JOURNEY WITH LEGENDS

The Red Fort Is A Historic Fort In The City Of Delhi In India, Which Served As The Main Residence Of The Mughal Emperors. Emperor Shah Jahan Commissioned Construction Of The Red Fort On 12 May 1638, When He Decided To Shift His Capital From Agra To Delhi. Originally Red And White, Shah Jahan's Favourite Colours, Its Design Is Credited To Architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori, Who Also Constructed The Taj Mahal. It Was Constructed Between May 1639 And April 1648. On 15 August 1947, The First Prime Minister Of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, Raised The Indian National Flag Above The Lahori Gate. Every Year On India's Independence Day (15 August), The Prime Minister Hoists The Indian "Tricolour Flag" At The Fort's Main Gate And Delivers A Nationally Broadcast Speech From Its Ramparts.

Humayun's Tomb (Hindustani: Maqbara-I Humayun) Is The Tomb Of The Mughal Emperor Humayun In Delhi, India. The Tomb Was Commissioned By Humayun's First Wife And Chief Consort, Empress Bega Begum (Also Known As Haji Begum), In 1569-70, And Designed By Mirak Mirza Ghiyas And His Son, Sayyid Muhammad, Persian Architects Chosen By Her. It Was The First Garden-Tomb On The Indian Subcontinent, And Is Located In Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India, Close To The Dina-Panah Citadel, Also Known As Purana Qila (Old Fort), That Humayun Found In 1533. It Was Also The First Structure To Use Red Sandstone At Such A Scale. The Tomb Was Declared A UNESCO World Heritage Site In 1993,And Since Then Has Undergone Extensive Restoration Work, Which Is Complete.[14] Besides The Main Tomb Enclosure Of Humayun, Several Smaller Monuments Dot The Pathway Leading Up To It, From The Main Entrance In The West, Including One That Even Pre-Dates The Main Tomb Itself, By Twenty Years; It Is The Tomb Complex Of Isa Khan Niyazi, An Afghan Noble In Sher Shah Suri's Court Of The Suri Dynasty, Who Fought Against The Mughals, Constructed In 1547 CE.

The Qutb Minar, Also Spelled As Qutub Minar, Is A Minaret And "Victory Tower" That Forms Part Of The Qutb Complex, A UNESCO World Heritage Site In The Mehrauli Area Of Delhi, India. Qutb Minar Was 73-Metres (239.5 Feet) Tall Before The Final, Fifth Section Was Added After 1369.The Tower Tapers, And Has A 14.3 Metres (47 Feet) Base Diameter, Reducing To 2.7 Metres (9 Feet) At The Top Of The Peak. It Contains A Spiral Staircase Of 379 Steps.Its Closest Comparator Is The 62-Metre All-Brick Minaret Of Jam In Afghanistan, Of C.1190, A Decade Or So Before The Probable Start Of The Delhi Tower.The Surfaces Of Both Are Elaborately Decorated With Inscriptions And Geometric Patterns; In Delhi The Shaft Is Fluted With "Superb Stalactite Bracketing Under The Balconies" At The Top Of Each Stage. In General Minarets Were Slow To Be Used In India, And Are Often Detached From The Main Mosque Where They Exist.The Minar Is Part Of Quwwat Ul-Islam Mosque Was Originally Built After Destroying 27 Older Hindu And Jain Temples. The Pillars Of The Temples Were Reused And The Original Images Plastered Over. Inside The Complex Lie The Tombs Of Iltutmish, Alauddin Khalji And Imam Zamin

The India Gate (originally the All India War Memorial) is a war memorial located astride the Rajpath, on the eastern edge of the "ceremonial axis" of New Delhi, formerly called Kingsway. It stands as a memorial to 70,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in between 1914–1921 in the First World War, in France, Flanders, Mesopotamia, Persia, East Africa, Gallipoli and elsewhere in the Near and the Far East, and the third Anglo-Afghan War. 13,300 servicemen's names, including some soldiers and officers from the United Kingdom, are inscribed on the gate.Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the gate evokes the architectural style of the triumphal arch such as the Arch of Constantine, in Rome, and is often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

The Governor-General of Fort William resided in Belvedere House, Calcutta, until the early nineteenth century, when Government House, Calcutta (now Raj Bhavan, Kolkata) was constructed. Lord Wellesley, who is reputed to have said that ‘India should be governed from a palace, not from a country house’, ordered the construction of a grand mansion between 1799 and 1803 and in 1854, the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal took up residence there. The decision to build a residence in New Delhi for the British Viceroy was taken after it was decided during the Delhi Durbar in December 1911 that the capital of India would be relocated from Calcutta to Delhi. When the plan for a new city, New Delhi, adjacent to end south of Old Delhi, was developed after the Delhi Durbar, the new palace for the Viceroy of India was given an enormous size and prominent position. About 4,000 acres of land was acquired to begin the construction of Viceroy's House, as it was originally called, and adjacent Secretariat Building between 1911 and 1916 by relocating Raisina and Malcha villages that existed there and their 300 families under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

