More Pictures Inside the Amber Fort

Inside the Amber Fort

No Idea Why This Sculpture Is Here

Looking Closely At the Above Sculpture

Stunning In All Her Finery

Looking After the Palace Garden

Palace Gardens

Amber Palace Artistry

More Artwork

Hans and Dinesh Seeking Shade

Everywhere You Look, More Beauty

Latrines Only Used By Royalty. Hate To Think What
Everyone Else Used

The Mirror Palace In the Amber Fort

Tiny Mirrored Pieces Reflect the Light

Whole Walls With the Mirrored Tiles

Looking Into the Mirrored Palace

Artwork Using Tiny Mirrored Pieces

More Artwork

Jaipur

The Great Wall of Rajasthan

The Amber Fort

The Amber Palace

We traveled to a small town a bit (10 km) outside of Jaipur by the name of Amer. A large Fort was built here about 1000 AD that later on was leveled and then rebuilt and expanded until it was even more enlarged about 1700 and became the capital of the Rajput in Rajasthan. 

Inside the Amber Fort

A Great Wall of China kind of wall surrounded and protected this Fort and could even be seen from a distance of 3 km away. This wall, like in China sits on the peaks of the surrounding hills, part of the Aravalli range. These walls would have been the first hurdle to conquer if you chose to attack. Those walls fortify the Fort inside of which is a Palace. Built with 4 distinct levels in a grand style, the Palace housed the families of the Rajput Maharajas. Each level of the Palace had its purpose, from reception areas for the masses, to the next level being a meeting level for private audiences, to living spaces in winter and summer.

Beautifully Carved Struts on the Pavilion

Open, Breezy Pavilion

Walking up each level inside the fort, we experienced a more luxurious display than the previous level. The topmost area was sumptuous. Concave mirrors in the walls and ceilings

Amazing Art Work On Every Surface

would reflect night lights and enhance candle or ghee lights. Terraces could be converted to cozy rooms in winter, illuminated by ghee (butter) lights, by hanging heavy woolen carpets, to block the air or view. Pillows on the floors, lots of Ghee lamps, music and you would have a romantic setting that is also very exotic. Those Rajput knew how to spend their time, knew what splendor was.

 A lake, Lake Maota, supplied drinking water and its cooling effect was used in summer, when temperatures can reach 130F (50C). This is desert living, cold

Part of Lake Maota

nights, cold winters; hot days, cool nights in summer. Part of the lake was man made, lots of digging by the not so fortunate.

Jaigar Fort Is Behind Us

Many today call this the Amber Fort, but the town near it is the town of Amer.

Above the Fort, at the top of the mountain, connected by underground passageways, is a true Fort (Jaigar Fort). A safety backup for the palace and an even more safe and secure place, should anybody ever try to attack. The set up was so successful that nobody ever even tried to conquer this “Amber” Fort. It might have been built out of paranoia; with excessive defensive strategies, but it proved itself a safe

place to live.

Getting On the Elephant From a High Platform

To get to this Palace Fort we used an elephant. It is a steep climb up and every tourist gets a ride. A total of 120 elephants are available, each elephant is only, by law, allowed 5 trips up and down a day. The temperature is too hot, even for elephants. We had 90F when we visited in early March. If you miss the elephants, jeeps will be used instead. Carol and I were on one beast and we started out in the lead, but we had gotten an animal with a strange disposition. We arrived last to the top. The animal did not want to move faster than a very, very slow walk, despite the mahout’s urging. We were the comic

This Motorcyclist Has More Than Elephants to Worry About

set of the trek up the hill. It was hot, not my kind of temperature, maybe the elephant felt the heat, too. I also understand why the elephant was slow, when prodded I too go slower. Maybe the handler (Mahout) was not the usual guy, we never know, but it was comical, we were that slow. We took a jeep back down to the bus. The A/C in the bus felt good.

Walking Would Have Been Faster But Harder

The Amber Fort is outside the city of Jaipur and a defensive marvel. Ladies of the court, while safe, were bored in this ‘Nowhere’ land and wanted to see life happening around them, maybe even shop? Their complaints fell on good ears because in 1799 the Hawa Mahal was built in downtown Jaipur. It is a 5 story structure, with 593 veiled windows. Now those veiled Harem ladies could get an idea about outside life, get some peeks of city life and watch parades. This Hawa Mahal (also called the Palace of the Winds because of the many windows) looks like an apartment building, and with its reddish sandstone frontage kind of blends in today in old Jaipur.

