| December
19th Log |
Dec 19th Pics |
| My driver, Mr. Singh arrived at 8
AM and we headed to Jaipur. The drive was nice. I saw a lot of
countryside. Along the way, we stopped for a break. New rule:
carry toilet paper in your pockets, not your backpack. No toilet
paper in the stall, so I had to drip dry for a while, before I
got some paper.
I met my guide today at Amber Fort. It's amazing. To get up
to the fort, I got to ride an elephant. Man, those things are
uncomfortable. Lots of detail and interesting architecture once
we got to the top. The place will design so it cool in summer
and warm in the winter.
From Eyewitness Travel Guides India
The fort palace of Amber was the Kachhawaha citadel until
1727, when their capital moved to Jaipur. Successive rulers
continued to come here on important occasions to seek the
blessings of the family deity, Shila Devi. The citadel was
established in 1592 by Man Singh I on the remains of an old
11th-century fort, but the various buildings added Jai Sighn I
(r.1621-67) are what constitute is magnificent centerpiece.
Amber Fort |
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| Next, we made a quick stop at the
Water Palace. Very interesting. From Eyewitness Travel Guides
India
During the monsoon, water fills the Man Sagar lake, and the
Jal Mahal ("Water Palace") seems to rise from it like a mirage.
Built in the mid-18th century by Madho Singh I, it is inspired
by the Lake Palace at Udaipur, where the king spent his
childhood. It was later used for royal duck-shooting parties,
and a variety of water birds are still seen here. The terraced
garden, enclosed by arched passages, has an elegant
semi-octagonal tower capped by a cupola in each corner.
Water Palace |
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| I ate lunch at a local place, that
had only tourist. Pretty good food. I had chicken tikka. Then, I
got to see a fabric shop and a carpet making place.
Our next stop is the Jantar Mantar. It is an astronomy
observatory built around 1728. Many things were quite advanced
for it's time
From Eyewitness Travel Guides India
Of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II, the
one in Jaipur is the largest and best preserved; the others are
in Delhi, Mathura and Varanasi. A keen astronomer himself, Jai
Singh kept abreast of the latest astronomical studies in the
world, and was most inspired by the work of Mirza Ulugh. Beg,
the astronomer-king of Samarkand. Built between 1728 and 1734,
the observatory has been described as "the most realistic and
logical landscape in stone", its 16 instruments resembling a
giant sculptural composition. Some of the instruments are still
used to forecast how hot the summer months will be, the expected
date of arrival, duration and intensity of the monsoon, and the
possibility of floods and famine.
Jantar
Mantar |
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| Then, onto the City Palace Museum.
One of the interesting things here the 2 largest silver objects
in the world. They are 2 large urns that carried Indian water
for a King when he went to Britain. The pink facades were pretty
cool. From Eyewitness Travel Guides India
Occupying the heart of Jai Signh II's city, the City Palace
has been home to the rulers of Jaipur since the first half of
the 18th century. The sprawling complex is superb blend of
Rajput and Mughal architecture, with open, airy Mughal-style
public buildings leading to private apartments. Today, part of
the complex is open to the public as the Maharaja Sawai Man
Singh Museum. Its treasures, which include miniature
paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, musical instruments,
royal costumes and weaponry, provide a splendid introduction
to Jaipur's princely past, and its fascinating arts and
crafts.
City Palace Museum and Pink
City |
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| Another good day! |
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