Now was the time to visit the landmark of city , City Palace , Jaipur. This place is mine of historical things but sadest part is this that most of the sections are barred from Photography.

This palace includes Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal  , two sections of palace in which Chandra Mahal is turned into museum but still maximum portion of palace is used as royal residence of Royal family of Jaipur.

somewhere around 4000 workers are angaged in the services of palace presently taking care of both residence and museum and their salary is extracted out of the tickets sold to the tourist who come to see the museum, as was told by one of those 4000 workers to whom i interacted a bit.

According to him the sole purpose of this museum is to maintain the property .

This was a treat to the eyes. A silver jar made during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II . As it is mentioned there , Maharaja used to drink water of river ganges only, water was brought from the nearest source and was stored in these big silver jars.

It took two years for the silver smiths to make this possible. 14000 silver coins and one silver jar , two jars have been placed there. As it is mentioned in front of them they are mentioned in Guiness book of world record also as the largest silver made objects.

Something which made me surprised was the technique used by the silver smiths. In the making of jar no smoldering was used , silver coins were melted to make them as thin sheets and then sheets were moulded in the shape of Jars and even the handle and ladder were also made to pour water in them as they are 5’3″ tall.

Truely an amazing thing to see. I have seen this thing many a times the more backward i had gone in time i have found more surprising things done by the rulers of that time.

Same was done by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II , when he went to England for the coronation ceremony of Edward VII in 1902 he took these jars along with him filled with Ganges holy water.

City Palace has been filled with the artistic work of that time , whether it is armoury of rulers of that time or the paintings or the leisure things.

 

Somethings were seriously a treat to my eyes and brain both and somethings were topic of discussion. In the Armoury section i saw many things made of Crystal , Gold , Silver and above all every things was replicated with same design using elephant teeth, whether that was sword handle or back scratcher . Yes i am right even they used to scratch there back using Gold silver or crystal scratchers.

I happen to see the hall also where the recent coronation of present king His Highness Padmanabh Singh who is just 15 yrs old now. This hall boasts paintings made in some 13th – 14th century, a carpet which is somewhere around 400 yrs old and the second biggest chandelier.

2 hrs passed , a lot scene , and very less captured thanks to the strict staff who were warning of not to click pictures otherwise camera’s would be confiscated. But still all in all a place where i would visit again whenever i am in jaipur for next time but this time with a copy and pen atleast.

 

 

History unfolds at every stop in Rajasthan and may be it is the reason why Rajasthan has been the main tourist destination of India.

I have always been in love with those places which holds some historical presence in them and this trip of mine was giving me opportunity to be close with the historical places which had made their mark in India’s history.

My car’s next stop over was Nahargarh Fort ( meaning Abode of Tigers ) , standing on the edge of the Aravalli Hills Built mainly in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, the fort was constructed as a place of retreat on the summit of the ridge above the city.

 

At the start of its construction was supposed to be named as Sudarshan garh Fort but as the folk lores tell , construction was obstructed by the spirit of Nahar Singh Bhoomia. To make this forts construction possible one temple was built inside the fort to pacify Nahar Singh Bhoomia and which gave this fort its Name Nahargarh Fort.

Its inside compound is a long gallery , having some rooms and every room or call it a section are named after the princess’s. Main two rooms one just above the entry of the palace and the other one just opposite to it were of the King and the 1st wife of him.

One guard working there helped us in telling the history of the palace and gave us a good detail knowledge of every corner of the palace, he just charged some Rs 20, that too which we gave he dint even asked for anything.

We were getting very tired , sun had come right on top of us and it was unbearable and we needed some rest. We were lucky , this palace has got Restaurants also inside it and on of them provides stay facility also there in Palace only.

This Restaurant, as was told by the management holds the artefacts and furniture used by the royal family that time in Nahargarh fort. Though they have lost the charm a bit , but still when sitting on them one could feel the history and the era.

 

This Palace has got the breath taking view of the jaipur city. One could see the top view or can say whole jaipur city spread in miles from there. It is very common for local people to go their in the night as well and enjoy a long drive or we can say this historical place has turned out as the local picnic spot in the nights as its entry is open till late night also.

My next trip is surely going to cover that breath taking view of Jaipur , shining in light as it was not possible for me to go their this time at night.

Dont know whether this is true or not or can say i need to to carbon dating of this tree to verify what that guard told me. According to him this tree has been standing there in the courtyard since that time when this fort was not built. It was prohibited by the architects to cut this tree and to remain it there only as this tree had some relation with Nahar Singh Bhoomia.

My sole interest was just to click this tree and i had no interest knowing much about his relation with anybody , as i know these folk lores changes mouth to mouth and there is never a full proof authenticity of them.

I was ready to leave, half day had passed and it was getting very tiring to stand in the sun there.

 

 

 

JAIVANA CANNON…. something of which i had heard a lot but this time it was in front of me. Build in 1772 and considered as the biggest Cannon of its time.

May be Maharaja Sawai Jaisingh II foresightedness made him to give orders to make such a huge cannon , having the range of 22 miles and needed 100 Kg of Gun powder for a single shot.

It was the time of plunders and wars , every ruler was worried about threats from both outsiders and insiders , which made them to think different and keep themselves safe.

Jaigarh fort was built to save Amber fort , and for the same reason Jaivana Cannon is Placed on top of the Jaigarh fort.

May be its presence only made its impact and it was never being used except only once when it was tested. Standing from ages gaurding the city Jaivana Cannon is still considered as the Guard of the whole Jaipur city , and is worshipped by royal family on all important festivals.

 

Day 2 was going to start quite early. My greedy backpack was ready with his greedy list to be unchecked.

Topping the list was Jaigarh fort , built on “Hill of Eagles” in Aravali range of Jaipur built to guard the Amber fort to which it looks from the top by that time ruler Jai singh II on whose name was named as Jaigarh fort. This is the first time when i am hearing that ” A fort guarding a fort ” something which is very unusual.

Never heard of this thing and cant even imagine what the rulers were thinking that time to guard a fort build one more fort.

fort was some 30min away from my hotel The Theme. Weather was awesome, little bit of drizzle in the night had made the morning very misty but it was soothing and a great day to drive in Rajasthan.

First time i was seeing this that car was allowed inside the Fort area. We passed right to top of the fort with my Car only.

Once this place was more lively , now it has lost its charm. But still if i compare it with the fort of Gwalior which i visited recently i would say it is much better maintained. This fort is still maintained by the Royal Family of Rajasthan and the money collected from the tickets is spent on the fort only.

one would find these type of squared holes in the walls of any fort one visit. These were used by the soldiers to guard they used to keep there guns inside them to aim the enemy. Same was here but here these holes were guarding a fort from the enemies.

Jaigarh Fort walls are built with such angle that from every window one gets the view of Amber Fort , and if that would not be then it would not solve the whole purpose to build this extra fort.

As i was not getting the perfect view of Amber fort top view i tried to click by climbing over the wall to have this magnificient view of the Amber fort. Right in front of the fort Maota lake was made which was used as water reservoir that time and now a days it is used as water reservoir for Elephants which are used by tourists to ride to Amber fort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.