The Taj Mahal .?'Crown Of The Palace' Is An Ivory-White Marble Mausoleum On The South Bank Of The Yamuna River In The Indian City Of Agra. It Was Commissioned In 1632 By The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (Reigned From 1628 To 1658) To House The Tomb Of His Favourite Wife, Mumtaz Mahal; It Also Houses The Tomb Of Shah Jahan Himself. The Tomb Is The Centrepiece Of A 17-Hectare (42-Acre) Complex, Which Includes A Mosque And A Guest House, And Is Set In Formal Gardens Bounded On Three Sides By A Crenellated Wall. Construction Of The Mausoleum Was Essentially Completed In 1643, But Work Continued On Other Phases Of The Project For Another 10 Years. The Taj Mahal Complex Is Believed To Have Been Completed In Its Entirety In 1653 At A Cost Estimated At The Time To Be Around 32 Million Rupees, Which In 2020 Would Be Approximately 70 Billion Rupees (About U.S. $916 Million). The Construction Project Employed Some 20,000 Artisans Under The Guidance Of A Board Of Architects Led By The Court Architect To The Emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. The Taj Mahal Was Designated As A UNESCO World Heritage Site In 1983 For Being "The Jewel Of Muslim Art In India And One Of The Universally Admired Masterpieces Of The World's Heritage". It Is Regarded By Many As The Best Example Of Mughal Architecture And A Symbol Of India's Rich History. The Taj Mahal Attracts 7–8 Million Visitors A Year And In 2007, It Was Declared A Winner Of The New7Wonders Of The World (2000–2007) Initiative.

Akbar Has A Luxurious Life And Selected A Suitable Site For It. After The Death Of, Akbar's Son Jahangir Completed The Construction In 1605–1613. It Cost 1,500,000 Rupees To Built And Took 3 Or 4 Years To Complete. During The Reign Of Aurangzeb, Jats Rose In Rebellion Under The Leadership Of Raja Ram Jat. Mughal Prestige Suffered A Blow When Jats Ransacked Akbar's Tomb, Plundering And Looting The Gold, Jewels, Silver And Carpets. According To One Account, Even Akbar's Grave Was Opened And His Bones Burned. As Viceroy Of India, George Curzon Directed Extensive Repairs And Restoration Of Akbar's Mausoleum, Which Were Completed In 1905. Curzon Discussed Restoration Of The Mausoleum And Other Historical Buildings In Agra In Connection With The Passage Of The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act In 1904, When He Described The Project As "An Offering Of Reverence To The Past And A Gift Of Recovered Beauty To The Future". This Preservation Project May Have Discouraged Veneration Of The Mausoleum By Pilgrims And People Living Nearby. Akbar Tomb Is Located At Sikandra, In The Suburbs Of Agra, On The Mathura Road (NH2), 8 Km West-Northwest Of The City Center. About 1 Km Away From The Tomb, Lies Mariam's Tomb, The Tomb Of Mariam-Uz-Zamani, Wife Of The Mughal Emperor Akbar And The Mother Of Jahangir.

Buland Darwaza , Or The "Door Of Victory", Was Built In 1601 A.D. By Mughal Emperor Akbar The Great To Commemorate His Victory Over Gujarat. It Is The Main Entrance To The Jama Masjid At Fatehpur Sikri, Which Is 43 Km From Agra, India. Buland Darwaza Is The Highest Gateway In The World And Is An Example Of Mughal Architecture. It Displays Sophistication And Heights Of Technology In Akbar's Empire.

Amer Fort Or Amber Fort Is A Fort Located In Amer, Rajasthan, India. Amer Is A Town With An Area Of 4 Square Kilometres (1.5 Sq Mi) Located 11 Kilometres (6.8 Mi) From Jaipur, The Capital Of Rajasthan. The Town Of Amer And The Amber Fort Were Originally Built By The Mairs, And Later It Was Ruled By Raja Man Singh I. Located High On A Hill, It Is The Principal Tourist Attraction In Jaipur.Amer Fort Is Known For Its Artistic Style Elements. With Its Large Ramparts And Series Of Gates And Cobbled Paths, The Fort Overlooks Maota Lake, Which Is The Main Source Of Water For The Amer Palace.

