It is sad to say that this will be my last Passion Blog Post of the year after having such a great journey by sharing my love for art. In this final analysis, I will be discussing the incredible architectural skills and accomplishments that I found in India during my winter break trip. The following photos specifically pertain to the city of Jaipur where most of the buildings and their intricate designs were built during the 1700s under the rule of Sawai Jai Singh. The grandiose arcs and hand painted filigree are historical artifact of the Mughal and Rajput empires. These structures took decades to build and have shockingly stood the tests of time.

The above photograph is of one of many such entrances into the city palace of Jaipur that has been around since the day it was put in place. The distinct style of the Mughals is evident in the pointed, concaved arc. The large doors are withered and dirty from the surface but as durable as ever before. It is a true marvel that simply shows the brilliant minds that worked on creating such structures. Like this gate, there are four even more detailed gates within the courtyard of the palace.

The gates each are representative of the four seasons with particular symbols and themes. In particular, the peacock gate was stunning. During a time period without advanced technology, the creators of the city palace executed their task flawlessly. With their sharp attention and steadiness, they were able to create the design of the peacocks and their individual feathers without a mistake. The symmetry is remarkable along with the vibrant colors that have stuck around even until today. The perfection of this gate simply took my breath away, I couldn’t even begin to fathom the endurance and dedication it took to make these gates possible.

The detailed painting of this gate, from each flower petal to peacock head, is astonishing. It is a true work of art and architectural success. The balance of the weight of the structure on the arc is the work of mathematics and engineering far ahead of its time.

This photo above is the exact reason why Jaipur is known as the Pink City. The walls of the city palace from centuries ago were commissioned to be pink, and no other color was permitted. Since this time, the city has expanded immensely and the law is no longer in effect. However, the remnants of the Pink City can be seen in some of the oldest buildings. While not distinctly a hot pink color, the salmon-y color can be seen all over in various parts of the city. 

The precision in the above picture shows the sheer skill of the workers that too these complex designs without hesitation. Back then, there were not laser cut machines to get the job done. These architects, these artists, did it regardless of the time, pain, and difficulty. Each and every slice out out of the sandstone took great care, as to avoid ruining the entire structure with one wrong move.

The beauty I found in Indian architecture completely blew my mind away. It was unlike anything I had seen before. Nowhere else in the world can you find such magnificent precision and ornate beauty. The designs are so unique to the country and the empire that presided over the area. The city of Jaipur especially is so raw with historical events and thus value. I am so glad I could share that which I saw in India. The country is full of beauty from the people bustling around, the fantastic flavors of food, and, of course, the architectural genius that holds on the roots of the country’s foundations. India is a place that must be visited, if not just for its artistic purity.

(Here are a couple videos: JaipurVideo1, JaipurVideo2)