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| Not sure where we are headed :) This is Hindi and you read it from left to right. |
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| We saw lots of garlands, a welcome sign. This is another arch that we drive through. |
Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory
The observatory, built between 1726 and 1734 by the Maharaja (King) Jai Singh II of Jaipur, is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments. There are twenty geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses and tracking stars' location as the earth orbits around the sun. Include on the Unesco's World Heritage List, it is considered "an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period." Below are some of the instruments.
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| Astrology is very important to the Indian culture. They use it to determine marriages. I am standing at the Virgo. |
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| This giant sundial tells time to the nearest 2 seconds to Jaipur time. | | |
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City Palace
We visited the
City Palace in Jaipur. The construction began with the outer walls of this huge area and rulers after Jai Singh continued to add buildings to the interior space. The king still resides in one of the exquisite buildings. We saw a costume gallery with past royal attire, including the robe of one of the kings who weighed over 500 pounds.
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| Beautiful arches outside and inside Diwan-I-Khas, a hall for private audiences |
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| There was a gate for each season at Pritam Chowk inside the City Palace. The art portrays the beauty of the peacock, the national bird of India |
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| Crystal chandeliers adorn the pink sandstone hall, Diwan-I-Khas. |
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| Diwan-I-Khas houses the two largest sterling silver vessels in the world. They were made for Maharaja Singh II to carry water from the Ganga River to drink on his trip to England. |
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| We walked through market stands along a very busy street in Jaipur.Our guide helped us navigate the streets we shared with rickshaws, cars, bikes, anything goes- including elephants, cows, and camels. What an experience this was visually and with the sounds. To capture India, one needs the sound! |
Buffet Indian Dinner and Entertainment
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| Indian music and dance |
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Amazing balance! There are seven baskets atop her head.
Note: to see any picture full screen, click on the picture. |
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