A paper kite store!


This goat was such a ham for the camera.

Hawa Mahal

Interior of Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal

view from Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal

view from Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal

front street view of Hawa Mahal

bus from Amber, 6 rupees

Amber Fort entrance

entrance to Amber Fort

Amber fort

view from Amber fort

wall around Amber fort in the distance

detail Amber fort

turkish baths in Amber

entrance to Amber fort

Amber fort

old city, Jaipur

Okay, I spoke too soon about the sights in Jaipur--they are pretty great. Yesterday, I took a bus out to Amber Fort just outside of town, and it was quite extraordinary, built into a rugged hillside. It used to be the capital of Jaipur state. It was a steep walk up to the fort from the road; most of the tourists were being brought up by elephant, up the grand entrance, but I prefered not to get on another elephant, so I walked up with all the Indian tourists. I enjoyed this fort particularly because there were many levels and passageways in which to get lost, or emerge onto a balcony overlooking the entire area. Several times, I wound down a staircase into a sublevel only to find that there was no exit. This self-guided exploration reminded me a bit of the Angkor temples in Cambodia, where I could sort of 'choose my own adventure.'

After Amber, I took the bus back into town and found the famous Hawa Mahal, which is a structure that was built just so the royal ladies could look out over the city. How kind of the Maharaja to allow the women a good view from within seclusion.