Dinner on the first night of the train journey was on board in the Maharani Cabin. Pakdokter and partner sat with a charming Mauritian mother-and-son couple. Indra is the Commissioner for the Mauritian Anti-Corruption Agency and her young and handsome son, Mehdi, is a senior Prosecutor with the Mauritian Attorney General's office. Breakfast the next morning was also at the Maharani Cabin. At breakfast, pakdokter sat next to a Morroccan couple from Casablanca, Mr Mohamad Kabbash and his lovely wife who happened to know one of pakdokter's fellow psychiatric colleague in Casablanca, Prof Nadia Kadiri. Mr Kabbash is a successful enterpreneur and he has, through his own Foundation, built and donated to the Morrocan Government, 7 specialist hospitals, one of which was for psychiatric and mental health services.
We were welcomed, upon arrival at the Jaipur Station, by a band of local musicians playing local 'welcome music'. In keeping with local tradition, we were garlanded with roses by 2 pretty ladies and given a 'puttu' to our forehead. Outside the station 2 colourfuly made-up elephants welcomed us to our tour buses. We were all made to feel really really special.....
pakdokter with Pradeep, one of pakdokter's butler...
just over and outside the wall of the stationthe mass of poverty in India was still very evident....
Jaipur ladies waiting to garland and apply 'puttu' to the guests...
even the elephant had colourful make-up....
Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan. Founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh 11 in 1927,( the name Jaipur was coined from his name "Jai" ) it took him 4 years to complete the city. It was said to be the first planned city in India located in a semi-desert land with major palaces, roads and squares fortified by a huge wall with 9 gates ( 9 being an auspicious number)to enter into the city. It is popularly known as 'the Pink City' as the buildings of the city were all painted pink. It is a twin city of Marrakesh in Morocco ( another pink city). Jaipur is the emerald capital of the world. It produces and controls 60% of the world market for gemstones....
From the train station we were driven past along wide free-ways through what looked like the new part of the city with modern residential suburbs and the new University of Rajasthan. First stop for a visit was to the Birla ( Lasxmi Narayanan) Temple - a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Wealth( Laxmi). It was built from white marble and stood commandingly by the side of the freeway. However photography was not allowed within the temple. On one side of the outer wall of the temple there were sculptures of Jesus, Moses etc etc to signify the universality of all religions of the world.
the Birla Temple as seen from the approach road...Behind the Birla Temple, perched commandingly on top of a hill was the Pearl castle belonging to the Rajasthan King. From a distance this castle looked very much like the Edinburgh Castle of Scotland.
the Pearl Castle....The third stop that morning was the Albert Hall Museum. Built by the British PWD Engineer, Edward swinton Jacob, it featured Indo-Saracen/Indo-Islamic architecture. The museum featured many Indian, Islamic and Japanese artefacts.
Jess, Siti, Sheila,Phaik Choo, Indra and Dilip...in front of the Albert Hall Museum...
The next visit was to the 'Hawa Mahal' also known as the 'Wind Palace' and the 'Window Palace'. It is called so becuase through the windows of this palaces, princesses in veils were allowed to peep through and observe life on the streets.
the Hawa Mahal.....the signature tourist landmark of Jaipur...
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