“Dzhunnar-grad stands on a stone rock, not fortified by anything, protected by God. And the paths to that mountain are a day, they go one by one: the road is narrow, two cannot pass.
(Afanasy Nikitin. "Journey beyond three seas." Translation by P. Smirnov.)

One Chinese traveler noted that back in the 7th century, Indian cities and villages were surrounded by walls with gates and towers built of raw or baked bricks, although our traveler Athanasius Nikitin saw a city there that was not protected by anything but natural obstacles. Throughout almost the entire Middle Ages, incessant wars were going on in India. Local rulers - rajas - fought among themselves, and Arabs and Mongols invaded the country from the north. In India, even a special military-feudal class of Rajputs arose - professional warriors and, in fact, the same knights who constantly studied military craft and were always ready to go on a campaign.

The Indians built five types of fortresses, differing in their location: in the desert, on the water, in the mountains, in the forest and an earthen fortress. The fortress in the mountains was considered the most powerful, as well as the fortress ... which was occupied by a particularly dedicated garrison! The walls of fortresses and castles of nobles in India consisted of two rows of masonry with earthen or gravel backfill between them (they were also built in Europe). The masonry stones were not fastened together: they lay under their own weight. At the same time, the thickness of the walls varied from 2.5 to 10.5 m. Sometimes there were several such walls, and ditches were dug between them, filled with water, or seated with pointed stakes. In the ditches near other castles, poisonous snakes were even kept and fed. Such a "living" was even more frightening and effective than deep ditches with stakes at the bottom.

The largest fortress in India, Kumbalgarh. It has 700 (!) bastions, and inside there are more than 360 temples. The rulers of Mewar shut themselves up in it in case of danger. But today it is open and you can visit it by driving 90 km north of the city of Udaipur.

Loopholes were made in the walls, but machicolations, so common in Europe, appeared in India only in 1354. The gate was protected by two massive barbicans, between which there was a winding passage. Towers-cabins with loopholes for archers hung over it. The gates themselves in Indian fortresses were always double-winged and very high: an elephant with a palanquin turret on his back had to freely pass through them. However, the high altitude weakened the gate. Therefore, they were made of very durable and not subject to rotting teak wood, upholstered in iron. In addition, teak or iron spikes were placed on their outer wall. They did not allow the war elephants, which the opponents used as living rams, to come close to the gate. But the relief images of elephants that adorned the walls of the gate were considered reliable amulets, as well as statues of Hindu deities.

Kumbalgarh Gate. There are seven of them in the fortress!

In the hot climate of India, water was of paramount importance. Therefore, in every castle or fortress there were reliable wells and tanks for collecting rainwater. Often, gardens and fountains were arranged nearby, refreshing the air and moderating the sweltering tropical heat.

The Kumbalgarh bastions resemble a Buddhist stupa in their shape. Below for scale are people, donkeys and poles with wires.

In every castle and fortress in India there were numerous underground rooms, where everything necessary was prepared in advance in case of a long siege: water, grain, ammunition, etc. The importance of building defensive structures in India was emphasized by the then eerie custom of human sacrifice. It was believed that if such a ceremony was performed at the beginning of construction, then the castle or fortress would be impregnable, since they stand on human blood.

If you look at the walls of many Indian fortresses from below, then ... dizzy!

Medieval fortresses with massive walls and towers were built in India until the middle of the 18th century, which is almost three centuries longer than in Europe. At the same time, the desire to impress both enemies and friends was so great among the Indians that they often erected powerful and thick walls even where there was no need for this. The fortress could be built, for example, on a sheer cliff. The walls and towers were covered with carvings and moldings. Moreover, even the teeth on the walls tried to give a decorative shape.

And this is not at all an Indian nuclear power plant, by no means, but ... the bastions of the Derawar fortress in Bahawalpur.

In southern India, numerous rows of walls were usually built around Hindu temples, which in this case served as castles and fortresses. Gate towers near these walls sometimes reached a height of 50 m and made it possible to observe the surroundings.

The temple tower is 28 meters high. She could be observed.

