CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Shah Quli Khan built this water pavilion garden after fifteen years from the construction of his mausoleum. This ambitious project is located in close proximity to the tomb complex of Bagh Arami-i-Kausar. Greater importance and architectural finesses is given to the pavilion now called the Jal Mahal, which was set in the middle of a large water tank with a garden enveloping the entire ensemble. The entrance to the pavilion is from north through a Gate House with rooms for the guards, constructed over a bridge rested on sixteen arched spans. The architecture of the pavilion reflects the emergence of “Hindu-Muslim-Akbaride” style. The decorative interiors of the pavilions are beautiful especially the painted ceiling which seems to have been adopted from some Rajput Palace, most probably of Amber near Jaipur. A temple building with a water tank attached to it was added at the north-east corner of the Jal Mahal Tank, during the 18th century AD. The Jal Mahal complex is a protected monument of ASI.

Jal Mahal, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan

Takkolam is the site of the famous battle between Rajaditya and Krishna III in about 949 CE. Jalanathesvara (the Lord of Water) temple called Tiruvural in the ancient inscriptions on account of being a natural spring is one of the major monuments of this region. Its walls are engraved with many inscriptions of Parantaka I (907-954 CE) from the seventh regnal year to thirty-fifth and some inscriptions belong to Aditya I (871-907 CE). This temple in Tondaimandalam is not as developed as contemporary monuments in Colamandalam. On the basis of iconographical characteristics of the temple, it has been suggested that the temple's original patron must have been a Pallava. For example, the sculptures follow a Pallava convention in that they are four armed which is different from early Chola convention. References: D. Barrett, 1974, pp. 64-65.

Accessible through a number of steps, this temple is located within an open court. Building plan is linear with a large hall with three bays, separated by arched openings. Main architectural features in the interiors are highlighted by using ornate plasterwork. The interior bays are covered with three domes with the central one being the highest. Interior of the domes are decorated with paintings while the exterior is ribbed, plastered and topped with finials. Two minarets are located at the front corners building. The interior of the structure that was originally a Jami mosque, has undergone several alterations due to its new use as a Durga temple.

This Mosque is a rectangular shaped structure with octagonal turrets at all corners. Three recessed arched openings lead into the interiors where the central opening is higher than the other two. The interior spaces are spanned with three ribbed domes over three bays with central dome higher than the adjoining ones. The main façade is covered with red sandstone with carved detailing. Interiors are plastered and now converted to house a temple. The mosque is located in the main market of the town, close to Sheesh Mahal. All these structures were once part of the walled city of Farrukhnagar.

The Jama Masjid is situated in the middle of the town. The mosque was erected in AD 1531 in Humayun?s time as inferred from the inscription under the pulpit stairs. Outside, over the south arch is another inscription of the time of Aurnagzeb, AD 1667-1668, stating that the mosque was built by Khwaja Rahmat Ullah by order of the Emperor in the tenth year of his reign. But there are two Arabic inscriptions which tend to show that a mosque existed here even before the reign of Humayun. Currently the mosque is in reuse as a Gurudvara but the structure has remained unaltered despite its current religious status.