The Old City of Jaipur (Pink City)
Like many of the old cities, Jaipur’s Old City is a walled city, entrance into which is through large, beautiful gates. The gates lead onto wide streets that were being beautified with tinsel and lights in preparation for the Diwali Festival(The Festival of Lights) that was to start in three or four days time. The streets, although wide, were hectic as the locals were out in their masses to ready themselves for the festival. It is similar to Christmas - a happy time with families, a time for giving presents, prettying homes and selves.
It is in the old city that theHawa Mahal and the City Palace Complex can be found. The Hawa Mahal is a major landmark in Jaipur. Originally built for the royals to peer at on the mere mortals down on the street and to watch processions from behind shutters. Hawa Mahal means Palace of the Winds as once upon a time the winds used to whisper through all the little holes of the shutters. Palace of the winds no longer since someone had the bright idea to put glass behind the holes during one of the renovations.
The Hawa Mahal is part of the city palace complex. The palace itself is through a series of gates and away from the street. Like most palace complexes in India it is a series of buildings - the Welcome Palace, the Maharani's Palace (queen's apartments), audience Halls, courtyards etc..
The Next to the Palace is the Jantar Mantar, an observatory started in 1728 by a royal with a passion for astronomy. For a mere pleb such as myself, with little to no knowledge of astrological instruments, it appears to be a garden filled with weird and wonderful giant sculptures.
Like many of the old cities, Jaipur’s Old City is a walled city, entrance into which is through large, beautiful gates. The gates lead onto wide streets that were being beautified with tinsel and lights in preparation for the Diwali Festival(The Festival of Lights) that was to start in three or four days time. The streets, although wide, were hectic as the locals were out in their masses to ready themselves for the festival. It is similar to Christmas - a happy time with families, a time for giving presents, prettying homes and selves.
Scaffolding for a Diwali Arch
- constructed with bamboo and material strips
The clay pots are throw-aways - one use only
The back of the Hawa Mahal seen from the observatory
The Hawa Mahal is part of the city palace complex. The palace itself is through a series of gates and away from the street. Like most palace complexes in India it is a series of buildings - the Welcome Palace, the Maharani's Palace (queen's apartments), audience Halls, courtyards etc..
One of the series of entry gates
A puppeteer in an outer courtyard
Hall of Private Audiences
The Peacock Gate
The Next to the Palace is the Jantar Mantar, an observatory started in 1728 by a royal with a passion for astronomy. For a mere pleb such as myself, with little to no knowledge of astrological instruments, it appears to be a garden filled with weird and wonderful giant sculptures.
This one I remember as the concept wasn't beyond me.
It is a huge sundial!
This beautiful series of twelve structures has something to do with the zodiac signs
A reminder of my previous life!
A smaller, though still large, sundial.
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