The fortified mausoleums played the same role - in fact, the same castles or fortresses. However, the most famous mausoleum India is still not a fortress, but a temple-tomb accessible to all. This is the world famous Taj Mahal. It was much more difficult to storm Indian fortresses than European ones, primarily because of the heat, which exhausted people and animals. Throwing machines here were similar to European ones, but baskets or earthenware vessels with snakes were often used as projectiles.

Well, now let's get acquainted with at least some examples of the fortress architecture of India, because it is simply impossible to get acquainted with all of them, because there are a lot of them. Not just a lot, but a lot, and for the most part they themselves are in excellent condition, unlike the numerous knightly castles of the same Britain.

Fortress Golconda. Bala Hissar (Citadel). Golconda, Andhra Pradesh.

To begin with, let's go to the Golconda fortress, which is located just 11 kilometers from the city of Hyderabad, where, by the way, there is a very famous university in India, where many students from Russia study, and there are those who study there for free on grants from the Indian government! Previously, it was here that diamonds were mined, and it was here that all the most famous diamonds in the world were mined! Therefore, local rajahs did not spare money for the fortress. They erected it on a hill 120 meters high, and fortified it with 87 bastions, many of which have rusty cannons to this day.

These are the stone cannonballs used by medieval Indians to shoot at their fortresses. Nearby is an iron cannon that somehow miraculously did not fall into the smelting.

“But we found another gun for you!” Thanks, of course, girls, but only the gun is “not the same”. However, in Indian fortresses there are a lot of all kinds of English weapons.

Four drawbridges lead inside, and there are warehouses, mosques, and 18 mausoleums made of granite. The acoustics of this building are amazing, which, of course, guides use, attracts the attention of tourists: clapping near one gate can be heard a kilometer from this place! Well, the first European to visit here was our well-known Athanasius Nikitin, who not only visited, but also described Golconda.

Ordinary fortress gates.

The gate leaves are covered with spikes.

The most surprising thing is that for its huge size, Golconda as a whole is not at all impressive when compared with other Indian fortresses. Whether it's the Mehrangarh fortress - the citadel of the Rajputs in the northwestern part of the state of Rajasthan.

Mehrangarh Fortress - as if growing out of a rock.

The view of Mehrangarh from above is probably even more impressive than from below.

The fortress is located on high rocks and when you look at it from below, the impression is that it is simply carved out of the rock that stood on it. It seems that human hands are not able to erect such a structure, and even in the heat there, but they did. And when and how, and with whom - all this is known for sure. They started building it in 1459, and finally finished it only in the 17th century!

Another gate, and next to the fortress wall.

The main gate to Mehrangarh is located in the Victory Tower - one of the seven highest towers that guard the approaches to the fortress. Behind it is a road, winding and steep, around which rise walls with terraces of open gazebos and living quarters with barred windows, through which one can watch all who pass below.

A wall with gazebos on it.

The iron tower is famous for its beauty of decoration; The Pearl Palace was built of snow-white marble, and the Throne Hall itself, located on the top floor of the Palace of Flowers, is in no way inferior in its luxury to the premises that were intended by the Great Mughals themselves.

The fortresses of India - literally whatever you take, are very large in size, and seem to grow out of the steep slopes of the hills. The impression is that nothing was impossible for their builders. However, neither aliens nor antediluvian civilizations helped them, and many European travelers saw how they were built.

But this photo has nothing to do with the fortresses, but it is very interesting. There is a temple in India... of rats! They are loved, cherished and fed there!

“Dzhunnar-grad stands on a stone rock, not fortified by anything, protected by God. And the paths to that mountain are a day, they go one by one: the road is narrow, two cannot pass.
(Afanasy Nikitin. "Journey beyond three seas." Translation by P. Smirnov.)

One Chinese traveler noted that back in the 7th century, Indian cities and villages were surrounded by walls with gates and towers built of raw or baked bricks, although our traveler Athanasius Nikitin saw a city there that was not protected by anything but natural obstacles. Throughout almost the entire Middle Ages, incessant wars were going on in India. Local rulers - rajas - fought among themselves, and Arabs and Mongols invaded the country from the north. In India, even a special military-feudal class of Rajputs arose - professional warriors and, in fact, the same knights who constantly studied military craft and were always ready to go on a campaign.

