Finally having a full weekend off allowed me the opportunity to be a tourist in my own city. I spent the entire day with a tour guide, taking in all the sights that Jaipur has to offer.
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, which is a state about the size of Montana. The city is similar in size to Boston, and is home to about 3 million people. The weather almost perfectly mirrors Austin, so I feel right at home in the heat. Something I really appreciate about Jaipur is the balance of city amenities and rural charm. You would never see elephants on the street in somewhere metropolitan like Delhi or Mumbai.
The city was founded in 1727, and can be divided into two parts: the old city and the modern city. The old city is surrounded by towering pink walls, and has seven gates for entry. All of the buildings within the city are the same shade of pink, earning it the name, Pink City.
I began my day at Amer Fort, which was built in 1592. It is nestled in the Aravalli Hills above the Maota Lake. It was built with four courtyards, temple, a private palace for the Maharaja, and private quarters for his 12 wives.
After Amer Fort, I went by Jal Mahal (Water Palace) situated on Man Sagar Lake. It is five stories tall, but four of the stories are underwater.
I also had a chance to meet this guy:
My third stop was Jantar Mantar. I've been wanting to visit here ever since I watched the movie The Fall, which was done by Indian director Tarsem Singh and filmed over 20 different countries. Several sites in Rajasthan can be seen in the film. Jantar Mantar (translates to Instrument Calculation) is an observatory with fourteen different devices that are used to measure time, predict eclipses, and track the locations of constellations. It is home to the world's largest sundial, Samrat Yantra, measuring 88.5 feet tall.
Next on the list was City Palace, built in 1732. It is a palace complex containing multiple mahals and temples. Craftsmen can be found selling their painitngs, marble statues, vases, clothing, and textiles on the grounds.
The final destination was Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). It was originally constructed to allow royal ladies observe every life in the city through laticed windows (jharokas) without being seen, as they were required to keep their faces covered. It was built in 1799 and can be found in the heart of the Pink City.
Jaipur is a beautiful bustling city, and I can't wait to keep exploring!
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, which is a state about the size of Montana. The city is similar in size to Boston, and is home to about 3 million people. The weather almost perfectly mirrors Austin, so I feel right at home in the heat. Something I really appreciate about Jaipur is the balance of city amenities and rural charm. You would never see elephants on the street in somewhere metropolitan like Delhi or Mumbai.
The city was founded in 1727, and can be divided into two parts: the old city and the modern city. The old city is surrounded by towering pink walls, and has seven gates for entry. All of the buildings within the city are the same shade of pink, earning it the name, Pink City.
I began my day at Amer Fort, which was built in 1592. It is nestled in the Aravalli Hills above the Maota Lake. It was built with four courtyards, temple, a private palace for the Maharaja, and private quarters for his 12 wives.
After Amer Fort, I went by Jal Mahal (Water Palace) situated on Man Sagar Lake. It is five stories tall, but four of the stories are underwater.
I also had a chance to meet this guy:
My third stop was Jantar Mantar. I've been wanting to visit here ever since I watched the movie The Fall, which was done by Indian director Tarsem Singh and filmed over 20 different countries. Several sites in Rajasthan can be seen in the film. Jantar Mantar (translates to Instrument Calculation) is an observatory with fourteen different devices that are used to measure time, predict eclipses, and track the locations of constellations. It is home to the world's largest sundial, Samrat Yantra, measuring 88.5 feet tall.
Next on the list was City Palace, built in 1732. It is a palace complex containing multiple mahals and temples. Craftsmen can be found selling their painitngs, marble statues, vases, clothing, and textiles on the grounds.
The final destination was Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). It was originally constructed to allow royal ladies observe every life in the city through laticed windows (jharokas) without being seen, as they were required to keep their faces covered. It was built in 1799 and can be found in the heart of the Pink City.
Lee, Jaipur is gorgeous. Wow, the palace of the winds where royal ladies looked down on everyday life through latticed windows. It sounds like a fairytale. You look lovely and happy. I am glad you got a weekend off. Thank you for sharing your journey so far. I bought a pair of "Lee" shoes the other day. And thought fondly of you. Keep updating! XO Parker
ReplyDeleteThat's what I like to hear ;)
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