The Royal Park of Mandore, a photo from Rajasthan, West

Photographer's Note

This maybe the first picture in TE of Mandore Gardens & I’m really surprised!

Located at a distance of 9 kilometers from the main Jodhpur city, that was the capital of the mighty state of Marwar in Rajasthan, India, Mandore is famous for its exotic lawns and royal chattris. It was once the capital of the valiant Rathores before Rao Jodha moved the capital to Jodhpur in the 15th century, and by the 17th century Mandore had become a royal park which was dedicated to funerary memorials (cenotaphs) of the Jodhpur rulers.

In particular, the "temples" of Mandore, as they are called, including those seen in this picture, are not temples per se. Rather, they are highly elaborated cenotaphs in temple form. They are Hindu and date from the 8th and 18th centuries.

The oldest cenotaph dates back to the 8th century and the grandest cenotaph belongs to Maharaja Ajit Singh.
In this photo, to the left is Ajit Singh’s cenotaph which was built circa 1724. This cenotaph in particular is a magnificent monument built as it is with close-grained freestone. On the right, equally large, is the cenotaph of Jaswant Singh which was built around two score years earlier in 1681.

The architectural brilliance and aesthetic dignity of the royal cenotaphs of Madore is worth exploring. I'm not sure whether there's a lens distrortion (don't go by the lamppost, it might very well be bent like the one across the road)...but I'm trying to pre-empt this issue, by posting a Workshop :-)

feather, Gerrit, indoka28, jusninasirun, Scharan, emjleclercq, testmaniac, Graal, kiwi_explorer, danos, papagolf21, pierrefonds, ramesh_lalwani, sayanwithsenice, pablominto, riclopes, Budapestman, maloutim heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

feather (51130) 2008-07-08 6:40

You may well be right about the distortion, although I wouldn't have noticed from the cenotaphs. When I compare the two, the cenotaphs in the WS look better. You have used the perspective of the road well to lead the eye into the scene. The bright patches of flowers are very eye catching and add a lovely splaash of colour. Town planners don't take any account of aesthetics and photographers when putting in the lampposts as they do spoil the image somewhat, but that is not your fault. Well done
Kath

Gerrit (62042) 2008-07-08 8:59

Hi Angshu,
good view over this temple with the beautiful flowers along the road,
Regards, Gerrit

indoka28 (5261) 2008-07-08 11:59

hmm angshu,

wonderful shot with the eye leading thru the two temples..!!this is basically a very simple shot but your composition has made all the difference..wonderful perspective..!!!!

Regards
Indro

toto (0) 2008-07-08 15:35

Bonsoir,
belle photo de cette rue qui mène notre regard vers ces temples très jolis de part et d'v autre de la route.
Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
PS: le poteau de gauche a eu un petit accident.

Amitiés Thomas

jusninasirun (17529) 2008-07-08 17:39

Hello Angshu. Your country is so rich with interesting architecture and you have shared them beautifully here in TE. I like this well exposed image with good perspective against the spotless sky. Thanks for sharing and best regards. Jusni

Scharan (14144) 2008-07-08 17:56

Olá Angshu

Úma foto repleta de detalhes que realçam a beleza do cenário. Bonito enquadramento, cores maravilhosas e ótima luz.
Parabéns!
GA
Vera

carper (96) 2008-07-08 22:33

a fine one angshu,
good use of the road, the lines are nice and there is a lot to seen in the shot, good photojob here, I like it, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

emjleclercq (15778) 2008-07-08 23:12

There are good things in this picture, and other I find less interesting. For the good things, the two temples and the rich and colorful vegetation. For the less good, the sides of the road with the black and white paintings, and the street lights and pylons.

All the best,

Emmanuel

testmaniac (13508) 2008-07-08 23:36

Hi Angshu, great street photo with this wonderful architecture.
Only the nice clouds is missing:)
TFS and regards,
Phil

Graal (103040) 2008-07-09 0:01

Hi Angshuman,
an interesting place, fine if it first on TE. Very nice flowers by road, good note and well quality of photos (correction in WS is OK.).
Gr., Aleksander

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2008-07-09 1:10

Hi Angshuman,
Well composed ... you've positioned the road perfectly creating a nice lead-in line. Those temples are spectacular ... all that history ... very interesting. Inclusion of people gave some scale of dimension to the scene. Well composed with very good image quality. Well done! tfs
Cheers,

ps --- my last posting was still using my old camera. I just got hold of an old cheap Canon 10D yesterday ... I'll put it to use this weekend.

danos (110407) 2008-07-09 1:26

Hello Angshuman,
very nice this view of the Mandore Garden,with these two impressive cenotaphs left and right of the road.I like the tress and the colorful flowers as the road that create depth in the scene.The people add life in it.The colors and the brilliant light are great.Well done.

Have a nice day,Danos

pierrefonds (114584) 2008-07-09 4:29

Hi Angshuman,

The diagonal line of the street is an asset to the composition and giving depth to the photo. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the architecture of the cenotaphs. The cenotaph on the left is nicely frame by the trees. The quality of the light brings out the best of the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

pablominto (53746) 2008-07-10 0:11

Hello Angshu,

A good lead-in to the park, effectively framed by the two typical towers!
The fine light renders great colours in vegetation as well as architecture, and the well balanced composition has a fine feeling of depth...

Greetings,
Pablo -

papagolf21 (152607) 2008-07-10 0:39

Bonjour, cher Angshu,
Je ne sais plus quoi écrire tant les images présentées sont belles et apprennent beaucoup sur le pays.
Alors, je me contente (et c'est déjà beaucoup) de contempler, d'admirer, de détailler ces lieux magiques.
Un grand merci, une fois de plus.
Amitiés.
Philippe

riclopes (35577) 2008-07-10 1:57

Olá Angshu, there's so much to see in India...I didn't know about this place 30km from Jodhpur. Lovely perspective leading us to the two cenotaphs. Beautiful gardening at left with the architecture emerging from behind. I like the stripes of the sidewalk giving a rhythm effect, but it's a pitty the lampposts. The one on the right seems like a methalic palmtree and I wonder if including it all on top, would make it better - problably not. Yes, I would agree that the the perspective is well corrected in WS :) Well done for introducing a new place in TE ;-)
Best regards,
ricardo

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-07-10 6:33

Ola Angshuman ,
Que lindo parque tem uma natureza muito rica em vegetação colorida , os templos ao fundo tem uma bela arquitectura , gostei da estrada a levar o nosso olhar até eles , parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Budapestman (82620) 2008-07-11 8:56

Dear Angshu,
It's a beautiful shot with spectacular composition and perspective. The two temples in the background are wonderful and the environment is very attractive. Splendid shot, Very well done! Have a nice weekend
George