The forts of Rajasthan
The northwestern region rajasthan at the border to Pakistan really can inspire the visitors! In the middle of the desert lie very big forts which used to be the seat of government of the maharajas in the past. In this report I show you some pictures of two of thise forts.
Jodphur
The fort of Jodphur was built on a little hill and towers proud above the city Jodphur. Jodphur is also called the blue city because lots of buildings are painted blue. After asking -depending on the person I got different answers . Version 1:
The brahmins (the highest caste) painted their homes blue to show their social status. Version 2: The blue colour holds off the flies. Version 3: It's just a tourist attraction! They painted the buildings blue to call the city "the blue city" which indeed sounds very interesting for the visitor -so it's a must-see!
Well, maybye the real reason is a combination of all the three versions. But today nobody can tell you exactly about the real origin of the blue coloured buildings...
The fort of Jodphur is the biggest one in whole Rajasthan! How big it is you can see when you stand by the entrance and look up along the facade.
In the courtyard stand out the with alot of details decorated oriels and windows.
Inside the building the visitor can see alot of nice and well-preserved rooms -here for example the living room of the maharaja.
In the following picture you can see a similar saloon which was the conference room of the maharaja were he used to hold his meetings with his ministers.
Behind the different arches of this room were built hidden windows in the wall which allowed the harem women to listen the discussions in the hall. For important decisions the maharaja used to asked his wifes. So we see already in the past the slogan "behind every successful man stands a strong woman!" had its right, respective in the case of the maharaja it was more than one!
All the more it's very sad that in this culture in the past and still today the women have almost no rights!
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer lies in the middle of a dry desert and it seems to be out of all reason that human settled down here. Also here the fort was built on a little hill and is surrounded by a city.
After some wishes of different people I have to show a picture of because the last one was a long time ago ;-)
Here another fiew to the fort...
In the courtyard of the fort is a beautiful haveli which is one of the most beautiful building inside the fort. In the past the haveli was used by different rulers but today it's a museum.
The special thing about the fort is that inside the walls houses are built. So you also can find hotels and restaurants inside the fort -the nicest ones with a terrace on a tower.
So you sit on this terraces and are enjoying the sun and the pleasant wind which blows through the desert.
Rajasthan is really a dream, isn't it?
I wish you all the best and hope you also get nice weather very soon -where ever you are!
Andy
10.03.04, Jaisalmer, India