The old town of Jaipur is a planned city. It did not develop gradually but was planned and

Hawa Mahal, Palace of the Winds

Windows Allow Women To See
and Not Be Seen

laid out by architects. One was British the other Indian, so old Jaipur has a mixed feel to it, making Jaipur very progressive. 

Courtyard Of The City Palace

Even a City Palace was planned. This City Palace contains several buildings, palaces, courtyards and gardens. The complex is so large that part of it today is a museum while another part is still the residence of a young Maharajah. Tourists can visit the museum, (we did) but the residence of the Maharajah is off limits. This Maharajah of Jaipur is 18 years old and still a bachelor. I am sure many an Indian mother would love to get him for her eligible daughter. We did not see this eligible bachelor but he was within the building. A signal flag is hoisted when this Maharajah is at “home”.

Inside the City Palace

Rajasthan is a desert province, sparse greenery, hot summers, only very little rain falls during the off monsoon times. Years ago camels were used to transport items, today trucks do this job. There are many Tata trucks but there are also still about 700,000 camels in Rajasthan. We just did not see them that much inside cities. But we did see some camels. Camels might be more useful in rural settings; I am told the city of Udaipur has more camels. The adage is: elephants in Jaipur, camels in Udaipur.

Where the Shadow Falls Determines the Time of Day

We ended our tour of Jaipur and the day with a visit to the Solar Observatory.  It was built in 1734 and uses the position of the sun, shadows and mathematical formulas on 19 complex machines to determine the time, date, latitude and longitude. It was originally built and started to compare these instruments to the times set in the Islamic calendar. Astronomers looked into the heavens and determined how earth was aligned compared to other heavenly bodies. The setup will also predict your future according to your astrological sign. I guess it is important knowledge but I would be bored doing this kind of job. It was too hot to spend much time here.

All These Instruments Determine Your Horoscope
Depending On Your Astrological Sign

More Instruments Measuring?

I was more blown away when someone told me that India has 22 official languages because each state has its own language. But Hindi is the official language of India and English is widely spoken. In Rajasthan, Hindi is the most common language, but some speak Rajasthani, a dialect.

On To Jaipur

The hotel forgot the wake-up call; luckily Carol had set her alarm. We are taking the bus to Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Sitting on the bus my head always reflects on stuff so I write it down.

A Bride Traditionally Wears Red For Her Wedding

 India believes in astrology. In the Hindu religion you are part of everything, of the total cosmos. You are an intricate part, however small and you have a purpose. You were not just born haphazardly but with a purpose in mind. Your former life dictates at what point you should reappear to better yourself. There are people in your new life that can help you or destroy you. You want to find the helpers, the people who will promote you to a higher level,  guide you in this life to reach the next level of existence. Hopefully your priest is one of them. Hopefully your astrologer is one of them. Your potter will make pots for you and will remind you when you should ask the gods for help. The pots contain offerings for the gods. Your priest will help you when your emotional state is not balanced. Your hairdresser will guide you through the neighborhood gossip and protect you from petty people. The houseboy or maid will make your life easy by helping you stay clean and the goldsmith will watch over your riches. You have your protection all around you, you were born into the large Hindu family, and all that is asked of you is that you listen. You want to get married? The larger Hindu family will help you, the astrologer for sure. He will analyze your astrology, the hour and day of your birth indicates to him at what position in the cosmos you were in when you started this life. He has studied, was taught by others, learned by experience that there are matches in the universe for you. There are natural fits that will make your life easier. He will make sure your wife (husband) is complimentary to you, not abrasive. A match made in heaven so to speak. A Hindu life is family, from the time you were born until you return to ashes. It's a beautiful life; all the religion asks is that you listen and do as was (is) planned for you. The gods want you to be happy, but the gods also can show their wrath if you do not follow the path that is chosen for you.

A Groom On His Way To Be Married

Astrology is an intricate part of your Hindu life. As the barest minimum, compatibility of couples contemplating marriage must be at least 50%. Marriages are arranged based on this compatibility score. There is just no use even considering a life partner if compatibility is below that score, even if you emotionally like that person. Dinesh has an arranged marriage and is very happy with his position in life. He is enamored with Poonam, his wife, and his 2 children are wonderful. Arranged marriages do work.

For generations the stars, the moons, the planets have been watched and studied. Astronomy, mathematics, physics, all sciences prove to Hindus that Hinduism is the correct religion. It all makes sense, so women or men ‘believe ‘and follow what has been taught. It is such large part of India, her culture, that India is not fathomable without a Hindu perspective.

