Jaipur isn’t one of the most visited cities in India without reason. Within its City Palace is the Pritam Niwas Chowk, a courtyard with four gates known as Ridhi Sidhi Pol (‘pol’ means gate).
With exquisite carving and inlay work, each gate is coloured and detailed differently based on themes that represent four Indian seasons and Hindu gods.
The Rose Gate has repeated patterns of flowers representing winter and is dedicated to Goddess Devi. The Peacock Gate (with motifs of peacocks on the doorway) in the North-East direction represents autumn and is dedicated Lord Vishnu. To the North-West is a green gate suggesting spring and dedicated to Lord Ganesha – it’s called the Leheriya Gate. The Lotus Gate to the South-West completes the set. It has running floral designs to indicate summer and is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati.