India Four: Jaipur Rajasthan

We are told that no state in India has more magnificent palaces and forts than Rajasthan. It is the most popular tourist area and our train is scheduled to visit seven of the most famous places. The first is Jaipur (City of Victory) and known as "The Pink City" Pink, they say in India pink is a sign of welcome, and when the son of Queen Victoria, Edward the Seventh visited Jaipur the city was so keen to welcome him that they started what has become a tradition, to paint all major buildings pink! The city was founded by Sawai Jai Singh who was a great scholar and statesman. and who was awarded the title "One-and-a-Quarter" a metaphor for one who is extraordinary.
After a visit to what has become known as the Pink Palace with its splendid blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, we are taken to see a most extraordinary observatory. Built by Jai Singh who was a passionate astronomer around 1728, it is still in use an looks like a modern sculpture garden with its sixteen stone instruments forecasting how hot the summer months will be, the expected date of arrival duration and intensity of the monsoon and the possibility of floods or famine. Incredible! That it could have been done at that time and that it all still works today!

Then by elephant ride (this is after all a tourist trap..) for lunch to the Amber Fort. We have a spectacular view and lunch under great canopy on an upper deck.We talk a lot about how refined and civilized the ancient Indians were and how grand life was for the royal class.