Introduction
The architecture of Rajasthan has always been unique compared to other architectural styles throughout India. The geographical conditions of this state have influenced not only art and culture but also architecture in many ways. The Aravalli hill range, sand dune deserts, fertile plains, and lakes are some of the diverse geophysical features of Rajasthan. The forts, buildings, temples, step-wells, palaces, haveli, etc. also reflect the local lifestyle of the people. Many of the structures in Rajasthan contain their unique kind of designs and art forms which leaves the visitors awestruck even today.
Origin of Architecture style
This style of architecture can be traced back to the 6th century. A.D., this style is also called Maru-Gurjara architecture. The name originates from the architectural fusion of both Rajasthan and Gujarat cultures. Both the states shared ethnic and political aspects since ancient times, as they were called Marudesh for Rajasthan and Gujaratra for Gujarat. The buildings in this architecture were usually built for secular and religious purposes. For instance, towns, villages, step-wells, wells, and palaces are under secular buildings. Still, buildings like Fort are usually built for military purposes. Religious buildings comprise mainly of temples. Rajasthan Architecture later on is heavily influenced by Mughal architecture in the middle and late medieval ages.
Source: Wikiwand
Types of Rajput Royal Buildings:
Forts
Forts were almost every important border and place of Rajasthan especially in cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, etc. Forts are usually built on high places such as on hills, to keep the kingdom secured from enemy attacks. Many of the Rajput kings were able to defend their grounds because of these fortified buildings which was almost impossible to go through until the Arab invaders and Mughals began using gunpowder technology through cannons which would penetrate the walls of the forts in no time with enough firepower. Mehrangarh Fort is one prime example of fortified buildings of Rajput Architecture. Built during 1460 A.D., under the reign of Maharaja Rao Jodha Rathore, the founder of Jodhpur city, was the ruler of the Marwar kingdom, who is still known for his valour and kind nature towards his people.
Mehrangarh Fort (Source: Times of India)
Palaces
Unlike forts, palaces are built on level ground and are usually used for residential purposes for the royal families. But in the present day, most of the palaces and even forts in Rajasthan have been converted into museums or hotels for tourists. Palaces also comprise private temples, fountains, gardens and open courtyards where the Maharajas usually spend their time with their families after they are done with their royal duties in the evenings. These palaces carry some of the sophisticated artworks in courtyards and even in temples. The forts on Jaipur foothills have protected some of the important palaces from many foreign invaders.
City Palace Jaipur (Source: Thomas Cook)
The gateways of the fort, such as Amber Fort consisted of beautiful art designs, few of these can be observed below.
Floral motifs and Court scenes
A unique technique is used to illustrate various kinds of exquisite frescoes with natural colours on the walls of the palace. ‘Aarash’ is almost a 900 year old technique that comprises of white marble dust from makarna which is mixed with slaked lime and pigment that becomes a paste. After that layer upon layer of this paste is applied to build up colors and is polished in the end.
On the polished surface, many vases filled with flowers are then depicted and even images of the court are also done there which portrays everyday lifestyle in the court. This technique used to portray these designs was brought in by Christian missionaries who came during the reign of Mughals like Akbar and Jahangir. The technique was passed down to local artisans of the Khumavat Kshatriya community of Rajputs. Ganesh Pol, which is a two-storied structure that acts as an entrance to Amber Fort, has many of these designs illustrated on its walls.
Ganesh Pol (Source: Virasat-E-Hind) Floral Motifs (Source: Virasat-E-Hind)
Yazdi Bandi motif
This type of design is done on the ceiling of the dome which originates from Iranian architecture. It is also known as Iwan ceiling decoration. Yazdi is a beautiful architectural pattern which encompasses diamond-shaped modules that are of different sizes with small flat horizontal star-shaped pieces between the modules. These shapes contain many floral designs and even human figures. They are also popularly called honeycomb architecture as their resemblance is close to the abode of honey bees. In India, it is termed ‘Muqarnas’, this element of architecture is usually seen in Mughal and Indo-Islamic architecture styles.
Iwan Ceiling Decoration (Source: Virasat-E-Hind)
Jai Mandir
It is another building part of the Amber Fort which contains splendid inlaid glass panels and mirrored ceilings. The Mandir was fully constructed by 1729, and built under Raja Man Singh, the structure is also known as Sheesh Mahal. The convex glass panels of the mahal were designed with paint and coloured foil. This design art form is known as ‘Thikri’, which consists of art of inlaying hand-cut pieces of mirror that would be sculpted into shapes and arranged on the walls. These pieces of mirror would be illustrated with floral motifs and religious scenes such as of Krishna surrounded by gopiyas and cow herds. The art which is now 400 years old, has been passed down to many generations of artisans, Rajesh Anant, a skilled artisan from Udaipur still practices this art today.
Source: Travelsetu Source: Virasat-E-Hind
Forts and Palaces through the lens of Cinema
Many of these prestigious buildings are still used in cinema. These structures represent the power and glory of the kings who protected their lands from invasions. Films like ‘Mughal-E-Azam’ utilized the halls of mirrors of Ganesh Pol, in one of its beautiful songs, ‘Jab Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kiya’, in which actor Madhubala can be seen dancing in the hall. In Hollywood too, forts have been showcased in some of its films such as, ‘Dark Knight Rises’, where the character Bruce Wayne can be seen escaping the prison pit with the backdrop of Mehrangarh fort.
Scene from Dark Knight Rises (Source: Sceen It) Scene from Mughal-E-Azam (Source: Antiserious)
Present Conditions of the Buildings
Even though these fortifications and royal palaces are almost 800 years old, they have survived till now because of the local population and the state government. The people of Rajasthan understand the importance of their culture and they acknowledge that conserving these historical landmarks is one of their duties to perform. Both forts and palaces have been converted to tourist attractions since the British left India after 1947. The unique architecture and the culture connected to them have attracted many tourists from not only India but also from faraway countries. These kind of conservations have also given new job opportunities to small artisans and local population who know their historical roots being connected to these monuments.
Conclusion
Other than these royal structures that have been written about in this article, every structure from the past contains its own style and art form. Not only does a structure represent its architecture, but the culture is also connected with the people. For instance, in the Luni Fort since the 18th century, its paintings on the wall can still be seen in their original form, which represents the skill of master artisans of the past. The village surrounding it still survives today and they showcase their skill in ‘sangeet’ and dance forms to their guests. Even though the monument has lost its royal hosts, still it survives because of these local artisans of the village. In the end, the common people also play an important role in conserving any historical and cultural monument.