A Turning Point in Jaipur
After everything that happened, it was time to enjoy the beauty of the city of Jaipur. We were very pensive after all that had occurred, but at the same time, it was progress that we had made it this far. Everything we had visited so far was quite beautiful, and we were delighted but also scared by the heat of the Rajasthan desert.
Contemplating Giving Up
We made a decision that was going to change all our plans. I believe my girlfriend had moments when she wanted to give up. Upon reaching the hotel in Jaipur, we had a conversation in which she suggested returning the motorcycle and continuing our journey by train or plane. She simply asked me if I could complete this trip. She just asked for my opinion. Having only 2 days of traveling in the middle of the day, the distance from Delhi to Agra and from Agra to Jaipur in extreme heat, and our bodies not yet acclimatized, but we didn’t realize it. Having to travel for several more days and already after 2 days we felt like we couldn’t go on, we were a bit mentally exhausted. But together with my girlfriend, we made the decision to continue, and I am proud of her for not giving up even though she went through critical moments.
A Game-Changing Idea
Here came my idea that changed the whole situation. We decided to start the journey in the morning before 5 o’clock and to go until around 11 o’clock before the midday heat appeared. And then to stop until 4-5 o’clock in the afternoon to visit or stay in the shade, then to continue. And this was the best decision we made, and we had many benefits.
Adapting to Life on the Road
I remember now that at all the entrances to the city or before intersections, there are “speed hump” on the street, and my girlfriend’s bottom was starting to hurt. In the first days, I was not used to spotting these “speed humps” and did not always identify them. And not reducing the speed was very strange because I couldn’t see them. But then I learned and found out where they were located, and I managed to slow down many times. Especially at the entrances to the cities, there are several “speed humps” placed one after the other, and they are quite high.
At the same time, I remember that my girlfriend, having no experience with a motorcycle before, did not know how to get on or off the motorcycle. I stopped, and she jumped off without warning me. Many times the motorcycle was almost falling because I couldn’t put my feet down before she jumped off. But then she learned, and she touched my shoulder to confirm that she could climb or descend, and it was fine. Many times I checked if she was behind me by touching her leg with my hand. Around here, after all the incidents, we started to get used to life and the motorcycle in India.
Exploring Amber Palace and the City of Amer
On this day, around 9 o’clock in the morning, we headed to Amber Palace or Amber Fort because it was not very far, so we allowed ourselves to go later, arriving there around 10 o’clock. In Jaipur, the lifestyle is more western, so it feels on the streets. Walking through the city and reaching the lake where Jal Mahal is located, we continued climbing a not very high mountain, and then we reached the gate where the wall surrounding Amber Palace. Passing through the gate, we started to descend towards the city of Amer. The city is at the foot of the mountain, and the Palace is on the mountain. As you walk through the city, you can see the Palace.
.jpg "Amber Palace")
The Journey to Amber Palace
On our way to the palace, you will meet many locals with 4×4 cars who offer to take you with them, or others who offer you a ride on a camel or an elephant. We went with our motorcycle directly to the Palace, but we had to pay a fee on the way to the Palace.
The History and Architecture of Amber Palace
The Palace is located about 10 km from Jaipur, being built by Rajah Man Singh I around the 1500s, being the residence where the Kachhawa royal family lived. It was built as a fortress, being very difficult to reach the Palace, having walls and being located on a rocky hilltop where access was only possible on foot and with elephants. The Palace has Rajput and Mughal architectural styles both inside and outside, even having gardens inside. The Palace is built of red sandstone, white marble, and a lot of stone.
Amber Palace as a Cultural and Tourist Hub
The Palace is one of the most visited tourist attractions in India and very well known by those passionate about architecture and culture. Currently, cultural activities and all kinds of traditional shows from Rajasthan take place in the Palace. I could say that it is the cultural and traditional center of Rajasthan.
Arriving at Amber Palace
Arriving at the Palace gate, we parked the motorcycle. There was a small shop there where we bought something cold to drink, then we went to buy tickets. After buying tickets, we entered the Palace, being very very large, with dozens of different routes and a large market inside. There were many tourists from all over India.
.jpg "Amber Palace")
Exploring the Palace Interiors
Being in the Palace, we had shade to stay in, and at the same time, we decided to stay there during the day, already feeling extreme heat even there. I remember that many tourists came to us and wanted to take pictures with us. Many young people begged us to take pictures. We visited the Palace and went on all possible routes, spending about 5 hours inside the Palace.
Taking Refuge from the Heat
When we left the Palace, it was still very hot, so we decided to stay there for a while longer. I remember that we were standing near the Palace walls and hiding from the sun, staying in the shade. When we left the Palace, a few young people were taking pictures with our motorcycle because it was quite special.
Caring for the Thirsty Dogs
There was a toilet there somewhere near the Palace walls where there was also water and good conditions. Dogs came and licked the water off the ground because they were thirsty, and my girlfriend and I searched through the garbage to find something to give them water, and we found some plastic cups and plates. We put water in them and gave it to them to drink.
