The construction of cenotaphs or chhatris by the Royal families of erstwhile kingdoms in Rajasthan and elsewhere had been in vogue for many centuries. The chhatri literally meaning ''umbrella'' became an integral part of building designs and it was a well-established feature in building cenotaphs. The chhatris were built as an umbrella with four pillars over the burial place or cremation ground in honor of great kings and queens who ruled their respective kingdoms with fairness, equal justice and dignity. Mind you, with some exceptions, Chhatris are basically tombs that do not contain the mortal remains of that person and they were built as a tribute to their greatness. The tradition of building chhatris was common among the Rajput families of Rajasthan and in many cities and town you can see artistically built chhatris. Such chhatris bring out the ethos and culture of Rajasthan in the past and the legacy of past rulers.
Jaisalmer-cenotaph:
In 1156 Maharawal Jaisal founded Jaisalmer which became a well-known kingdom over centuries. During the british Raj, it became a princely state until independence. In the 16th century old Bada Bagh (meaning a large garden), one will find a series of ornate chhatris made of yellow sandstone that is available here in plenty. Being a sedimentary rock, it is easy to dress the sandstone as per our needs.
These chhatris are dedicated to kings such as Maharawal Jait Singh who built this bagh.
Jodhpur-cenotaph:
Above image: The image shows the Cenotaph of Maharajah Jaswant Singh (ruled from 1638 AD to 1678 AD). Mandore gardens near Jodhpur,............................................
Above image: Mandore gardens near Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Cenotaph of Maharaja Gaj Singh of Marwar who ruled from 1619 AD to 1638 AD .......................................
Located near Jodpur, the famous sprawling Mandore gardens has chhatris along with beautiful temples, a fountain, a museum, etc. Mandore is a small town a few kilometers to the north of Jodhpur and was the ancient capital of the rulers of Jodhpur before they shifted to Jodhpur in the 15th century. So, the history of Mandore easily stretches back more than 1000 years! Here you will find the dewals or cenotaphs of Jodhpur’s former rulers and the ruins of the former fort of the Rathores of Jodhpur. About a kilometre to the north-west of the Mandore Gardens are the cenotaphs of the queens and the princesses of Jodhpur. Apart from these, there is also a Government museum and a famous temple (a temple with 33 Gods!
Here the chhatri made of red sandstone is built in honor of such rulers as Maharaja Ajit Singh (reigned 1678-1724).
At yet another place in Jodhpur called Jaswant Thada, there is a mausoleum built in honor of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II and the structure is made of thin sheets of polished marble that glows when hit by the sun ray. It was built by Maharajah Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Jaswant Singh II. This place served as the cremation ground for the Royal family of Marwar. There are portraits of Maharajahs in the cenotaph. One also find many other cenotaphs as well.
Jaipur-cenotaph:
Among the tourist attractions of Jaipur, the most significant is at Gaitore. Here lies the royal cremation ground for the Kachhwaha Rajput kings and the members of the royal family. The word 'Gaitore' is wrongly misspelled and the right word in Hindi is 'Gaye ka Thor' which means 'resting place of the departed souls'. Located in a narrow valley on Jaipur-Amer road, Gaitore is 15 km away from Jaipur. In the valley are constructed fascinating cenotaphs (chhatri) made of marble and sandstone, displaying beautiful and rich stone carvings in Rajasthani style. These Cenotaphs of grandeur and artistic excellence are dedicated to legendary kings who ruled Jaipur with dedication and equal justice. Blended with Islamic and Hindu temple architecture, Gaitore has cenotaphs of Sawai Ram Singh, Sawai Madho Singh and Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and so on. Among them, the cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II can be easily marked out for its quite impressive and intricate peacock carvings and designs on beautiful white marble structure. The carvings on each cenotaph were done, matching the taste of the respective king. It was here that many rulers of Jaipur were cremated over which their chhatris were constructed. The ornate chhatri of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II is also made of white marble.
Udaipur-cenotaph:
Very close to Udaipur (just 2 km) lies a group of royal cenotaphs in Ahar and the site contains more than 250 cenotaphs of the Maharajahs of Mewar that were built over a period of about 350 years. Also included are 19 chhatris and the great kings
were cremated here and one of them is of Maharana Amar Singh. Ahar used to be the ancient capital of the Sisodia clan. The Sisodia’s here ruled for 1200 years and this makes them one of the oldest dynasties in the world to have ruled a kingdom for such a lengthy period without a break whatsoever.Bikaner-cenotaph:
The royal cenotaphs of Devikund Sagar located near Bikaner are popular and here the royal family members of the Rathore clan were cremated. The cenotaphs are made up of both white marble and red sandstone whereas the chhatris for women, men and children of the royal families are different. Each chattri has nice paintings or fresco inside and they gradually get faded due to poor upkeep of this great monument. Unless restoration of such fresco, is taken up soon, a fine example of an important artistic representation and legacy of Bikaner’s history will be lost for ever beyond redemption.
