India's amazing craftsmanship

For some reason when I'm traveling I can't stop taking pictures of the beautiful artwork incorporated into monuments.

While in Rajasthan we learned that the area is known for centuries of expert stonework, particularly embedding precious and semi-precious stones in intricate designs into the walls themselves. Here are some of my favorites:

The ancient site of Qutab Minar

Where older Hindu carvings were repurposed into a mosque

Humayan's Tomb

Perfectly lined up doors

Tomb in the middle of a perfect octagon.

Typical Mughal archway - at the mosque where we had to cover up

A modern tollbooth between Delhi and Agra. I assume the artwork depicts Shiva, one of the 3 major Hindu gods, based on the trident and snake.

At the Taj Mahal

Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan spared no expense for the tomb of his beloved wife.

All colors in the walls are inlaid precious or semi-precious stones, hand carved. Literally every wall inside and outside of the Taj Mahal has these inlaid stone designs. From a distance you'd think the Taj is purely white! Up close, it's astonishing.

The next site we visited was just outside of Agra, at Sikra: the tomb of Akbar the Great, a Mughal emperor who died in 1605. The color scheme of the inlaid stones was much more yellow.

The Khas Mahal, or "Baby Taj," also a tomb, which is thought to have inspired Shah Jahan to build his wife's tomb even bigger and better.

This ruler liked his wine, so his family made sure to include references in the designs.

Agras Red Fort

Late 1500s

Imagine colorful silk hanging in all the openings. The royal family spent hot days on the higher levels, and cooler days below.

The king's enormous bed. Of course they weren't giants. Just used ladders.

Jaipur

Entrance to the home of a craftsman.  The planned city was built to house hundreds of craftsmen and their families.

More ornate doorway down the same road, signifying a more important resident.

Amer Palace

Much of this stunning palace including painting on the walls rather than carvings. Frescoes, I think?

But this sparkling terrace, where the royal family slept, was breathtaking.

There were so many more beautifully detailed windows and arches and walls and ceilings in the places we visited, mostly those belonging to royalty, but even modern, mundane structures like highway dividers and concrete walls in India are often decorated with colorful artwork. The traditions continue.