Rajput architecture is an architectural style associated with the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers. Many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and popular tourist attractions.
Rajput architecture represents different types of buildings, which may broadly be classed either as religious or military. These include temples, forts, stepwells, gardens, and palaces. The forts were specially built for defense and military purposes.[1] The Mughal and European architecture influenced indigenous Rajput styles of art and architecture.[1][2]
The small but richly carved Hindu Ambika Mata temple in Jagat, built before 960, and The five Kiradu temples, of the 11th or 12th century, are examples of the Pratihar Rajput style.[5] The Jagdish Temple, Udaipur (completed 1651), is an example of a Hindu temple using the Māru-Gurjara style at a late date; in this case a commission of Jagat Singh I, ruler of Mewar.[6][3] On the exteriors, this style is distinguished from other north Indian temple styles of the period
that the external walls of the temples have been structured by increasing numbers of projections and recesses, accommodating sharply carved statues in niches. These are normally positioned in superimposed registers, above the lower bands of moldings. The latter display continuous lines of horse riders, elephants, and kīrttimukhas. Hardly any segment of the surface is left unadorned.
The main shikhara tower usually has many urushringa subsidiary spirelets on it, and two smaller side-entrances with porches are common in larger temples.[7]
The Gwalior Fort is a hill fort near Gwalior. The fort has existed at least since the 10th century, and the inscriptions and monuments found within what is now the fort campus indicate that it may have existed as early as the beginning of the 6th century. The fort is considered among the finest of Rajput architecture.[12] Most part of the present day fort was built by Man Singh Tomar, the Rajput king who ruled the region from 1486 to 1516.[13]
The Orchha state was founded in 1531 (the 16th century AD)[14] by the Bundela Rajput chief, Rudra Pratap Singh,[15] who became the first King of Orchha, (r. 1501-1531) and also built the Fort of Orchha.[16] The Chaturbhuj Temple was built during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, by the queen of Orchha, Ganesh Kunwar,[17] while Raj Mandir was built by 'Raja Madhukar Shah' during his reign, 1554 to 1591.[18][19] The Jahangir Mahal was built in 17th century by Vir Singh Deo as a symbol of welcome to the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
Many Rajput dynasties ruled over Uttar Pradesh in the medieval era. Many forts, palaces and temples were built by the Rajputs. The Kalinjar Fort was built by the Chandela Rajput dynasty in the 10th century.[21] Built on a rocky hill, the fort was also used by the SolankisofRewa.[21] The Jaichandra fort was built by the Rathore Rajputs of Kannauj.
The Jhansi Fort is attributed to the Bundela Rajput ruler Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo.[22][23] The Sun temple and forts of Charkhari and Mangal Garh in the Mahoba district were built by the Chandela rulers of Bundelkhand.[24][25]
^Ghurye, G.S (2005). Rajput architecture. Popular Prakashan Pvt. Limited. p. 44. ISBN9788171544462.
^ abcdeMichell, George (1990), The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India, Volume 1: Buddhist, Jain, Hindu, 1990, Penguin Books, pg -288-301 ISBN0140081445
^ abExplore India: The Official Newsletter of the Ministry of TourismArchived 18 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine Quote: "The temples of Khajuraho are India's unique gift to the world, representing paean to life, love and joy; perfect in execution ... in stone, testifying to the craftsman's artistry and the pote extraordinary breadth of vision of the Chandela Rajputs."
^Art, Archaeology, and History of Ratlam, Madan Mohan Upadhyaya
Sharada Prakashan, 1992.
^GbooksArchived 14 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine Quote: "According to Sir William Sleeman, the fort of Singorgarh was built by Rájá Belo, one of the Chandel Rájás of Mahoba."
