This weekend……….
on Jana Gana Mana (India), 10/Feb/2011 05:15, 34 days ago
Jai Mahal - the Lake PalaceKatie writes......As you may know Daniel& I have this tradition of arranging a surprise weekend away, for each other’s birthday. This was made slightly more difficult, trying to do it from India this year (early in the year!). Anyway, I decided to play safe(r) by booking a package deal, rather than the multiple risks of individual internet bookings.My original idea (in Dec) was to arrange a trip on one of the tourist trains (the Fairy Queen), however this was fully booked. I decided on a weekend to Jaipur and having undertaken a web search contacted an India based travel agent, who provided me with a bespoke itinerary– which sounded great. With Daniel’s voice in my head, just before confirming the booking I undertook a web review of the said company – and the first words I read were “Do not use this company – they are crooks!” Anyway – other reviews were none to complimentary, but one did usefullyprovide the name on another company, who had been excellent.So I contacted Icon Tours, who provided me an inclusive, bespoke package– deposit has been paid, looks good on paper …….we’ll see. Daniel now knows we’regoing to Jaipur and I think the“control freak” part of him is slightly concerned …… I guess if we arrive on the train and our tickets are fakes, or there is no-one waiting for us at Jaipur station, I’ve been “had”………… (and will never hear the end of it from D!!).Entrance to the Amber FortDaniel writes.....We’ve just returned from a great few days in Jaipur to celebrate my birthday. Our 6 hour train journey to the city was slightly unusual in that I spent it horizontally – on a sleeping birth. This meant I could relax with my laptop, Ipod and paper undisturbed by chai-wallahs and the like! Katie hadchosen a wonderfulhavelliwhich was an oasis of peace inside Jaipur.From there, we mixed some rest and relaxation with a guided tour of the city and the Amber Fort - which included an elephant ride up the hill into the Fort just so I could pretend to be a Maharaja!There was a lot to see in our short time but the brief highlights were (top picture) -Jal Mahal, the Lake Palace, is standing in the middle of Man Sagar Lake about 6.5 km from Jaipur. It was built in 1799 in red sandstone and it was used by the royals as a pleasure palace. Among other things they had duck shooting parties here. The first floors of the palace is submerged under water and it is now abandoned.Amber Fort (middle picture) is located in Amber (a UNESCO protected city), which used to be the capital of the Kachhwaha clan, till Jaipur was made the official capital in 1727. The Amber Fort looks stunning, all-built in white marble and red sandstone. To add to its charm, Maotha Lake makes its foreground. The crystal mirror image of the Fort, on the still waters of the lake, seems to be a beautiful illusion. The outer appearance of the Fort, being rough and craggy is totally different from its core. The interior of the Fort provides a soothing and warm ambience, which is least expected from its outer appearance. The marvelous decoration of the Amer Fort is influenced by both, the Hindu and Muslim manner of ornamentation. Exquisite paintings of hunting scenes on the walls depict the temperament of the Rajputs, who were adventurous, revolutionary and self-indulgent. And the intricate carvings on the walls and ceilings are simply astonishing and the minute mirror work adds to the grand appearance and royalty of the halls.The Hawa MahalThen, there's the Hawa Mahal (above) meaningPalace of Winds (no, nothing to do with our Delhi Belly!). Its unique five-storey exterior is also akin to the honeycomb of the beehive with its 953 small windows calledjharokhas that rises to a height of 50 feet (15 m) from its high base. The top three floors of the structure have a dimension of one room width while the first and second floors have patios in front of them, on the rear side of the structure. The front elevation, as seen from the street, is like a honeycomb web of a beehive built with small portholes. Each porthole has miniature windows and has carved sandstone grills, finials and domes. It is a veritable mass of semi-octagonal bays, which gives the monument its unique façade. I'm just sorry that my picture doesn't really do it justice!