Main entrance:
World's largest pot. When the Maharaja visited England, he brought two of these pots full of Ganga jal [potable water from the River Ganga].
Part of the armory
Current residence of the Sawai rulers of Jaipur
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
A Sawai Palace for a Sawai Aadmi
Mubarak Mahal:
Main entrance:
World's largest pot. When the Maharaja visited England, he brought two of these pots full of Ganga jal [potable water from the River Ganga].
Part of the armory
Current residence of the Sawai rulers of Jaipur
Main entrance:
World's largest pot. When the Maharaja visited England, he brought two of these pots full of Ganga jal [potable water from the River Ganga].
Part of the armory
Current residence of the Sawai rulers of Jaipur
Amber Fort
Just like how Udaipur has its roots in Chittaurgarh, Jaipur has its roots in Amber. The only difference is that while the Maharanas of Chittaur fought tooth and nail for their land, the Sawai rulers of Jaipur, like Man Singh, found pleasure in looting those same Rajput lands in the name of Delhi.
They kept this ill-gotten treasure in Jaigarh fort, near Amber palace's until Indira Gandhi reacquired it in the 1970s. Legend says that sixteen trucks full of Gold ran through the main street of Jaipur.
As you can see, the fort is a popular destination for schoolkids
Jaipur from the fort
The Royal Garden
The Sheesh Mahal of Amber Fort
Lord Krishna in Stainglass
Flower/Scorpion motif
Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai doing filming inside the fort
They kept this ill-gotten treasure in Jaigarh fort, near Amber palace's until Indira Gandhi reacquired it in the 1970s. Legend says that sixteen trucks full of Gold ran through the main street of Jaipur.
As you can see, the fort is a popular destination for schoolkids
Jaipur from the fort
The Royal Garden
The Sheesh Mahal of Amber Fort
Lord Krishna in Stainglass
Flower/Scorpion motif
Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai doing filming inside the fort
Hawa Mahal
Princesses of Jaipur used to waste their time here in the Hawa Mahal [Palace of the Winds] looking out at the bazaar. It would be very beautiful if only the Indian government paid for its upkeep-
From the backside-
From the backside-
A stairway to nowhere?
???!
Actually, this is part of Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh II in Jaipur. Its full of surreal architecture which are meant to capture shadows of the sun to measure time and create astrological charts.
Bol rahi hai Kana Kana se Qurbani Rajasthan ki...
Is mitti ko tilak karo, ye dharti hai balidaan ki!
I wanted to go to Rajasthan just to see Chittaurgarh, the Indian Masada. Here, the great Rajput kings that every proud Hindu child knows and admires held court. Here, Padmuni entranced the despot Alauddin Khilji, and here the one-armed, one-eyed Maharana Sanga forgave Sultan Mahmud of Mandu for his transgressions. Here, on this very soil, lies the remains of thousands of proud forgotten Rajputs who committed Jauhar than become drones and prisoners of the Mughal Empire.
Chittaurgarh, India's largest fort
Supposedly, the Fort is the inspiration for King Louis's monkey kingdom in Walt Disney's interpretation of the Jungle Book.
Vijay Stambha, the Tower of Victory, commemorating the victories of Rana Kumbha
Here, Meerabai composed devotional poems in honor of Lord Krishna
A nearby temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu
A pool whose water's origins remains unknown to this day.
Jain Kirti Stambha
Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai...
...Aaj phir marne ka irada hai [Guide was filmed here]
I wanted to go to Rajasthan just to see Chittaurgarh, the Indian Masada. Here, the great Rajput kings that every proud Hindu child knows and admires held court. Here, Padmuni entranced the despot Alauddin Khilji, and here the one-armed, one-eyed Maharana Sanga forgave Sultan Mahmud of Mandu for his transgressions. Here, on this very soil, lies the remains of thousands of proud forgotten Rajputs who committed Jauhar than become drones and prisoners of the Mughal Empire.
Chittaurgarh, India's largest fort
Supposedly, the Fort is the inspiration for King Louis's monkey kingdom in Walt Disney's interpretation of the Jungle Book.
Vijay Stambha, the Tower of Victory, commemorating the victories of Rana Kumbha
Here, Meerabai composed devotional poems in honor of Lord Krishna
A nearby temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu
A pool whose water's origins remains unknown to this day.
Jain Kirti Stambha
Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai...
...Aaj phir marne ka irada hai [Guide was filmed here]
Udaipur, City of Lakes
By far, the most disappointing city in Rajasthan was Udaipur. It was founded by the descendents of Maharana Sangha who lost the will to fight and decided instead to scurry away and give tribute to the Mughals from their faraway lake city. Nonetheless, it is beautiful, especially the Monsoon Palace that overlooks the Aravilli Hills that Maharana Pratap sought refuge in.
Udaipur, City of Lakes, at a distance.
City Palace
Sheesh Mahal, City Palace.
Something or another at the City Palace
Mayur at the Sheesh Mahal [Peacock at the Mirror Palace]
Maharana Sanga, an all-Indian hero
Jagniwas, the Lake Palace, on Lake Pichhola
Jagmandir, where Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan [of Taj Mahal fame] took refuge for some months
An elephant at Jagmandir salutes the City Palace off at a distance
A Crumbling Balcony at the Monsoon Palace, overlooking the Aravilli Hills
Sunset on the Aravilli Hills
Udaipur, City of Lakes, at a distance.
City Palace
Sheesh Mahal, City Palace.
Something or another at the City Palace
Mayur at the Sheesh Mahal [Peacock at the Mirror Palace]
Maharana Sanga, an all-Indian hero
Jagniwas, the Lake Palace, on Lake Pichhola
Jagmandir, where Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan [of Taj Mahal fame] took refuge for some months
An elephant at Jagmandir salutes the City Palace off at a distance
A Crumbling Balcony at the Monsoon Palace, overlooking the Aravilli Hills
Sunset on the Aravilli Hills
A Sea of Blue in the Desert
By far, Jodhpur is the most impressive city in Rajasthan. The Blue City and the fort that guards it are truly marvels of India. Known internationally as the Blue City, nearly 70% of Jodhpur houses are tinted with indigo paint, which keeps houses cool.
A view of the Blue City from Mehrangarh Fort
Jodhpur blending into the defences of Mehrangarh
Mehrangarh Fort, of which Kipling said was "the work of angles, fairies, and giants"
Its hard to imagine that this fort was built over 500 years ago, given that its over 450 feet above the rest of the city.
Maharani's quarters
Diwan-e-Khaas [King's Court]
A Relaxing Moment in the Courtyard of the King
A view of the Blue City from Mehrangarh Fort
Jodhpur blending into the defences of Mehrangarh
Mehrangarh Fort, of which Kipling said was "the work of angles, fairies, and giants"
Its hard to imagine that this fort was built over 500 years ago, given that its over 450 feet above the rest of the city.
Maharani's quarters
Diwan-e-Khaas [King's Court]
A Relaxing Moment in the Courtyard of the King
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