In 2014, India accounted for 11 million foreign tourist arrivals, a major chunk of which visited the Taj Mahal. While the Taj Mahal is already world-famous and is a big draw for tourists, the national and state governments can also capitalize on this by promoting the less known by equally beautiful temples and ancient cities that dot the Uttar Pradesh landscape.
Uttar Pradesh is a huge reservoir of anciebt structures. In the early medieval period, there was a flurry of building activity in Uttar Pradesh. Muslim historians have lavished profuse praises on cities such as Kannauj, Varanasi, Kalinjar and Mathura and forts, palaces and temples scattered all over the state. During the reigns of Gurjar-Pratihars and Gaharvars, Kannauj had become a prominent centre of art and learning, but it also had to bear the brunt of the wrath of muslim invaders. Very few specimens now survive to tell of the glory and grandeur of Kannauj. Kumar Devi, the consort of Gaharvar King Govind Chandra had constructed a magnificient building at Sarnath known as Dharm-Chakra-Jain Vihar.
The artistic beauty of Mathura temples was such that even the iconoclast Mahmud of Ghazni had to praise them. The Chandel rulers of southern Uttar Pradesh were also great patrons of art. Their building activities were mostly centered at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh but remains of temples and ponds constructed by contemporary architects have been found in Mahoba, Rasim, Rahilia and other places in modem Bundelkhand as well. The fort built by them at Kalinjar was impregnable from defence point of view.
So far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned, the Sultanate period is known as a dark age in the realm of art. The Sultans confined their building activities mainly to Delhi, although they constructed mausoleums and mosques, here and there, including Uttar Pradesh also. After the advent of Sharqi rulers in Jaunpur, a new life was infused in art activities. Under their patronage famous mosques like Atala, Khalis-Mukhis, Jhanjihri and Lai Darwaza were constructed.
The grandest and the biggest of them all is the Jama Masjid. The Atala Masjid built by Ibrahim Sharqi in 1408 AD became a model for the construction of other mosques in Jaunpur. It is an exquisite blend of the Hindu and Muslim architecture reflecting both vigour and grace in style of construction. The Jaunpur mosques have certain special features. The most important of these are their artistic propylaea. These mosques have facilities for women to offer prayers. For this, beautiful galleries surrounded by artistic walls were constructed. Fortress architecture also developed under the patronage of the Sharquis.
The fort in Jaunpur constructed early in the mediaeval period has an importance of its own. Although it is in a dilapidated state now, when it was in good shape, its hold and graceful style was universally praised and widely followed. Today, only its eastern gateway and a few parts are extant to remind us of its past glory and splendour.
Uttar Pradesh is a huge reservoir of anciebt structures. In the early medieval period, there was a flurry of building activity in Uttar Pradesh. Muslim historians have lavished profuse praises on cities such as Kannauj, Varanasi, Kalinjar and Mathura and forts, palaces and temples scattered all over the state. During the reigns of Gurjar-Pratihars and Gaharvars, Kannauj had become a prominent centre of art and learning, but it also had to bear the brunt of the wrath of muslim invaders. Very few specimens now survive to tell of the glory and grandeur of Kannauj. Kumar Devi, the consort of Gaharvar King Govind Chandra had constructed a magnificient building at Sarnath known as Dharm-Chakra-Jain Vihar.
The artistic beauty of Mathura temples was such that even the iconoclast Mahmud of Ghazni had to praise them. The Chandel rulers of southern Uttar Pradesh were also great patrons of art. Their building activities were mostly centered at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh but remains of temples and ponds constructed by contemporary architects have been found in Mahoba, Rasim, Rahilia and other places in modem Bundelkhand as well. The fort built by them at Kalinjar was impregnable from defence point of view.
So far as Uttar Pradesh is concerned, the Sultanate period is known as a dark age in the realm of art. The Sultans confined their building activities mainly to Delhi, although they constructed mausoleums and mosques, here and there, including Uttar Pradesh also. After the advent of Sharqi rulers in Jaunpur, a new life was infused in art activities. Under their patronage famous mosques like Atala, Khalis-Mukhis, Jhanjihri and Lai Darwaza were constructed.
The grandest and the biggest of them all is the Jama Masjid. The Atala Masjid built by Ibrahim Sharqi in 1408 AD became a model for the construction of other mosques in Jaunpur. It is an exquisite blend of the Hindu and Muslim architecture reflecting both vigour and grace in style of construction. The Jaunpur mosques have certain special features. The most important of these are their artistic propylaea. These mosques have facilities for women to offer prayers. For this, beautiful galleries surrounded by artistic walls were constructed. Fortress architecture also developed under the patronage of the Sharquis.
The fort in Jaunpur constructed early in the mediaeval period has an importance of its own. Although it is in a dilapidated state now, when it was in good shape, its hold and graceful style was universally praised and widely followed. Today, only its eastern gateway and a few parts are extant to remind us of its past glory and splendour.