I believe there will always be arranged marriages in India, marriages based on astrology. Not marriages based on just ‘love’, but on common sense and heavenly signs and guidance by your astrologer. Marriage plays a huge part in society, in India it seems paramount. Love grows later; it blooms after the logical, arranged marriage.

On the way to Jaipur, we saw a bride and groom posing for pictures in front of a building at the side of the road. We stopped and congratulated them, gave them gifts (money to her) and wished them the best. This chance meeting on the side of the road led me to the above write up. The couple we just met had an arranged marriage. Everybody was smiling, including the priest, bride, groom and total family, although the bride was very shy and somewhat nervous because her first duty as a wife was to go to her in-laws house and prepare a meal. Unfortunately we did not get pictures here.

Rambagh Palace Hotel

Our lunch stop was arranged by Dinesh. And only he could have pulled this off. An exclusive hotel, room prices start at US $1,000 per night, had a lunch room reserved for our group. Dinesh knew the manager, who closed his eyes and let our group (ragamuffins?) eat our lunch in comfort. Well, almost…we were given a dining room way in the back of the estate, but still we could walk by the ornate buildings and beautiful gardens. It was a nice gesture for Dinesh to get us admission to this gated hotel. The lunch itself was food fit for a convention.

Beautiful Gardens At the Hotel

There was nothing special to write about the food.

Convention Centre Where We Had Lunch

Another View of the Exclusive Rambagh Palace Hotel

We are on our way to Jaipur, the pink city, the city that also has an Astrological Park besides the ever so famous palaces and Maharajah dwellings. All those palaces that are all over Rajasthan, the land of the kings, were built to seal a marriage, a union between different people. But please remember, the maharajas were Muslims; who lived a different kind of culture from the Indian Culture. Those Maharajas had desert thinking, survival of the fittest thinking. Not that they did not care about family, of course they did, but basically, the individuals came first. The ME is the main focal point of their thinking. The view is that I, the Individual come first, before the rest of the universe. It still is common in the Muslim way of life. In their thinking it is them and Allah. The rest is expendable, in the end it is only him (her) that stands before Allah. 

This Is the Size of the Ruby Rock In the Previous Picture

Raw Stones

Carol's Ring

We checked in to our hotel but we also visited a jewelry store on the way. Rajasthan in the old Aravalli Mountains is a center for jewelry, rare stones, rubies, sapphires, emeralds,

Polishing Small Stones By Hand
Requires Them To Be Attached
To 'Holding Sticks'.

garnets and diamonds. Carol loves rubies. The darker the red stone, the more valuable. The prices were high, but still about half of what you would pay in Canada. We bargained hard with the seller, very hard. We halved what he asked for initially and finally Carol got herself a reminder of this India trip, a lovely ring inlaid with dark rubies and sapphires. I felt Carol made a good deal, the ring looks lovely on her.

Another Example Of the Beautiful Work Done By Hand In This Shop

There are many palaces in Rajasthan, there were many kings here. It is desert-like in Rajasthan. Maybe this was a deep-rooted reminder of their Saudi, desert based religion that drove them to live here, maybe even subconsciously.

Desert Surrounding Jaipur

Modern Buildings In Jaipur

Jaipur in Rajasthan is a nice town. When we approached Jaipur the section we drove through felt very modern, very clean, organized. I had the feeling that Jaipur was a model town, a show case for modernity. I felt only the privileged live here. But of course India is India, it is not a western, modern world, I think it is my western mind that was looking for the familiar.

On Dinesh's Street

Very Modern Inside Dinesh's House

The first Palace we visited in Jaipur, after driving all day was Dinesh's house. Dinesh lives in Jaipur and we had a drink and snack before we ended the day with a dinner at a restaurant. His modern house (he had it built) is his Palace, situated on a nice street, in a nice neighborhood. What is best, though, is the warmth that emanated from each room. Poonam, his wife, and Princi his daughter, were there to greet the whole group with open arms. I was touched. We had some chats, I especially chatted with Princi about her school and studies, and the time flew by. Princi is thinking of finishing her education abroad and Carol suggested she study in Toronto, we could certainly help out if she chooses that route (did you read this? Dinesh? Princi?). 

Princi, Dinesh and Poonam

It seems that when we travel from one town to the next it takes all day, but we do collect experiences along the way, impressions that will last us a lifetime. Thank you for inviting us to your house, Dinesh, for introducing us to part of your family, for feeding us, informing us about India and for giving us shelter and comfort. You are my Guru!

This Picture of Dinesh Feeding a Tree-Pie Bird Hangs In His Home