Alwar-cenotaph:
The intricate and exquisite Moosi Maharani Chhatri is dedicated to Maharaja Bhaktawar Singh and his queen, Maharani Moosi. The upper level is made up of white marble and the base is made up of red sandstone. There is a tank just next to it and it is a sight to behold. The big and beautiful double-story structure has a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture. The memorial was built by his son Maharaja Vinay Singh in 1815. The ground floor building is made of Karauli sandstone. whereas the upper floor is white marble. The ceiling of the main cenotaph is decorated with scenes depicting themes from Ramayana and Bhagawad Geeta, indeed, a rare sight.
Bundi-cenotaph
The Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri literally meaning chhatri with 84 pillars is an amazing architectural feat offering a spectacular sight to the visitors. This is so beautifully designed it will make the visitors' jaw drop. It was constructed in 1683 by the Maharajah of Bundi, Rao Raja Anirudh, as a memorial to his foster brother, Deva. It is also called "Music Maharani's Chatri. The chhatri even has a shivlinga of Lord Shiva with a roof over it supported by 84 stone pillars.
Besides above, there are are too many notable cenotaphs of rulers such as Maharana Pratap, Amar Singh Rathore, Maharaj Suraj Mal of Bharatpur and others in Rajasthan. These ornate cenotaphs bring out the by-gone rulers' style of living, affluence and their regal status. But, at the end of their life's eventful journey, their glory and greatness lie buried in the grave where they have become a mound of mud and stones. We can not escape from the fact of life that this transient world has been functioning this way since time immemorial and is not stoppable just like the unstoppable waves pounding the seashores.
https://gobeyondbounds.com/2016/12/03/cenotaphs-rajasthan/
Jaisalmer-cenotaph:
In 1156 Maharawal Jaisal founded Jaisalmer which became a well-known kingdom over centuries. During the british Raj, it became a princely state until independence. In the 16th century old Bada Bagh (meaning a large garden), one will find a series of ornate chhatris made of yellow sandstone that is available here in plenty. Being a sedimentary rock, it is easy to dress the sandstone as per our needs.
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| Jaisalmar. chhatris 123RF Stock Photos |
Jodhpur-cenotaph:
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| cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh animeshray.com/ |
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| ruler Gaj singh of marwar animeshray.com |
Above image: Mandore gardens near Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Cenotaph of Maharaja Gaj Singh of Marwar who ruled from 1619 AD to 1638 AD .......................................
Located near Jodpur, the famous sprawling Mandore gardens has chhatris along with beautiful temples, a fountain, a museum, etc. Mandore is a small town a few kilometers to the north of Jodhpur and was the ancient capital of the rulers of Jodhpur before they shifted to Jodhpur in the 15th century. So, the history of Mandore easily stretches back more than 1000 years! Here you will find the dewals or cenotaphs of Jodhpur’s former rulers and the ruins of the former fort of the Rathores of Jodhpur. About a kilometre to the north-west of the Mandore Gardens are the cenotaphs of the queens and the princesses of Jodhpur. Apart from these, there is also a Government museum and a famous temple (a temple with 33 Gods!
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| The Jaswant Thada cenotaph,Jodhpur en.wikipedia.org |
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| Jaipur- royal cenotaph. Dreamstime.com |
Udaipur-cenotaph:
Very close to Udaipur (just 2 km) lies a group of royal cenotaphs in Ahar and the site contains more than 250 cenotaphs of the Maharajahs of Mewar that were built over a period of about 350 years. Also included are 19 chhatris and the great kings
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| cenotaphs in Ahar, near Udaipur, en.wikipedia. org |
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| Bikaner - royal cenotaphs of Devikund Virtourist |
Alwar-cenotaph:
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| enotaph of Bakhtawar Singh of Alwar Climber & Explorer - blogger |
Bundi-cenotaph
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| Bundi,Rajasthan Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri, | wikipedia |
Besides above, there are are too many notable cenotaphs of rulers such as Maharana Pratap, Amar Singh Rathore, Maharaj Suraj Mal of Bharatpur and others in Rajasthan. These ornate cenotaphs bring out the by-gone rulers' style of living, affluence and their regal status. But, at the end of their life's eventful journey, their glory and greatness lie buried in the grave where they have become a mound of mud and stones. We can not escape from the fact of life that this transient world has been functioning this way since time immemorial and is not stoppable just like the unstoppable waves pounding the seashores.
https://gobeyondbounds.com/2016/12/03/cenotaphs-rajasthan/
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