Chhatri are found particularly within
Mughal architecture. The most notable surviving examples today are to be found at
Humayun's Tomb in
Delhi and the
Taj Mahal in
Agra. The
Berar Sultanate in the
Deccan added chhatris on buildings in its various capitals.[3] Chhatri have also been used in
Rajasthan and other parts of the
Indian Subcontinent by both
Muslim and
Hindu rulers. They are primarily used to manipulate skylines, an important aspect of Rajasthani architecture.[2] For instance, they may be added to building roofs, and larger chhatri may be used as cenotaphs.[2] Its origins are, however,
Rajastani. While chhatri in
Shekhawati may consist of a simple structure of one dome raised by four pillars to a building containing many domes and a basement with several rooms. In some places, the interior of the chhatri is painted in the same manner as the haveli (mansions) of the region.
In Rajasthan
Many other chhatri exist in other parts of Rajasthan. Their locations include:
Jaipur – Gaitore Cenotaphs of the Maharajas of
Jaipur. Set in a narrow valley, the cenotaphs of the former rulers of Jaipur consist of the somewhat typical chhatri or umbrella-shaped memorials. Sawai
Jai Singh II's Chhatri is particularly noteworthy because of the carvings that have been used to embellish it.
Jodhpur –
Jaswant Thada, the white marble chhatri of Maharaja
Jaswant Singh II. The Panchkunda Ki Chhatriyan at
Mandore are a group of chhatri built on early cremation grounds of Marwar royal family.
Bharatpur- the cenotaphs of the members of the Jat royal family of Bharatpur, who perished whilst fighting against the British in 1825, are erected in the town of
Govardhan. The chhatri of
Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur has fine frescos illuminating the life of Surajmal, vividly depicting darbar and hunting scenes, royal processions and wars.
Udaipur- Flanked by a row of enormous stone elephants, the
Lake Pichola island has an impressive chhatri carved from gray blue stone, built by Maharana Jagat Singh.
Haldighati – A beautiful Chhatri with white marble columns, dedicated to
Rana Pratap, stands here.
Chetak Smarak, the cenotaph dedicated to
Chetak, Rana Pratap's famous horse, is also noteworthy.
Alwar – Moosi Maharani ki Chhatri is a beautiful red sandstone and white marble cenotaph of the rulers of Alwar.
Bundi – Suraj Chhatri and Mordi Ki Chhatri,
Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri, Bundi and Nath Ji ki Chhatri are located in Bundi. Rani Shyam Kumari wife of Raja Chhatrasal on the northern hill constructed the Suraj Chhatri and Mayuri the second wife of Chhatrasal on the southern hill erected Mordi Ki Chhatri.
Bikaner – Devi Kund near Bikaner is the royal crematorium place with a number of cenotaphs. The chhatri of Maharaja Surat Singh is most imposing. It has the spectacular
Rajput paintings on the ceilings.
Chhatri can also be found in the outskirts of
Bhuj city belonging mainly to
Jadeja rulers of Kutch. The chhatri of Rao Lakhpatji is very famous for its intricate designs & carvings. Most of them but have been destroyed in the
2001 Gujarat earthquake. The restoration work is going on.
Outside India
There are two notable chhatri in the
United Kingdom, a country with strong historical links to India. One is a
cenotaph in Brighton, dedicated to the Indian soldiers who died in the
First World War.
^
abcdJain, Kulbhushan (1998). "Spatial Organisation and Aesthetic Expression in the Traditional Architecture of Rajasthan". Paradigms of Indian Architecture (1st ed.). Routledge. p. 173.
ISBN9781315026923.