A good place for getting stoned in India. :)
by pchamlis
India is a well-known source for the precious stone industry. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds and such, they're all available, terrific quality and a fair price, in India.
Throughout much of the so-called golden triangle area, there are numerous stone cutting and polishing operations, some are connected to retail outlets. As you'd guess, there are reputable outfits and scurrilous ones. You need to do research before you select someone in whom you'd place trust for something as high-brown as precious and semi-precious stone commerce. We had a chance to watch some of the stone cutters and polishers at work on our visit to the Antiquariat shop in Jaipur. It was truly amazing to see how ordinary a ruby looks before the cutters and polishers work their magic. Please scroll through all of my photos below. The main display photo shows a tiny and perfect ruby, a finished product. One of the other photos shows a raw ruby, just as it comes from the countryside.
Kanak Vrindavan Mahal
by MM212
Situated just north of Man Sagar Lake, where Jal Mahal floats, Kanak Vrindavan Mahal is a complex of pavilions and landscaped gardens, and it contains a temple. It has excellent views of Jal Mahal and the Nahargarh Fort above and is a popular place for picnics and relaxation from the noisy streets of Jaipur. It can be reached by taking the Amber Road north of Jaipur.
"elephant transfer"
by PCuk
There wont be many places in the world where you can use elephants as a form of public transport...at the Amber Palace is the place.
Our trip on "Rupali" took about 20 mins,and was excellent.We were a little worried as one of the guide books suggested that they were maltreated and worked hard without many water breaks,however Rupali seemed well tended as did most of his colleagues.It seems that they are owned by their handlers,and you therefore have to think that they might treat them well.
The best sight was seeing one tourist atop his ele. drop his Lonley Planet.The elephant casually rolled down his trunk picked up the book and handed back to him..excellent!!
When you get off at the fort,make the most of every photo. op (although they may want a tip...its worth it)
Ambur Palace
by Yso
Ambur Palace is a little way out of Jaipur. It's easy enough to organise a trip with a taxi driver to go there for the day. The palace is slowly being renovated, and it's setting is beatiful - up on a hill side in the middle of nowhere.
Don't miss the Jai Mandir - a room whose ceiling is encrusted with hundreds of little mirros.
On the way there you can also stop off and have a look at the Jal Mahal - summer palace - in the middle of a lake.
OBSERVATORIES
by nightcowboy
Of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh ll, this one is the most realistic and logical.
Some of the instruments are still used to forecast how hot the summer mouths will be, the
uxpected date of the arrival, duration and intensity of the monsoon, and the possibility of floods and famine.
JAI PRAKASH YANTRA
Two sunken bemispheres map out the heavens.
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The courtyard at Hawa Mahal
Riddhi-Siddhi-Pol, seen from Diwan-i-Khas
Birla Temple - Feb 09
Marble, mosaics and mirrors in Amber Palace
