Blue, Gold and Pink Cities of the Rajasthan

Rajesthan is a desert state in North West Indian bordering on Pakistan.We’re hitting the coloured cities:

JODHPUR Blue

Famous Ranakpur Jaine Temple on route to Jodphur was begun in the 15th century.

Exquisitely carved throughout. Just don’t take photos of any deities. This guy videoing suspicious characters (apparently I’m one).

Jodhpur is called the Blue city for a reason:

Mehrangarh Fort is ever-present; in this relatively small city it’s hard to get really lost.

Lots of roof top restaurants with views but watch your timing… Night spotlights go out by 9:30; gardens are part of palace one level down.

Shots in the glass palace which is part of the Mehrangarh Fort.

Very manageable old town with exquisite archetecture to befitting for its colourful present and history.

More festivities follow Holi.

New shoes courtesy of this industrious shoemaker; mailbox looks big enough for Diane’s postcards.

JAISELMAR Golden City

No explanation needed here. Pure golden desert; it’s like a huge sandcastle (just no beach)!

Views from our hotel rooftop – Jaisalmer Fort and street view where we watch local neighbourhood evening activities.

The Fort is alive with life – 3000 people still live there.

Seven interconnected Jaine Temples 15/16 century, inside Fort. Bottom right: we’re always stepping over these at temple entrances. They are so beautiful.

Our Fort Jaisalmer friends. It’s low season now so there’s more time to ‘chew the fat’ .

Pankaj owns the Traveler’s Cup Premium Coffee Shop (also bookstore) . Best coffee in town.

Top left: Pankaj (and his brother, Manish, not pictured ) are great hosts during the scorching daytime heat. Bottom left: Iliyas and Arjan.

Iliyas and Arjun are two nearby merchants who keep us entertained:

Diane models one design of many in turbon wrapping by Arjun.

Miscellaneous: including baby unhappy Dad wants us to take a photo

A plug for the hotel – Pleasant Haveli – which was gorgeous, had delicious food, great staff, and amazing views of Fort. It also runs camel safaris. We took the overnight one (see separate blog) and it was just perfect – we were on our own in the desert/sand dunes or so it seemed!

wwwpleasanthaveli.com

JAIPUR – Pink City

We splurge on what we have to do at least once on this trip: stay in a heritage hotel. Shapura House is a great choice:

It is truly royal, with a lovely pool, elegance throughout and a wonderful breakfast included for our $C65/night.

Camel doing his job; and, New Gate entrance to the old pink town.

The five storey Hawa Mahal, 1799, was built by Majaraja Sawai Pratap Singh to allow royal women and their female household to watch outside – the city market in one direction and the city Palace on the other.

Hawa Mahal, painted pink to match old town , has countless peephole.

Two views. Left: Triangle in distance one of several astrological observatories built by Jai Singh II in early 1700S. Right: another working camel in market area

Uber exists here in Jaipur but the alternative OLA, is cheaper and good. We use for drive to Amber Fort in Amer half an hours drive out of town. The Fort began construction in 1592 and continues the theme of pale yellow and pink sandstone.