Jaipur

Jaipur was our last stop on a very rushed trip around the Golden Triangle in Northern India.The journey there was as mad as any driving in India, surrounded by lorries continually beeping their horns whilst performing death defying manouvres.

Lorries on the way to jaipur
Lorries on the way to jaipur

And once there, we suffered the usual detours into shops and factories designed to part us from our cash.

Traffic, Jaipur
Traffic, Jaipur
Shops, streetside jaipur
Shops, streetside jaipur
Carpet Cutter, Jaipur
Carpet Cutter, Jaipur
Carpet making Jaipur
Carpet making Jaipur
Spinning Wool, Jaipur
Spinning Wool, Jaipur

But there was considerable beauty to be found in the sites around town, the observatory, the very many palaces, and ofcourse the Amber Fort just outside town.

Palace of the Winds, Jaipur
Palace of the Winds, Jaipur
Lake Palace Jaipur
Lake Palace Jaipur

There were two ways up, by jeep or by elephant. Which would you have chosen?

Amber Fort, nr Jaipur
Amber Fort, nr Jaipur
Elephants Amber Fort
Elephants Amber Fort

Having decided on the jeep, and our guide pocketing the considerable cost of an elephant ride, their father then spent the next hour or so gawping at the elephants on their way in and out of the fort in fascination. It’s the one time he’s made any kind of fuss about pictures, insisting on photo after photo of coloured elephant butt.

Elephant Entrance, Amber Fort
Elephant Entrance, Amber Fort
View from Amber Fort
View from Amber Fort

The views from the top were spectacular, and we found a beautiful Hindu temple that allowed visitors inside but mainly the interest was in the beautifully decorated interior, faded but still lovely.

Hindu temple, Amber Fort
Hindu temple, Amber Fort
detail, Amber Fort
detail, Amber Fort

There were two main receiving or audience halls, one just inside the gates and the next in a lovely Islamic style garden.

Audience Hall, Amber Fort
Audience Hall, Amber Fort
Detail, Amber Fort
Detail, Amber Fort
Doorway, Amber Fort
Doorway, Amber Fort
Ganesh detail, Amber Fort
Ganesh detail, Amber Fort

The Mirror hall was the most beautiful but also the most crowded.

Mirror Audience hall, Amber Fort
Mirror Audience hall, Amber Fort
Hall of Mirrors Amber Fort
Hall of Mirrors Amber Fort

Away from the audience halls, most people seemed to disappear so we ended up walking the walls and peering through windows.

Window Detail, Amber Fort
Window Detail, Amber Fort
Window Detail Amber Fort
Window Detail Amber Fort

The balconies were also lovely as we moved from one suite of rooms to another, the decorative style moving from Hindu to Mulsim influenced.

Balconies, Amber Fort
Balconies, Amber Fort
Doorway Detail, Amber Fort
Doorway Detail, Amber Fort

And then back to elephants…

Elephants Amber Fort
Elephants Amber Fort