Ted, Anne and Rekha left Delhi early one morning and headed for Jaipur by car.

Scene through car window as we enter Jaipur
Our first stop was the City Palace, which is a large complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings, in a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture. The Maharajah of Jaipur was in residence but disappointingly out of sight.

City Palace, Jaipur

3-D peacock archway

Pensive palace guard

Artfully arranged rifles and arrows

Archway detail

Guarding doorway

Ganges water urn for past Maharajah's travels

Fresco detail

Rekha and Anne with palace guards
We went to the nearby Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds. In the 18th century,the ladies of the royal household would sit behind the latticed windows and watch life go by on the street below.

Palace of the Winds - we only saw the facade but it was worth the visit.
We next spent several hours shopping in Bapu Bazaar. Rekha shopped for household items. Anne had fun looking for gifts, tablecloths and skirts. Ted was outnumbered but very patient.

Anne shopping for skirts
We took a break for high tea at the Rambagh Palace Hotel, once the Maharajah of Jaipur's home. Very civilized.

Rambagh Palace grounds

Horse-drawn carriage rides around the grounds are available
We stayed at a ‘five-star Ethnic Village Resort’ on the outskirts of Jaipur. The rooms are designed to resemble rustic huts spread out like a Rajasthani village, all very nicely done. There is a village fair every evening which highlights traditional Rajasthani culture, including dances, magic shows, palm-reading, camel and elephant rides, and other entertainment. A Rajasthani Disney World.

Mural of Rajasthani village life at our hotel

The rooms are recreations of village huts

Village entertainment

Anne gets mehndi
The next morning we went to the Amber Palace north of Jaipur. This fort-palace rises from a rocky mountainside. It was the ancient capital of Jaipur State and was built in the late 1500's.

Amber Palace

Welcoming sadhu

Elephant rides up to the top

Fort walls

Palace employees

Music and dance performance at the Amber Palace
While being driven by Rekha’s chauffeur, Madheb, through Jaipur to the Amber Palace, we were pulled over by a police officer. There is apparently a seatbelt law within city limits for all passengers in the front seat. Ted, taking pictures out the window as usual, was in front and had not strapped in. The driver was given a 300-Rupee ($7.50) fine for not making Ted put on his seatbelt, and there was mention of points being put on his license. Madheb was very upset. Anne got to sit in front for the rest of the trip.
On the drive back to Delhi, we saw several impressive overturned trucks and accidents, which was not surprising when you see some of the loads these vehicles carry.

Pulled over to change a tire

Looks like a giant bag on wheels

Trucks headed for Delhi

No seat belt laws on the highway

So that's what's in the bags!