M&M Smith: DAY 11 : INDIA : Jaipur

Saturday 16 March 2013

DAY 11 : INDIA : Jaipur

Weather : hot, hazy, 30+

Sunrise over Jaipur

Our hotel, unexpected haven in a busy street in the new part of Jaipur

Our first stop today was Amer. It was the original capital of the Kachhwahas for 6 centuries.

In the 16th century this fort was built. It is lavishly ornamented. The Maharaja was on very good terms with the Moghul ruler of the time, Akbar, who was based in Agra. Akbar married one of the Maharaja's daughters and made him one of his generals. Thus, ensuring

financial benefits of the battles and continued support. This set Jaipur at odds with the rest of the Rajasthani kingdoms, who believed the Maharaja had sold his soul to the the Moghuls. Jaipur maharajas also supported the British and benefited from this alliance. It is the wealthiest state and is the capital of Rajasthan.

We joined the lines of tourists to have an elephant ride to the top of Amer Fort. A perfect opportunity for hawkers of every description to plague tourists - they were like a swarm of bees drawn to a honey pot. Persistent, persistent. I really need a lesson in bargaining...

All the courtyards are massive in proportion to others we've seen.

The main gate is a beautiful mix of Hindu and Muslim architecture and design.

Sheesh Mahal is considered by many as the best chamber of mirrors.

Belgium glass. In winter, large carpets were hung to keep this area warm

and lamps lit to reflect the glass.

Beautiful gardens, turkish baths, separate areas of the Maharaja's wives and concubines.

In 1727 Sawai Jai Singh 11 moved the capital to Jaipur as Amer lacked water for a growing population. It was a planned city. In 1876 it became known as the Pink City as the Maharaja celebrated the coming of Prince Albert by painting all of the city pink.

The Maharaja's palace was the only building that was coloured pink in the old city to immediately distinguish it. The current maharaja is 14 - he is the grandson of the previous maharaja, adopted by him as his heir as he did not produce a son.

One of the peacock gates into women's quarters in the city palace.

We visited a local cooperative that produces block-printed fabric.

We saw how local families make carpets.

Unique designs, knotting, trimming, burning (to guarantee they are not synthetic) and washing.

Jantar Mantar is an observatory near the City Palace. It was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. Each instrument measures the time by the movement of the sun.