Jaipur City Tour Part Deux

Momma said “street carts are like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get”.

Botulism is on the menu today, and where I usually get to discretely giggle as Ang’s stomach turns on her, karma, as they say, is a bitch. I’m not sure how she managed to get pictures, but at least she captured my good side.

A handful of meds, and a VERY light breakfast, we’re back with our driver to pick up on our sightseeing. We start with the royal cemetery. This one is better kept than Udaipur, and the cenotaphs are grander, but it feels like we’ve already done it before (I guess because we have).

From here, it is back up into the hills to Jaigarh Fort. This complex overlooks Amber Fort (in case one fort just doesn’t feel secure enough), and was clearly designed to be a little more military in function, as it lacks most of the fine details and comfortable courtyards of others we have seen. It is also home to the world’s biggest cannon on wheels (which I can now cross off my bucket list), a 20 foot monster capable of hurling a 100 pound ball 22 miles.

Sticking to the top of the ridge, our next stop is Narhargarh Fort. By now, we’re forted out, so I’ll summarize: cool building; great view; being maharaja is good.

For something a little different, we head to a place our driver keeps calling the Monkey Temple. I’m not sure what it’s actually story is, but it clearly takes it’s name from the hundreds of monkeys that have taken up residence (waiting patiently for a visit from the Monkey Whisperer).

Getting there requires a drive through some very poor parts of town, and a hike up the hill past groups of half-dressed kids begging for rupees, or trying to earn some money selling monkey snacks. As was the case in Delhi, it is difficult to be so close to the poverty, and to not be affected by a child that is happy just to get the empty bottle I was looking to throw away so that she could use it to carry her own water (of the garbage that is seemingly everywhere here, one thing you don’t see lying around is plastic containers).

On the brighter side, we do see Glitzy (who’s going to be the first to admit they watch Honey Boo Boo?), which we know will make Sam smile.

Last on the list is the Hawa Mahal, yet another palace back in the Old City. It’s smaller than most, but famous for its architectural design and so a popular stop on the day tour circuit. It is literally crammed with people, so we take a quick lap and head back to the car, much to the delight of our driver, who clearly wants to be done with us before the evening traffic.