Decoration

Most of it is not this intensely decorative. This is outside a chamber that is no longer open to the public, where faceted surfaces can supposedly create the effect of a starry sky from the light of a single candle. (Worth clicking to enlarge.)

Speaking of squinches

Here's a closeup of one of the many squinches over doorways in the palaces. It's interesting how the shapes and the patterns are so different from the squinches in Iran, with longer, pointed cells, but the effect is very similar.

Ganesh Gate

Although the outer walls and some of the interior are sandstone, the interior gates and courtyards are highly decorated.

This is the Ganesh Gate, named for the Hindu god Ganesha.

I love the squinches.

Amber Fort

Amber, or Amer (no relation to the stone or the color amber), was the seat of government before Jai Singh II founded Jaipur. The fort is more of a palace than an army barracks since it was also the home of the maharajahs, though it is highly protected, with a wall that snakes along the mountains like its counterpart in China.

I took so many pictures there that I am just going to post a few of the most interesting ones, rather than waiting until I have time to go through everything. Otherwise I'll never get to Bharatpur or the Taj Mahal or Petra.

Jantar Mantar in black and white

The curves and shadows make lovely abstracts.

The curve of time

These wings tell the time, among other things, more accurately than the crappy Timex watch I was wearing.

Among the sundials

These guys were taking pictures of each other goofing around one of the sundials. When they saw me taking pictures they posed for me.

Jantar Mantar

Seen from a distance it looks like a modern sculpture garden.

More Nadivalaya yantra

The two dials: one in sun, one in shade.

Astronomy Tuesday

Here's something a little different: one of the nineteen instruments at Jantar Mantar, the observatory at Jaipur built by the formidable Jai Singh II. (Jantar Mantar means roughly “calculating instrument.” The one in Jaipur is one of several that Jai Singh built.)

This sundial is part of a Nadivalaya yantra, a hemispherical sundial. There are two large dials mounted on opposite sides of a small building. They're both parallel to the plane of the Earth's equator so they tilt; one forward and one backwards. Depending on the season, the sun is either north or south of the equator, and so one dial is always in the sun and one is always in shadow, except at the equinox, when the sun strikes directly from the side.

Above the gates

Each of the gates has a balcony above it -- the Peacock Gate and Lotus Gate balconies are above.

The balcony on the left is above the Rose Gate -- I keep thinking the pigeons are part of the ornamentation, but they're just hanging out.

The Peacock Gate

This detail from the arch above the Peacock Gate reminds me of the squinches I saw in Iran.  I did know that the art and architecture in Iran are very similar to what you see across the Silk Road countries in Central Asia, rather than that of the Arab world. But I had thought of India as somehow separate from that tradition. You do see similarities though, in architecture, in decoration, even the textiles.