The Indians built five types of fortresses, differing in their location: in the desert, on the water, in the mountains, in the forest and an earthen fortress. The fortress in the mountains was considered the most powerful, as well as the fortress ... which was occupied by a particularly dedicated garrison! The walls of fortresses and castles of nobles in India consisted of two rows of masonry with earthen or gravel backfill between them (they were also built in Europe). The masonry stones were not fastened together: they lay under their own weight. At the same time, the thickness of the walls varied from 2.5 to 10.5 m. Sometimes there were several such walls, and ditches were dug between them, filled with water, or seated with pointed stakes. In the ditches near other castles, poisonous snakes were even kept and fed. Such a "living" was even more frightening and effective than deep ditches with stakes at the bottom.

The largest fortress in India, Kumbalgarh. It has 700 (!) bastions, and inside there are more than 360 temples. The rulers of Mewar shut themselves up in it in case of danger. But today it is open and you can visit it by driving 90 km north of the city of Udaipur.

Loopholes were made in the walls, but machicolations, so common in Europe, appeared in India only in 1354. The gate was protected by two massive barbicans, between which there was a winding passage. Towers-cabins with loopholes for archers hung over it. The gates themselves in Indian fortresses were always double-winged and very high: an elephant with a palanquin turret on his back had to freely pass through them. However, the high altitude weakened the gate. Therefore, they were made of very durable and not subject to rotting teak wood, upholstered in iron. In addition, teak or iron spikes were placed on their outer wall. They did not allow the war elephants, which the opponents used as living rams, to come close to the gate. But the relief images of elephants that adorned the walls of the gate were considered reliable amulets, as well as statues of Hindu deities.

Kumbalgarh Gate. There are seven of them in the fortress!

In the hot climate of India, water was of paramount importance. Therefore, in every castle or fortress there were reliable wells and tanks for collecting rainwater. Often, gardens and fountains were arranged nearby, refreshing the air and moderating the sweltering tropical heat.

The Kumbalgarh bastions resemble a Buddhist stupa in their shape. Below for scale are people, donkeys and poles with wires.

In every castle and fortress in India there were numerous underground rooms, where everything necessary was prepared in advance in case of a long siege: water, grain, ammunition, etc. The importance of building defensive structures in India was emphasized by the then eerie custom of human sacrifice. It was believed that if such a ceremony was performed at the beginning of construction, then the castle or fortress would be impregnable, since they stand on human blood.

If you look at the walls of many Indian fortresses from below, then ... dizzy!

Medieval fortresses with massive walls and towers were built in India until the middle of the 18th century, which is almost three centuries longer than in Europe. At the same time, the desire to impress both enemies and friends was so great among the Indians that they often erected powerful and thick walls even where there was no need for this. The fortress could be built, for example, on a sheer cliff. The walls and towers were covered with carvings and moldings. Moreover, even the teeth on the walls tried to give a decorative shape.

And this is not at all an Indian nuclear power plant, by no means, but ... the bastions of the Derawar fortress in Bahawalpur.

In southern India, numerous rows of walls were usually built around Hindu temples, which in this case served as castles and fortresses. Gate towers near these walls sometimes reached a height of 50 m and made it possible to observe the surroundings.

The temple tower is 28 meters high. She could be observed.

The fortified mausoleums played the same role - in fact, the same castles or fortresses. However, the most famous mausoleum of India is still not a fortress, but a temple-tomb accessible to everyone. This is the world famous Taj Mahal. It was much more difficult to storm Indian fortresses than European ones, primarily because of the heat, which exhausted people and animals. Throwing machines here were similar to European ones, but baskets or earthenware vessels with snakes were often used as projectiles.

Well, now let's get acquainted with at least some examples of the fortress architecture of India, because it is simply impossible to get acquainted with all of them, because there are a lot of them. Not just a lot, but a lot, and for the most part they themselves are in excellent condition, unlike the numerous knightly castles of the same Britain.

