The big trip – part 4 Jaipur
Our last stop is Jaipur. Jaipur is also called the Pink City. The name refers to the pink colour of the buildings in the old town. It got its coat of paint in 1853 in preparation for the visit of Prince Albert (1819–1861), the husband of Queen Victoria (1819–1901). Pink is Rajasthan's traditional colour of hospitality.
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Jaipur's most famous landmark, which of course we had to see, is the Hawa Mahal ("Palace of the Winds", built in 1799), which tapers towards the top. The Palace of the Winds is part of the City Palace in Jaipur.
This striking structure served the many ladies of the court, who were not allowed to mingle with the common people, as an observation post, especially during the popular processions. That way they could see, hear and smell everything in the street, but thanks to the screened design they couldn't be seen from outside. The façade got its name from the clever air circulation that always let a fresh breeze blow through the rooms.
Very close to the palace are triangles, circles and columns made of brick and coated with yellowish plaster. This is the "Jantar Mantar" observatory of the amateur astronomer Jai Singh II, standing in the southern courtyard of the palace complex. A total of 18 instruments were built between 1728 and 1734. Although the ruler was influenced by the research of foreign astronomers and the advice of his teachers, including his mother, he designed many of these instruments himself. They can be used to determine the position and movement of stars and planets, tell the time and even predict the intensity of the monsoon. This popular-science site is a favourite destination for outings and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. Children and teenagers in particular are introduced to applied astronomy here by their teachers and employed guides.
Besides these tourist highlights, we also discovered a truly wonderful temple a little outside Jaipur:
And here's a view of the city:
The verdict on the trip: India is beautiful. I can recommend everyone to travel to this wonderful country!!