An Awesome Day in ‘Hawa Mahal’

Have you ever got slap from wind? Astounding! Like you, I, too, was when I heard it. Well, it’s a miracle of incredible India where such happens. Rajasthan has been the hub of Rajput royals. The capital city ‘Jaipur’ has not one but so many landmarks that define the beauty of Mughal & Rajput architectures’ marriage.

I had trespassed many states in India for excursions. Booking North India tour packages had always opened gateways of north Indian sites, such as Delhi tour packages, Haridwar & Mathura tour. But this time, my curiosity was to feel the crispy punches of gusty wind. And this became possible through Jaipur tour packages from Delhi. My curious soul wanted to witness ‘HawaMahal’. But I live in Delhi.

As its name suggests as it is built. The punches of gusty winds did not let even a drop of sweat to come out of my skin pores. That’s why we call it the ‘palace of wind’. It is tremendous architecture has contribution of Lal Chand Ustad who carved red & pink sandstone to make out masterpiece.

Through 953 latticed windows (Jharokha), the wind travels making every ‘Jharokha’ its passage. Mughal & Rajput architectures fused to give the resemblance of honeycomb of beehives during the dynasty of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. But actually, it was an inspiration taken from lord Krishna’s crown.

        

Standing at the epicenter of city Jaipur, the gusts pass through multitudes of latticed windows. And at one latticed window, it was me that got its crispy slap on ear. However, the wind seemed healing & soothing but alongside, the fact behind it haunted me a lot.

Poor Queens! They had to stay completely cut off from the public or laymen. Can you ever imagine that the king of Jaipur did not wish his queens to go in open-street and got mingled with common men? How rude he was! That’s why he built this palace with so many channels of air. These provide oxygen to the suffocative life of the queens. This suffocation was of ‘purdah’ practice in which the Rajput queens had to resign to.

  

But now, the way rickshaw pullers pester there, it seems pure STALKIKNG. On the contrary, laymen’s heart is full of kindness. Every person seems ready to offer you at least water to show hospitality.

I must say Pink City Jaipur is really snazzy.   

Mesmerizing Agra Tour ….

How exciting it is to go on picnic! Since the day you come to know about touring Agra, day-dreamer begins. Fascination of seeing ‘The Taj’ strengthens into passion. Finally, the day-dream comes true. It’s one of the seven wonders in front of your eyes! OUTSTANDING, STUNNING & many more adjectives appear dwarf before its vivid elegance. 

Marvelous beauty of that ivory monument can arrest anyone’s eyes. It took four hours in covering 210 km from Delhi by drive to me. A guide picked me under Agra Tour Packages in A/c car.

It was spell bounding experience when I saw it with my own eyes.  Truly, “It’s magnificent”, as exclaimed I. This beautiful craftsmen’s masterpiece was appearing as if the milky white marble are carved to create incredible architecture. 

‘Who made it’ spat out of my mouth to the guide who was standing beside me. He was mighty Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, he responded within seconds. The king ordered it to build in the memory of his loving wife in 1630. It was a heart touching news that period Queen Mumtaz is resting there in grave for years. Witnessing it, I understood ‘How a mortal becomes an immortal’.

The astounding beauty of ‘The Taj’ stuck my eyes as if it hypnotized me. The intricate inlay interiors with the intelligent blend of Turkish, Islamic & Persian elements of architecture were gluing not only my eyes but of all who were onlookers.  The majestic view of the Taj has been staying ‘evergreen’ in my heart. Tourists can’t catch it on Friday as it’s off day.

Anyhow, as the clock struck ‘1’, we had lunch. With chewing my last morsel, I asked if our next venue will be Itmad-ud-Daula’s tomb, to my guide. His nodding stamped ‘Yes’ it was.  Excitement was soaring high to watch what’s thrilling it hid. My excitement was not wrong as this tomb was one of the finest tombs of Medieval Period.  It is not more than one & half km from the Taj. It paints the picture of Jehangir’s ruling era. One of the prominent queen of Mughal empire was Nur Jahan. Her parents Mirza Ghivas & Asmat Begum were buried in cenotaphs here in peace after their ‘goodbye’ to mundane world. Well, the want to more from the pages of history was doubling in me. But the tour wrapped up & I returned with the desire to hit these places once more.