ALWAR, OUR UNEXPLORED HERITAGE_PART 2
Alwar, another addition to my collection of under-explored places in India, is simple, quiet, and culturally fashioned, a city that still dwells in the lifestyle of the Past. Also infamously called as 'Tapobhumi' , this city has been a land where lot of Ascetics have devoted their life to the Almighty in search of Truth. If one wants to experience how Simplified and religiously inclined life Indians had in the past, then Alwar is definitely worth visiting. Dwellings dating back to the 18th century, Narrow Roads, Rajputana Architecture, Traditional food, intermingling wildlife with daily routines, this place is packed with experiences for vivid nature.
One strong reason why this place is still having its roots intact is due to its detachment from the urban crowd or Metro cities. Because the population within haven't migrated much and are sustaining themselves through their own micro-economy, therefore true Culture, traditions, and lifestyle of the place are still alive. Although this makes it a little rough for tourists to experience the places within the city as inhabitants have very little idea how to deal with tourists. But if one can counter this problem then Alwar is power-packed with multiple layers of exploration that is definitely going to surprise anyone visiting the place.
TRANQUILITY ON THE WINGS
Motion and Stagnant. Life and lifeless. Solid and air. Quiet and then a sudden flutter of countless wings! This is the charm of the place. Here nature resonates with the built-up. The beauty of this Rajputana chattri, standing tall on Sagar Kund is accentuated by these playful birds opening their wings to give a perfect Heritage Photography shot
CAPPING WHATS DWINDLING
This photo is a signature, a composition which you will witness on a couple of locations in Alwar. Out of all this found a spot in the collection because it portrayed a lot of deep meanings. Firstly this is found at the highest location in Alwar, secondly, the use of local stone mixed with red sandstone is truly commendable. What makes this photo more meaningful is that despite its beauty, its magnitude, its architecture, its paintings (found on the reflected ceiling of the vault) and it's glorious past, this structure is crumbling and crying for help. The textures are vanishing, the stone is weathering, the joints are disintegrating but no one is bothered. All I see is the top of chattri, as a cap, trying to protect the beautiful arches, the intricate paintings, and the artistic motif design below.
NATURE-ARCHITECTURE SYNTHESIS
The Aravalli's splendor with ribs like stone formation talking to the sky and complimented by humane scale Architecture masterpieces interacting with the land below. The irony is both comprise of the same material. It's the mountain that gives the raw material to artisans for the creation of such majestic, timeless pieces of Architecture. The mass of the peak is quietly complemented by quiet stairs and symmetrical chattris setting its feet in Static, fishy Sagar Kund.
VAULTS FOR TREASURED REFLECTIONS
I was completely awestruck when I saw this complex piece of art. As I was exploring the best angles in the Bala Fort, I accidentally while trying to dodge a bee saw the ceiling, and then was bitten by her. But the pain was definitely worth it. It is almost unimaginative to feel the patience, hard work, creativity and dedication that artists of those times had to create such a wonderful piece of art, this painting, on a vaulted ceiling with intense Plaster designs. The astonishing part is that the painting still holds those natural dyes that were used to create this painting work back in the 15th century. But the harsh reality is neither the people nor the administration has any concern for such a timeless piece of Art that they have.
RED AND WHITE ENCHANTING THEIR STORY
The details in the elements this photograph portrays are mesmerizing. It feels like a romantic story between the Carvings on Marble and the designs of Sandstone. Whether its the godly carved pillars, or the floral patterns, or the curvy feminist Arches, or the top of the chattri, or the Deep reds of Sandstone with the delicateness of carvings within it; there is something that ignites a romantic fondness, truly attractive to make you fall for it.
QUIET YET CELEBRATIVE
These queenly arches overlooking the courtyards takes you back to the time when the princess and her attendants use the gently walk the areas, when there would be celebrations with flowers, guests, and royal fests, when king use to look up at his queens standing above with gorgeous ghagras, everything happening around is happy & happening. But now everything is merely a reflection of motionless existence, standing quietly in dust and dirt without any purpose or people to whom it can speak about its glory.
