Back to gallery

Views across Maharani Ki Chattri, Jaipur

In this view, both complete and incomplete chhatri can be seen.

 

As with the Maharajas, the queens of Jaipur were cremated and then monumental cenotaphs erected in their honour. There is an interesting story of one Maharani who was very close to her elephant. When she passed away, her elephant stood beside her cenotaph for three days, before passing away in grief (and starvation). Today this elephant has its own cenotaph in the gardens.

 

Two interesting points - if the queen died before her Maharaja died, her cenotaph would be finished off with a roof structure. If she died after her king, it would remain unfinished.

 

The signature architectural feature here is the Hindu Chhatri ('umbrella') which is significant in its use in Rajput and other Hindu architecture, borrowed from the Mughals.

1,142 views
3 faves
4 comments
Uploaded on January 5, 2007
Taken on November 29, 2006