Fortress Golconda. Bala Hissar (Citadel). Golconda, Andhra Pradesh.

To begin with, let's go to the Golconda fortress, which is located just 11 kilometers from the city of Hyderabad, where, by the way, there is a very famous university in India, where many students from Russia study, and there are those who study there for free on grants from the Indian government! Previously, it was here that diamonds were mined, and it was here that all the most famous diamonds in the world were mined! Therefore, local rajahs did not spare money for the fortress. They erected it on a hill 120 meters high, and fortified it with 87 bastions, many of which have rusty cannons to this day.

These are the stone cannonballs used by medieval Indians to shoot at their fortresses. Nearby is an iron cannon that somehow miraculously did not fall into the smelting.

“But we found another gun for you!” Thanks, of course, girls, but only the gun is “not the same”. However, in Indian fortresses there are a lot of all kinds of English weapons.

Four drawbridges lead inside, and there are warehouses, mosques, and 18 mausoleums made of granite. The acoustics of this building are amazing, which, of course, guides use, attracts the attention of tourists: clapping near one gate can be heard a kilometer from this place! Well, the first European to visit here was our well-known Athanasius Nikitin, who not only visited, but also described Golconda.

Ordinary fortress gates.

The gate leaves are covered with spikes.

The most surprising thing is that for its huge size, Golconda as a whole is not at all impressive when compared with other Indian fortresses. Whether it's the Mehrangarh fortress - the citadel of the Rajputs in the northwestern part of the state of Rajasthan.

Mehrangarh Fortress - as if growing out of a rock.

The view of Mehrangarh from above is probably even more impressive than from below.

The fortress is located on high rocks and when you look at it from below, the impression is that it is simply carved out of the rock that stood on it. It seems that human hands are not able to erect such a structure, and even in the heat there, but they did. And when and how, and with whom - all this is known for sure. They started building it in 1459, and finally finished it only in the 17th century!

Another gate, and next to the fortress wall.

The main gate to Mehrangarh is located in the Victory Tower - one of the seven highest towers that guard the approaches to the fortress. Behind it is a road, winding and steep, around which rise walls with terraces of open gazebos and living quarters with barred windows, through which one can watch all who pass below.

A wall with gazebos on it.

The iron tower is famous for its beauty of decoration; The Pearl Palace was built of snow-white marble, and the Throne Hall itself, located on the top floor of the Palace of Flowers, is in no way inferior in its luxury to the premises that were intended by the Great Mughals themselves.

The fortresses of India - literally whatever you take, are very large in size, and seem to grow out of the steep slopes of the hills. The impression is that nothing was impossible for their builders. However, neither aliens nor antediluvian civilizations helped them, and many European travelers saw how they were built.

But this photo has nothing to do with the fortresses, but it is very interesting. There is a temple in India... of rats! They are loved, cherished and fed there!

India and the sights of India among the countries of South Asia occupy a special place. India is located on the Hindustan Peninsula, surrounded by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Afghanistan, has a territory of almost 3.3 million km 2 and a population of more than 1.2 thousand million people. The natural and relief conditions of the country are diverse - from the majestic ranges of the Himalayas to the fertile valleys with the great rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus.

Sights of India - photo and description.

On this land covered with legends, ancient cities and temples have been preserved, which are considered a true treasury of the world heritage of history and architecture. There are 30 UNESCO protected sites in India. Therefore, it annually attracts millions of tourists who want to get acquainted with its history and culture. Most of the architectural monuments of ancient India that have come down to us are a unique mixture of cultural and building traditions not only from different regions of the country, but also from the principles of foreign architecture that influenced them.

The visiting card of the country and the most recognizable landmark of India can be called one of the seven wonders of the world - in Agra. It was erected by order of Emperor Shah Jahan on the banks of the Yamuna River in memory of the beloved wife of the ruler. More than 3 million tourists from different countries come here every year to look at this luxurious architectural monument, erected from snow-white marble and take a walk through the picturesque park, laid out near it.

Minaret Qutub Minar in Delhi.

