Architecture of Rajasthan

• Māru-Gurjara Architecture (Rajasthani architecture) originated somewhere

in sixth century in and around areas of the state of Rajasthan in India.

• The name Maru Gurjara has its genesis in the fact that during ancient times,
Rajasthan and Gujarat had similarities in ethnic, cultural and political aspects
of the society. Ancient name of Rajasthan was Marudesh while Gujarat was
called Gurjaratra.

• "Maru Gurjara art" literally means "art of Rajasthan".

• Māru-Gurjara Architecture show the deep understanding of structures and

refined skills of Rajasthani craftmen of bygone era. Māru-Gurjara
Architecture has two prominent styles Maha-Maru and Maru-Gurjara.
 Introduction
• Rajasthan is the most beautiful and vibrant state or our country.

• The Rajasthan architecture is significantly depend on Rajput architecture

school which was mixture of Mughal and Hindu structural design.

• Grand havelis, astonishing forts and elaborately carved temples are the
vital portion of architectural heritage of Rajasthan. Rajput’s carries the
credit of creative builders. Few of most striking and splendid forts along
with palaces with parched Aravali land clearly depicts history of Rajasthan’s
celebrated heritage.

• The most significant architectural designs in Rajasthan include Jantar

Mantar, Dilwara Temples, Lake Palace Hotel, City Palaces, Chittorgarh Fort
and Jaisalmer Havelis.
• The state was earlier called as Rajputana and served as princely state
lawed by Rajputs.

• The palaces and forts present in Rajasthan are decorated by Jain and
Muslim architecture.

• Rajasthan’s structural design is generally secular with great motivation

from Mughals whereas the latest architecture carries the touch of
European interiors.
• The outstanding Rajput architecture present in Rajasthan lies in Deeg
palace. Deeg palace is encircled by large area of gardens based on garden
architecture of Mughals.

• Jaipur palaces carry strong Islam influence. Rajasthan palaces are designed
in Islamic fashion and all the palaces were declared Islamic names.

• One example is Hawa Mahal. This palace is constructed inside the

conventional mansion of Rajasthan but not similar to the residential
portion of Mughal palaces. The chambers meant for administrative,
residential and court functions are constructed inside the multi-storied
barrier.
• Architecture in Rajasthan represents many different types of buildings, which
may broadly be classed either as secular or religious.

• The secular buildings are of various scales. They include towns, villages, wells,
gardens, houses, and palaces. All these kinds of buildings were meant for
public and civic purposes. The forts are also included in secular buildings,
though they were also used for defense and military purposes.

• The typology of the buildings of religious nature consists of three different

kinds: temples, mosques, and tombs.
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Jain temple at Ranakpur

Important Features Of The Rajasthani Architecture

• Jharokha
• Chhatri
• Courtyards /Haveli
• Stepwell (baoli or bawdi)
• Johad
• Jaali
Jharokha
• A jharokha (or jharoka) is a type of overhanging enclosed balcony used in
Architecture of Rajasthan . Jharokhas jutting forward from the wall plane
could be used both for adding to the architectural beauty of the building
itself or for a specific purpose.

• One of the most important functions it served was to allow women to see
the events outside without being seen themselves. Alternatively, these
windows could also be used to position archers and spies.

• The jharokha is a stone window projecting from the wall face of a building,
in an upper story, overlooking a street, market, court or any other open
space.

• It is supported on two or more brackets or corbelling, has two pillars or

pilaster, balustrade and a cupola or pyramidal roof; technically closed by
jalies but generally partly open for the inmates to peep out to see passing
processions.
• The jharokha is more formal and
ornamental than English or French “oriel”
and is one of the most distinctive
characteristics of the façade in medieval
Indian architecture until the 19th century.

• The projected balcony is an essential

element of Rajasthani architecture, both as
decoration and as a viewing platform. The
chajjas - sloping eaves that projected out
above the balconies - increase protection
from both the summer sun and monsoon
rain. Jharokhas are mainly used in palaces,
havelis and temples.
Chhatri
• Chhatris are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions
used as an element in Indian architecture.

