Friday March 21st, Jaipur, India
Amber Fort
The highlight today was a visit to the Amber Fort. Dating back to the 16th century and sitting high on the hill overlooking the Maota Lake. Known for its artistic architectural style it has a blend of both Hindu and Rajput elements.
After a 1/2 hour wait in line we climbed on the back of a HUGE elephant. This time in a side-saddle seat. Compared to our ride in Thailand this one was rocky!
Elephant ride up the hill to the Amber Fort
You can click on any of the pictures below for a larger version to see more detail.
Archways in a row
Snake Charmers
The Chandra Mahal palace now houses a museum but the greatest part of it is still a royal residence. There was an extensive collection of weapons and clothing from the rulers. Photography was not allowed inside.
Jantar Mantar (Observatory of Maharaja Jaisingh)
“The Jantar Mantar is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Sawai Jai Singh who was a Rajput king. The observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars’ location as the earth orbits around the sun, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides. Each is a fixed and ‘focused’ tool. The Samrat Yantra, the largest instrument, is 90 feet (27 m) high, its shadow carefully plotted to tell the time of day.” ~ Wikipedia
We just happened to be there on the Spring Equinox. This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can click on the name above for more information.
The women are beautiful in their colored sarees. They were often the ones working, sweeping, cleaning the gardens or doing the harvesting.
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful for a good strong grip. It was needed to stay aboard our rocky elephant ride.
A Note From Abroad 