The Paris of India, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

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The next day we decided to visit some of the outer city Jaipur sites. With the first rickshaw driver we organised, we were a little too relaxed and after paying him 100 rupees for fuel while we went to get a lassi (Jaipur’s most famous lassi), he did not return. We found another rickshaw driver and were on our way again, although as we were leaving for Pushkar in the afternoon, we were extremely rushed.

Monkey Temple (Galwar Bagh)

Our first stop was Monkey Temple, located four kilometres inside Jaipur’s eastern hills. The rickshaw driver dropped us off at Galta Gate, which was the start to a one kilometre winding road towards the Monkey Temple.

As soon as we arrived we saw half a dozen different animals, cows, chickens, pigs and of course monkeys. The monkeys were playing in troughs of water, jumping in and out similar to a child in a swimming pool. The whole winding road leading to the Monkey Temple was scattered with monkeys, local Indians were very generous, giving the monkeys grains and mangoes, I would imagine as an offering to the god, Hanuman, a monkey-like humanoid.

Monkey temple is actually a collection of sacred temples and water tanks (kunds) that were used as an ancient pilgrimage site. We walked around for a little while, snapping photos of the beautiful architecture.

Monkeys playing in a trough of waterView of Galta Gate entrance to Monkey TempleMother and baby monkey
Male monkey eating a mango with the Galta Gate in the backgroundFemale monkey eying the cameraThe path littered with monkeys
Angry monkeyMonkey chilling under the shade of some stonesBaby monkey
The first water tank at the Monkey TempleMonkey posing in the cornerBaby monkey on the stones of the temple
Galtaji ancient Hindu pilgrimage siteOne of the temples and water tanksGaltaji ancient Hindu pilgrimage site
Several temples and sacred kunds (water tanks) in which pilgrims batheMonkeys sitting on a wall with Jaipur in the backgroundMonkeys eating mangos on stairs

thydzikgooglemap(http://sonyaandtravis.com/maps/jaipur-rajasthan-india-monkey-temple.xml,s)

Amer Fort

Even though we had seen our share of forts, there were still many aspects of this fort that were different and surprised us. The Amber Fort shared mixed styles from Hinduism and Islam, the first building the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) demonstrated this perfectly with the elephant capitals and latticed galleries above.

Amber Fort as viewed from Amer RoadThe upper mail level of Amber FortAmber Fort with Suraj Pole (Sun Gate) visible to the far right
Maota Lake with Amber Fort in the distanceAmber Fort towering over Maota LakeThe start of the patch zigzagging to Suraj Pole (Sun Gate)
Stairway from the Jaleb Chowk leads into the main palace groundsElephant shaped capitals of the Diwan-i-Am (Public Audience Hall)Elephant shaped capitals of the Diwan-i-Am (Public Audience Hall)
The Diwan-i-Am (Public Audience Hall) with elephant shaped capitals and galleries above itDoors of the second courtyard, visible in the background is the Amber Fort domeDoor leading from Jaleb Chowk to the first courtyard
Overlooking the first main courtyard with the Suraj Pole (Sun Gate) to the rightKesar Kyari Bagh Gardens of Amber FortGanesh Pol (Gate), Hindu god Lord Ganesh removes all obstacles in life
Hindu god Lord Ganesh removes all obstacles in lifeMuqarnas, typical Islamic architecture above Ganesh GateCeiling painting at Amber Fort
Brightly coloured wall carvings at Amber FortFortification wall and tower surrounding Amber FortThe maze like architecture of Amber Fort
Indian woman in orange sari peering through the screensMosaics of mirrors at the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace)Stalactite ceiling of mirrors at the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace)
Watchtowers at the edges of Amber FortBaradhari pavilion at Man Singh I Palace SquareBaradhari pavilion at Man Singh I Palace Square
Once of the dark long corridors inside Amber FortTwo large cooking pots or woks found at Amber FortThe winding stairs leading up to the entrance

thydzikgooglemap(http://sonyaandtravis.com/maps/jaipur-rajasthan-india-amer-fort.xml,s)

Water Palace (Jal Mahal)

The Water Palace is a palace situated in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. Not originally part of our tour due to time constraints, we convinced our rickshaw driver to make a brief stop for photos (as it was on the way), he wasn’t too happy when we didn’t pay him more though.

Jal Mahal meaning Water Palace

This concluded our travels through historic Jaipur, later in the afternoon we caught a bus to nearby Pushkar.

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