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1. ALWAR
Located strategically, Alwar
is the gateway to Rajasthan from Delhi. With a turbulent history
spanning back to the medieval era, Alwar has been an important
place of trade and commerce. Bestowed by nature with a unique
habitat comprising forests and deep valleys, Alwar in home to
several species of flora and fauna. The ceiling of the Alwar coach
lounge has been done aesthetically in a delightful mix of cone
work and oils in relief, depicting a hunting scene. The royal
emblem and a miniature painting adorn the lounge. Subtle tones of
pink enhance the romantic ambience of the lounge.
2. BHARATPUR
Maharaja Suraj Mal, the
valiant Jat king, who was admired for his chivalry and courage,
had his abode here. Once a fortified township, Bharatpur is now an
ornithologist's paradise and well known for the Keoladeo Ghana
bird sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to over 376 avian species.
Echoing the vividity of nature's gift to Bharatpur the relief work
on this coach depicts various species of birds on the tree of
life. A replica of royal crest of Bharatpur adorns the valance of
the blinds. The 'nature' theme is further endorsed by the white
cedar inlay work depicting birds and painted peacocks, sitting on
a haveli worked on a mirror. The color scheme, with its profusion
of beige and aqua green, is a vivid reminder of lush green forests
of Bharatpur and Ghana
3. BIKANER
Bikaner came into being in
1486 A.D. when Rao Bika set out to carve a separate kingdom for
himself. The colour scheme of the lounge has been motivated by the
opulent coronation rooms in burning red and gold of the Anup Mahal
and Padam Mahal of the Junagarh fort. The royal state crest is
placed on the valance along with some handicrafts of Rajasthan.
The ceiling is done up in relief work and an oil painting on
canvas, depicting the legendary lovers Dhola & Maru on camelback.
The artwork in the lounge is in the Mughal –influenced style of
Bikaner School of Art.
4. BUNDI
The quaint little state of
Bundi lies cradled in the hills, east of Mewar. The palace complex
of Bundi towers above the township. An imposing structure, it is
approached by along paved ramp that ascends to the Hati Pol, and
is depicted in water colour work in one of the bedrooms. The
famous Ragmala also called Rag Ragini, paintings of Bundi have
been highlighted through oil paintings on the canvas and are
placed on the ceilings. The royal crest is highlighted on the
valance. The famous Bundi school of painting is depicted in the
framed and mounted art pieces and also serves as the basis of the
colour scheme and overall décor, including a delightfully frescoed
ceiling.
5. DHOLPUR
Dholpur is known for its
locally quarried sandstone building palaces and for lattice work
extenhsively used for balcony railings. The rails in the coach are
made of teak ply and depict the fine craftsmanship originally done
in stone. The Dholpur crest decorates the valance in zardozi work.
6. DUNGARGARH
Dungargarh meaning ‘Hill
Town’ is wild and rugged and known for its architecture and the
Bhil tribals. The ceiling is done up in a mixture of relief and
mirror work in line with the ‘lep’ work done by the tribals on the
wall of their houses. The royal state crest, in intricate zardozi
work, appears on the valance of the blinds.
7. JAISALMER
Founded by Rao Jaisal in
1156 A.D, this remote desert city is famous for the Jaisalmer
fort, epitomized by Satyajit Ray in the ‘Shonar Kella’ ( The
Golden Fortress), an epic celluloid saga. The city is also famous
for its havelies, cobbled streets, ancient Jain temples and a
festive gaiety that reverberates across the shimmering sands of
the Thar desert. The intricately latticed havelies with
conspicuous facades served as the inspiration for the intricately
carved jharokhas on the lounge ceiling. It is done on teak wood
with a mirror backing. The famous Jawahar Niwas façade has been
depicted in the state lounge cone, metal, copper and silver
medium. The royal insignia adorns the valance of the blinds. The
colour scheme reflects the beige of the desert sands.
8. JAIPUR
Known the world over as the
Pink City, Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Swai Jai Singh in 1727
A.D. The city was planned by the architect Vidhyadhar, under the
instructions of the Maharaja. The king was an astronomer and a
connoisseur of arts. And his taste is conspicuous in the beautiful
city constructed by him. A fascinating land, Jaipur has
innumerable palace , monuments & gardens that attracts hoards of
visitors every year. Fairs and festivals reflect the exuberant
charm of the people here. The cheerful nature of the local
inhabitants is reflected in the vibrant colours and captivating
music that enliven their spirits, even in this arid desert land.
The ceiling of the state lounge has been created using the famed
‘Phad’ or foil work, depicting festivals like Teej, Gangaur, Holi,
Diwali etc. The royal emblem of the state, in Zardozi work, graces
the valance. The walls have been decorated with miniature
paintings of the famous Jaipur style of painting. The ceilings
have been painted frescoes, done in complementary colours ,
reflecting the state’s colour scheme of Blue and Gold.
9. JHALAWAR
This powerful kingdom of the
Jhalas, a clan of valiant Rajputs, was created in the year 1838
A.D. It is a charming land with immense natural beauty. Tales of
valour and chivalry and numerous folklore abound in this region.
Jhalawar also has some beautiful temples and some Buddhist caves.
The ceiling has been worked out in a medium used by the local
inhabitants of the Jhalawar to decorate their homes. A play of
colous and a mirror work has used in the medium of plaster of
paris to create a unique ambience. The royal insignia of the
erstwhile state in zardozi work is seen on the valance along with
handicrafts supporting the table tops of the state lounge.
10. JODHPUR
The capital of the Mewar
kingdom lies on the tip of the Thar desert and was the seat of a
formidable dynasty of the ruler sfrom the 15th centuary onwards.
The Mehrangarh Fort which dominates the city of Jodhpur is
fascinating with its cusped arcades and the Mughal influnced
designs of the Moti Mahal recreated in mother-of-pearl work on the
ceilings. The royal crest is highlighted on the valance along with
the miniature paintings in the lounge which is typical of the
Jodhpur School of Art.
11. KISHANGARH
The Bani Thani paintings of
the state with their exaggerated features like eyes and long
fingers, are well-known .One of these famous paintings is
recreated on the ceiling in acrylic, painted with enamel and foil.
The crest appears in zardozi work on the blinds of the windows
with an artwork of the Kishangarh school of Art highlighted on the
wall of the state lounge.
12. KOTA
Once a prosperous Rajput
state, Kota is picturesquely located beside the Chambal river,
surrounded by verdant forests and picnic gardens. The City Palace
is a grand structure. The entry to the place is through the Hati
Pol, which is brightly painted with figures of elephants. Kota is
well known for the Kota school of design. These elements have
served
as the basis for designing the décor of this coach. The
distinctive features of the Kota school of art can be seen in the
oil paintings titled “ Raja aur Praja” ( The Monarch and his
subjects ) on the ceiling. I5t depicts Raja Ram Singh II (1826-66)
of Kota amidst a royal procession.
13. SIROHI
This erstwhile state has
earned an enviable reputation the world over for its gold fort,
near Pratapgarh. Especially the coloured glass work within it is
remarkable. The style of work has a typically Indo-European
flavour as European influence is quite conspicuous. The rooms
highlighted this style through the framed works of art done in the
same style. The ambiance and colour scheme has also been designed
in keeping with this school of Art. The gold foil and glass work
also has semi-precious stones embedded in it, and has been done in
a mix media created from co0ne and paint embossed particle boards.
The royal insignia has been placed prominently. Mounted miniatures
done in Sirohi schhol style lend a unique character to décor.
14. UDAIPUR
Lazing on the edge of lake
Pichhola, Udaipur was the capital of Sisodia Rajputs after they
moved from Chittaur. The City Palace in Udaipur is a complex of
reception halls, residential suites and internal courts from which
the state lounge and bedrooms take their colour schemes- dominant
blue and white. The most fascinating of the inner courts is the
Peacock Court where Peacocks have been modeled in high relief and
faced with coloured glass mosaic. The lounge décor is influenced
by the ‘Mor Chowk’ or the Peacock Court. The medium used is a
combination of the relief work and Patra or oxidized white metal
work. The royal crest of the state, in alluring zardozi work, is
set on the valance of the blinds. |