No less famous landmark of India is the Qutub Minar minaret, located in Delhi. It is considered the tallest building of its type in the world. Its construction, which began in 1199, took more than 150 years. The material for the construction was the remains of 27 destroyed Hindu temples. Thanks to the corrugated surface of the walls, created by the alternation of round and acute-angled edges, the 72-meter tower soaring into the sky seems light and airy. 379 steps lead to its top.

Pillar of Chandragupta.

Next to the minaret on the territory of the complex of ancient ruins stands the iron pillar of Chandragupta, which came out from under the hammer of ancient blacksmiths in the 4th century BC. The height of this cultural landmark of India is more than 7 m, and the weight exceeds 6 tons. The uniqueness of the creation of human hands lies in the fact that, despite the almost 100% iron content in it, it does not rust. By local legends if you hug this column and make a wish, it will certainly come true. Therefore, in order to keep the pillar from intrusive visitors, it was fenced off and armed guards were placed.

Amber Fort.

One of the examples of the palace and defense structures of India is the Amber Fort, located near Jaipur. A rocky hill near Lake Maota was chosen as a place for its construction. Tourists can climb the fortress on foot or by car, and exotic lovers can ride elephants.

There are many on the territory of the complex interesting places, including a museum of iron figures and the "Ganesha Gate", leading to the royal chambers, where you can stroll through the magnificent "Hall of a Thousand Mirrors".

Tourists will be eloquently told about the greatness of the Mughal dynasty by another attraction of India - the Lal-Kila complex, or the Red Fort. It consists of many buildings built in the Muslim architectural tradition of red sandstone. The height of the walls of the octagonal fortress reaches 33 meters. The interior design of the halls and columns strikes with the elegance of ornaments, intricate mosaics made of marble, openwork forged lattices and weightless domes. There are several museums on the territory of Lal Qila, where you can get acquainted with ancient treasures and personal belongings of members of the dynasty.

One of the pearls of Buddhist temple construction is the Ajanta caves. This is an ancient monastery, which consists of 29 temples and numerous monastic cells carved into the rock. Work on the creation of this ensemble began in the 2nd century BC. and continued until the 7th century AD.

The uniqueness of the caves is given by the beautifully preserved colorful wall paintings and carefully carved statues of the Buddha. The Indian monastery is located at a considerable distance from civilization, so you can get into it only as part of an excursion group.

India has many attractions, including ancient temples built by Krishna. However, there are many modern buildings dedicated to this deity. One of them stands in New Delhi on Mandir Marg Street. Lakshmi Narayana Temple is built of pink and white marble blocks in the Nagar style. The decoration of its numerous towers, arches and galleries strikes with the elegance of the carving, which was performed by master stone cutters. Pilgrims and tourists can relax in a cozy park with fountains located near the temple, meditate in man-made caves or buy souvenirs in a shop located at the temple.

Nearby is the landmark of India - the Lotus Temple, erected in 1986 and resembling a lotus flower with its outlines. It is one of the most visited places in India. Its 27 petals, covered with marble, create a lasting impression on visitors, especially in the evening when they are illuminated by special lighting.

In 2005, a new landmark of India was built - the Akshardham Temple of pink marble, which outshines even the Taj Mahal with its splendor. This is a whole complex, which, in addition to the temple, includes a park area, man-made canals with light and music fountains, sculptural statues, souvenir shops and numerous cafeterias. All the splendid marble work was done by hand.

Strings of tourists are drawn to Madurai - a temple city located in South India and dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi. This architectural ensemble, covering an area of ​​more than 6 hectares, is surrounded by high walls and 12 majestic towers adorned with painted miniature sculptures. Only on the Western tower there are about 730 of them. Tourists can look into the local museum, which contains many different interesting exhibits.

A little unusual for Europeans are the temples of Khajuraho, decorated with bas-reliefs with scenes from the Kamasutra. The complex of these places of worship covers an area of ​​more than 20 km 2 . Of the 85 buildings, only 22 "survived" to this day, the rest were destroyed by Muslim troops. The art of the ancient builders made it possible to create the impression that each temple was carved from a solid mass and decorated with stone lace and figurines.