• The word Chhatri means "canopy" or "umbrella."

• In the context of architecture, the word is used to

refer to two different things. The usual and more
widely understood meaning is of a memorial.
Such memorials usually comprise of a platform
girded by a set of ornate pillars which hold up a
stone canopy.

• The word chhatri is also used to refer to the small

pavilions that mark the corners, roof of entrance
of a major building. These pavilions are purely
decorative and have no utility, but are a classic
folly which announce the status and wealth of the
owner.
Courtyards /Haveli
• Internal open spaces, become another
thematic element in all scales of domestic
architecture. From small urban houses to
large mansions and palaces, courtyards
became the key organizational elements
responding to climatic conditions as well as
the cultural needs of communities.

• This private internal open space also

acquired special significance while serving
various levels of privacy.

• A wide range of household activities could

extend into courtyards.
Characteristic

• Socio-Cultural Aspects: The chowk or courtyard served as the centre for

various ceremonies and the rituals. The sacred tulsi plant was placed here
and worshipped daily to bring prosperity to the house.
• Security and Privacy: The chowk, at times, separated areas for men and
women, and provided them with privacy.
• Climate: Treating open space in building design to respond to the local
climate. Air movement caused by temperature differences is utilized in the
natural ventilation of building.
• Different Activities At Different Times: The use of the court in the day
time, mostly by women to carry out their work, interact with other women
in private open space. Mansions of merchant class had more than one
courtyard.
• Articulation Of Space: In Mor chowk, City Palace, Udaipur, there is the
concept of courtyard as a dancing hall. Similarly, in havelis, a courtyard has
several functions, commonly used for weddings and festive occasions.
• Materials : baked bricks, sandstone, marble, wood, plaster and granite are
commonly used materials. Decorative aspects are influenced by local
culture and traditions.
Stepwell (baoli or bawdi)
• Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the
water may be reached by descending a set
of steps. They may be covered and
protected and are often of architectural
significance. They also may be multi-storied
having a bullock which may turn the water
wheel ("rehat") to raise the water in the
well to the first or second floor. Birkha Bawari, Jodhpur

• Stepwell construction is known to have

gone on from at least AD 600 in the south
western region of Gujarat, India. The
practical idea even spread north to the
state of Rajasthan, along the western
border of India where several thousands of
these wells were built.

Chand Baori
 Johad
• A johad is a rainwater storage tank principally
used in the state of Rajasthan, that collects
and stores water throughout the year, to be
used for the purpose of drinking by humans
and cattle. In many parts of the state, the
annual rainfall is very low and the water can
be unpleasant to drink. Rainfall during July and
August is stored in johads and used
throughout the year. Johads are called as
"khadins" in Jaisalmer.

• These are simple mud and rubble barriers built

across the contour of a slope to arrest
rainwater. These earthen check dams are
meant to catch and conserve rainwater,
leading to improved percolation and
groundwater recharge.

• There was a severe drought in Alwar district in

Rajasthan during 1985-86.
 Jaali

• A jali or jaali, is the term for a perforated

stone or latticed screen, usually with an
ornamental pattern constructed through
the use of calligraphy and geometry. This
form of architectural decoration is found in
Indian architecture, Indo-Islamic
Architecture and Islamic Architecture.

• Early jali work was built by carving into

stone, generally in geometric patterns,
while later the Mughals used very finely
carved plant-based designs.

• The jali helps in lowering the temperature

by compressing the air through the holes.
Also when the air passes through these
openings, its velocity increases giving
profound diffusion.
Town Planning in Rajasthan

Though Rajasthan was primarily rural, there were a few towns as well. And
they did have a wonderful town planning system. The towns were mostly the
villages which had expanded by the virtue of their dimension and increased
population. Security in towns was ensured by the means of strong walls and
hills. They were divided into wards which were connected by narrow streets
and lanes. The temples, wells, gardens and palaces were important parts of
these towns. The main road of the town was lined with shops selling cloth,
jewellery, fruits, food items, etc.
Nagaur Fort, Nagaur
• The ancient city of Nagaur in the Marwar region of central Rajasthan was
one of the first strongholds of Muslim power (12th–16th century) in
northern India.

