Jaipur

India

March 2005
3 days

Jaipur is known as the pink city. it is only pink in parts though, and some of the unpink parts can be a bit messy. Its famous for its palace and the fort which you can reach by riding an elephant up a hill.
It was very sunny in Jaipur, and I had to buy a hat. The sun was very fierce, until we reached the famous observatory, which relies on the sun to cast shadows from huge astronomic buildings. The sun obligingly disappeared as soon as we reached it.

One evening a local hotel invited us all to a buffet dinner, with drinks and entertainment thrown in. Great fun.

The view from a cycle rickshaw.
We took a tour through the backstreets of Jaipur on a rickshaw. Afterwards one of the other drivers told us that our rickshaw driver was totally drunk.

Cow crossing
It is generally understood that cows have the right of way at street intersections. Generally understood by the cows, that is.

Street scene
In one of the less pink areas of Jaipur

Weaving carpets
Seen at one of the inevitable factory visit retail opportunities

Having a break
These ladies were restoring the tile work on part of the fort.

Intricate screenwork

More monkeys

View from the fort

Riding the elephant
up the pathway to the fort in the hills high above the city.

The lady in pink

Monkeying around

An old charmer
tries his hand, but didnt get the gig.

Hawa Mahal
Also known as The Palce Of The Winds, built to enable the ladies of the royal household to have a good view of everyday life in the city.

The Puppeteers
and their puppets.

Fire eater
at the Hotel entertainment.

Street scene in Jaipur

Pavillion at the City Palace
containing the silver water urns.

Silver water bowl in the City Palace
Apparently when the Maharajah visited London he insisted on bringing huge silver containers full of the local Jaipur water, as he did not trust the drinking water in England