This morning we continued our tour of Jaipur. First stop was in the centre of the city to view the impressive wind palace. This narrow building has a walkway in the back which was used by the royal women to view the activities in the street from a safe, protected area. At this stop we had our first view of snake charmers. Eeek!
We continued on to the Jantar Mantar, the largest of the five remarkable observatories representing the high points of medieval Indian astronomy and the City Palace, a former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles. Of course, we had to dodge the cows on the road. Our last stop in Jaipur is a jewelry factory.
Jaipur is known for its spectacular gems and expert cutters and designers. Most of the gems in the world are sent to India to be cut and polished and made ready for setting into spectacular jewelry pieces. After a fun jewelry shopping spree we enjoyed a delicious vegetarian lunch at the Four Seasons restaurant.
Back on the road again to travel to Pushkar, the holy city dedicated to Lord Brahma and the site of the grand annual Camel Fair. There will be mystics and musicians, camel-wallahs and priests, and vendors plying their wares from across Rajasthan. It’s a rich blend of colour and activities, from sacred bathing rituals to camel races. Tomorrow we’ll start our day with an early morning camel cart ride to view the sunrise.
We arrived at our deluxe hotel just in time for afternoon tea. Delicious! We were treated to some music while we enjoyed the tasty treats. The hotel pool area and gardens are stunning and our rooms bright and spacious We actually have a swing seat in our room. So cool!
Overnight: Gateway Resort, Pushkar