Jaipur
*Sorry this is late. Slow internet at the hotel meant I had to upload my photos overnight.
Today we had a full list of things we wanted to see and we accomplished all of them! We started out by ordering breakfast from the hotel and having it delivered to the loggia. We ate out there. It reminds us a lot of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel! The staff are very accommodating and helpful. However, we did find out that there are no hot showers--cold only. Joshua and I had sponge baths. I'm bracing my self for a cold shower tomorrow. Randy said that his was room temperature. Here are some photos from our historic hotel:
Then we called an Uber and went to the Galtaji temple, also called the Monkey Temple because of all of the monkeys there. The monkeys are allowed to roam and have virtually taken over one of the pools for their own use. There is a natural spring on the hilltop above the temple and the temple has 7 holy water tanks filled with this sacred water. Many pilgrims come and bathe in the water. We saw the monkeys scaling the walls and jumping into the water, also attacking each other with screeches. When we first got out of the Uber, a man approached and offered his services as a guide. Then another came saying that we had to pay money for each of our cameras. We paid, but declined the services of the guide, even though he told us that he is the Monkey Master. We met another Monkey Master later in our visit who offered his services as well. We were also offered the chance to bathe in the water and to have a monkey sit on our shoulder for a picture--both of which we also declined. We also declined giving money to the holy men and giving money to the poor women, as well as buying more trinkets than anyone could use. Ack! The temple is pretty run down and not what we expected. Some of the rural area around it is very poor and there is garbage everywhere. There are also cows everywhere and their waste permeates the air and they block some of the roads. There are two men with a rope across the road. As you approach, they tighten the rope to block the road and charge you to get past.
When we were done here, our phone had no service to call an uber, so we took a tuk tuk to our next destination. Jal Mahal was built as a hunting lodge by the Maharaja in 1750. A dam had been installed in the 1400s, creating a lake. Unfortunately, the lake level kept rising, until the lodge (actually a palace) was underwater. It is five stories tall, but only the top story is visible above the water.
Near that is the Amber (or Amer in Hindu) fort and palace. Our tuk tuk driver insisted on waiting for us at the Jal Mahal and driving us to the Amber Palace. Randy asked him if there was a step well nearby for us to see. So the driver drove through the village of Amber City to an ancient step well. People would go all the way down the steps to get buckets of water. Some of the deep ones have diving platforms for people to dive in and swim.
Next up was the Amber Palace. Our driver wanted to wait the couple of hours it would take us, but I told him that it would take us a long time and that he shouldn't wait. He looked so sad! The palace and fort were once where the royal family lived (built in 1592) and it was the capital of India until they moved it to Jaipur and built a new palace there.The fort includes a wall up and down the hills surrounding the palace. The fountains of the palace were not working and looked as if they haven't worked in a while. There were many passages to explore as well as courtyards and a few gardens. It is not used anymore, so visitors have mostly free rein. There are many guides around that you can hire, both official and unofficial. It reminded me of the scene in Slum Dog Millionaire when the boys become tour guides at the Taj Mahal.
Next we had an Uber take us to the City Palace. We looked around, but there is not a lot to see. It is next to the current residence of the royal family. We weren't allowed to take photos in the most opulent room--the Maharajah's throne room. (Randy did and we were fined)
Next we walked to get water and food. On the way, we stopped to see the hawa mahal. It is a palace that was built for the royal women (the wives of the Maharaja's harem) to live. Others were not allowed to see them, so they could live here and see the street and festivals that would happen there without being seen.
We then bought water from a roadside stand. A huge bottle of water was the equivalent of 40¢. We then started looking for a restaurant in vain. We looked them up on Google maps but couldn't find them. As we walked, someone from every shop came to ask us to buy things. People asked us for money. It was really annoying and embarrassing. I want to help people, but there are so many beggars and homeless people that I can't help all of them. And I don't need any of the things that they are selling. Anyway, a man approached asking us what we were trying to find (we were using Randy's phone and contemplating coming back and eating at the hotel's restaurant). The man said that he knew one that was very nice, clean, with good food (it turned out to be the one we were looking for). He led us down a dark alley and up three flights of stairs and we found it! It was clean, air conditioned, and the food was great! We were the only customers! The man explained that it was in the back alley because it is for locals and the rents are way less.
After we ate, he returned while we took photos from the rooftop eating area of the restaurant. And he asked us to look at the items in his shop. I apologized for not going to look because I knew I would not buy and we thanked him for showing us his friend's restaurant. Then we called an Uber to take us back to the hotel where we bought 3 more bottles of water. It is near 10:00 and we have to be up early tomorrow for our transport to Agra.
*Sorry this is late. Slow internet at the hotel meant I had to upload my photos overnight.
Today we had a full list of things we wanted to see and we accomplished all of them! We started out by ordering breakfast from the hotel and having it delivered to the loggia. We ate out there. It reminds us a lot of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel! The staff are very accommodating and helpful. However, we did find out that there are no hot showers--cold only. Joshua and I had sponge baths. I'm bracing my self for a cold shower tomorrow. Randy said that his was room temperature. Here are some photos from our historic hotel:
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| Our towels were folded into swans |
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| Our (messy) room |
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| Our door |
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| The hotel courtyard |
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| Our doorknobs |
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| The loggia |
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| hallway |
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| The view from the loggia |
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| An interesting grasshopper we saw during breakfast. (there was a group of male employees near the doorway when I took this pic. I looked up to see all of them staring at me like I was a crazy woman-- taking pictures of bugs!) |
Then we called an Uber and went to the Galtaji temple, also called the Monkey Temple because of all of the monkeys there. The monkeys are allowed to roam and have virtually taken over one of the pools for their own use. There is a natural spring on the hilltop above the temple and the temple has 7 holy water tanks filled with this sacred water. Many pilgrims come and bathe in the water. We saw the monkeys scaling the walls and jumping into the water, also attacking each other with screeches. When we first got out of the Uber, a man approached and offered his services as a guide. Then another came saying that we had to pay money for each of our cameras. We paid, but declined the services of the guide, even though he told us that he is the Monkey Master. We met another Monkey Master later in our visit who offered his services as well. We were also offered the chance to bathe in the water and to have a monkey sit on our shoulder for a picture--both of which we also declined. We also declined giving money to the holy men and giving money to the poor women, as well as buying more trinkets than anyone could use. Ack! The temple is pretty run down and not what we expected. Some of the rural area around it is very poor and there is garbage everywhere. There are also cows everywhere and their waste permeates the air and they block some of the roads. There are two men with a rope across the road. As you approach, they tighten the rope to block the road and charge you to get past.
