The Pink City – Peacock Gates and Impressive Jugs

After lunch we head with the guide into the old part of Jaipur known as the Pink City.  As north India’s first designed city, Jaipur was built in 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh, with wide boulevards surrounded by shops and a robust city wall.  The name Pink City comes from 1876 when Maharaja Ram Singh had the town painted pink for the arrival of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII).

In the middle of the old city is the City Palace, a complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings.  Here we see the Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audiences) complete with huge silver vessels used by Maharaja Madho Singh II to carry holy Ganges water to London for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902.

One of a pair of 9000l silver vessels

 

These big jugs carry 9000l of water each and are in the Guinness book of records as the largest silver objects in the world!

We also saw the beautiful gates at Pitam Niwas Chowk, including our favourite Peacock Gate.

Peacock Gate

Nearby the City Palace is the Janter Mantar, that looks like a collection of modern-art like triangular and spherical sculptures but are actually part of an observatory used for telling time and plotting the position of the stars.

Big sun-dials

Our trip into the Pink City is rounded off with a slightly scary bicycle rickshaw ride through the middle of town in rush-hour.  A little different to Kew Bridge on a Brompton !

Mr M

The Maharani's New Sari

First up on the Rajasthan Hill Fort & Palace tour was the Amber Palace.  Each new palace seems bigger and more elaborate than the previous, and Amber Palace is no different with many kilometers of fortified wall built around the impressive palace.

Amber Palace - Jaipur

Fortified Wall - Amber Palace

After the Amber Fort we are taken to look at some precious stones being cut and set for jewellery – Jaipur is famous for its precious stones – followed by the obligatory visit to the shop!  Fortunately we are a little more streetwise after Agra and the salesman isn’t too pushy.

Although we have not been interested in shopping for marble inlay or precious stones we are actually very interested in purchasing some of the second thing that Jaipur is famous for – block printing.  We ask the guide and he takes us to a government run cooperative where we see local artisans making large block print fabrics and then spend an enjoyable hour or so in the shop choosing some fabrics to take home.  Mrs M is also talked into trying on a Sari which the salesman thinks “would be perfect for going out for Indian food when you get back home”.

Maharani McClymont

 

The Maharani – or Mrs M – although tempted by a new sari, decides it is maybe not quite right for the Tamarind Tree.

Mr M