LOTUS FLOWER

This design was inspired by The Lotus Gate, which sits to the Southern side of the courtyard within the City Palace complex in Jaipur. There are four gates, adorned with themes that represent the four seasons and Hindu Gods. The Lotus Gate, dedicated to Lord Shiva-Parvati, represented the summer and the incredible painted patterns within the archway around the central wooden doors feature a continuous fanned flower tessellation and Lotus flowers in full bloom are featured on the facade.

The Lotus Gate alone features a huge amount of wonderful surface pattern and therefore design inspiration, but it is the Peacock Gate, which sits to the Northern side of the courtyard and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the winter season, which is the most ornately decorated. If you ever get a chance to visit Jaipur, you must make sure you go to the Palace and seek out the gates, or, if you're not likely to visit India, you can always search online.
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The design is relatively easy to crochet and the motifs are joined as you go along. The pattern includes lots of step by step images, charts and diagrams to help if you haven't used a 'join as you go' technique before.