GATORE KI CHHATRI JAIPUR
Tourist Attraction in Jaipur, Rajasthan !!
GATORE KI CHHATRI
How can memory be preserved? In our speeches or our fables? However, the vivid hues of recollections fade over time, and layers of dust eventually cover them up. But, how can our Rajas and Maharajas fail to preserve the grandeur of their dynasties and maintain their memories alive for centuries? Of course, their efforts to immortalize death are admirable. Death is synonymous with sadness, but Maharajas turned this sorrow into a ‘Saga of the Past.’ The most exquisite and graceful instance in this saga is Jaipur’s famed ‘Gatore ki Chhatriyan.’
Gatore Ki Chhatriyan – a beautiful and quiet place in Jaipur where the royals were cremated. Majestic, intricately carved stone monuments are the highlight of this royal crematory. Gatore Ki Chhatriyan is an enthralling hidden treasure built with utmost precision and care. You can take your time while soaking in the peaceful ambiance, but be polite and keep the site’s burial history in mind. Admire the beautiful cenotaphs and intricate carvings to immerse yourself in one of the best tourist spots in Jaipur today. Gatore ki Chhatriyan is the crematorium grounds for the Kachwahas, a Rajput dynasty. It is set in a tranquil location and consists of several beautiful cenotaphs which mark the official cremation spots of the former rulers. The location was designed by Maharaja Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. The Gatore compound is characterized predominantly by Vedic architecture with Indo-Persian structural and arcuate building influences. It is on the north side where the crematoriums are located, and they slope southwards. Scattered all around the compound, the cenotaphs appear like beautiful towers as well as shrunken open-air palaces. Their architecture is admirable for each cenotaph is topped off by an umbrella-shaped dome or a chhatri and it is interesting to note that some are made of marble while others are of sandstone. Many cenotaphs feature intricate carvings related to nature, battles as well as elephants.
GATORE KI CHHATRI JAIPUR ADDRESS INFORMATION
Gatore Ki Chhatri Jaipur Address: 309B, Mangala Rd, Bada Akhada, Krishna Nagar, Brahampuri, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002
ENTRY FEE AND TIMINGS OF GATORE KI CHHATRIYAN JAIPUR
The Gatore Chhatriya is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day. The ticket window closes by 4:30 p.m. The entry charge for Gatore is Rs 30 per person. It is part of the composite City Palace Ticket, which costs Rs 300 per person for Indians and includes entry to Jaipur City Palace, Jaigarh Fort, Gatore, and Maharani Ki Chhatriyan on Amer Road. You can visit this Jaipur attraction anywhere between 9.30 am to 5.00 pm. The entry fee is INR 30 per person.
GATORE KI CHHATRI JAIPUR DIRECTION/LOCATION/MAP
HISTORY OF GATORE KI CHHATRI JAIPUR
A Rajput dynasty Kachwaha that reigned at Gatore Ki Chhatriyan was responsible for maintaining the royal crematorium grounds. Maharaja Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, chose the site in the 18th century. Since 1733, every Kachhwaha king has been cremated here. The only missing cenotaph is Maharaja Sawai Ishwari Singh, whose burial took place at Jaipur’s city palace complex. This royal cremation ground was maintained by the Kacchwaha, a Rajput dynasty. In the 18th century, Maharaja Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur city, chose this site as his cremation place. And soon after him, all the Kachhwaha rulers cremated him. Besides, the cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Ishwari Singh is missing as his burial took place at the City Palace complex of Jaipur.
Maharani ki Chhatri in Jaipur is situated on Amber Road just before the Ramgarh street intersection close to the Jal Mahal. Though the concept of Chhatris or cenotaphs belonged to the Mughals after some time, it has been turned into a piece of Hindu Architecture style. Chhatris are referred to as shade and one can find several types of Chhatris all through Rajasthan. Maharani ki Chhatri is a unique memorial service range for the maharanis or the royal women of Jaipur. According to the local belief, if the queen dies before her husband or king, only then the Chhatri will be finished with the roof structure. But in the other case when the queen dies after the death of her husband, the Chhatri would remain unfinished.
ABOUT GATORE KI CHHATRI JAIPUR
Gatore Ki Chhatriyan Jaipur, also known as Gaitor Tombs is located in the walled city area named Brahmpuri at the foothills of Nahargarh Fort on Jaipur-Amer road. Gaitor is the cremation ground of the Royal Maharajas of Rajasthan. It is believed that the word Gaitor is the mispronunciation form of Gaye ka Thor which means the resting place of the departed souls. Royal cenotaphs are built over the cremation site. The carving on each cenotaph is a reflection of the taste of the respective Maharajas. These cenotaphs are a perfect collaboration of Islamic and Hindu architecture. The cenotaphs at Gaitor are in the form of open pavilions along with ornate domes that are supported by intricately sculpted pillars. The decor and profusion of each Chattri show the stature and mastery of a particular king. Maharajas Pratap Singh, Madho Singh II, and Jai Singh II, among others, are honored here. The cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II is considered the most impressive one as it is made of white marble with a dome supported by 20 carved pillars.
This place also offers a stunning panorama of the whole of Jaipur town including views of the Man Sarovar Lake and Jal Mahal from here. Unlike the other tourist destinations in Jaipur, Royal Gaitor Tombs is not crowded and is the best place to relax with friends and family. The best time to visit Royal Gaitor is during the death anniversary of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in September. Garh Ganesh and Nahar Ke Ganesh Temples are located nearby and can be visited. Located on Amber Road of Jaipur, the Gatore Ki Chhattriyan is among the lesser visited attractions in Jaipur. Built-in the memory of the rulers of Jaipur, the beautiful carvings are worth seeing. They are the royal cenotaphs that display the Rajput style of architecture. The representation of colorful peacocks adds to the beauty of the cenotaphs (chhatris). Also, these Gatore Chhatris are individual chattri or cenotaphs built per the taste of the person to whom the chattri had been dedicated. Though there are many chattris at this location, some bear special significance. The most important ones are the chattris of Sawai Madho Singh, Sawai Jai Singh, and Sawai Ram Singh. You will not only learn about the history but also the excellence of Rajasthani art and architecture of the bygone era. Thus, visiting the Gatore Ki Chhatriyan is one of the best experiences as it is a great learning experience.
ARCHITECTURE OF GATORE KI CHHATRIYAN JAIPUR
The Gatore compound follows Vedic architectural guidelines with Indo-Persian structural and arcuate building influences. Crematoriums are located north of the hamlet and slope southwards, according to Vedic norms. A body of water, particularly a river, provides an ideal setting for the memorials. Furthermore, the Rajas built the crematoriums and monuments in remote places not seen from afar. The cenotaphs of the royals are distributed around the complex, resulting in what appears to be a mix of tiny open-air palaces and beautiful towers. The structures indicate the locations of prior leaders’ cremations. They are stunning works of architecture to see! An umbrella-shaped dome called a ‘chhatri’ tops each Indian monument and crematorium. The Maharajas built the other monuments in sandstone. Elephants, combat scenes, etc., are intricately carved into several of them.
The chhatris are built as per the Vedic architectural guidelines with Indo-Persian influences. They are located north of the city as per the Vedic norms. The rulers built these crematoriums and monuments in isolated places not seen from afar. Gatore Ki Chhatriyan Jaipur is scattered around the complex, which appears to be a blend of tiny open-air palaces and towers. They indicate the sites of prior kings’ cremations. The Cenotaph is shaped like an umbrella, thus called chhatri. The rulers of the city also built other structures in sandstone with elephants, combat scenes, etc. beautifully & intricately carved on them.
GATORE KI CHHATRI JAIPUR IMAGES/PICTURES/PHOTOS
MEMORIALS AT GATORE KI CHHATRIYAN JAIPUR
A unique among the most stunning attractions in the Pink City, Maharani ki Chhatri is a unique area for memorial services for the maharanis, or the royal women. These Cenotaphs were used to represent the status symbol of the royal women and that’s the reason these Chhatris were built from precious materials. Based on the importance of women in honorability, some of the Cenotaphs were built using beautiful white marble while some were constructed using local stones which were available in the Pink City. Some of the cenotaphs are unfinished here. The reason is that if the queen died before her king, only then her Cenotaph will be completed with the roof structure. But in the opposite case, her Cenotaph will remain unfinished. One of the main attractions of these cenotaphs is the utilization of chhatri (umbrella), which is a very stunning architectural style of the Rajputs. The glorious excellence and high importance of these cenotaphs make them unique amongst the most visited tourist destinations in Jaipur. Each Chhatri is very beautifully carved and it reflects the taste of the women in whose memory it has been constructed. These beautiful and grand cenotaphs are symbols of the status and importance of women in the royal family.
Surrounded by green hills, the Gatore Ki Chhatriyan is a complex of temples and tombs in the foothills of the Nahargarh (Tiger) Fort. It was the royal crematorium for the majestic rulers of Rajasthan. The beautiful edifice also has a cenotaph for each of the more famous maharajas cremated there. Engraved with beautiful Rajasthani carvings, the cenotaphs are one of the major attractions of the place. The cenotaphs are shaped like umbrellas (chhatris) and hence the place is called Gatore Ki Chhatriyan. The courtyard has three portions, the oldest being the farthest from the entrance. The chhatri of Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, stands in the courtyard’s center. As per legend, it is made of Taj marble or white Makrana marble, the highest quality. The most beautiful memorial is Sawai Jai Singhji. It is eloquently constructed using white marble. It has sculptures of Hindu Gods, maids, musicians, and other individuals and truly validates the reign of Jaipur’s greatest emperor. Twenty pillars support the dome.
