Shore Temple : India’s Temple

Mamallapuram was once a port city of the Pallava rulers, located 50 km from the south of Chennai on the shores of Bay of Bengal. The temples and rock cut sculptures of that period create a unique blend of history and natural beauty. The monuments of Mamallapuram are excellent specimen of Dravidian temple architecture and Pallava art.

The Shore temples at Mamallapuram were built during the reign of Rajasimha in the 7th century AD. The Shore temples are the example of zenith of the Pallava art and architecture. The temple is perched on a rocky outcrop and presides over the shoreline. Percy Brown has remarked that it served as ‘a landmark by day and a beacon by night’. it was designed to catch the first rays of the rising sun and to illuminate the waters after dark. Thus the temple has an unusual layout.

Rajasimha who ascended the throne in AD 674 built the Shore Temple. The Shore Temple was the first Pallava structure to be built of stone rather than being hewn out of stone like the older temples. The greatest improvement in design is in the shikhara or spire, which has altered from the rounded vihara design to a soaring, tiered style. Elements like the vimana or spire, the gopuram or gateway and animal figures that were to become trademark features of Dravidian architecture can all be seen here. And it is largely the use of dressed stone, which gave the architects greater creative freedom.
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Neharwali Haveli

The Neharwali Haveli in the Pratap Street of Gola Market in Darya Ganj area of Delhi is the birthplace of General Pervez Musharraf. Over the period of time, the original structure of the haveli has given way to rapid modernization. The courtyard of the haveli has given way to a famous theatre, Golcha. The haveli was built over a sprawling complex spread in Kucha Sadullah Khan in the crowded Faiz Bazaar area. it is a complex with four storeyes builds on 700 sq. yards.

The original haveli was built according to late Mughal architectural style. Arches of the courtyard of the haveli and the intricate jali or latticework are the only structural remains of the old building. The haveli has now been converted into a residential complex. The arches display little of the craftsmanship that Mughal architecture is known for. The jalis were used as zanan khana for the women during the Mughal era. Red sandstone jalis have lost their original luster and color as the present owners have painted them white.

There are eight divisions of the haveli and around 28 families and individuals live there these days. The ground portions are taken over by more than 40 dimly lit shops. Another portion of the haveli, occupied by the Golas, has been turned into a commercial complex
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Qutub Minar

The Qutub Minar was started in 1199 AD by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak and completed by the sultan’s successor and son-in-law, iltutmish. The building is 72.5 m high and has 379 steps from the bottom to the top. The Minar is tapering with the diameter of the base is 14.3 m while at the top floor it is2.7 m. The Qutub Minar is still the highest stone tower as well as one of the finest islamic structures ever raised in india. it is made of red and buff sandstone.

Aibak constructed the first floor and the tree more storeys were added by iltutmish. All the storeys are surrounded by a projected balcony encircling the Minar and supported by stone brackets, which are decorated with honeycomb design, more conspicuously in the first storey. The first storey and its balcony have the curved and fluted design. The second storey has only curved design while the third storey has only fluted design. The Qutub Minar is decorated with floral motif and arabesque. The inscriptions on the surface of the Minar suggest that Firoz Shah Tughlaq (AD 1351-88) and Sikandar Lodi (AD 1489-1517) repaired it. Firoz Shah renovated the top floor and added marble to the building.

Quwwat-ul-islam Mosque was built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in AD 1198. it is the earliest mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. it consists of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by cloisters, erected with the carved columns and architectural members of 27 Hindu and Jain temples. These temples were demolished in order to construct the mosque. The Qutub Minar was probably built as a minar for the purpose of azaan by the muezzin. A lofty arched screen was erected and the mosque was enlarged by iltutmish and Ala-ud-Din Khalji With in the mosque complex is the iron Pillar, which dates back to 4th century AD. The pillar bears an inscription, which states that it was erected as a flagstaff in honor of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta King Chandragupta ii (BC375-413).
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Mosque of Makhdum Sabzwari

The mosque of Makhdum Sabzwari is located at the Mayfair Gardens in Delhi. The mosque was built in the 15th century AD, during the invasion of india by Timur who was a Muslim ruler from central Asia. The mosque of Makhdum Sabzwari is a mix of indian and Pathan style of architecture. The sloping walls, squat domes, negligible ornamentation and simple severity of outline combine together to give buildings a stern look. The interior of the mosque is made in typical islamic style. The mosque is a typical evidence of the gradual inter-mingling of the indigenous elements with the islamic architectural styles by the Muslim invaders in india.

