SUNDAY IN JAIPUR

All over Jaipur tonight, it seems, fireworks spangle the night sky, drums keep up their endlessly pulsating cadences, and spotlights illuminate outdoor party centers all around the city – it’s been an active weekend for weddings, that’s for sure! From our Country Inn and Suites hotel room this evening we can look out and see much of the action, just as we have for the past several days; it’s quite a colorful scene – and noisy, too!

Earlier today we continued our explorations of Jaipur, first stopping by Hawa Mahal (“Palace of the Winds”), the iconic symbol of the city, a narrow five story façade of viewing rooms sheltering palace women from the glances of men other than their husbands behind intricately-patterned, honey-combed sandstone window screens.

We moved on from there to explore more of the old walled city dating back to the early eighteenth century, first visiting Jantar Mantar, a fascinating open air astronomical observatory completed in 1734 (and whose most sensitive instruments are still accurate to within two seconds all these centuries later). The layout of the observatory most resembled a contemporary outdoor sculpture garden rather than the set of comprehensive astrological tools they in fact are …

In the same central location, just a few steps away in fact, we were able to walk through a nicely displayed collection of traditional costumes worn by the local maharaja and his family, and (housed in a local artisan collective) to watch a demonstration illustrating how a talented artist can create miniature works of art with a paint brush containing only a single hair.

Our final visits for the morning took us through the former maharaja’s city palace itself, a central portion of which was being transformed into a movie-like set for a wedding, likely similar to many of those taking place elsewhere all around town this evening. Then, to round everything off appropriately, we visited a rug-weaving workshop and showroom (where we ended up purchasing a small wool Rajasthani rug for our bedroom floor).

After lunch back at our hotel and a brief “time out,” later in the afternoon several of us opted to explore a wonderfully busy and colorful local market and then go on to visit a local Hindu temple. We managed to catch both a glorious sunset and a brief service of prayer and blessing at the latter before heading “home” for a leisurely evening of much-appreciated “rest and relaxation.”

Jaipur has proven itself a most hospitable and worthwhile travel destination. One can only hope more and more travelers will discover its multiple riches and wonders in the years ahead …