• Located on a major caravan route, it was also an important centre of Sufism

and, at its height, the presence of celebrated Sufi sheikhs made it a place of
learning and pilgrimage, with its many fine mosques, tombs and other
monuments associated with this period of Muslim rule.

• At its heart, Ahhichatragarh (translated as “cobra-hood fort”), the Fort of

Nagaur, with its palaces and Mughal water gardens, once stood proud,
where its walls rose high above the low-rise historic crossroads town in the
centre of the region. Built over many centuries the Fort embodies the city’s
long history of shifting power struggles and displays a fine blend of Rajput
and Mughal architecture.
• Altered over time, including after India’s independence when it was
occupied by the state government and then later by the Border Security
Force, both of whom carried out unsympathetic renovations to the historic
buildings, the decline of the Fort into utter disrepair is a microcosm of the
rise and fall of the Indian and British empires and the pastoral activities in
the region.

• The pain staking and never-ending restoration, rebuilding and revitalization

of Ahhichatragarh (1993–2013) is today a shining testament to non-profit,
private investment, social responsibility and the unwavering collective
human spirit that has saved a built legacy for future generations.

• With the passage of time, it will increasingly transmit the cultural and
historical values once embedded in the place, conveyed through the purity
of architectural space and plan.
• The Nagaur kingdom is believed to have been established by the
Nagvanshi kings who built the original mud fort in the fourth century.
Ahhichatragarh was built on the site of the mud fort between 1119 and
1121 by a Muslim ruler.

• In 1154, a number of major modifications and additions were made to the

fort complex but few further changes were made until 1540.

• The fort was a coveted prize and Nagaur’s strategic location and
importance as a trade centre meant that the town was the setting of a
number of conflicts as a series of Hindu and Muslim rulers battled to
retain control.

• After 1540, successive additions were made to the fort complex until
1752, when the last building was constructed. “The fort complex was
occupied by the Rathors of Jodhpur from the late eighteenth century until
1947 when the state government began renting the complex.
• One of the government departments, the Border Security Force, adapted
the buildings to create barracks and other facilities and occupied the site
for over a decade.

• When the Force vacated the complex in 1970 it remained unused for a
further 30 years.

• Over its long history the fort has been subjected to weathering. In the past
century it suffered more from neglect than damage from conflicts.

• Ever since it was vacated by the Border Security Force, the fort deteriorated
dramatically from natural causes and vandalism. Pilfering of stones from
the wall for off-site usage has led to structural instability.

• The historic water system was completely abandoned. Roofs leaked badly
and were overgrown with vegetation. Beautiful mural paintings had been
damaged by water or whitewashed over.
• Iron clamps holding arch brackets together
had failed due to formation of rust.

• Stone elements and plaster were cracked,

projecting architectural features were
missing and the flooring was damaged.

• The external fort walls suffered massive

damage. However, owing to the solid stone
construction, none of the buildings had
collapsed totally, a testament to traditional
building technology.

• Most of the structural damage was partial,

being limited to the domed and large span
roofs, foundations, columns, slabs and
bracket arches.”
Architectural Character
• The buildings in the Fort were built and rebuilt over many centuries, mainly
in the Rajput and Mughal styles. At one time the Fort was surrounded by a
moat.

• The Fort, with a site area of 145,686 square metres (approximately 36 acres),
60 low-rise buildings and five palaces, is entered via a single barbican
entrance on the east, followed by another six successive gateways before
reaching the royal compound itself which is surrounded by an inner wall.

• The final built landscape of the palace complex celebrates the height of
Mughal architecture in India, where the strong spatial organization in its
totality and the graceful proportions of the palaces, pavilions, semi-outdoor
and exterior spaces softened by the presence of water and planting are
expressions of purity in the materiality of the red sandstone of Rajasthan,
the rhythm of carved, bracketed columns and ever-changing perspectives
articulated by movement through the site.