Jaipur
Below are the ramparts of Jaipur’s Amer fort.
The main entrance to the fort is through the ‘Suraj Pol’ or ‘Sun Gate’, so called because it faces the direction of the rising sun.
The next photo was taken from Amer fort. This is the old town just outside the fort. It is now in ruins. This was where the Mughal emperor Akbar used to stop on his annual pilgrimage to Ajmer.
Inside Jaipur’s Amer fort.
Below is the entrance to the Jaipur City Palace complex. Part of the complex has been converted to a museum — the City Palace Museum. Part of it has been converted into a school.
This part of the Jaipur City Palace complex — Chandra Mahal — is closed to the public. It is home to the descendants of the royal family.
Entertainment at the Jaipur City Palace Cafe…
Below, the ‘Hawa Mahal’ or ‘Palace of Winds’ was built for the ladies of the harem so they could view the street scenes below without being seen. It is 5 storeys high and just one room deep. There used to be an underground passage that connected Hawa Mahal with the Jaipur City Palace.
Jantar Mantar, the largest of 5 observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II.
The impressive ramparts of Jaigarh or ‘Victory Fort’, below..
Jaigarh’s most prized possession, the ‘Jai Van’ cannon, is said to be the world’s largest on wheels. It weighs 50 tonnes, but has never been fired in battle. Mario, standing in front of one of the wheels, gives you an idea of how huge this cannon is…
