RAISEN FORT(Badal mhal and motiya talab)

1. A PLACE WHERE
HISTORY,
RELIGIOUS AND
NATURE MEET

3. RAISEN DISTRICT LIES IN THE CENTRAL PART
OF MADHYA PRADESH. THE DISTRICT IS
SITUATED BETWEEN THE LATITUDE 22 47'
AND 23 33' NORTH AND THE LONGITUDE 7721'
AND 78 49' EAST. IT IS BOUNDED IN THE WEST
BY SEHORE DISTRICT, IN THE NORTH BY
VIDISHA DISTRICT, IN THE EASE AND SOUTH-
EAST BY SAGAR DISTRICT, IN THE SOUTH-
EAST BY NARSIMHAPUR DISTRICT, AND IN
THE SOUTH BY HOSHANGABAD AND SEHORE
DISTRICT. THE TOTAL AREA OF THE DISTRICT
IS 8,395 SQ. KM., WHICH CONTAINS THE 1.93
% OF THE STATE'S AREA.

4. Raisen is 46 kms from Bhopal, and is known for
the Raisen fort and the Durgah of Raisen.
Raisen fort is situated on the top of a hill with
a few temples, palaces, a large water
reservoir and numerous wells inside Raisen
fort. The fort is about 800 years old. It is built
on a hill and occupies the entire hilltop. There
is a temple and mosque in the same complex
of Raisen fort. Raisen fort had many domes
inside, however, only two of them are left
which are now abode of Bats.

5. IT CONSTRUCTED IN THE 12TH CENTURY
RAISEN FORT WAS UNDER THE
CONTROL OF HINDU RULERS INCLUDING
RAJPUTS TILL 16TH CENTURY. IN 1543,
THE FORT WAS CAPTURED BY SHER
SHAH SURI AND LATER BY NAWAB OF
BHOPAL IN 1760. RAISEN FORT WAS
THEN UNDER THE CONTROL OF
PRINCELY STATE OF BHOPAL TILL INDIAN
INDEPENDENCE (1747).

6. MOTIYA TALAB

7.  It is named badal mahal though there is no mahal or
place with which it may have been connected. The
gateway is a double arched entrance with circulaar
and tapering bastion at sides, the total height of the
structure being about 50 feet. Architecturally it is quite
an imposing and interesting structure against the
background of hill-fort.

17.  Badal Mahal is located on the
banks of the Gaib Sagar Lake and
is known for it's amazing and
artistic designs, a perfect
combination of Mughal and Rajput
architectural style. The palace
was constructed by using Dawra
Stones. The monument is
constructed in two different
stages. On one stage, Maharawal
Gopinath built its verandah and
ground floor whereas in second
stage construction is done by
Maharawal Punjraj (1609-1657
AD) where he made first floor,
dome and veranda in ground floor
with some renovation.

18. Rana Kumbha who found the fort of
Kumbhalgarh got it constructed in
the 15th Century. A thick wall that is
36Kms long surrounds this
remarkable fortThe fort is about
1100m high from the sea level and
offers a marvelous view of the
surrounding area. 13 mountain
peaks surround the fort of Kumbhalgarh, 7 huge gates guard
the fort and immense watchtowers further strengthen it. The
Badal Mahal Palace is right at the top of the fort. The palace
has beautiful rooms and is painted in the colours of green,
white and turquoise, thus providing an interesting contrast to
the raw and grim fortress. Kumbhalgarh is also the place
where the great warrior of Mewar, the legendary Maharana
Pratap was born.

19.  A jharokha is a type
of overhanging enclosed balcon
y used in Architecture of
Rajasthan . Jharokhas jutting
forward from the wall plane
could be used both for adding to
the architectural beauty of the
building itself or for a specific
purpose. One of the
most important functions it served was to allow
women to see the events outside without being
seen themselves. Alternatively, these windows
could also be used to position archers and spies.

23. This place has good water management
and conservation systems with the large
water reservoir that has around 40 wells.
One of them is motiya talab may be known
as moti kund or moti talab in past.

28.  Moti Talab, or lake of pearls, near the French Rocks, is
formed by the embankmant carried across a gap between
two hills which stems the water of the Yadava River. The
bund is 78 cubits high, 150 long, and 250 broad at the
base, and is said to have been built by Ramanujacharya,
the Srivaishnava reformer of the 12th century. The tank
was breached by Tipu Sultan in 1798 to prevent its being
of use to the enemy, but was restored by the British and is
maintained in good order." This note comes from the
album. 'Souvenir of Mysore'.

29.  Chhatris are elevated,
dome-shaped pavilions
used as an element in
Indian architecture. The
word Chhatri means
"canopy" or "umbrella."
In the context of
architecture, the word is
used to refer to two
different things.