Rajasthan - 8th-22nd October 2010

The palace at Jaipur


Busy Jaipur from above

Jaipur
Our first stop in Rajasthan is it's capital city Jaipur, also known as the 'Pink City'. This was due to the colour of it's old city walls which were painted to mimic the red sandstone of Agra and Delhi. Like all capital cities, it's huge, dauntingly so and it's hard to know where to start...Where better than a monkey temple. It's a great place to watch the sun setting over Jaipur and the children who offer protection from the monkeys (for a fee of course), provide us with a lot of amusement.

The next day is spent visiting some of the main tourist attractions of with include the palace of Jaipur and learning about the Rajpoots and the Maharajas who shaped the city over many generations.


Great Rajpoot mustache

Jodpur
We leave Jaipur quickly to escape the busy polluted roads and take a 6 hour train to Jodphur known as the 'blue' city. When we arrive it's the evening and even though we cannot see the colours of the buildings the fort Mehranger on the top of the hill is lit up and the city looks enchanting. The following day it does not let us down and we are presented with a vista of brilliant blue buildings set against the yellow stone of the fort and the surrounding landscape. We really like it here, it's quiet and calm and the gin and tonics taste great!


Jodhpur, the beautiful blue city


Cute Jodphur girl

Jaislamer
Our next stop is a 6 hour bus journey taking us closer towards Pakisthan and the Thar desert which we are led to believe have excellent camel safaris. It's even hotter here and it's hard to believe that people can survive in these harsh conditions. The main part of the city is the Fort which is made out the the loveliest golden sandstone.
On the second day we embark on a two day camel safari which see us riding our own camels across the desert to huge sand dunes, sleeping under the stars and eating traditional Rajasthani food cooked by our guide Mattar who always has a smile and a song.


Lucy and happy camel


Our desert guide Mattar

Udaipur
Our last stop in Rajasthan is Udaipur....the white city. It's a beautiful and romantic place on the edge of the man-made lake Pichola and is home to the famous 5 star Taj Palace which was used as a location in the film Octopussy. Of course it would be wrong of us to come ALL this way and not experience the life of a Maharaja so we book a room for a night and enjoy being treated like royalty....and the cocktails were AMAZING!

The Lake Palace

The courtyard in the Lake Palace (was used as a setting in the film Octopussy)

Rajpoot man with stylish turban

Sunset over Lake Pichola