Sawai Ram Singh’s memorial is located just behind the chhatri of Sawai Jai Singh. It mimics his chhatri and contains an exact depiction of the regal games of army scenes made of Italian marble. The next chhatri, Sawai Madho Singh, is the most intricate and magnificent of all chhatris. Sawai Pratap Singh commissioned the chhatri in his honor, and it is a one-of-a-kind blend of stone and marble work. Its layout is similar to that of the Taj Mahal to some extent. The two stone lions guarding the entryway appear to be the watch guard. As soon as you take a step forward, you observe the incredible and detailed carvings and decorations.
The pillars in this chhatri are in an octagonal pattern. Furthermore, it has vented octagon windows. Standing in the middle, you can see the open verandas on all four sides. The stairs leading to the top of the mausoleum stand on its north. You can enjoy a fantastic view of the chhatris all around you from here. They are twelve in number. On each of the four corners stand four enormous chhatris and eight tiny chhatris. This memorial exemplifies Jaipur’s architectural significance and beauty. The stone is a rare Redstone from Karauli and ‘Raay wale ki khan’ near Ramgarh. Over the marble panels outside the chhatri, scenes of the traditional procession of elephants, horses, and other animals from Janani Deori to Sanganeri Gate represent eloquence. The Hanumanji temple stands near the Sanganeri gate, and you can see the grand Hawa Mahal from here. One intriguing fact about this lovely spot is that people gathered to light lamps here to honor their rulers until a few years ago, as the sun went down and twilight fell over the beautiful surroundings. Lighting lights represented paying homage to their kings. But, as time passed, this enjoyable activity faded away.
LOCATION OF GATORE KI CHHATRIYAN JAIPUR
The royal crematorium stands in the Nahargarh and Garh Ganesh temple valleys. The fort walls of Nahargarh surround the area on one side and the Pink City of Jaipur on the other.
THINGS TO DO AT GATORE KI CHHATRIYAN JAIPUR
In Gatore, there are exquisite tombs/mausoleums of former Jaipur rulers. Many tourists visit this location to click mesmerizing pictures; hence it is one of the Instagram-worthy spots in Jaipur. On the other hand, many visitors come here to relax and take in the quiet setting of Gatore. It is worth the visit if you enjoy art, architecture, and history. The tranquil and peaceful ambiance is a nice respite from the noise of Jaipur’s streets. The location provides a spectacular and wide-angle view of the entire city of Jaipur. From the Gatore, you can see significant landmarks such as the Jal Mahal and Mansarovar lake. Compared to other tourist destinations, this location is less congested and ideal for those seeking peace.
HOW TO REACH GATORE KI CHHATRIYAN JAIPUR
You can get off at Brahmapuri and walk a few hundred meters to the cenotaphs or rent a private cab from top car rental companies in Jaipur to reach here by road. The location is 5.8 kilometers away from the Sindhi Camp Bus Stand. It is around 8 kilometers from the Jaipur Railway Station. Gatore ki chhatriyan is 15 kilometers away from Jaipur International Airport.
Ever thought about where the royalty in Rajasthan cremates their dead? You will find your answers at Gatore Ki Chhatriyan, the royal crematorium grounds meant for the Kachhwaha community that ruled the land centuries ago. Located a short distance from the center of Jaipur, the cluster of royal tombs make a soothing and beautiful place where anyone with a meditative bent of mind can sit back, relax, and ponder over the mysteries of life for hours. Gatore Ki Chhatriyan was chosen by the founder of Jaipur in the 18th century for cremating the members of the royal family. It is located on the foothills of Nahargarh Fort enclosed by the Aravalli Hills. The cenotaphs of the royals are omnipresent all around the complex which appears to be compact open-air palaces and ornate towers. The structures bear the spots where the former ruling kings were cremated. Every structure has a chhatri (ornate umbrella) which makes it look like a wonderful sight to behold. In the olden days, cremation sites or memorials of the dead were made of either marble or sandstone. Many of them are beautified with painstakingly carved designs and patterns of nature, battle fights, divinity, and so on. People can, or rather, should visit this place for lots of photo opportunities. Book lovers can find great delight in reading at this quiet location without realizing how the hours roll by. Must visit Gatore Ki Chhatri in the Jaipur city.