part 8 of ...
JAIPUR
Hawa Mahal
("palace of wind")
Contrary to it's name, it is more of a wall than a palace. Back then, women were not allowed in public, so this wall was a place for them to stand behind and watch the happenings of the city. Built in 1799.
Us rebels - standing in FRONT of the wall! :)
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Jantar-Manar
("instrument and formula")
("instrument and formula")
An ancient observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh-II in 1724.
The time at this exact location is 9:23am.
A different type of sundial - you have to be closer to see the detail.
This tells where the sun is in the sky, relative to the heavenly bodies.
A close up: you look for the small rectangular shadow - it moves with the sun.
My shadow is pointing to the rectangular shadow. (Yes, that wierd shadow is me!)
cool plaque
An astronomical sundial! ;)
12 significantly smaller sundials
There was a sundial for each zodiac sign.
(pictured: aries and cancer, respectively)
more sundials!
outside - inside
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City Palace
Still used as a royal residence, though parts are open for tourists, and also houses a royal museum.
Still used as a royal residence, though parts are open for tourists, and also houses a royal museum.
What an ornate entrance! It looks like it's made of lace.
a closer look
elephant guards
A close up: look at the glorious beard!
I see monkeys!
Gangajelies - Ganga water holding urns
There are two of these huge sterling silver urns, which can hold up to 4000 liters of water. They are in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest sterling silver vessels!
They were made under the orders of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, who took Ganga water to drink during his trip to England in 1901 (to attend Edward VII's coronation). He was a pious Hindu, and did not want to commit any religious sins by drinking English water.
Let's go check out the dance hall!
Peacock Gate: Autumn
There were four entrances (Ridhi Sidhi Pol) to the dance hall, all symbols of a season.
(~the sun will come out~)
Lotus Gate: Summer
Rose Gate: Winter
Green Gate (Leheriya Gate = waves): Spring
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Amber Fort
It was the capital of the Kachhwaha clan, until the capital of Rajasthan was moved to Jaipur. It is bigger than a fort, it's more like a city! Buit by Raja Man Singh I, beginning in 1592.
Our friendly driver, who drove us for our entire North India trip in a Tata, is on the left. Behind us is Amber Fort.
We saw elephants along the way.
Amber fort through a star.
Musically inclined little people.
Ya have to walk up the to the fort with some 'tude.
Amber fort is on a mountaintop,
and surrounded by a great, long wall.
gorgeous windows
There were two stained glass windows!
Trying to jump out of a window?!
The monkeys are watching.
More symmetrical gardens.
Gardens on a lake. Different types of herbs are planted here.
In an arch. Look, we're all the same height!
A room decorated with little bits of mirror to reflect sunlight. A very grand room indeed.
a closer look at the designs
Our guide said some really interesting about this marble carving, about how it symbolized so much more than what you see at first glance....
Haven't seen paintings like these before! They were always geometric shapes. This was new. These paintings are on the outside of the numerous interlinked rooms where all of the women lived. If I remember correctly, they made their paints out of vegetable dye - it never fades!
Hello and goodbye, Amber Fort!
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Next up, shopping!
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