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| The pool with people bathing in the water |
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| The monkey on the roof jumped all the way down into the pool! |
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| Monkeys |
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| Monkeys eating fruit that had fallen from the tree |
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| Swimming monkeys |
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| This one found a mom and baby frog. Several of the monkeys attempted to pull the baby off--probably to eat it |
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| One of the men started blowing kisses to me when he saw me taking the photo |
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| A mother asked to take a photo of me with her two little adorable girls because of my white skin. Later in the day, a man took a photo with his arm around Joshua! Kind of weird to be noted for our skin color. |
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| Cow right next to our tuk tuk |
When we were done here, our phone had no service to call an uber, so we took a tuk tuk to our next destination. Jal Mahal was built as a hunting lodge by the Maharaja in 1750. A dam had been installed in the 1400s, creating a lake. Unfortunately, the lake level kept rising, until the lodge (actually a palace) was underwater. It is five stories tall, but only the top story is visible above the water.
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| Joshua |
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| Our tuk tuk |
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| A camel |
Near that is the Amber (or Amer in Hindu) fort and palace. Our tuk tuk driver insisted on waiting for us at the Jal Mahal and driving us to the Amber Palace. Randy asked him if there was a step well nearby for us to see. So the driver drove through the village of Amber City to an ancient step well. People would go all the way down the steps to get buckets of water. Some of the deep ones have diving platforms for people to dive in and swim.
 |
| A shrine across the road from the well |
Next up was the Amber Palace. Our driver wanted to wait the couple of hours it would take us, but I told him that it would take us a long time and that he shouldn't wait. He looked so sad! The palace and fort were once where the royal family lived (built in 1592) and it was the capital of India until they moved it to Jaipur and built a new palace there.The fort includes a wall up and down the hills surrounding the palace. The fountains of the palace were not working and looked as if they haven't worked in a while. There were many passages to explore as well as courtyards and a few gardens. It is not used anymore, so visitors have mostly free rein. There are many guides around that you can hire, both official and unofficial. It reminded me of the scene in Slum Dog Millionaire when the boys become tour guides at the Taj Mahal.
 |
| one of the gardens |
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| goats also are everywhere |
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| along the wall--slits and openings for weapons and a stair leading to the upper wall defenses |
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| The assembly room |
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| details in the assembly room |
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| a courtyard |
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| A garden in the middle of what would have been the moat |
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| We were imagining how cool that garden would look surrounded by the water of the moat. |
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| Turkish baths |
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| Another garden |
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| Joshua |
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| a ceiling |
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| Joshua trying not to laugh for a "thoughtful photo" |
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| Monkeys here too |
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| The outer walls on a distant hill |
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| Randy |
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| In one area, the walls and ceiling are inlaid with tiny mirrors and silver |
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| This door was inlaid with ivory (what's left is protected behind glass |
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| We stopped for yummy fruity drinks at a coffeeshop in the palace |
Next we had an Uber take us to the City Palace. We looked around, but there is not a lot to see. It is next to the current residence of the royal family. We weren't allowed to take photos in the most opulent room--the Maharajah's throne room. (Randy did and we were fined)
Next we walked to get water and food. On the way, we stopped to see the hawa mahal. It is a palace that was built for the royal women (the wives of the Maharaja's harem) to live. Others were not allowed to see them, so they could live here and see the street and festivals that would happen there without being seen.
 |
| Street scene, shops across the street |
 |
| The home for the harem |
We then bought water from a roadside stand. A huge bottle of water was the equivalent of 40¢. We then started looking for a restaurant in vain. We looked them up on Google maps but couldn't find them. As we walked, someone from every shop came to ask us to buy things. People asked us for money. It was really annoying and embarrassing. I want to help people, but there are so many beggars and homeless people that I can't help all of them. And I don't need any of the things that they are selling. Anyway, a man approached asking us what we were trying to find (we were using Randy's phone and contemplating coming back and eating at the hotel's restaurant). The man said that he knew one that was very nice, clean, with good food (it turned out to be the one we were looking for). He led us down a dark alley and up three flights of stairs and we found it! It was clean, air conditioned, and the food was great! We were the only customers! The man explained that it was in the back alley because it is for locals and the rents are way less.
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| Looking for food! |
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| street scene |
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| From the rooftop seating area |
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| The entrance to the restaurant is down that alley (no wonder we couldn't find it!) |
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| My dinner--thali |
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| Randy's dinner |
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| A view from the stairway of the restaurant |
After we ate, he returned while we took photos from the rooftop eating area of the restaurant. And he asked us to look at the items in his shop. I apologized for not going to look because I knew I would not buy and we thanked him for showing us his friend's restaurant. Then we called an Uber to take us back to the hotel where we bought 3 more bottles of water. It is near 10:00 and we have to be up early tomorrow for our transport to Agra.
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