CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

The Jahaz Kothi, house in the form of a ship, stands to the east of the Hisar town. It was a large building standing on a platform which was probably surrounded by water. During its lifetime the building performed various functions as an office, a residence, a mosque, and a madrasa. The building above the platform has a central arcaded hall on the western side with pointed arches and cross vaults. The central chamber has a dome it appears to be reconstructed or heavily restored at a later date due to the presence of cement covering. The entrance chamber which is on the eastern side of the platform is out of use and a flight of steps gives access to the platform from the southern side. The building has now been converted into a Jain temple.

Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Jain Temple, Ahar

Jaipur Museum, Rajasthan

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