It was decided that we shall explore with minimum comfort levels as would a wandering couple would indulge in explorations; alas we booked BhagatKiKoti Train from Mannargudi and were happy to spot a bio toilet and regular cleaning of compartments all the way till Jaipur.
Seriously getting Biotiolets and regularly cleaned coaches is no big deal if presumed; trains enroute from Jaipur to other Rajasthan cities did not fare even to minimum standards of hygiene let alone broken toilet window glass left comfortably on the side of commode. So Bhagat Ki Koti looked like simple luxury.
So after boarding BhagatKiKoti in the pink of winter (not having foreseen how cold North India would be) we felt pleasant and bewildered by our Northern counterparts Travel manners. I am to myself in disposition and not a guy to concede a inch beyond given to me or booked by me. Northern cousins would blissfully pack little remaining space with their luggage and also pack their journey loaded with delicious food. They do look healthy and also less fussy with respect to using poorly maintained loos. Point is- they do not mind dirty loos whereas i immediately messaged Indian Railways expressing my disgust at poorly maintained toilets. Now more on this Northern trains and their punctuality later.
The train journey can teach us many lessons- not fourth standard or engineering lessons but Life Lessons. Keeping long face so that the strangers would presume you to be tough guy and they do not take panga with you is my usual strategy, but that got smashed once a neighbour politely asks for lower berth for his nursing wife, dropping my hard stance i oblige. All this transpires with my wife already hung a board around her neck reading, 'Ready 2 Help i Just need upper berth so i could sleep'. after few hours of travel we hit the berth. Morning we are greeted into heart of India bordering Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The crowds jostling gather into compartments. Here life lesson 2 unfolds. A portly man settles down immediately ruffling my feathers by pleading if i was sitting in his berth, i give a curt reply NO. the amount of luggage he carried stumped me, not a pocket of air gap left he even occupied the upper berth with all his luggage. He was very pleasant to his young son and also his wife. He was accompanied by his elder sister or Mother not sure but had difficulty moving around. Now all set he systematically opens his food eats, packs, eats, packs and so on and so forth for next 24 hours. they enjoy their food literally wiping out the idea of using loo LATER; or they must be having the best digestive system in the world. Enjoying food during journeys in train or bus is actually a gift. His other quality has been taking care of his elder sister who cannot go to toilet without assistance. He grabbed few hours of sleep after getting his son and wife to bed.
Next thing i saw in the morning he was up and moving around serving breakfast and helping his elder sister. We had reached Jaipur on time and the cold weather has hit our senses. used to humid Chennai, Jaipur in winter is cosy and chilly.
Hence forth its Tuk-Tuk all the way. few things i wanted to share about Jaipur is its one of the Colourful cities i had come across. Colours can be from vegetables they sell, variety of snacks, the dresses on sale, the turbans of men, the long sari draped over the face with beautiful patterns(this i observed in Safai Karamcharis sweeping the roads), the colours decorated on Tuk-Tuk, flamboyant light and sound shows all across the forts and the dazzling dress fabric on sale, of course colourful food when consumed from a discreet location its heavenly and tasty...........one falls in LOVE.
Next of course are familiar civic issues which disturbs us, not a clean city, exorbitant fares for autos and also hotels in prime locations fleece customers with below par meal, and Men will stare or steal glances openly at women...........rather shamelessly...........................
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| Amer Palace Main gate way- lit in night |
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| Amer Palace inside the main fort |
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| Inside Amer Palace Jaipur |
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Amer Palace boasting a richly decorated enclosures
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| City Palace Jaipur, now hosts a impressive museum with huge artefacts |
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| Palace at Nahargarh. Primarily used by Princess |
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| Amer Palace courtyard before entering the main place of residence lit at night |
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| City Palace Jaipur, most patterns are local styles & designs including flora and fauna of the area. The king's tales are more colourful in conquering neighboring kingdoms and winning over their daughters hand including the culture. King's coronation, marriage and death are all depicted in the walls of the palaces. Mirror architecture is prominent in Queen's residing quarters. |
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| City Palace, Jaipur |
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| World's Largest Mechanical cannon ball firing war machine- Jaigarh Fort |
Largest Cannon firing weapon at Jaigarh Fort. This is the prime attraction at this fort apart from a strong fort defence walls.
The beauty of these ancient treasures, forts and things to do with royalty is conservation and value for heritage. Most forts like Jaigarh, Amer Palace and Nahargarh Fort are showcased with pride and value.
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| Nahargarh fort |
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| Jal Mahal, bridge connecting to Jal mahal from mainland collapsed due to years of usage, new one under construction |
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| Jantar Mantar, Jaipur- the number of scientific tools and apparatus on display is Magnificent |
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| Jantar Mantar |
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| Amer Palace, inside the main fortress, a private place for Kings |
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| City Palace Museum |
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| Nahargarh Fort, these rooms were given for queens. this passageway was used by King without being noticed by audience outside |
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| Hawa Mahal, Jaipur captured during night |
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