Classical North India

Red Fort

Seat of the Mughal Empire since Emperor Shah Jehan, the Red Fort stood for the might of imperial Hindustan. The medieval structure in Delhi holds significance even today as the Prime Minister of India makes his customary Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the fort on August 15. The fort stood at the eastern edge of Shahjahanabad, the new capital of Mughal Empire created by Shah Jehan in 17th century. Shahjahanabad was the seventh Delhi created since Indraprastha, the capital of Pandavas.

Built by Shah Jehan as his residence, the fort gets its name from the massive wall of red sandstone. The Red Fort was called the “Qila-i-Mubarak” or “The blessed fort”; however, it is popularly known as ‘Lal Qila’. Though the Agra fort made of red sandstone is also called Lal Qila, it is the fort at Delhi which is associated with the name.

Architecture of the fort, its planning and beauty showcases the ingenuity of Mughals and their love for creating masterpieces in stone. Though the fort has lost its glory and looks rather forlorn, it was the centre-stage of political happenings. The pomp and power of the fort was on display each Friday, when Emperor Shah Jahan paraded out of the fort at the head of his retinue atop an elephant, to offer prayers at the Jama Masjid.

The fort shot into limelight again and became the epicentre of political developments during the Revolt of 1857. It was the residence of the Mughals till the last royal Bahadur Shah Zafar was arrested for his role in the mutiny. The fort was the scene of an important event associate with the Indian freedom struggle. The joint court-martial of officers of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army – Colonel Prem Sahgal, Colonel Gurubaksh Singh Dhillon and Major General Shah Nawaz Khan – was held at the Red Fort. The trio was defended by the INA Defence Committee which included legal luminaries like Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, Kailashnath Katju and Asaf Ali.

The Red Fort attracts large number of tourists for its architecture, history and for its sheer magnificence. The Red Fort is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi.

Qutub Minar

The tallest minaret in India, Qutub Minar is among the iconic monuments of Delhi. Known as the ‘Tower of Victory’, the construction of the minaret also marked the beginning of the Muslim rule in India. Located at Mehrauli, around 3.9 million people visit the structure every year. Built from red sandstone and marble, the minaret is known for its history and architectural significance. The minaret and other monuments within the complex have been declared a UNESCO world heritage site.

A classic example of Indo-Islamic architecture, the foundation of the minaret was laid by Qutb-ud-din-Aibak in 1192. It was built to celebrate the victory of Mohammed Ghori over Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan. However, Qutd-ud-din-Aibak died before completion of the minaret. Iltutmish continued construction and during his time three-storeys were added. Later in 1368, two more storeys were added by Firoz Shah Tughlak. 

The minaret is 72.5 meters high and has five-storeys with a projecting balcony. The first three storeys are made of red sandstone, while the remaining two storeys with marble and sandstone. The exterior of the minaret is decorated with fluted columns, which have a 40 cm thick veneer of red sandstone. Another attraction of the minaret is its 397 steps, which leads to the balconies.

The City Palace

City Palace Complex is another magnificent and splendid marvel of Jaipur. It offers a very rare and unique amalgam of the elegant blends of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture. Located in the center of the old Jaipur city, it spreads over a huge area. Its outer walls were built in the time of Jai Singh, which saw additions in the 20th century. It has many buildings with well-built gardens and immense patios. Sawai Madho Singh II constructed the Mubarak Mahal or Welcome Palace as a centre of reception for visiting dignities. The Mahal is located before the entrance of the main complex. Now it has been made a portion of the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. This museum is the home to a wide range of items from the Royal times like costumes, embroideries, shawls, Benaresi silk sarees, Maharaja's pajamas, Chogas, clothes of other rulers, Kamarbands, Jamawars, and Goliath sized musical instruments such as Sarangis and Tanpura as well as clothes of Sawai Madho Singh I.

Hawa Mahal

HawaMahal or “The Wind’s Palace” was built in 1799, by the Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. Hawa Mahal is located on the southern side of the city. It has a very beautiful 5-story building, the design replicates the crown of Krishna. It appears like a honey comb with around one thousand tiny windows. They are embodied with lattice work and encourage cool breeze to flow through the palace, centrally air conditioning entire area during summers. The beautiful red and pink sandstones of the exterior give it an enchanting look.

Amer Fort

Renowned for its combination of Hindu and Mughal architecture, the Amber Fort is located about 11 km from Jaipur in Rajasthan. The citadel was the seat of the Kachhawa Rajputs who ruled Amer in Rajasthan before the capital was moved to the present day Jaipur. The construction of the fort was commenced in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I over the remnants of an earlier fortified structure. The fort was built with red sandstone. It was modified by successive rulers for 150 next years.

During Mughal rule, Amber under Man Singh I was at its height of power and influence. Man Singh was the Commander in Chief of the Mughal army and one of the Navratnas (nine jewels of Akbar’s court). The ornamentation of the fort is a blend of Rajput-Mughal styles. One can see intricate carvings, mirror and precious stone works on the walls and ceilings of the fort. There are several places in the fort complex, which has been built as per the Mughal style of architecture including the ‘Dil-e-Aaram’ garden, which is located at the entry point of the fort.

The fort is connected with Jaigarh Fort through fortified tunnel. The tunnel was built for the royal family members and others during the escape during the times of war, to take them to Jaigarh Fort, which was far safer place. There are several shops within the fort, where one can buy traditional Rajasthani costumes.

Lakshmana Temple

Lakshmana Temple is a huge stone temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The east facing temple is famous for housing more than 600 images of gods and goddesses of the Hindu religion. The temple is beautifully decorated with patterns of elephants and horsemen carrying out parade and there is a small idol in every corner.

Vishwanath Temple

Vishwanath temple in Khajuraho is famous for the beautifully carved sculptures of Shivlinga and idol of Lord Brahma. This temple is considered to be a UNESCO world heritage site constructed in 11th century. Another attraction of the temple is a 6 ft high Nandi bull, which is placed on top of a platform.

Kandariya Mahadev Temple

The Kandariya Mahadev temple dedicated to lord Shiva is considered to be a UNESCO World Heritage site. This temple is the biggest of all the other temple on the western part of Khajuraho. The mesmerizing looks of the temple and 900 awesomely carved sculptures implies the rich culture of Madhya Pradesh to the visitors.