Lotus Blossom V

Mughal Miniature of a Jauhar in Rajasthan. Click to enlarge.

The hilltop lay swathed in curling black tendrils of smoke.

The bodies of Rajput men lined the eastern path leading up to the greatest of all Rajput forts.

Allauddin Khalji, the sultan of Hindustan, stepped over the last one to enter the Gate of the Sun.

The smell of burning flesh assailed the nostrils. He took an involuntary step backwards.

Disgust.

It was written all over his face.

Then he noticed the silence. There was not even the whimper of a child.

'Let the temples and the blasphemous art and architecture be destroyed.'

The vandals set to work.

Of the little that was left was a palace attributed to Queen Padmini.