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Jaisalmer and Lodhruva, Bada Bagh, literally meaning big garden, features a series of royal cenotaphs or chhatris of Jaisalmer Maharajas, including that of Jai Singh II (Maharaja Sawai Jai Sing). The first cenotaph in the region was built for Jai Singh II by his son, Lunkaran, in the 16th century. Jai Singh II was known for his contribution to making the city green. And to honor him, his son set up a memorial in the form of cenotaph near the dam and created a big park around it. All the cenotaphs here have a beautifully carved ceiling and elegant equestrian statues of rulers. The location of the garden is such that it offers incredible sunset vistas to tourists.
When on a trip to Bada Bagh, tourists should visit the garden, tank, and dam. Jait Bandh, the dam, dominates the region. Next to Bada Bagh is the Bhaironji Temple, which is often visited by childless women and offer silver girdles to a deity in a hope to cure their infertility. Bada Bagh is not too far from Jaisalmer Fort; one can rent a car to reach the place.
History of Bada Bagh
Bada Bagh might surprise you with its greenery in the arid desert landscape of Jaisalmer. This was in fact the very idea when it was built back in the 16th century – to build a beautiful green oasis in the desert region. Originally, there were only a dam and a water reservoir, but successive rulers started to build memorials and chhatris in the memory of erstwhile rulers of this region. Today, this garden complex, just 5 km from Jaisalmer is a prominent tourist attraction of Jaisalmer. The cenotaphs have beautifully carved chhatris, with exquisite chiseled pillars and inscriptions made on yellow sandstone. The landscape garden besides Bada Bagh is soothing to the eyes, and provides a green touch to the entire region. There are many mango trees around too.
Cenotaphs at Bada Bagh
The cenotaphs are lined in two different rows, each distinct in its own beautiful way. To add to the beauty of these structures is the fact that they are built along a hill. On entering the base of the hill, you start approaching cenotaphs in the order newest to oldest, well, oldest to ancient, to be realistic. The size of the cenotaph is congruent to the greatness of the ruler it was built for. The bigger the stature of the ruler, the bigger the cenotaph.
The cenotaph for Maharaja Jawahar Singh was in progress when the sudden death of the new ruler created doubt in the minds of the royal family. Hence, when they decided to discontinue the tradition of building these cenotaphs for the rulers that had passed away, they did not wait till the construction of the one for Maharaja Jawahar Singh was completed; and it stands unfinished till date. This is the cenotaph that greets you to Bada Bagh.
Each structure is designed with marvellous architecture and intricate carvings. What is amazing is that none of the stones on any cenotaph, even the tiniest carvings, have changed colour. They are all uniformly coloured and bring a sense of rhythm in the garden. Maharaja Jawahar Singh's structure has a portrait of him, placed on a pedestal, above which hangs an earthen pot. This signifies an attempt to quench his thirsty soul, to give peace to his soul.
Each erection has an inscription of the ruler's name at the entrance, and texts inscribed on them in stone. The roofs are designed to resemble shrines, representing the holiness and divinity of the structure. Even though a few of these cenotaphs are crumbling, it does not compromise their majesty in the least. The first few rows of cenotaphs have a structure of a man on a horse inscribed in marble, sitting in the middle of the structure, representing the ruler. These were mainly for the more powerful and consequential rulers of their dynasty. There are smaller structures scattered between the larger cenotaphs, which were possibly built for the younger princes, princesses and queens.
When on a trip to Bada Bagh, tourists should visit the garden, tank, and dam. Jait Bandh, the dam, dominates the region. Next to Bada Bagh is the Bhaironji Temple, which is often visited by childless women and offer silver girdles to a deity in a hope to cure their infertility. Bada Bagh is not too far from Jaisalmer Fort; one can rent a car to reach the place.
History of Bada Bagh
Bada Bagh might surprise you with its greenery in the arid desert landscape of Jaisalmer. This was in fact the very idea when it was built back in the 16th century – to build a beautiful green oasis in the desert region. Originally, there were only a dam and a water reservoir, but successive rulers started to build memorials and chhatris in the memory of erstwhile rulers of this region. Today, this garden complex, just 5 km from Jaisalmer is a prominent tourist attraction of Jaisalmer. The cenotaphs have beautifully carved chhatris, with exquisite chiseled pillars and inscriptions made on yellow sandstone. The landscape garden besides Bada Bagh is soothing to the eyes, and provides a green touch to the entire region. There are many mango trees around too.
Cenotaphs at Bada Bagh
The cenotaphs are lined in two different rows, each distinct in its own beautiful way. To add to the beauty of these structures is the fact that they are built along a hill. On entering the base of the hill, you start approaching cenotaphs in the order newest to oldest, well, oldest to ancient, to be realistic. The size of the cenotaph is congruent to the greatness of the ruler it was built for. The bigger the stature of the ruler, the bigger the cenotaph.
The cenotaph for Maharaja Jawahar Singh was in progress when the sudden death of the new ruler created doubt in the minds of the royal family. Hence, when they decided to discontinue the tradition of building these cenotaphs for the rulers that had passed away, they did not wait till the construction of the one for Maharaja Jawahar Singh was completed; and it stands unfinished till date. This is the cenotaph that greets you to Bada Bagh.
Each structure is designed with marvellous architecture and intricate carvings. What is amazing is that none of the stones on any cenotaph, even the tiniest carvings, have changed colour. They are all uniformly coloured and bring a sense of rhythm in the garden. Maharaja Jawahar Singh's structure has a portrait of him, placed on a pedestal, above which hangs an earthen pot. This signifies an attempt to quench his thirsty soul, to give peace to his soul.
Each erection has an inscription of the ruler's name at the entrance, and texts inscribed on them in stone. The roofs are designed to resemble shrines, representing the holiness and divinity of the structure. Even though a few of these cenotaphs are crumbling, it does not compromise their majesty in the least. The first few rows of cenotaphs have a structure of a man on a horse inscribed in marble, sitting in the middle of the structure, representing the ruler. These were mainly for the more powerful and consequential rulers of their dynasty. There are smaller structures scattered between the larger cenotaphs, which were possibly built for the younger princes, princesses and queens.