Monument – Chabutaro, Ahmedabad Old City
Built in – During 2nd century BC

Chabutro or Chabutaro or Chabutra is integral to Ahmedabad’s culture and traditions and Gujarat’s architectural heritage. Deriving its name from Kabutar, meaning pigeon in English, Chabutaro is an intricately carved tower-like structure.

Chabutaro metamorphically stands in a place of a tree in the confined locality of a pol. When the city was being constructed, they chopped down the trees. In such areas where houses were tightly gelled together, the occurrence of trees was scanty.

The residents of these pols came up with the idea of creating a structure reviving the feeling of a tree while serving all its purposes. The seating area (otla) was also designed around the chabutaro so that the residents could lie down and relax, just like one would do under a tree.

Built from stone and bricks, these elevated platforms provide refuge to various birds, ranging from small sparrows, mynas and pigeons to large ones such as peacocks. The hood of chabutaro is believed to have been influenced by ‘chatri’ commonly seen in Rajasthani architectural style.

Photo Credit – photos.sandeepachetan.com

Monument – Teen Darwaja, Old City Ahmedabad
Built by – Ahmad Shah I
Built in – 1415

Teen Darwaja is a historical gateway located on the eastern side of Bhadra Fort in Ahmedabad, India. Immediately after laying the foundation of Ahmedabad, Teen Darwaja’s construction was completed in 1415. Built during the reign of Ahmad Shah I, the Teen Darwaza is associated with historical and legendary events.

One of the oldest and longest gateways, it is a fine example of Islamic architecture. This intricately carved marvel serves as an entrance to the royal square at Bhadra Fort. It is believed that Mughal emperor Jahangir used to visit this regal gateway with his wife Nur Jahan to watch a procession that bega from Teen Darwaja to Jama Masjid.

An exquisite structure, the name literally translates to three doors. The central door of the structure is the tallest. The intricate details include semi-circular and mesh-work adorned windows, a central window depicting the tree of life and five palm trees covered with snakes.

A Folklore narrates the story of Khwaja Siddique, a loyal guard who served at the Teen Darwaja. The tale goes that Goddess Lakshmi was leaving the city of Ahmedabad through Teen Darwaja when Khwaja Siddique requested her to wait until he takes permission from the king. He then requested his king to behead him so that he never returns to fulfil his promise. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi is still waiting within the walls of the fortified city, awaiting the return of Khwaja Siddique.

The eternal lamp has been burning for the past 600 years. This lamp was first lightened by Mirza, a descendant of Khwaja Siddique. After his demise, his lineage carried on the responsibility to keep the lamp burning forever.

The gates of Teen Darwaja are featured in the logo of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

Photo Credit – www.ahmedabadtourism.in

Monument – Sidi Saiyyed Ni Jali, Ahmedabad
Built by – Sidi Saiyyed
Built in – 1573

The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in Ahmedabad is a sublime ode in stone to the extraordinary architectural legacy of the African diaspora in India. The descendants of the African community became great patrons of art and architecture.

They were called Sidis or Siddis, meaning “”people from Abyssinia or Ethiopia.”” One of them was Shaykh Sayyid al Habshi Sultani, commonly known as Sidi Saiyyed, who constructed the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque.

Built in 1573, the mosque is one of the finest specimens of the prodigious architectural accomplishments of the Sidis in India. The mosque is designed in an arcuate construction system consisting of arches, domes, squinches and vaults. Designed like a theatre, the mosque does not has the fourth wall but is instead celebrated for the intricately carved filigree work on its jalis.

The ornamental latticework adorns the 10 nearly semicircular windows of the mosque, with some displaying complex geometrical designs and others carved in the manner of intertwined trees and foliage. The most impressive of them is the Sidi Saiyyed Jali, located to the right of the central walled arch.

Sixteen feet in size, the carvings on this jali represent the Tree of Life motif, which is an artistic representation of a tree believed to grow in paradise according to Islamic mythology. This finely wrought motif has become an unofficial symbol of Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World Heritage city.

Photo Credit – www.historicaltimeofindia.blogspot.com

Monument – Bhadra Fort, Ahmedabad
Built by – Ahmad Shah I
Built in – 1411

Bhadra Fort is situated in the walled city area of Ahmedabad, India. The Bhadra Fort complex, with its well-carved royal palaces, mosques, gates and open spaces, was renovated in 2014 by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a cultural centre for the city.

The foundation of Bhadra Fort was laid in 1411 by Ahmad Shah I, and its construction was completed in 1415. Also known as Arak Fort, as described in Mirat-i-Ahmadi, the Bhadra Fort has a square form enclosing an area of 43 acres. The Bhadra fort had eight gates, three large, two in the east and one in the southwest corner; three middle-sized, two in the north and one in the south; and two small, in the west.

A second fortification was built later by Mahmud Begada, the grandson of Ahmed Shah, with an outer wall 10 km in circumference and consisting of 12 gates, 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements as described in Mirat-i-Ahmadi.

The entrance to this grand fort was through the historic Teen Darwaja built to its eastern side. The east gate acted as the main entrance to the central ground known as Maidan-Shah. The road beyond Teen Darwaza leads to Manel Chowk, a mercantile square. On the southern side along the road is the congregational mosque, Jama Masjid.

The citadel’s architecture is Indo-Saracenic, with intricately carved arches and balconies. Fine latticework adorns windows and murals. There are some Islamic inscriptions on the arches of the fort. The palace contains royal suites, the imperial court, halls, and a prison.

The Bhadra Fort now houses government offices and a Kali temple.

