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India

Gate sights in India

  1. A

    The Old City

    The Pink City is partially encircled by a crenellated, battle-scarred wall, and the major gates of Chandpol, Ajmer and Sanganeri have been carefully restored. The entire city is a feat of town planning; the Old City is still loosely divided into traditional artisans' quarters. Avenues divide it into neat rectangles, each one specialising in different crafts: the main bazaars are Johari Bazaar, Tripolia Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar and Chandpol Bazaar.

    At sunset, the buildings bask in a magical pink and gold glow.

    Jaipur owes its name, foundation and planning to the great warrior-astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743). In 1727, with Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh decided…

    reviewed

  2. Northern Gateway

    Topped by a broken wheel of law, this is the best preserved of the toranas. Scenes include a monkey offering a bowl of honey to Buddha, represented by a bo tree. Another panel depicts the Miracle of Sravasti - one of several miracles represented here - in which Buddha, again in the form of a bo tree, ascends a road into the air. Elephants support the architraves above the columns, while horses with riders and more elephants squeeze in between.

    Delicately carved yakshis (maidens) hang nonchalantly on each side.

    reviewed

  3. B

    Sukreswar Ghat Park

    Sukreswar Devalaya comprises three mostly modern-looking temples including one where holy water dribbles continuously over a Shiva lingam from a suspended bell-metal amphora. Almost adjacent, little Sukreswar Ghat Park contains a playful, multi-arched ornamental gateway built by the British. Two of its eight missile-shaped spires are leaning precariously, perhaps due to the devastating 1897 earthquake that destroyed virtually every other building in Guwahati.

    reviewed

  4. Western Gateway

    Potbellied dwarfs support the architraves of this gateway, which has some of the site's most interesting scenes. The top architrave shows Buddha in seven different incarnations, manifested three times as a stupa and four times as a tree. The rear of one pillar shows Buddha resisting the Temptation of Mara, while demons flee and angels cheer. The Chhaddanta Jataka features again.

    reviewed

  5. Surajpol

    The main gate on the eastern side of the fort is known as the Surajpol, and offers fantastic views across the empty plains. There are also good views over the town and countryside (and, unfortunately, a huge cement factory) from the western side of the fort.

    reviewed

  6. Nakkarkhana

    The second gate into the dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti was built by Shah Jahan, and is often called the Nakkarkhana because it has two large nakkharas (drums) fixed above it.

    reviewed

  7. Buland Darwaza

    The third gate into the dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti, Buland Darwaza , dates from the 16th century. It's tall - about 28m high - and whitewashed, and leads into the dargah courtyard.

    reviewed

  8. C

    Teen Darwaja

    To the east of Bhadra Fort stands the Teen Darwaja, which was the gateway into the Royal Square, or Maidan Shahi, where royal processions and polo games took place.

    reviewed

  9. Lokhota Bari

    At the fort's northern tip is another gate, the Lokhota Bari, while at the southern end is a small opening once used for hurling criminals into the abyss.

    reviewed

  10. Nizam Gate

    The first gate into the dargah of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti compound is the Nizam Gate, built in 1915 up some steps to protect it from the rains.

    reviewed

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