Khetri Mahal (
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
: खेतड़ी महल ), also known as the Wind Palace, whose ruins are an example of palace architecture in the
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
state of
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern si ...
.
History
Khetri Mahal was constructed by Bhopal Singh around 1770. Bhopal Singh was the grandson of Sardul Singh. Maharaja
Sawai Pratap Singh
Pratap Singh (2 December 1764 – 1 August 1803) was a Kachwaha ruler of Jaipur. He is known for constructing the Hawa Mahal.
Biography
Pratap was born as a younger son of Madho Singh I on 2 December 1764 . Pratap Singh became the Maharaja ...
of
Jaipur
Jaipur (; Hindi Language, Hindi: ''Jayapura''), formerly Jeypore, is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Rajasthan. , the city had a pop ...
built his
Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal is a palace in the city of Jaipur, India. Built from red and pink sandstone, it is on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the ''Zenana'', or women's chambers.
The structure was built in 1799 by the Maharaja Sawai ...
, also known as the Wind Palace, on the model of the Khetri Mahal, in 1799. Khetri in itself was considered to be the second wealthiest ‘Thikana’ under Jaipur.
Bhopal Singh was killed in the
Second battle of Loharu, in which he tried to capture the
Loharu Fort
Loharu Fort, built in 16th century, is a state protected archaeological monument in Loharu town in Haryana state of India.Shekhawati
Shekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India. The region was ruled by Shekhawat Rajputs.
Shekhawati is located in North Rajasthan, comprising the districts of Jhunjhunu district, Jhunjhunu,
part ...
rulers, at the place where he was cremated in
Loharu, roughly from Loharu Fort, a commemorative
chhatri was built which still survives.
Between 1870 and 1901,
Ajit Singh of Khetri reigned as a ruler of the Shekhawat dynasty of the Indian state of
Khetri.
Architecture
Khetri Mahal is located behind a series of lanes. It is a paragon of Shekhawati art and architecture. It is primarily known for its fine paintings and murals mainly supporting the Raghunath temple and Bhopalgarh fort. The palace is remarkable among buildings of its region because of the flow of wind through its open portals rather than stopped windows or doors.
Wherever structurally possible, the walls have been pierced with arched openings. The levels of the Palace are combined through a series of ramps, installed to facilitate the movement of horseback guests toward the terrace, which gives commanding views.
Two small alcoves contain fragments of older paintings in the private chamber of Thakurs. Most of these paintings were executed in natural earth pigments. The interior rooms are open and colonnaded, the columns often surmounted with openwork and curved arches.
Most of the rooms are connected through arched portals rather than with doors, and much of the masonry is covered with a pinkish plaster.
One enters the palace via a student hostel at the base of the structure.
Gallery
File:Side View of Khetri Mahal.jpg, Side view of Khetri Mahal
File:Badalgarh-Fort-from-Khetri-Mahal.jpg, View of Badalgarh Fort from Khetri Mahal
File:Khetri Mahal Jhunjhunu A Supreme Design.jpg, Interior view
File:Beautiful Architecture Design of Khetri Mahal.jpg, Khetri Mahal from above
See also
*
Rajput architecture
*
Shekhawati
Shekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India. The region was ruled by Shekhawat Rajputs.
Shekhawati is located in North Rajasthan, comprising the districts of Jhunjhunu district, Jhunjhunu,
part ...
References
External links
{{commons category, Khetri Mahal
Jhunjhunu informationShekhawatihelpJhunjhunu district website Website about Jhunjhunu, with photographs
Rajput architecture
Palaces in Rajasthan
Jhunjhunu district
Rajasthani culture