Day 5 Wed 31/10/18

8am we are checked out and all ready for our day ahead and journey to Jaipur.
By 945 we are at the abandoned palaces of Fatehpur Sikri which was built by the Emperor Akbar between 1571 and 1585 in honour of Salaim Chisthi a famous Sufi saint of the Chishti order. Fatehpur was the Mughal captivating for 14 years.

It is a fine example of a Mughal walled city with defined private and public areas and imposing gateways. It’s architecture a blend of Jindu and Islamic styles refracts Akbar’s secular vision as well as his style of governance.
After the city was abandoned some say for lack of water many of its treasures were plundered. It owes its present state of preservation to the initial efforts of the viceroy Lord Curzon a legendary conversationist.

As we stood listening to AJ, parrots were flying around the eaves of the buildings. The red stand stone carvings were very impressive together with the kings enormous stone bed which would have been covered with lavish mattresses. The king would choose from the 5000 women that lived in the city.

For lunch we drove to a beautiful palace, Bharatpur Geeta Colony an elegant Palace hotel and gardens. We ate in the grand hall with lush surroundings. The food as everywhere has been was amazing. My favourite was the desert, it plays with your head as it looks like mushy peas but tastes like a sweet rice pudding!!

Now we continue on to Jaipur where we will spend 2 nights. Around 1545 we stop off at The Step Well.
As we arrive at Dausa - Baswa there is music playing with a procession, AJ finds that a local government figure has retired and there are great celebrations.
The Chandler Bari Abaneri is very impressive and has many artefacts displaying fascinating carvings.
AJ helps as always to bring the place alive, describing its uses, the temples and palaces. He is so enthusiastic it is hard not to get caught up.
It is one of the oldest wells built during the 8th and 9th century and is 20 metres deep. It has 1300 steps & 13 floors going down to the well. It was used by locals during intense heat as it is 5 degrees cooler. One side has a pavilion and a resting room for the royals.

As we pass through more towns and villages we witness the way of life, so different to ours back at home. But that doesn’t mean that it is all poverty, it is just the way of life here.

We arrive in the city in the dark around 1830 and see the Albert Hall Museum brightly lit up. It was designed by Sir Samual Jacob. It holds lots of items dating back to the 16th century. By 7 we arrive at the ITC hotel. Again the lobby is very grand and rooms excellent. It’s a quick turn around from checking in to finding clean clothes, shower and then off back out again to a locals house where we dine and meet the family.

Leaving around 930 we head back to the hotel for a quick drink. Tomorrow is the my surprise, the Hot Air Balloon ride which means a very early morning, 445am to be precise!