The Wild Wild East

Sit back, relax, and let your imagination take you back 600 years to 1750 AD India. You are the Maharaja returning from a 2 or 3 year campaign of conquering far off foreign lands. Your entourage consisting of 100’s of elephants and thousands of warriors is returning from a triumphant victory to take up residence once again in your magnificent palace and fort. Your procession triumphantly enters the Victory Gates to the excited welcome of your Maharani (Queen) and the sinful, though perfectly acceptable tradition of your Harem and all the seductive treats it will offer. Your 12 ladies in waiting will cook and offer up any delights, which your desires may need fulfilling.

The Amber Fort is beyond doubt, just a magnificent fortification, sitting high atop the hills, just 11 km from Jaipur otherwise known as the Pink City. Spectacular from afar, it grows even more in stature the closer you get. The hawkers and peddlers of trinkets, cheap turbans and souvenir illustrated publications are a real menace which you have to contend with, but after all, they are only trying to scratch out a meager living.

Though the fort is the highlight, iconic places of interest abound. There are many additional forts, some in disrepair, others housing hotels or residences. But the Hawa Mawal or Palace of Winds has a striking façade, constructed with 953 sandstone windows.

What I thought would be a rather dull inclusion for the day was anything but. The Jantar Majar, is an ancient astrological collection for the measure of time. The creator, Maharaja Jam Singh II was obsessed with time and astrological positioning of the earth and his architectural designed pieces are a marvel, considering they were built in the early 1700’s.

The evening dinner with a local family was an absolute delight. We were fortunate to have as our table hostess the 10 year old daughter whose name I can neither spell or pronounce. She is able to speak 5 languages and her ambition in life is to become a Judge. After she told us she sang in her school choir, I asked her if she would sing to us. She said she could sing in English, Hindi or Turkish. We chose Hindi and here is a video of her performance. Simply enchanting. 

On to Ranthambore to go on safari in search of tigers and other wild game.

Namaste