The Jal Mahal Palace Is An Architectural Showcase Of The Rajput Style Of Architecture (Common In Rajasthan) On A Grand Scale. The Building Has A Picturesque View Of The Lake Itself But Owing To Its Seclusion From Land Is Equally The Focus Of A Viewpoint From The Man Sagar Dam On The Eastern Side Of The Lake In Front Of The Backdrop Of The Surrounding Nahargarh ("Tiger-Abode") Hills. The Palace, Built-In Red Sandstone, Is A Five Storied Building, Of Which Four Floors Remain Underwater When The Lake Is Full And The Top Floor Is Exposed. One Rectangular Chhatri On The Roof Is Of The Bengal Type. The Chhatris On The Four Corners Are Octagonal. The Palace Had Suffered Subsidence In The Past And Also Partial Seepage (Plasterwork And Wall Damage Equivalent To Rising Damp) Because Of Waterlogging, Which Have Been Repaired Under A Restoration Project Of The Government Of Rajasthan.

Hawa Mahal (English Translation: "The Palace Of Winds" Or "The Palace Of Breeze") Is A Palace In Jaipur, India. Made With The Red And Pink Sandstone, The Palace Sits On The Edge Of The City Palace, Jaipur, And Extends To The Zenana, Or Women's Chambers. The Structure Was Built In 1799 By Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, The Grandson Of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, Who Was The Founder Of Jaipur. He Was So Inspired By The Unique Structure Of Khetri Mahal That He Built This Grand And Historical Palace. It Was Designed By Lal Chand Ustad. Its Unique Five Floors Exterior Is Akin To The Honeycomb Of A Beehive With Its 953 Small Windows Called Jharokhas Decorated With Intricate Latticework. The Original Intent Of The Lattice Design Was To Allow Royal Ladies To Observe Everyday Life And Festivals Celebrated In The Street Below Without Being Seen, Since They Had To Obey The Strict Rules Of "Purdah", Which Forbade Them From Appearing In Public Without Face Coverings. This Architectural Feature Also Allowed Cool Air From The Venturi Effect To Pass Through, Thus Making The Whole Area More Pleasant During The High Temperatures In Summer. Many People See The Hawa Mahal From The Street View And Think It Is The Front Of The Palace, But In Reality It Is The Back Of That Structure.

When Jai Singh began construction in Jaipur is unknown, but several instruments had been built by 1728, and the construction of the instruments in Jaipur continued until 1738. During 1735, when construction was at its peak, at least 23. Astronomers were employed in Jaipur, and due to the changing political climate, Jaipur replaced Delhi as Jai Singh's main observatory, and remained Jai Singh's central observatory until his death in 1743. The observatory lost support under Isvari Singh (r.1743-1750) because of a succession war between him and his brother. However, Mado Singh (r. 1750-1768), Isvari Singh's successor, supported the observatory, although it did not see the same level of activity as under Jai Singh. Although some restorations were made to the Jantar Mantar under Pratap Singh (r.1778-1803), activity at the observatory died down again. During this time, a temple was constructed, and Pratap Singh turned the site of the observatory into a gun factory.

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Located In Jodhpur In Rajasthan, India, Is One Of The World's Largest Private Residences. A Part Of The Palace Is Managed By Taj Hotels. Named After Maharaja Umaid Singh, Grandfather Of The Present Owner Gaj Singh. The Palace Has 347 Rooms And Is The Principal Residence Of The Former Jodhpur Royal Family. A Part Of The Palace Is A Museum.Ground For The Foundations Of The Building Was Broken On 18 November 1929 By Maharaja Umaid Singh And The Construction Work Was Completed In 1943. The History Of Building The Umaid Bhawan Palace Is Linked To A Curse By A Saint Who Had Said That A Period Of Drought Would Follow The Good Rule Of The Rathore Dynasty. Thus, After The End Of The About 50-Year Reign Of Pratap Singh, Jodhpur Faced Severe Drought And Famine In The 1920s For A Period Of Three Consecutive Years. The Farmers Of The Area, Faced With This Hardship, Sought The Help Of The Then Maharaja, Umaid Singh, Who Was The 37th Rathore Ruler Of Marwar At Jodhpur, To Provide Them With Some Employment So That They Could Survive The Harsh Conditions. The Maharaja, In Order To Help The Farmers, Decided To Build A Lavish Palace. He Commissioned Henry Vaughan Lanchester As The Architect To Prepare The Plans For The Palace; Lanchester Was A Contemporary Of Edwin Lutyens, Who Had Planned The Buildings Of The New Delhi Government Complex. Lanchester Patterned The Umaid Palace On The Lines Of The New Delhi Building Complex By Adopting The Theme Of Domes And Columns. The Palace Was Designed As A Blend Of Western Technology And Indian Architectural Features.