The skill of the ancient builders is evidenced by the Chand Baori well, built in the 9th century to collect groundwater and rainwater. This grandiose 13-tier reservoir, equipped with 3.5 thousand steps, which made it possible to draw water in any place, has a depth of more than 30 m.

In addition to temples, among the popular attractions in India, there are many museums, the exhibits of which will tell about the history and life of this beautiful, truly wonderful country, impregnated with aromas of spices and exotic incense.

Throughout almost the entire history of India, there have been ongoing wars on its territory. Local princes fought each other, empires met in mortal battles. Arabs, Mongols, British, Dutch, French and Portuguese tried to bite off a piece of "Indian pie". All this forced the Indian rulers to build forts, fortresses and citadels on the borders of possessions or in areas where important trade routes passed. Likewise, most rajas and maharajas built strongholds in the heart of their territories. The fortification of such a plan with palaces and dozens of temples and mosques resembled small town. For a long time such fortresses were the stronghold of various dynasties. However, with the advent of more modern weapons and the firm accession of the British Empire to the throne of India, the need for fortresses disappeared and most of them were abandoned and left to be torn to pieces by nature and time.
Jivdhan fort
An ancient Indian fortress located on a hill, in the Western Ghats mountain range, near the small town of Ghatghar (Pune District, Maharashtra). It was built to control trade routes in the area of ​​​​the important Naneghat mountain pass connecting the Indian mainland with west coast. The name of this pass from the local is translated approximately as a coin pass (nane-pass, ghat-coin). In 1818 the fort was captured by the British. The invaders plundered and destroyed the fort, completely destroying all approaches to it. Now the ascent to the ruins of the fortress is popular among trekking enthusiasts and has a high difficulty category (V category)

Bankot Fort
There is no consensus among historians and researchers about the date of construction and who built the fortress at the mouth of the Savitri River. The first mention of Bankot dates back to the Adil Shahs (1490–1686). In 1548, the Portuguese captured the fortress and took control of it. Some time later, the commander of the Maratha fleet, Kanhoje Angre, recaptured the fortress from the Europeans and included it in the Maratha Empire under a new name - Himmatgad. After the Marathas, for a short period of time, the fortress came under the control of the British and it is again renamed in honor of the English queen in Fort Victoria. However, the citadel was far from the trade routes of the East India Company and its location no longer had any strategic importance, and the British, not seeing any advantage for their interests, left the citadel.

Kavaledurga Fort
Kavaledurga Fort - located in the Western Ghats, at an altitude of 1541 meters, 18 kilometers from the city of Tertaholli (Karnataka). The citadel was a stronghold of the Keladi Nayaks, who were vassals of the rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire. The construction of the fortress dates back to the 9th century, in the 14th century the defensive structures were overhauled and slightly rebuilt. The fortress is located on a hill and is surrounded by three rows of walls repeating the offices of the hill. The walls, almost 9 meters high, are made of large granite blocks, watchtowers were also erected in some places. Inside the citadel there were 15 temples (only three survived to this day), the palace of the ruler, various utility and storage facilities (granaries, an arsenal, stalls for elephants and horses) and numerous reservoirs and pools. Now only some sections of the fortress walls and three small temples remain from the former majestic fortress; all other buildings lie in ruins, destroyed by conquerors or by time.

Gudibande Fort
It is believed that the fortress was built by the local Robin Hood - Byre Gowda almost 400 years ago, in the 17th century. The fort has a seven-level system of defensive structures interconnected by passages for the movement of troops. The main feature of the fort is a system for collecting rainwater. For this, 19 reservoirs of various sizes were cut in the rocks at different levels of fortification. In the high point the fortress is a temple dedicated to Shiva, highly revered by the locals

Gingee Fort
160 kilometers from Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, there is a well-preserved example of the military engineering art of ancient India - Gingi Fort (Senji). This is one of the most heavily fortified fortresses in India at that time. The Maratha ruler Shivaji rated it as "the most impregnable fortress in India", and the British called it the "Troy of the East". Built in the 15-16 centuries, the fortress consists of three citadels located separately on the tops of adjacent hills. Fortifications on the hills are interconnected by walls with a total length of about 13 kilometers. Inside the fortifications, covering an area of ​​11 square kilometers, there are granaries, prison cells, sanctuaries and temples, as well as several reservoirs for storing water. The main attraction of the fort is an eight-story, 27 meters high tower with a pyramidal upper part - Kalyan Mahal. The ancient "high-rise" was built in the Indo-Islamic style, each floor has only one large room, it is also equipped with a complex system of water supply even to the highest floors.

