If you have been to Delhi or Agra, you must have visited many tombs and mausoleums built for the royal families of Mughal rulers. Who doesn't know about Tajmahal?
But do you know even Rajputs have a tradition to built memorials for their rulers and royal family members? In many places of Rajasthan, you will find a group of cenotaphs dedicated to a royal family.
The most famous and beautiful one is the Royal Cenotaphs of Jaisalmer. A large complex situated almost 6-7 KM outside the city of Jaisalmer in the middle of the desert. It houses many cenotaphs (or chhatri as it is called in the local language). Each of them is curved out of sandstones and has intricate work on them. The chhatris are of different sizes depending on the royal designation of the person it is built for. The first chhatri was built in the 18th century. The view of stunning architecture in the backdrop of a desert is mesmerizing. It is a must-visit in Jaisalmer. The best time to visit it will be sunrise or sunset.
This place is recently a rage on Instagram. I even saw this place being used as a backdrop of many recent movies. Remember Bandish Bandits? When I visited it in 2014, we were the only one and had the whole place to ourselves. I took the advantage to chitchat with the caretaker who many interesting facts about the place. Like the Jaisal Kings used to commission chhatri for them during their reign to make sure it matches his stature or like when the first chhatri was built, it used to be surrounded by a garden. Hence the name Bada Bagh (Bagh means a garden in the local tongue).
Let me know if you know any interesting place like this one in the comment.
If you would like to check it on my Instagram, please see below.
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