Mehrangarh, Located In Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Is One Of The Largest Forts In India. Built In Around 1459 By Rao Jodha, The Fort Is Situated 410 Feet (125 M) Above The City And Is Enclosed By Imposing Thick Walls. Inside Its Boundaries There Are Several Palaces Known For Their Intricate Carvings And Expansive Courtyards. A Winding Road Leads To And From The City Below. The Imprints Of The Impact Of Cannonballs Fired By Attacking Armies Of Jaipur Can Still Be Seen On The Second Gate. To The Left Of The Fort Is The Chhatri Of Kirat Singh Soda, A Soldier Who Fell On The Spot Defending Mehrangarh.There Are Seven Gates, Which Include Jayapol (Meaning 'Victory Gate'), Built By Maharaja Man Singh To Commemorate His Victories Over Jaipur And Bikaner Armies. There Is Also A Fattehpol (Also Meaning 'Victory Gate'), Which Commemorates Maharaja Ajit Singhji Victory Over Mughals.The Museum In The Mehrangarh Fort Is One Of The Most Well-Stocked Museums In Rajasthan. In One Section Of The Fort Museum, There Is A Selection Of Old Royal Palanquins, Including The Elaborate Domed Gilt Mahadol Palanquin Which Was Won In A Battle From The Governor Of Gujarat In 1730. The Museum Exhibits The Heritage Of The Rathores In Arms, Costumes, Paintings And Decorated Period.

The Jaswant Thada Is A Cenotaph Located In Jodhpur, In The Indian State Of Rajasthan. It Was Built By Maharaja Sardar Singh Of Jodhpur State In 1899 In Memory Of His Father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II,[1] And Serves As The Cremation Ground For The Royal Family Of Marwar. The Mausoleum Is Built Out Of Intricately Carved Sheets Of Marble. These Sheets Are Extremely Thin And Polished So That They Emit A Warm Glow When Illuminated By The Sun.The Cenotaph's Grounds Feature Carved Gazebos, A Tiered Garden, And A Small Lake. There Are Three Other Cenotaphs In The Grounds. The Cenotaph Of Maharaja Jaswant Singh Displays Portraits Of The Rulers And Maharajas Of Jodhpur.

City Palace, Udaipur Is A Palace Complex Situated In The City Of Udaipur In The Indian State Of Rajasthan. It Was Built Over A Period Of Nearly 400 Years, With Contributions From Several Rulers Of The Mewar Dynasty. Its Construction Began In 1553, Started By Maharana Udai Singh II Of The Sisodia Rajput Family As He Shifted His Capital From The Erstwhile Chittor To The New Found City Of Udaipur. The Palace Is Located On The East Bank Of Lake Pichola And Has Several Palaces Built Within Its Complex. The City Palace In Udaipur Was Built In A Flamboyant Style And Is Considered The Largest Of Its Type In The State Of Rajasthan. It Was Built Atop A Hill, In A Fusion Of The Rajasthani And Mughal Architectural Styles, Providing A Panoramic View Of The City And Its Surroundings. Overlooking Lake Pichola, Several Historic Monuments Like The Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, Jagdish Temple, Monsoon Palace, And Neemach Mata Temple, Are All In The Vicinity Of The Palace Complex. Nestled Within The Aravali Mountain Range, These Landmarks Are Associated In Popular Culture With The Filming Of The 1983 James Bond Movie Octopussy.

Lake Pichola, Situated In Udaipur City In The Indian State Of Rajasthan, Is An Artificial Fresh Water Lake, Created In The Year 1362 AD, Named After The Nearby Picholi Village. It Is One Of The Several Contiguous Lakes, And Developed Over The Last Few Centuries In And Around The Famous Udaipur City. The Lakes Around Udaipur Were Primarily Created By Building Dams To Meet The Drinking Water And Irrigation Needs Of The City And Its Neighborhood. Two Islands, Jag Niwas And Jag Mandir Are Located Within Pichola Lake, And Have Been Developed With Several Palaces To Provide Views Of The Lake.

Saheliyon Ki Bari Was Laid For A Group Of Forty-Eight Maidens. This Garden Is Located On The Banks Of The Fateh Sagar Lake, Presenting A Green Retreat In The Dry Lands Of Rajasthan. It Was Built From 1710 To 1734 By Maharana Sangram Singh For The Royal Ladies. As Per Legend, The Garden Was Designed By The King Himself And He Presented This Garden To His Queen. The Queen Was Accompanied By 48 Maids In Her Marriage. To Offer All Of Them Pleasurable Moments Away From The Political Intrigues Of The Court, This Garden Was Made. This Patterned Garden Used To Be The Popular Relaxing Spot Of The Royal Ladies. The Queen With Her Maids And Female Companions Used To Come Here For A Stroll And Spend Their Time In Leisure

Jagdish Temple Is A Large Hindu Temple In The Middle Of Udaipur In Rajasthan, Just Outside The Royal Palace. It Has Been In Continuous Worship Since 1651. A Big Tourist Attraction, The Temple Was Originally Called The Temple Of Jagannath Rai But Is Now Called Jagdish-Ji. It Is A Major Monument In Udaipur.