Finding the Way Back to Jaipur
When we were about to leave the Palace, there was a young man with a scooter who kept telling us to follow him as he would show us the way out. We refused him because he was annoying, and we left on another one-way street, but a local showed me the right direction. On the way back to Jaipur, we stopped to visit Jal Mahal as it was on our way.
.jpg "Jal Mahal")
Jal Mahal: The Water Palace
Jal Mahal is also called the Water Palace, located in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. It was built 3 centuries later than Amber Palace by Maharaja Madho Singh I. Having a rich architecture and standing on the water, it is a very beautiful place, but visiting it is not allowed as it is in the middle of the water. This Palace is the most photographed place in India. Its landscape is unique, and it is an emblem of Jaipur.
Resting at the Hotel
Returning to the hotel around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, we had air conditioning, and it was good to stay there, so we slept for a while, then we woke up.
A Close Call on the Road
We left the hotel, and at an intersection, a young man with extreme speed cut us off, and we had to brake very hard to avoid him, but at the same time, my girlfriend and I were very scared.
Meeting a Gold Merchant and His Friends
When we were near the Palace, we met a gold merchant who had also been in England but now had his shop where he sold gold in Jaipur. He invited us to some of his friends nearby where we drank tea and chatted for about an hour.
Visiting City Palace
Then we went to visit City Palace, being an important tourist attraction built in Mughal and Rajput architectural style. Many call it a jewel being a very beautiful Palace. It was built at the same time as Jal Mahal by the founder of the city of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. One of the most beautiful places in this Palace is the Hall of Mirrors. Having a very rich architecture, this Palace has sculptures and many ancient objects inside. Inside, it is like a museum where you can see culture and history together with architecture.
Resting Before the Next Journey
After the time spent at this Palace, it was time to return to our hotel to rest because the next day we planned to continue our journey to Udaipur being further south heading towards Mumbai.
Departing for Udaipur
The next morning we did as we said, we woke up around 4:30 and left for Udaipur.
FAQs: Adventures from Amber Palace to City Palace, Jaipur’s Jewel, and the Mystique of Jal Mahal
Q: What happened after my girlfriend and I went through everything in Jaipur?
A: After everything that happened, it was time to enjoy the beauty of the city of Jaipur. We were very pensive after all that had occurred, but at the same time, it was progress that we had made it this far.
Q: What did my girlfriend suggest when we reached the hotel in Jaipur?
A: Upon reaching the hotel in Jaipur, we had a conversation in which she suggested returning the motorcycle and continuing our journey by train or plane. She simply asked me if I could complete this trip.
Q: What idea did I have that changed the whole situation for our journey?
A: Here came my idea that changed the whole situation. We decided to start the journey in the morning before 5 o’clock and to go until around 11 o’clock before the midday heat appeared. And then to stop until 4-5 o’clock in the afternoon to visit or stay in the shade, then to continue.
Q: What caused my girlfriend’s bottom to start hurting during the first days?
A: I remember now that at all the entrances to the city or before intersections, there are “speed hump” on the street, and my girlfriend’s bottom was starting to hurt. In the first days, I was not used to spotting these “speed humps” and did not always identify them.
Q: How did my girlfriend learn to get on and off the motorcycle?
A: I remember that my girlfriend, having no experience with a motorcycle before, did not know how to get on or off the motorcycle. I stopped, and she jumped off without warning me. Many times the motorcycle was almost falling because I couldn’t put my feet down before she jumped off. But then she learned, and she touched my shoulder to confirm that she could climb or descend, and it was fine.
Q: Where did we go around 9 o’clock in the morning in Jaipur?
A: On this day, around 9 o’clock in the morning, we headed to Amber Palace or Amber Fort because it was not very far, so we allowed ourselves to go later, arriving there around 10 o’clock.
Q: What did we do when we were inside Amber Palace?
A: Being in the Palace, we had shade to stay in, and at the same time, we decided to stay there during the day, already feeling extreme heat even there. I remember that many tourists came to us and wanted to take pictures with us. Many young people begged us to take pictures. We visited the Palace and went on all possible routes, spending about 5 hours inside the Palace.
Q: What did we do for the thirsty dogs near the Palace walls?
A: There was a toilet there somewhere near the Palace walls where there was also water and good conditions. Dogs came and licked the water off the ground because they were thirsty, and my girlfriend and I searched through the garbage to find something to give them water, and we found some plastic cups and plates. We put water in them and gave it to them to drink.
Q: What happened when we were about to leave the Palace?
A: When we were about to leave the Palace, there was a young man with a scooter who kept telling us to follow him as he would show us the way out. We refused him because he was annoying, and we left on another one-way street, but a local showed me the right direction.
Q: What did we do after visiting City Palace?
A: After the time spent at this Palace, it was time to return to our hotel to rest because the next day we planned to continue our journey to Udaipur being further south heading towards Mumbai.