Khetri Mahal (), also known as the Wind Palace, whose ruins are an example of palace architecture in the India state of
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
.
History
Khetri Mahal was constructed by Bhopal Singh around 1770. Bhopal Singh was the grandson of Sardul Singh. Maharaja
Sawai Pratap Singh of
Jaipur
Jaipur (; , ) is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the List of cities and towns in Rajasthan, largest city of the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. , the city had ...
built his
Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal is a palace in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Built from red and pink sandstone, it is on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the '' Zenana'', or women's chambers.
Hawa Mahal is known as the “palace of ...
, also known as the Wind Palace, on the model of the Khetri Mahal, in 1799. Khetri in itself was considered to be the second wealthiest 'Thikana' under Jaipur.
Bhopal Singh was killed in the
Second battle of Loharu, in which he tried to capture the
Loharu Fort—one of 33 thikanas of
Shekhawati
Shekhawati is a region in the northern part of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan, comprising the districts of Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu district, Churu. The language of this region is also called Shekhawat ...
rulers, at the place where he was cremated in
Loharu
Loharu is a city, municipal committee and assembly constituency, near Bhiwani City in the Bhiwani district of the Indian state of Haryana. It is the administrative headquarters of one of the four administrative sub-divisions of the district a ...
, roughly from Loharu Fort, a commemorative
chhatri
''Chhatri'' are semi-open, elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indo-Islamic architecture and Indian architecture. They are most commonly square, octagonal, and round.
Originating as a canopy above tombs, they largely ser ...
was built which still survives.
Between 1870 and 1901,
Ajit Singh of Khetri
Raja Ajit Singh Bahadur (16 October 1861 – 18 January 1901) was the ruler of the Shekhawat estate (thikana) of Khetri at Panchpana in Rajasthan between 1870 and 1901. He was born on 16 October 1861 at Alsisar. His father was Thakur Chattu Sing ...
reigned as a ruler of the Shekhawat dynasty of the Indian state of
Khetri
Khetri Nagar is a town in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India. It is a part of the Shekhawati
Shekhawati is a region in the northern part of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan, comprising the d ...
.
Architecture
Khetri Mahal is located behind a series of lanes. It is a paragon of Shekhawati art and architecture. It is primarily known for its fine paintings and murals mainly supporting the Raghunath temple and Bhopalgarh fort. The palace is remarkable among buildings of its region because of the flow of wind through its open portals rather than stopped windows or doors.
Wherever structurally possible, the walls have been pierced with arched openings. The levels of the Palace are combined through a series of ramps, installed to facilitate the movement of horseback guests toward the terrace, which gives commanding views.
Two small alcoves contain fragments of older paintings in the private chamber of Thakurs. Most of these paintings were executed in natural earth pigments. The interior rooms are open and colonnaded, the columns often surmounted with openwork and curved arches.
Most of the rooms are connected through arched portals rather than with doors, and much of the masonry is covered with a pinkish plaster.
One enters the palace via a student hostel at the base of the structure.
Gallery
File:Side View of Khetri Mahal.jpg, Side view of Khetri Mahal
File:Badalgarh-Fort-from-Khetri-Mahal.jpg, View of Badalgarh Fort from Khetri Mahal
File:Khetri Mahal Jhunjhunu A Supreme Design.jpg, Interior view
File:Beautiful Architecture Design of Khetri Mahal.jpg, Khetri Mahal from above
See also
*
Rajput architecture
Rajput architecture is an architectural style associated with the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers. Many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and popular tourist attractions.
Rajput architecture represents differen ...
*
Shekhawati
Shekhawati is a region in the northern part of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan, comprising the districts of Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu district, Churu. The language of this region is also called Shekhawat ...
References
External links
Jhunjhunu information*
Jhunjhunu district website{Dead link, date=June 2025 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes
Website about Jhunjhunu, with photographs
Rajput architecture
Palaces in Rajasthan
Jhunjhunu district
Rajasthani culture