The first thing I noticed on arriving in Jaipur was the difference in the way the women dressed. The saris were wrapped differently, usually with the loose part draped over the head, maybe to protect from the sun's intensity. And the colors! Brilliant oranges, yellows, reds, purples - like desert flowers.
Then we saw the camels. Camels are used as beasts of burden, pulling carts with produce, merchandise, and loads of fabrics; I did not see them used to carry people. Elephants on the other hand are a huge tourist attraction.
There is even a park called Elephantastic where tourists can spend four hours feeding, grooming and bathing with the beasts, if they are so daring. We took a pass on that since our time was so limited and the prospect of immersing ourselves in dung-filled water not so appetizing. A ride on an elephant up to the Amber (or Amer) Fort was too much of a temptation, so we found ourselves swaying on an elephant's back and seeing the best views of the rocky hillside, the smooth, steep walls of the fort, and the king's gardens nestling in the lake below.
Jaipur was ruled by the Rajput kings, who held out for the longest time against the Mughals. Rajputs have traditional been warriors, and many of them are from the kshatriya or warrior caste, but there are many other castes to which Rajputs belong as well. The men are characterized by their many-colored turbans.
The Raja's Garden
Elephants climbing to the fort
The fort was built by Raja Man Singh who was a trusted general under the Mughal Emperor Akbar, in the late 16th Century.
These pictures show various details from the
Amber Fort of Jaipur.
Columns inside the Diwan-i-am, or royal reception hall
Detail of stone inlay from the fort's facade.
The facade of the palace inisde the Amber Fort.
Ceiling detail from inside the portico of the palace.
Wall carving detail
Fort symmetry
Mirror-inlaid wall detail
Ceiling detail
Bougainvillea framing the Lake Palace of Jaipur
Donkeys in the middle of the road
Jaipur street
Even the place where we stayed had historical significance, as it was the Raja's hunting lodge under the British. It is still owned by an in-law of the royal family.
Details from the Royal Heritage Haveli, where we stayed.
The first thing I noticed on arriving in Jaipur was the difference in the way the women dressed. The saris were wrapped differently, usually with the loose part draped over the head, maybe to protect from the sun's intensity. And the colors! Brilliant oranges, yellows, reds, purples - like desert flowers.
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