Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-08-04
ITISA CITY OF AMBER
A BEAUTIFUL BUT DESERTED PAL
ACE IN NORTHERN INDIA.

Long, Long Before Modern Times.
: The renowned and now deserted cit
s. of Amber, in northwestern India. flour
# ished with its countless thousands Of in
t habitants aud untold wealth and splen
Q dor in the time Of the Ptolemys.
9 1t is situated in mountain nook
= about five miles from the present city o
n Jeypoor. and is one of midas jewelet
: possessions for antiquarians.
: The great Amber palace is built o
5 solid red sandstone and variegated Jey
: poor marble and inlaid with costly gems
Q 1t has stood for centuries as it nov
. stands upon an elevated mountain slope
overlooking picturesque lake and sur
, rounded by steep and rugged fortified
, peaks, with the walled and long since
doomed and ruined city below.
! The palace is mastery structure OF
|, Hindoo architecture, solid and secure
yet ornamental and beautiful Entrance
Is gained through massive and strongly
fortified gate which leads intoa spacious
central court richly adorned with rare
carvings, mighty trees and Towering
shrubbery.
The grand diwan-i-am or audience hall
is reached from the spacious court by a
massive fight of carved marble steps.
This hall is noble example of Rai-ut-
art, with its double rows of shining mar
bic columns supporting massive entab-
lature, above which are latticed galleries
of marble worked in rare designs.
The ceiling is of sculptured freestone,
while the floor is made up of huge slabs
of polished marble.
1t was upon this floor that the ancien.
kings and mobiles of this once royal CITY
witnessed many gorgeous scenes of gayetv
and cruelty. Here they applauded the
royal tits and sports, and here they re.
viewed the many fierce conflicts between
men and beasts and between royal Ben
gal tigers and noble fighting elephants
in the grand courtyard below
1t was also upon this spacious floor
that the kings and queens of this ancient
realm gathered together at sunrise every
morning for many centuries to witnessthe
sacrifice of living human being on that
huge black, blood besmeared stone altar
In the small royal temple just over there
to the right of this marble hall.
Here they would sit on their gold
woven rugs and hear the dying means
and see and smell the smoke of these
sacrificed victims, in order to appease
las they devoutly believed and believe to
this day. the divine Shiva's wrath
II Is here that one may see every morn |
ing In the year an innocent goat burned |
alive as substitute for human being
rs an offering to heaven to appease the
destroyer's anger. How very like our
early biblical history.
From this hall, echoing with memo
rles both gay and sad, we wander
through spacious halls and galleries.
elaDorately carved apartments, up and
Town long rows of splendid stairs.
sculptured gateways covered
With mosaics and doors inlaid in ivory
ina precious stones, until we reach the
highest terrace in the palace.
Ihls was exclusively devoted to the
aJah personal apartments, contrary to
'ur modern rules of sanitary arrange.
nents, FOR now we place our servants in
he ARREST and best ventilated rooms and
einain ourselves in the lowest, dampest
no unhealthiest parts of our houses
These kingly apartments are beauti.
ully constructed with marble lattice
'inoows ana Favilions, gilt and carved {
eilings and spacious arched porticoes.
on our left is the joy mandir, or hall
victory, adorned by panels of alabas-
II lhlald with flowers in alto relieve :
M ceiling gllttering with mirrored and :
fahglcd work. for which Amber was .
my renowned, and for which .Jevnoor +
8 successor, is now justly celebrated. h
Opposite this grand hall of victory is v
10 sukh nawas, or hall of pleasure, with c.
y doors OF sweet scented sandalwood in g
ID with ivory and its gorgeous paint -
gs OF pleasures on earth and in heaven " "
llere are groves from which issne cnol Of
ear streams of pure mountain water
hich is perfumed and made TO RIM in M
rived channels the whole length of the tt
aroie hoor to cool the heated atmos. in
ere ana the gay occupants of this hall Ia
aoJolhlnS this beautiful hall are the ~
mptuous bathing apartments and tbe VI VI
Up, cool pleasure caverns. surrounded f.
FERNS and rare flowers. where tha fe
1gs and queens of this ancient castle co
ue eehance to old Soils burning rays liy
ring lndia's hottest DAYS. ial
dere they whiled away their bannv pl'
rs amid love and pleasure in an atmos. ge
ere rendered sweet by the aroma Of
IVY incense, listening to the strains of
liah music, gazing now and then nm. no
'he beautiful girls as they performed 65
'can'y att're-as they do to this day cul
famous uautch dance of India by
'ext to these pleasure halls and groves fac
Tue spacious apartments once occr. sho
ny the harem-an Indispensable ad. WEI
ct to all eastern palaces. pm
was here that the mighty mabar.. hIa'
; icy singh, IN the early part of tbe I,
iteenth century ruled snnrema j., ana
Jeweied spot on earth among his Wa
ureds OF carefully chosen wives like wer
6 David of old Amy ing
rom every hall and terrace from e,, oret
arched pavilion and cavern latticed LA
dow OF TINS wonderful old palace we pU T,
S!ihtses OF this picturesque spot tbis mar,
orlc city, surrounded as it is bv oh and
nature and art can do to nab :. and
ltiful. AiaAe IL md
:. 'o'e" III that clear. blue lake ba- incl
ouo sees the ancient gilded domes corn
shrlnes OF many costly temples sma
. are the noble trees planted so t t
centuries ago 'o oers
'H .I are the strong old city walls
tneir frowning towers and ram III
;, lhelr massive gates and sn1orJ:, be p