Chhatri

A Chhatri (from Sanskrit chhattra = " screen " ) is a characteristic element of Indian architecture, particularly the Hindu architecture northwestern India and the Mughal style. Chhatris are small pavilions with a carried by four or more columns dome and usually square, rectangular or octagonal base, which are either on a stand directly on the floor or crown as an ornamental pavilion roofs of secular or religious buildings. In a broader sense, some consisting of several domes, larger mausoleums are called Chhatris.

A Chhatri was often built as a cenotaph (empty grave, grave of honor ) at the point of cremation wealthy or famous people, where they as a simple clutch- Pavilion - were sometimes built as complex structures with several domes - either standing alone or in groups. Most of the built than cenotaphs Chhatris can be found in the Indian state of Rajasthan, the earlier Rajputana (eg, in the Shekhawati region), but also in western Madhya Pradesh.

History

The Chhatris go back to the original as Chattra ( pl. Chattravali ) called umbrella-like crown of a Buddhist stupa of the classical period. As a pavilion -like, crowned by a dome device they later played an important role in the secular architecture of the Hindu Rajputs, from where they were taken over in the Indo- Islamic architecture, such as the Mughal style. While the Chhatris were first built primarily as cenotaphs, they later found increasingly as decorative elements of Hindu temples and palaces, mosques in India, but also of buildings in Indo-Saracenic style of British colonial use.

Examples

• Fatehpur Sikri ( Uttar Pradesh ) (16th century):

- The roof of the Diwan-i- Khas ( private audience hall ), adorns a square, viersäuliges Chhatri at each corner. - At the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) of pishtaq ( gantry ) and the Konsoldächer the court arcades of pointed arches Chhatris be crowned.

• Jaipur (Rajasthan): Maharani ki Chhatri Moosi - cenotaphs of the queens of Jaipur.

• Jodhpur ( Rajasthan ) Jaswant Thada (1899 ), Mausoleum of Maharaja Jaswant Singh in honor of II, made ​​of white marble.

• Shekhawati region ( Rajasthan ): The best-known examples include the beautiful Chhatri of Ram Dutt Goenka (1888 ) in Dundlod, as well as the Chhatris in Bissau, Parsurampura, Kirori, Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Mukungarh, Churu, Mahansar, and Udaipurwati.

• Indore ( Madhya Pradesh ): Krishnapura Chhatri; Bolia Sarkar's Chhatri (1858 ).

• Shivpuri ( Madhya Pradesh ): The " Royal Chhatris " cenotaphs of the Scindia dynasty. Madho Rao Scindia of the marble mausoleum, with splendid relief work.

Special form

Chhaparkat: An elongated form of the Chhatri, whose dome is carried by four or eight pillars - usually about one main entrance.