Speaking Archaeologically™

Nikita Singh is a Former Photographer and Citizen Archaeology Member of Speaking Archaeologically City Palace, Jaipur : Located northeast of the city center, you’ll find a beautiful complex built between 1729 and 1732, by Sawai Jai Singh II, which is the City. Being enthusiastic about architecture himself, Sawai Jai Singh II also had aid from the two architects Vidyadhar Bhattacharya (who was the chief architect in the royal court) and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob during the designing of the premises. Over the years, due to the wear and tear of time, there have been gradual restorations of the palace building within the walls, as well as the additional buildings, such as the Mubarak Mahal, which was built in 1890 along with the Chandra Mahal that is still used by the royal family of Jaipur today. However, the outer wall still remaining is from the original design. The first floor of Chandra Mahal is the only open area available to be toured by visitors, as it is sti...

When we hear the name Shaniwar Wada the first thing that comes to our mind is the movie Bajirao Mastani and the majestic structure it portrayed, but sadly, it's not what we imagine it to be except some ruins that stand witness to a glorious past. A fire in 1827 that lasted for 15 days destroyed the fort. Before going to the fort I read a little about it and thus I was prepared to see fort in a hopeless condition, but really it wasn't so.  The entrance to the fort was the Dilli Darwaza,  which was intact and relatively in a very good shape, the huge iron door which was built to stand almost anything did what it was meant to do and survived the fire. As soon as I entered the huge iron gate, the inside of the gate the situation changed and the sorry state of the monument was revealed, with the fresco almost fading and the wall plaster falling off. There was a ticket booth or two, I can't seem to remember considering ...

Deepika Sharma,  Citizen Archaeology Member The one thing I have learnt about life is you never know what is planned for you the next moment. Call me a fatalist,  but I have had so many instances cementing my belief in fatalism that this particular episode isn't even the first of the many but I am going totalk about it anyway. Not so long ago, I was on a vacation after finishing Grade 12, the final year of school, spending time in Shimla. It was a peaceful and rather languid phase; that sweet interstice  between finishing school and joining a college. Nothing was planned and I liked it that way, especially after all the exams and the stress. And then one day,  like a lightening bolt that hits you without warning, a phone call set things in motion for me again. It was my Aunt, and she needed me to pack everything I could possibly want.  Why?  Because we were headed for a trip! Just like that! (The  bolt from the blue  analogy wasn't en...

August 2015 If you were to pass by Jammu City in the Northernmost Province of  India, buzzing busily with traffic and streets bustling with people, yoh wouldn't expect the city to hide one of the most beautiful palatial ruins of Dogra Architecture. No, not even the locals could tell you if there's such a place at all! There are temples, here, oh yes! And an old Fort. And some old Royal Gardens.  And of course, the famous twin palaces of Amar Singh and Hari Singh, which serve as a library and a hotel respectively but that's it! Off you go, now!  Chop, chop!  Move your car, you're blocking traffic! Jammu is a city with maddening crowd milling over and pouring down on you from everywhere.  For most Indian Army Brats like myself, however, Jammu has been a second home and no matter how many times you've been there, you'll find your way back in there, one among the many, lost in that crowd. Everything changes in Jammu with every visit and yet, nothing do...