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Riding a cycle rickshaw
towards the gates of the Pink City, the heart of old Jaipur.
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One of the gates into the
city. |
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Cart vendor outside the
gate. Note the distinctive pink walls, painted that color in the 1800s
to honor the visit of the Prince of Wales. |
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The old city is crowded with
cyclists and shoppers. |
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Flower vendors on the way to
the palace. |
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A grand gate leads into the
City Palace -- pink, of course! |
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One of the main courtyards
of the palace. |
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The hall of private
audience, or the Diwan-I-Khas. Note the vessel to the right - the
largest silver vessel in the world, used to store Ganges water for
Maharaja Madho Singh II on a trip to England. |
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A musician inside the
palace. |
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The muscian's son.
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The peacock gate, the most
famous portal in Rajasthan. |
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A palace guard in
traditional turban. |
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A stone elephane guards one
of the palace buildings. |
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The Palace of the Winds -- a
giant facade on the outer wall of the palace, created by the maharaja to
allow the ladies of the harem to discreetly watch the goings-on in the
busy city below. |
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Even today, the Palace of
the Winds stands guard over a major thoroughfare. |
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The Jantar Mantar astronomy
park. A sophisticated collection of early 18th century structures
designed to measure the movements of the stars, sun and planets.
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Each instrument, designed by
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh himself, has a specific astronomical task,
though they look like whimsical modern architecture. |
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A view of the park from atop
one of the tallest instruments. |
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Another view of the park,
with the palace in the background. |
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The Jantar Mantar astronomy
park.
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A group of siblings visit
the park with their parents. |
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Pleasure of posing. |
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The cenotaphs of the Jaipur
maharajas. |
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They were built to
commemorate the cremation ceremonial place for each raja. |
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Many of the cenotaphs, or
chattris, remain in wonderful condition. |
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An abandoned lake palace on
the road to Amber. |
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Tourist posing
outside the lake palace. |
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A view of the modern town of
Amber, with its many temples. |
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Tourist
posing outside the Amber Fort. |
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Closeup of the fort, built
by the Kachchawaha dynasty at the end of the 16th century.
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A view of the fort's main
courtyard from above. |
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The inner courtyard, leading
to the women's apartments, or zenana. |
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The ornate passageways of
the fort. |
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Young tourists at the fort.
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A mahout poses with his
elephant, waiting for eager tourists willing to pay for a ride.
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It's a quiet day for the
mahouts. |
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Even the elephants get a
little bored. |
