Now was the time to visit the most sought after states of India in Tourism sector. Not going to be my 1st tour to Rajasthan but this time modus operandy is going to be different. Previous time’s when i had visited i was not a #Traveller Blogger or #photographer. This time it was going to be a long drive as i was travelling with my brand new Mahindra Quanto and it was much awaited ride.
Tour is hectic, not enough time to rest but every moment would be captured and enjoyed adding into my memories.
Followed my instincts and planned my whole trip. Day 1 was going to be more hectic and i would be covering very less places and only those places which i had seen before also in much detail and this time they would be deserving some glance only. Its not that they are not worth of second visit but my schedule didnt allowed me to do so.
Left early in the morning for Jaipur , it would be taking atleast 5hrs to reach but i knew i was going to be late as i know myself i would be taking lot of stop over’s as my greedy backpack includes a greedy camera also.
We reached jaipur as it was expected 1hr late , but before checking in hotel i had to cover some places as in evening prior commitments were not going to give me much time.
My first halt was at HAWA MAHAL.
Call it as Palace Of Winds as Full flow of winds enter into his small but 953 windows and is the main feature of Hawa Mahal, though i didnt even tried to count these windows this is what guides or books tell of. Built in 1799 by Kachhwaha Rajput ruler, Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh who built Jaipur.
Purdah system (which is still followed in many families of India ) was followed by the Rajputs is said to be one of the main causes of the construction of this palace. During those days, Rajput royal women did not appear in public or in front of strangers. However, they were keen to follow the day-to-day events and royal processions occurring on the streets. It is for their benefit that the Hawa Mahal was built, complete with small windows and screened balconies. This gave the women a sense of freedom, without appearing in public.
I was lucky enough to have been able to click pictures of Hawa Mahal this time as on my previous visits it was under maintenance and was covered by bamboo scaffolding.
Just a stop of 15min was sufficient there. My next stop over was going to be ALBERT HALL.
Named after Albert Edward , Prince of Wales who visited Jaipur in 1876 , and foundation stone of this monument was laid. Located in the centre of Circling roads is one of the main attractions of Jaipur . Beautiful carvings describe on its own the hard work given by the labour of that time who made it possible and this whole complex was completed in years time by 1877.
Now it inhabits a Museum displaying works of Industrial arts by local craftsmen coming from different parts of India.
As it is on the circle between the roads it was turning out very tough for me to capture a perfect click. This same car stopped there twice to feed these pigeons . Many people come at this place to feed pigeons. And as soon as this car moved, dont know what was happening same car same model came again and had to click picture with it only.
I moved for my next stopover and it was going to be Amber Fort.
Amber (pronounced Amer) is situated about 11 kilometres from Jaipur and was the ancient citadel of the ruling Kachwahas of Amber, before the capital was shifted to the plains, the present day Jaipur. Constructed by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by Mirja Raja Jai Singh the fort was made in red sand stone and white marble.
I had visited this place in detail in my previous trips and i was much aware of it what was inside it. That time i was not at all impressed by what the government of India who owns this and only this fort in Jaipur , rest of forts still owned by the Royal Family of Jaipur.
At some places had got very beautiful architecture but at many places restoration work by the archeological department has ruined the original beauty of this majestic palace.
This thing had hurted me a lot before and i had fixed that i was going to take picture from outside only which still holds its naturality like the way it was when built in 1592.
My next and last stop over of the day before i reach my hotel JAL MAHAL. It is getting very tiring, 9 hrs have gone and i am on the continuous move and my knees are now cursing me.
Many mysteries continue to surround the pleasure palace of Jal Mahal. It is known to be about 300 years old, but its precise date of construction remains undiscovered. Just a pavilion with a terrace garden in Man Sagar Lake, built in the Rajasthani tradition of ‘island resorts’ or ‘water palaces’ where royal families would seek their ‘pleasure’.
I think a year back or so it was in news that it would be handed over to some Chinese company who would be managing it as a tourist place and would start a boat ride towards it , some how that news has faded away, got tangeled in some controversies and died its own death.
I am still waiting when i would be able to go inside this majestic palace. But till now i have to suffice myself and all the readers with this pic only.
Atlast i am going to reach my hotel in some 10min more but the hectic day doesnt end here.
