Landmarks

India houses some of the most beautiful landmarks. These include monuments, temples, or former palaces that offer rich history, spectactular architecture, or even fun activities like elephant rides. Here are a couple of my favorite landmarks that I visited while I lived in India.

• Taj Mahal

• Amber Fort

The infamous Taj Mahal is the most famous Indian landmark and is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It is a mausoleum and is located in Agra. I would have to jump on the bandwagon and say that this is my favorite Indian landmark as well. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built it between 1632-1653 A.D. to commemorate his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. His project took twenty-one years to complete, by the hands of several thousands of workers.

Taj Mahal Photo by Paul Dufour on Unsplash

The exterior boasts a complete composition of white marble and is symmetrical on all four sides. The design implements important symbols like the Hindu lotus and the Islamic half-moon. It is influenced by Persian architecture, such as the domes and archways, and Hindu architecture like chhatris, an umbrella-like dome over a pavilion.

The whole Taj Mahal has a high level of security, but the interior is heavily guarded. The center of the structure is composed of the tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. It is an octagonal chamber heavily decorated with various gemstones, colored stones, and religious inscriptions. The colored stone was used to make various forms of pietra dura, an artwork that involves creating images out of colored stones. The main chamber branches off into eight smaller chambers with similar designs.

Main Chamber of the Taj Mahal

The next landmark is the Amber Fort, also known as the Amer Fort. It is located in Jaipur. As mentioned before, some landmarks offer entertainment. The Amber Fort is special because it has an elephant ride. Elephants are decorated with colorful cloths and carry visitors across the fort to view the entirety of the landmark. However, this practice is becoming more controversial. Animal protection organizations like PETA believe that the elephants aren't suited to carry people over steep hills in the sweltering Indian heat. I do agree with the animal organizations' views to a certain extent. Although the experience was fun, I slightly do regret partaking in the elephant ride while I visited there.

Elephant Ride at Entrance (Media from Unsplash)

The Amber Fort's history is very complex in comparison to the Taj Mahal's history. The Amber Fort is built upon years of succession, treachery, bloodshed, and war. To start, Raja Alan Singh set up his palace on top of the hill. Eventually, Raja Man Singh of the Kachwaha house seized the throne and destroyed the palace on top of the hill. Instead, in 1592, he built the Amber Fort there. He didn't finish, but his predecessors slowly added to the fort during their terms. The present fort was completed in the late 16th century. Since Raja Man Singh initially came up with the idea for the Amber Fort, he is credited for its creation.

Amber Fort overlooking Maota Lake

The architecture of the Amber Fort is very unique. While the structure mostly consists of red sandstone and white marble, there is a strong use of Mughal and Rajput architecture. The gate to the main area utilizes colorful mosaics, which make the entrance look more grand. Two of the most popular segments of the fort include the Sheesh Mahal and Jai Mandir. The Sheesh Mahal is known for its use of mirrors, while the Jai Mandir uses carved jali screens (a diamond pattern stone screen) and stucco work. The pavilion of the Amber Fort is not to be forgotten either. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful segment of the fort. The pavilion is covered with mirrors, glass, and stonework. Here, the rajas (kings) would meet with important guests.

Amber Fort Pavilion

Overall, Indian landmarks are very vital to Indian culture. Layers of history, beautiful architecture, and meaning are displayed by these landmarks. They shouldn't be forgotten, but rather glorified.