Photo Credit – Gujarat Tourism

Monument – Khajuraho Temple, Khajuraho
Built by – Chandela rulers
Built in – 900 CE to 1130 CE

India is a land of temples and is known to have more than 2 million Hindu Temples. The temples reflect Indian culture, traditions and way of life. They are a representation of the cosmos.

The Temples of Khajuraho are a magnificent example of the Nagara style of Temple Architecture. The temples consist of a sanctum, a narrow ante-chamber (antarala), a transept (maha mandapa), additional halls (Ardha mandapa), a mandapa or nave and an ambulatory passage (Pradakshina-path).

The Nagara-style of architecture developed gradually over the centuries. The earlier temples had only one shikhara, but later temples with multiple shikharas were constructed, and the garbhgriha was always found under the tallest shikhara.

Khajuraho is known for its ornate group of monuments. These temples were built by the Chandela rulers between 900 CE to 1130 CE. Till the 12th century, there were around 85 temples spread across 20 square kilometres. The ravages of time have reduced the temples of Khajuraho to a mere 20 today!

The carvings at the temple are predominantly about Hindu deities and mythology. They reflect the four goals in life in Hinduism – dharma, karma, artha and moksha. All the temples at Khajuraho face the direction of sunrise, a feature of Hindu temple architecture. The deep interest of Chandelas in performance arts is evident through the depiction of various scenes of music and dance on the walls of these temples.

Erotic imagery, sculptures of celestial nymphs and sculptures depicting the human life cycle are very common in the temples of Khajuraho. These sculptures are believed to reflect the idea of female beauty and fertility.

The temples of Khajuraho are divided into three groups. The western group of temples, the southern group of temples and the eastern group of temples. It is believed that the temples of Khajuraho are built of light-coloured sandstone imported from the quarries of Panna. The smaller temples are built using sandstone and granite.

The Khajuraho group of temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a gift to the Indian civilisation.

Photo Courtesy – www.commons.wikimedia.org

Monument – Red Fort, Delhi
Built by – Islam Shah Suri
Built in – 1639

The Red Fort was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad – the new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan. Constructed in 1639, when Shah Jahan’s capital city was moved from Agra to Delhi, the Red fort was designed as a defensive structure.

Built on the banks of river Yamuna, the fortress-palace was designed by architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. It took eight years and ten months to construct the magnificent fort. The fort served as the royal residence of the Mughal emperors from 1648 to 1857.

The Red Fort derives its name from the red-sandstone walls, which make the fort almost impregnable. The walls of the Red Fort are an imposing sight, rising to 33 metres in places, with ornate carvings, domes and minarets. The fort, which is located in Old Delhi, is one of the massive and prominent structures of India and is a fine example of Mughal architecture.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Red Fort is often considered the pinnacle of Mughal creativity. In modern times, the fort is important to the people of India as the Indian Prime Minister delivers his Independence Day speech from the fort every year on August 15.

Photo Courtesy – JustDial

Monument – Shanti Stupa, Leh
Built by – Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomo Nakamura
Built in – 1983 – 1991

The original idea of constructing Shanti Stupa was started by Nichidatsu Fujii in 1914. His mission was to build Peace Pagodas and temples worldwide and try to resurrect Buddhism back in India.

The construction of the Shanti Stupa in Ladakh began in 1983 under the guidance and voluntary help of Ladakhi Buddhists and Japanese Buddhists. The Shanti Stupa was built to promote world peace and prosperity and to commemorate the 2500 years of Buddhism. It is considered a symbol of the ties between the people of Japan and Ladakh.

Shanti Stupa is a Buddhist white-domed stupa on a hilltop in Chanspa, Ladakh. Built in 1991 by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomo Nakamura, it is a part of the Peace Pagoda Mission. Enshrined by the 14th Dalai Lama, the Shanti Stupa holds the relics of Buddha at its base.

The first level of Shanti Stupa features the central relief of Dharmachakra with deer on each side. The central golden Buddha image depicts the “turning wheel of Dharma”, Dharmachakra. The second level depicts the birth of Buddha, the death of Buddha and the Buddha defeating the devils while meditating. Both the levels also feature a series of smaller meditating Buddha reliefs.

The Shanti Stupa overlooks the city of Leh, providing panoramic views of the city, the village of Changspa, and the surrounding mountains.

Photo Courtesy – www.scrolldroll.com

Monument – Ajanta Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Mumbai
Built by – Rashtrakuta dynasty and Kalachuris during 1st century

Ajanta Caves are a series of rock-cut caves in the Sahyadri ranges on Waghora river near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. The Ajanta caves are a series of 30 buddhist caves, out of which 25 are Viharas (residential complexes) and 5 are Chaityas (prayer halls). The caves, famous for their temple architecture and many delicately drawn murals, are located in a 76 m high, horseshoe-shaped escarpment overlooking the Waghora (tiger) River. The Ajanta Caves are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

The first Buddhist cave at Ajanta dates back to 2nd and 1st century BC. Many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group during the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuy AD). The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta caves are considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. These paintings and sculptures have had a considerable artistic influence.

Ajanta Caves exemplifies one of the greatest achievements in ancient Buddhist rock-cut architecture. The artistic traditions at Ajanta represent the art, architecture, painting and socio-cultural, political, and religious history of the contemporary indian society.

The Ellora caves are known for their amalgamation of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The wall carvings depict the stories of Hindu mythology and feature some great artistic talents of the creators. The site features over 100 caves, of which 34, are allowed to be visited by the public. These caves consist of 12 Buddhist caves, 17 Hindu caves, and 5 Jain caves, all of which present the respective deities and mythologies prevalent in the ancient times.

Photo Courtesy – www.thetravelshots.com