THE ULTIMATE SUBJUGATER
How much the human race develops themselves, they will always appear like a tiny civilization in front of mother Nature. She is the all protector, all nurturer and the real almighty. Here though its a palace, built by the best builders of the time, using strong materials and state-of-the-art intricate designs but it all can corrode in front of a small plant which from everything use by humans, just needs mud to grow. And here he found it. What makes this photo stand out is the cracks and exposed brickwork over beautiful plaster, cleanly disclosed by the growing plant's roots out of nowhere. What alongside this is striking is the play of light and shadows over texture that makes this frame, powerful and impactful.
Dusking illustrating her authentic adornments
Dusk and its gold glittery sunlight really bring in the life and status these pieces of art had in the past. Minimal in composition with Juxtaposed elements bordering the photograph makes a strong contradiction, yet blends together perfectly due to its artistic balance and unique style of architecture. Whether it is the plaster design on the wall, the chattris, wooden windows, stone supports, intricate latticework, of use of symmetry, asymmetrically, everything combined along with the splash of golden sunlight makes the whole photograph really sensational.
Quaintly , Esoterically Pious
This beautiful, timeless piece of Architecture named Moosa Maharani Ki Chattri was built by Maharaja Vinay Singh of Alwar, in memory of his predecessor Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh and the latter's wife Maharani Moos, who committed Sati. Though the place has corroded with time due to improper maintenance (Seeing the Blackish walls and algae marks) but still it cannot overshadow the Impact of this well-composed, artistically executed, and magnificent Cenotaph. Whether its the color combinations, or Life and Nature within the picture, or just those tiny boats in front of such a mammoth monument, but everything blends beautifully together and narrates the story of an Unforgotten Love sacrifice.
CHARIOT FOR HER SOUL
The photograph is of The face of Moosa Maharani ki chattri, a monument that is said to be the most beautiful monument of Alwar. What makes this photograph so special is its metaphorical representation of a Chariot carrying the queen's Doli on its top. Looking at this photograph it feels like these Stone carved Horses are carrying the queen's palanquin on its towards heaven for the sacrifice she made for her beloved King. The drama is accentuated by the play of light, shadows, and reds, making the whole composition look really remarkable.
THE HIDDEN TREASURES
This monumental gate that faces the forest area was designed for the entrances of Elephants and Camels. It was used by the army as the path it followed from the city was rough, stony and highly inclined. The gateway seems like its hiding itself amongst the wilderness, with those tall and broad trees strategically surrounding it all around, making it appear like a treasure, which this exploration actually is, that is waiting to be explored by history enthusiasts.
WIRING A PRINCESSLY COMPREHENSION
This photograph is captured in the City Palace and portrays a projected balcony painted in white and having a feminist/ princessly feel. Though one gets to feel the beauty of this element, its details and charm you cannot ignore those exposed black wires haphazardly running below the chatty. At once it feels like a blossoming flower of the springs but then you realize the blacks or dirt and wires.
And the same haphazard, deteriorating condition is of the city palace which has been left to run and maintain by the government bureaucrats. And the sight is damn funny. Those absurdities have completely covered the beautiful emperor's Palace with Blunt aluminum partitions. Other places have solid cardboard partition, making this once beautiful palace look more ugly.
Just like this beautiful Projection, which once reflected the Glory of the place, other so many monuments either have crumbled or are on the verge of crumbling. This place, so gorgeously built, has many monuments of historical value that date back to 5000 BC, during the time of Mahabharata. However, the unfortunate truth is that these monuments are either crumbling or are getting lost due to negligence, Corruption, Unawareness and Poverty of the Place. This one photograph truly portrays the existential scenario of the place. Just like this projected balcony in the shape of chattri, other art pieces too are disintegrating and if no proper action is taken soon, I am afraid that we may lose some important chapters of our history.
