the north and never returned to stay. The reason for this abandonment is not known, although theories have been put forward - the lack of water and the ingrained instincts of two nomadic peoples, but a mysterious ghost town keeps its secrets. The battlements are crumbling, livestock feed and peck in the ruins. All signs of human habitation are gone, the room to give no clue as to the people who lived there, the court, five thousand women, nobles, they all disappeared without a trace
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one thousand elephants and a vast army were based here and led to numerous break-ins, often is not as bloody as those the emperor's ancestors, and won a lot of it is often much improved after the conquest. Akbar was able administrator, an innovative and well before his time - his postal system of runners was able to deliver a letter to 78 miles a day. His justice was swift and the penalty is designed to fit the crime. Torture is believed to ensure truth in evidence, and executions took place only after several days of deliberation. The meals are sumptuous, the main one every day boasted forty courses served on china (legend has it that this fine pottery will break in the presence of toxins). Water from the Ganges, sent in sealed jars, was the only beverage drank the emperor.
Khajuraho
Madhya Pradesh, the geographical center of India, mainly high plateau country. In a remote corner of this country, far off the beaten track, are states more unusual attractions - temples of Khajuraho. Superb examples of Indo-Aryan architecture, these structures were decorated with beautifully wrought stone carvings, primarily celebrates the pleasures of sex. The Kama Sutra in stone mentions the beauty of "sky girls", the gods and goddesses, real and mythological animals.
Chandala built during the period, the temples dating from a century long burst of creativity that lasted 950-1050 AD. It is still a mystery why these massive structures were built in this isolated place, as can be determined, has never been the center of population, not a pleasant place to live, because of its long, hot, dry season. It is also the theme of intense speculation about where it came from labor to perform such a monumental building project in just one hundred years. One of the advantages of site selection appeared years later when, because of its distance, Khajuraho temple escaped destruction of Muslim conquerors in their zeal to destroy all "idolatrous" temples in India.
temples of Khajuraho were built in three groups, the largest and most important in the western fence, which is the best kept. After a plan that shows little variation, every temple is approached via entrance porch, ardhamandapa, behind which is an indoor or mandapa. main hall, mahamandapa, follows, which is surrounded by a corridor supported by pillars. Lobby, antaraloa, leading to the inner sanctuary garbagriha, where the image is the dedicatory god.
exterior of each building is as impressive as wave after wave of tower culminating in a huge sikhara, which on top of the inner shrine. Baroque vertical line is offset by ornate sculptures of horizontal friezes, which form a closely integrated element of the entire building.
Most temples are aligned east-west and are made of granite and sandstone. They lack the surrounding walls of modern structures in other places, but often had four smaller shrines at the corners, many of whom did not survive. One of the best preserved of all structures of the Lakshmana temple in the western group. This temple was dedicated to Vishnu and is one of the oldest built on the site (between 930 and 950 AD ).
Varanasi
One of the most important pilgrimage sites in all of India, Varanasi, the "Eternal City", was a center of learning and civilization for over 2000 years. Nearby, on the banks of the sacred Ganges, the Buddha first preached his message of enlightenment 25 centuries ago. The town was often sacked by Muslim invaders from the 11th century, and later became a center for Muslim worship also. Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb destroyed most of the temples in existence or converted into mosques.
Varanasi, during its history, was called "Kashi" and "Benares," with this name translating as "the city between two rivers." Situated in the middle of a poor, backward, agrarian, and overpopulated area, it's great jewel of learning and literature for Hindu and Sanskrit scholars, and one of the most preferred and affordable places in India for all the devout go to die. Many Ghats that line the riverbanks are always crowded with pilgrims who bathe in the murky waters of the Ganges in the religious rites of purification.
