India 3/02/09 - 3/16/09


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Jaipur 3/9

Our sight-seeing in Jaipur began with a brief stop at a Hindu temple. We then proceeded to drive up into the foothills to see Nahargarh Fort (Tiger Fort). The fort overlooks Jaipur and provides a nice view of the surrounding area. This area was never conquered by the Mughal emperors; instead, they formed an alliance and the Hindu Rajputs served as warriors and generals in the Mughal armies. On the return drive, we stopped to look at the Water Palace (not open to the public).

We next visited the City Palace -- a complex of buildings built in 1727 by Jai Singh II. There was a decent audio tour in English, and the armory had a wide array of unique regional weaponry. A short walk away we found another Jantar Mantar. This one is the largest and best preserved but also the most crowded. The highlight of this Jantar Mantar is the huge sundial that you can see before you even enter the complex.

Our final stop of the day was at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). This ornate building was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh for the women of the court. It's porous walls allowed the women to enjoy a breeze while discreetly observing people on the streets below. On extremely hot days, they would spray water on the lattice to cool the air. The facade has roughly 1,000 windows and is made of pink sandstone.

Shiva Tiger Fort Window Jaipur from Tiger Fort Water Palace
City Palace Inside City Palace Jantar Mantar Sundial Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar Sundial View from Palace of Winds Palace of Winds Inside Palace of Winds Outside

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