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Iconic Marvels Constructed by Indian Women
Women all over the world have created history in whatever field they have entered. In Indian history too they are equal contributors in the field of administration, art, culture, religion and architecture. The best known iconic marvels constructed by women in India are:
1. Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
Humayun’s eldest wife Bega Begam took initiative to build the tomb of her husband. In 1569, she employed Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect to build this wonderful monument. This red sandstone tomb is built amidst a square garden divided into four main parterres known as charbagh. At the center of this garden a shallow water-channel can be seen. There are two double-storied gateways on the west and south of the monument. The center of the western wall is occupied by a baradari (pavilion) and a hammam (bathroom) is found at the center of northern wall. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1993.
2. Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal
This monument is different from the Virupaksha Temple at Hampi. The Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal was built by Queen Loka mahadevi in 740 AD to commemorate her husband King Vikramaditya II’s victory over the Pallava rulers. A beautiful mixture of the north Indian Nagara style and the south Indian Dravida style of temple architecture, the magnificent temple is also called the Lokeshwara Temple.
3. Jama Masjid, Bhopal
The gold spikes crowning the squat minarets of the Jama Masjid Mosque, built in the 1830s by Qudsia Begum, glint serenely above the dome and veils swirling through the bazaar.
4. Itmad Ud Daula, Agra
Nur Jahan, her original name was Mehr-un-Nissa born on the 31st May 1577 was Empress consort of the Mughal Empire from 25 May 1611 to 28 October 1627 as the eighteenth and last wife of the fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir. Due to her power and position, she was able to construct Itimad-Ud-Daulah, a tomb in the memory of her parents at Agra. It is the first monument in India made up of pure white marble and adorned with precious and semi precious stones. Later, she also constructed the tomb of Jahangir at Lahore. She is also credited to have started the fashion of embroidery on clothes, lace work and invented rose perfume by distillation process. She also started embroidery schools for girls, so that they can support their families.
5. Rani Ka Vav, Patan
Rani-Ki-Vav step well in Patan as an exceptional example of utilizing ground water resources in a single component and water management system as it illustrates the exceptional capacity to break large built spaces into smaller volumes following ideal aesthetic proportions. Rani ki vav, or Ran-ki vav (Queen’s step well) was constructed during the rule of the Chaulukya dynasty. It is generally assumed that it was built in the memory of Bhima I (r. c. 1022–1064) by his widowed queen Udayamati and probably completed by Udayamati and Karna after his death. A reference to Udayamati building the monument is in Prabandha Chintamani, composed by the Jain monk Merunga Suri in 1304 AD
6. Khayr al-Manazil, Delhi
An imposing two-storied structure located directly opposite the Purana Qila, Khayr-al-Manazil mosque was built in 1561 by Maham Anga, a powerful wet nurse of Emperor Akbar. An influential woman of the court, she briefly ruled the Mughal empire during Akbar’s childhood. The mosque has five high arches that lead into the main prayer hall. The hall has beautiful inscriptions but the most impressive feature of the mosque is its massive red sandstone gateway.
7. Roshanara Bagh, Delhi
Roshanara Bagh is a Mughal-style garden built by Roshanara Begum, the second daughter of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is counted as one of the biggest gardens in Delhi with a huge variety of plants, some even imported from Japan. There is also a lake inside the gardens, which is flocked by migratory birds during cold season.
8. Mirjan Fort, Kumta
Located on a bank of the river Aganashini, Mirjan Fort is a lofty fort enclosed by a double layer of high walls and towering bastions. Queen Chennabhairadevi of Gersoppa established and lived in this mighty fort during the 16th century for about 54 years. Nicknamed ‘Raina de Pimenta’ or ‘The Pepper Queen’ by the Portuguese because she ruled over lands that grew the best pepper, she gave refuge to several artisans fleeing from wars in distant lands. In turn, they helped the queen build a strategically strong fort of her own.
9. Lal Darwaza Masjid, Jaunpur
Constructed in 1447 by Rajye Bibi, queen of Sultan Mahmood Sharqi of Jaunpur, the Lal Darwaza mosque is dedicated to Saint Sayyid Ali Dawood Kutubbudin. Built as almost a replica of the Atala Masjid, the Lal Darwaza mosque is smaller and gets its name from the imposing vermilion painted gate. The queen also founded the first school for girls in the region during her husband’s reign and a madrasa built by her, Jamia Hussainia, still stands.
10. Mohinishwara Shivalay Temple, Gulmarg
Constructed in 1915 by Maharani Mohini Bai Sisodia, wife of the then king of Kashmir, Raja Hari Singh, Mohinishwara Shivalay Temple stands proudly on a small hill, right in the middle of Gulmarg. Named in honor of the queen who built it, the Maharani Temple was the royal temple of the Dogra dynasty of Kashmir. With its bright red sloping roof framed against a background of snowy peaks, the picturesque temple is visible from almost every corner of Gulmarg town.
11. Mahim Causeway, Mumbai
The princely sum of Rs 1.67 million used to build the Mahim Causeway in 1843 was almost entirely provided by Lady Avabai Jamshedjee, the wife of famous Parsi businessman Jamshedjee Jejeebhoy. A tragedy, in which 20 boats capsized in the marshy swirling waters of the Mahim creek, compelled Avabai to commission the linking of Bandra Island with mainland Bombay through a causeway. The Mahim Causeway later became and still is an important lifeline of the city of Mumbai.
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