A Journey Through India's Golden Triangle Part Two: Jaipur

So where were we?

Ah yes, the second leg of India's famous 'Golden Triangle' circuit:  to Jaipur!

Roadside Adventures

So my six intrepid friends and I found ourselves hitting the road, driving about 5 hours from Agra to Jaipur.  But clearly, what road trip adventure would be complete without a little touch of drama?  Right into our second hour of driving, we hear a faint popping sound and pull over to the side of the road--thanks to a nail the size of a #2 pencil, we had a flat tire!

The boys help our driver out.....while the girls investigate the nearby mustard fields

Thanks to the flat, though, we did get to make some new friends--all of which just stopped at the strange sight of 7 foreigners stranded in the middle of nowhere!

Finally, to Jaipur!

After some lunch--and, believe it or not, yet another flat tire--we finally arrived in Jaipur, the capital of India's desert state of Rajasthan.  The weather, already beautiful, shifted to new shades of gorgeous:  nothing but clear, blue skies and temps of up to 25 degrees Celsius.. in January!

(Meanwhile, it's like -3 right now in Beijing.. pfff!)

A major Jaipur highlight:  The Amer Fort (or Amber Fort)

 View from the back of an elephant.

Top left: A woman carries water as she walks along Maota Lake.  Top right:  A view of the main courtyard.  Bottom:  One of the most stylish cleaning ladies I've ever seen, sweeping the sandstone.

The eye-poppingly beautiful Amber Fort, built in 1592 and used as the home of the Rajput Maharajas, is one of Jaipur's most popular tourist destinations--and rightfully so!  A short (nonetheless exhilarating) elephant ride brings visitors up the mountain to a fortress of red sandstone and marble.  Not only is the entire structure is meticulously maintained, but the views of surrounding mountains and valleys are simply breathtaking.

Hanging out in Jaipur

Left:  We had the chance to visit with a local family, where we learned how to cook an Indian meal, make chai tea, and (properly) wrap a sari.

Right:  We also went to see a Bollywood blockbuster, Don 2 (in Hindi!), in a beautiful movie theater that would put any Megabox to shame!

Who wants a midnight snack?  Trying some sweet "paan" at a street stall, dipped in chocolate and filled with rose preserves, coconut, saffron, and a maraschino cherry.

Now for some healthy living:  A morning yoga class in an ashram, followed by some raw, super organic beet and carrot juice.

The roof of the Sarang Palace Hotel, Jaipur... with Orion's Belt making a cameo appearance in the upper left corner.

So the sun eventually set on our time in Jaipur... Check back here soon for the exciting conclusion to this three-part travel tale!

In the meantime, if these pictures are just TOO cool and you can't take it anymore, feel free to check out this India Tour of Ancient Civilization on our Red.Travel website so you can see it all for yourself!

Namaste :)