I flew from Mumbai to Jaipur in Rajasthan in the morning on cheap and easy Jet Airways.
The Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds is the highlight of the Pink City
View from inside.
No Touch Monkey!
Then into the City Palace built in 1732
Then the Jantar Mantar, built in 1735, is an equinoctial sundial, consisting a gigantic triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis. You got all that right?
The gates of the Pink City
In the afternoon I got a moto-rickshaw to the edge of town and did a short hike uphill on a clearly marked trail to the Jaigarh Fort.
The fort is kinda crumbling away, looks like not much has been done to it in 50+ years, but it is an amazing structure with an impressive view over the valley.
I watched the sun set from the fort walls.
With an ice cold Kingfisher. I could faintly hear the honking horns below, and was really enjoying the cool breeze, and hearing the muezzin call to prayer echo from mosque to mosque. Suddenly it was pitch dark, and I realized I had no idea how I was going to get down from this place. Luckily I glommed on to a British couple who had a driver and let me tag along. In fact I hired the driver to pick me up the next day for a rickshaw tour.
Day 2 started off with some lassi. Delicious!
Then off by moto-rickshaw to the Amber Fort
Built in 1592, the fort is in excellent condition. And massive!
I opted to walk to the fort, but elephant rides were on offer for $9.
Maota Lake and garden
Monkeys patrol the parking lot.
We made a quick stop at Man Sagar Lake to see the Jal Mahal from a distance, and to take a short camel ride.
My driver just happened upon the opportunity to be the personal driver for the rapper Macklemore last year. He drove him around for several days, and Macklemore liked the rickshaw so much he asked how much a new one cost. The driver said $3000. Macklemore said, "How about I buy yours for $3000, and then you can get a new one?" Deal! The guys old rickshaw got shipped to Seattle and now he has a shiny new one with Macklemore written all over it.
Next stop was a trip to ride an elephant.