The remarkable feature of the mosque is the concept of the enclosed space. There is a rectangular open space defined by arched openings on three sides known as iwans for congregational prayer, which give the delusion of both openness and enclosure. The iwans on the western wall are given more prominence. The prayer chamber is divided into seven alcoves internally. The central one and the two at the extreme ends are domed. The domes are low set and impart solidity and sternness to the entire structure. The building is constructed of rubble masonry coated with plaster. The pillars of the arched openings are made of hard compact granite squared into large masses. The western façade also has two slender turret-like structures on either side of the main dome and one on each of the ends. There are no minarets for the muezzin to summon for the prayer.

The gate of the mosque is built in the Hindu style. The gateway, with its typically Hindu style arch and pillar is reminiscent of a temple. it has a short squat dome on top and a passage allowing access through the northern side of the mosque. incidentally, the enclosure has only one entrance, which has been barricaded by a rickety wooden gate painted blue.
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Majnu-ka-Tila

A fakir lived on the banks of river Yamuna during the reign of Sultan Sikander Lodhi. He used to carry people across the river in his boat free of charge. He used to spend most of his time in prayers and meditation and yearned for the glimpse of the God. He was so much lost in his own thoughts often fasted. As a result of which he became thin and people started calling him Majnu after the Persian lover whose name became symbolic of intense love in mysticism in the Sufi literature.

One day, the fakir met Guru Nanak who blessed him and after that he achieved supreme enlightenment. He became the disciple of the Guru. His hermitage on the banks of the river Yamuna thereafter came to be known as Majnu-Ka-Tila. Many yogis, sufis and fakirs came to hold spiritual discourses with Guru Nanak at this place. Most prominent among them was the Sajadanahin of famous Saint Nizamuddin Auliya. He was deeply influenced by the teaching of Guru Nanak.
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Karkala Temple : India’s Temple

Karkala is a little town in the south of Karnataka. There is a famous Jain temple in Karkala, which is a witness to a different age dating back a thousand years. The lavish architecture within its simple stone framework, flowing stone sculptures and ample carvings bears the testimony to probably the combined work of talented sculptors, architects and artists long dead.

Karkala is surrounded by hills and a lagoon. it is famous for the charming Karkala temple, Jain stupa and a gigantic statue of the Jain god, Gandharva. The temple is situated on the top of a hill with a stone staircase cut into the face of the rock of the rising hill. The Jains built this temple on top of a hill in AD 1000 to erect a memorial and place of worship to their god, the Gandharva. The rich architecture, the florid Hoysala type sculptures and the unique style of construction and architectural design of the staircases and porticos are the important characteristic of the temples of Karkala At the foot or the entrance to the Jain temple is a special set of footprints embedded in a rock that is preserved in a little shrine dedicated to the Gandharva. These footprints are unique because they are believed to be the actual impressions of the holy saint, dating back a thousand years or more.
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Janjira Fort

Murud is a village in Raigad district, south to Alibagh in the state of Maharashtra. it was the capital town of the Siddis of Janjira. The place is full of coconut and betel nut trees and has a nice and prosperous seashore. Murud is not a big village but it is famous for the island Fort of Murud-Janjira. Janjira is Marathi corruption of the Arabic word Jazirah, which means an island.

The Janjira Fort was built by the rulers of the Ahmed Nagar under the patronage of emperor Malik Amber in the 15th century AD. The fort is build in the sea 2 km inside of Murud. This is one of the vital sea-forts in Maharashtra. it has strong walls 40 ft high and standing intact even after being battered by the sea waves from all four sides.the fort was never conquered by any enemy for over 350 years. Shivaji, Sambhaji and the Peshwas tried to take over the fort. But the Marathas, British or Portuguese could never capture Janjira.

The fortress was originally built of wood by the Murud fishermen to protect their village from pirates. Buran Khan, the minister of the ruler of Ahmed Nagar, Nizamshah, demolished the fortress later and built an impregnable stone fort in its place. The Janjira Fort had a number of towers and turrets where huge guns and cannons were kept in perpetual readiness to ward off enemies. Once the fort boasted of 500 canons but today only a few are left. the famous among them are Kalal Bangadi, Chavari and Landa Kasam. The 2 water tanks inside the fort and some tombs are worth watching. A stone carving on the main entrance depicts six elephants trapped by a single tiger, which is the symbol of bravery of the Siddis. There are two sweet water lakes inside the fort, which exist even today.
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