There are many beautiful palaces in India. Each of them is magnificent in its own way - whether it's bright colors, arches and domes, or beautiful gardens. Many of the palaces are still official residences for members of the royal families, while others have been converted into luxury hotels. From the famous Mysore Palace to the floating Jal Mahal, here are some of the most beautiful Indian palaces.

Shesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) is the most famous part of Jaipur's Amber Fort. Pictures and flowers carved from glass cover the walls and ceilings, giving the palace its name.

The intricate construction of the five-story Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds in Jaipur, is due to the fact that it was supposed to allow the women of the royal family to look at the festivities at the palace, since they were not allowed to appear in public.

Udaipur at the City Palace is a complex of 11 beautiful palaces with gardens, gates, courtyards, terraces and corridors on the banks of Lake Pichola.

The Mysore Palace in the state of Karnataka in southern India is still the official residence of the Maharajas of Mysore. The palace was completed in 1912 and is a mixture of several styles of architecture: Hindu, Muslim, Raiput and Gothic.

Mysore is the most impressive and most beautiful of Indian palaces at night.

awesome architectural masterpiece Built of white marble, the Taj Mahal is India's most famous monument. It houses the tomb of the wife of the former Mughal emperor.

Both a luxury hotel and the residence of the royal family of Jodhpur, Umaid Bhawwan Palace is set on 26 acres and built entirely of sandstone, giving it a unique look.

Known as the Palace of Water, Jal Mahal looks like it's a floating city in the middle of the Sagar River in Jaipur. The building has four floors below the surface of the water. The majestic palace has now been transformed into an exclusive high class restaurant.

Fatehpur Sikri is translated as the city of victory. Built by the Mughal emperor in the 16th century as the capital of the empire - and then abandoned due to lack of water - the complex of temples, palaces and monuments is made entirely of bright red sandstone.

The City Palace, built in the 18th century by the ruler of Amer, is now part of Jaipur.

In the City Palace, there are other palaces: Chandra Mahal, which now houses a museum and Mubarak Mahal.

Built in the city of Hyderabad in the late 19th century during the reign of the Nizams, Chowmahalla Palace was the place where the royal family entertained their guests.

The Nizams were part of the Asaf Jahi dynasty which ruled until 1948.

Lakshmi Vilas Palace is one of the grandest in Vadodara - formerly known as Baroda - a city located in the western state of Gujarat. The Vadodaroi royal family still resides here.

To build this beautiful palace, it took 6 million rupees. The palace boasts gardens, a golf course and magnificent interiors filled with chandeliers, artwork and mosaics.

The Bangalore Palace is located in the southwestern state of Karnataka and is owned by the same family, which also owns the Mysore Palace.

It is built in the Tudor style, which makes it an interesting landmark that contrasts with many other buildings around it. The floor ornaments are simply fantastic.

Originally built in 1835 for the Queen's favorite maid of Jaipur, Rambaj Palace was later converted into a hunting lodge and renamed by the reigning Maharaj: Sawai Ram Singh II. Now it is a luxury hotel.

A 17th-century palace converted into a luxury hotel, Jagmandir Palace sits on its own island in Udaipur's Pichola Lake. The guests are transported to the palace, which is often referred to as the “garden of heaven.”

Often referred to as the central Agartala, Ujdayant Palace was built in 1901 by the 182nd Maharaja of Tripura in northeast India. The only part of the palace open to visitors is the museum located in the palace, which houses cultural artifacts and memorabilia.