This country is amazing. The cities are chaotic; the traffic is worse than Vietnam, the dominating smell is one of exhaust fumes, mixed in with raw sewage and urine. There is a continuous cacophony of tooting horns. The poverty is staggering.
And yet every day there is some wonder that just blows your mind.
Yesterday I was lucky to get a cab ride to the old city with a cabbie who spoke good English, and was very well versed in the city. When he dropped me off at the City Palace he suggested several things to see.
I hired him today to take me to the Amber Fort, a few miles outside of Jaipur.
So, first thing this morning that's where we went. He advised me to hike up to the military fort above the Amber fort, and gave me directions to get there.
I have to admit I was a bit leery about hiking for 40 minutes up a fairly steep path, but I went for it. I did it and felt quite proud. The fort is on the highest point, and is 4 km by 1 km. There is a palace, with spectacular views. There is a fortified wall, 36 km long, stretching across the hills. Looks like the Great Wall of China. There is also the largest wheeled canon,. The barrel is 20 feet long, and it takes four elephants to move it. There is a foundry in this fort, and that's where the canon was built. It was fired only once, when it was tested. The canon ball went 35 miles, but the explosion and shock wave was so strong most of the people around the canon were killed.
After the military fort I walked down to the Amber Fort. One of the sights is a Hindu temple, which was beautiful. It is the size of a small chapel, but the doors are beautifully decorated silver, and everything inside is artistically carved marble. The Vatican has nothing on many of the temples I have seen.
These forts are huge, much bigger than any European ones, and each one has some feature which just is outstanding. The Amber Fort has one area which is a reception area, meant to impress visitors. Marble, silver, lots of mirrors. Beautiful.
On the way back into the city my cabbie took me to a couple of sites not mentioned in the guide book. They are sites where royalty are honoured with cenotaphs. There are two sites, one for male, one for female, and they are not near each other, but have similar designs. Each royalty is honoured with his, or her, own temple like structure; again all beautifully carved marble.
The whole day, with a generous tip, came to ten dollars, not counting admissions. I even had a nice cappucino at the Amber Fort.
Tomorrow I say goodbye to Jaipur, and I am off to Bikaner, which is a much smaller town. So far, I have enjoyed the small towns more than the cities, so we shall see.
Adieu till then
And yet every day there is some wonder that just blows your mind.
Yesterday I was lucky to get a cab ride to the old city with a cabbie who spoke good English, and was very well versed in the city. When he dropped me off at the City Palace he suggested several things to see.
I hired him today to take me to the Amber Fort, a few miles outside of Jaipur.
So, first thing this morning that's where we went. He advised me to hike up to the military fort above the Amber fort, and gave me directions to get there.
I have to admit I was a bit leery about hiking for 40 minutes up a fairly steep path, but I went for it. I did it and felt quite proud. The fort is on the highest point, and is 4 km by 1 km. There is a palace, with spectacular views. There is a fortified wall, 36 km long, stretching across the hills. Looks like the Great Wall of China. There is also the largest wheeled canon,. The barrel is 20 feet long, and it takes four elephants to move it. There is a foundry in this fort, and that's where the canon was built. It was fired only once, when it was tested. The canon ball went 35 miles, but the explosion and shock wave was so strong most of the people around the canon were killed.
After the military fort I walked down to the Amber Fort. One of the sights is a Hindu temple, which was beautiful. It is the size of a small chapel, but the doors are beautifully decorated silver, and everything inside is artistically carved marble. The Vatican has nothing on many of the temples I have seen.
These forts are huge, much bigger than any European ones, and each one has some feature which just is outstanding. The Amber Fort has one area which is a reception area, meant to impress visitors. Marble, silver, lots of mirrors. Beautiful.
On the way back into the city my cabbie took me to a couple of sites not mentioned in the guide book. They are sites where royalty are honoured with cenotaphs. There are two sites, one for male, one for female, and they are not near each other, but have similar designs. Each royalty is honoured with his, or her, own temple like structure; again all beautifully carved marble.
The whole day, with a generous tip, came to ten dollars, not counting admissions. I even had a nice cappucino at the Amber Fort.
Tomorrow I say goodbye to Jaipur, and I am off to Bikaner, which is a much smaller town. So far, I have enjoyed the small towns more than the cities, so we shall see.
Adieu till then
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1 comment:
Enjoying your blog!
A&D=
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