From Amber to Jaipur
Looking from Jaigarh Fort, high up on a hill, directly at Amber Fort and then gently moving past Amber city past two buffering hills towards Jaipur, the modern capital of Rajasthan, and of this former kingdom.
The hills are part of the Aravalli range, which extend down to Udaipur, the next city we visited.
Part of the fort is visible in the lower centre of the picture. Looking closer towards Amber, one can see a temple as well as the older residences that included the ancient residences of the ruling family, before greatness allowed the development of the an earlier fort, which was then rebuilt over as Amber Fort in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh I (the Sawai title was later bestowed by the Mughal Emporor, Aurangzeb, who was impressed with Maharaja Jai Singh II's intelligence and wit - it elevated him and all others after to the status of 'one and a quarter' Maharajas, above an ordinary king). Amber Fort was modified for the next 150 years, until the first Sawai Maharaja, Jai Singh II created Jaipur.
The Royal family of Jaipur are Kachwahas who belong to the Suryavanshi Rajputs, a clan who ruled a number of other areas, including Jammu & Kashmir. The Maharaja of Jaipur was regarded as the head of this clan. The word Suryavanshi refers to being 'of the sun' (surya - sun, Sanskrit) and like the Maharana of Mewar (ruler of Udaipur) was believed to be descended from the sun itself.
From Amber to Jaipur
Looking from Jaigarh Fort, high up on a hill, directly at Amber Fort and then gently moving past Amber city past two buffering hills towards Jaipur, the modern capital of Rajasthan, and of this former kingdom.
The hills are part of the Aravalli range, which extend down to Udaipur, the next city we visited.
Part of the fort is visible in the lower centre of the picture. Looking closer towards Amber, one can see a temple as well as the older residences that included the ancient residences of the ruling family, before greatness allowed the development of the an earlier fort, which was then rebuilt over as Amber Fort in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh I (the Sawai title was later bestowed by the Mughal Emporor, Aurangzeb, who was impressed with Maharaja Jai Singh II's intelligence and wit - it elevated him and all others after to the status of 'one and a quarter' Maharajas, above an ordinary king). Amber Fort was modified for the next 150 years, until the first Sawai Maharaja, Jai Singh II created Jaipur.
The Royal family of Jaipur are Kachwahas who belong to the Suryavanshi Rajputs, a clan who ruled a number of other areas, including Jammu & Kashmir. The Maharaja of Jaipur was regarded as the head of this clan. The word Suryavanshi refers to being 'of the sun' (surya - sun, Sanskrit) and like the Maharana of Mewar (ruler of Udaipur) was believed to be descended from the sun itself.