Amber Fort Sheesh Mahal InteriorMirrors hold a special place in Indian architecture. Not only do they spell opulence but they also give an illusion of space – making rooms appear bigger, brighter and more ornate. This is why the erstwhile royals went bonkers with the use of mirrors in the chambers and halls of their not-so-humble palaces. Traditionally, use of mirrors in buildings is an Islamic practice and the first instance of mirror usage can be traced back to Iranian architecture, according to some studies. In fact, the Islamic principle of architecture lays emphasis on geometry, candles, mirrors and light. So if a candle is lit in a room full of mirrors, it would reflect all over the room making it dazzle in brightness. The mirror-candle analogy is a geometric metaphor to signify the importance of knowledge.

Indian architecture has drawn heavily from Islamic traditions, particularly because of the influence of the Mughals who ruled the country from 1526 to around 1857. These Central Asians, who are believed to have come from the area that is now Uzbekistan, brought in Mughal (or Indo-Muslim) architecture and constructed a number of monuments across northern India. With towering minarets, a central signature dome and an adherence to geometric design, these structures used marble, gold, mirrors, vegetable dye, among others and were of course examples of sheer opulence.

Take the Agra Fort, for instance. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, this fort is located close to the world-famous Taj Mahal (also built by Shah Jahan). Shish Mahal (mirror palace) is one of the highlights of this fort. Built to be used as a summer palace, it is known for its use of mirrors apparently imported from Syria. Its rather dark interiors called for some jazzing up, and the glass/mirror inlay did a great job of bringing in some much-needed light.

Amber Fort Sheesh Mahal InteriorTaking a cue from the Mughals, the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan also used a lot of mirror work in their forts and palaces. Perhaps one of the finest examples of Rajput-style mirror-work is the Sheesh Mahal in the famous Amer fort close to the state capital, Jaipur. It was constructed by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and is a blend of Mughal and Hindu architecture. The Sheesh Mahal here has thousands of mirrors inlayed in colourful floral paintings in the ceiling and the walls.

The Mehrangarh fort in Jodhpur, in Rajasthan, is one of the country’s largest forts. Located on a rocky hillock, the fort towers over the blue city offering panoramic views. Work on the fort was started by Rao Jodha, a Rajput ruler, believed to be the founder of Jodhpur in 1459. However, most of the work was done during the period of the Rajput king, Jaswant Singh (1638-1673). One of the central attractions of this fort again is the Sheesh Mahal or the palace of mirrors. It is based on the same principle as that of other Sheesh Mahals, except that the mirrors used here are larger in size and they are set against paintings of gods and Hindu religious figures.

So go ahead and brighten your room with some mirrors from Satara.

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"Amber Fort interior". Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amber_Fort_interior.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Amber_Fort_interior.jpg

"Amber Fort - Sheesh Mahal Interior" by Vssun - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amber_Fort_-_Sheesh_Mahal_Interior.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Amber_Fort_-_Sheesh_Mahal_Interior.jpg