Jaipur

Saturday February 2nd - Rest day in Jaipur

Another comfortable hotel and good food. Instead of bicycle, we took a tuktuk out about 10 km west of town to the Amber Fort and were amazed at its size as well as the walls and other fortification along the hillsides.

Amber Fort

Fortifications above the Amber Fort

from Amber Fort looking at the old town of Amer and further fortifications on the hill beyond

in the morning, elephants are one of the options for tourists...
we're not very sure how happy a life it is for the elephants.

gate to the royal palace in the fort

The glass palace where the king met special guests privately 

Ornamental garden - on the far side is where the king reportedly relaxed with his ladies

 From there it was off to the City Palace....

....then across the road to the Jantar Mantar monument built in 1734 containing a collection of nineteen astronomical instruments. 

the world's largest stone sundial

view from Jantar Mantar of the city palace and fortifications on the far hills

 ... and on the way back to the hotel, we passed Hawa Mahal which is an extension of the city palace where the women's quarters were. The only contact with the outside world was to look out their window.