India: The Golden Triangle and Beyond - 5/6 Jaipur

Jaipur

After a late breakfast it was off to the pink city of Jaipur and a stay at the wonderful Dera Rawastar – luxury. There was an option of a Bollywood blockbuster but we were sore in need of a rest.

Another day, another guide starting in the old city then off to the Howa Mahal, Jaipur's most distinctive landmark, an extraordinary pink-painted delicately honeycombed hive that rises a dizzying five storeys. It was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh to enable ladies of the royal household to watch the life and processions of the city.

Some entered the Amer Fort on elephant, some chickened out and rode the car up the very steep and winding road to the top of the massive hill fort. It is known for its blend of Rajput and Hindu style of architecture and mixture of Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. There are a series of gates in the fort and each one has a unique structure and architectural elements.

Some smaller local temples on the way have a Mayan look. Learned later that the Mayan architectural influence was brought over by the early Buddhists.

Parking next by the Golden Fort (not open to the public) opposite was a camel station that had to be tried out.

 


Back via the Jantar - Mantar Observatory

Jantar mantar in Delhi is one of the five observatories built in 1724 by the Maharaja of Jaipur - Sawai Jai Singh II for the pursuit of scientific knowledge. The Jantar Mantar was built to trace the astronomical phenomena and to ascertain scientific data.

The sun dial is a huge structure in yellow with a 27m long arm placed at an angle of 27 degrees. The sun dial calculates the time of a day accurately. There are two pillars that record the longest and shortest day in the year. This instrument is known as the ‘Mishra Yantra' the other instruments are used to trace astronomical phenomena from other planets and stars.

As the Golden Triangle Tour drew to a close it was time for the long haul back up to Dehli for the plane to Mumbai where we had booked a hotel for a couple of days before we made our respective ways home. Where did the time go ?? So many thanks to Anand our driver and Gopal who organised the tour – thoroughly recommend both if your ever heading that way.