Monday 17 December 2012

India: Jantar Mantar, Hawal Mahal and Nahargarh Fort


I should point out that before we arrived at Amber fort to explore, our driver pointed out that we don't want to drive up to the fort way up on top of the hill as there's nothing interesting or important up there.  Strange and nice of him to mention that.

We head back into old Jaipur, and stop off at Jantar Mantar - an astronomy centre built in the 1700s with a bunch of geometric constructions aligned in various different ways to observer the stars.  I find it mildly interesting, and writing about it even less interesting.

I've seen triangles before.

We take a brief walk around the corner to Hawal Mahal - the iconic building that is the face of Jaipur:

A face with terrifying spider eyes


After a bite to eat at a local restaurant, I ask the driver to take us to Nahargarh Fort, because I'm a manly man and am interested in forts and hills and things to climb on.  Again he says "Nooooo, the roads are not very good and too dangerous."

I insist:  We go to this one last place and then we can call it a day a couple of hours early.  Reluctantly he takes us up the road toward the fort.  It's a spectacular winding drive with magnificent views of the water palace as we climb.

As we near the top the driver says "Oh, the roads are not so bad.  It was bad last year."

I tell him - "Well make sure you take your next guests here!".

As we get to the gate of the fort, the driver stops and asks for 100 rupees to pay for the entrance for the car.  "No, it's ok, we'll walk in thank you".  

"50 rupees".

"Hmm OK".

We reach the parking attendant who asks for 10 rupees.

Twenty metres farther up the road and we meet another attendant.  The driver asks for 30 rupees to pay the entrance fee.  We have already purchased a "multi-attraction ticket" from Amber fort and so politely decline.  The driver says it doesn't work.  We flash the tickets out the window at the attendant who nods and waves us through.   This is India.

I am glad we made it up here - walking around the top of the mountain (and being told off twice for unknowingly being in restricted areas) the fort provides the most amazing views of the Jaipur sprawl below.  Take a look:

Nahargarh Fort

Two Indian Women Exploring Nahargarh Fort
A winding road up the hill

Jaipur Vs. Sand

Nahargarh Fort overlooking the city

Vertigo

Jaipur Sprawl


Inside Nahargargh Fort


Interesting Architecture

View from Hawal Mahal

The Street outside Hawal Mahal
Glass Windows in Hawal Mahal