Day 8 - Jaipur to Ranthambore National Park

We left Jaipur and drove to Ranthambore National Park near the town of Sawai Madhopur. 

We checked into our hotel - Nahargarth Hotel - awesome

Our room, straight ahead on the right

Our hotel as we drove up to it

We checked in and had lunch, nice Indian buffet.  The we took a tour of Ranthanbore Fort, a fortress built about 1,000 years ago, it sits in the middle of the Ranthambore sanctuary.

We drove in an open air vehicle, spotted a crocodile along the way

And lots of monkeys

Arrived at the fort and walked up the hill

Lots of school children were touring the Fort

Back to hotel, watched a movie on Indian Tigers and then dinner.

Tomorrow, an early day, onto the jeeps at 6:30 to look for animals in the Park.

Day 7 - Jaipur

Breakfast at hotel - Marsala Dosa, I'm hooked.

Headed back to city center for another photo op of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Not really a palace, but a facade with Windows used by the ladies of the palace to watch the outside world without being seen.

We watched the bicycles with the heavy loads going by

Leather shop

We stopped by to see the local farmers selling their milk, interesting process.  A skilled buyer dips his hand into the milk pail and is able to determine the quality of the milk and then make an offer to buy.  He is able to determine if and how much water has been added to the milk, which drops the price.

The buyer pasteurizes the milk at home.

Milk cans loaded on motorcycles for delivery

Next stop was the Amber Fort, 16th century structure built on four levels.

The walls surrounding the fort.

Restoration work going on

On the top level

The Royal family's summer home

Stopped for lunch at Pink City

We both ordered the vegetarian lunch special, a sampling of Indian food - we weren't expecting such a large lunch

Next was a stop at fabric block printing center

Then a lesson on rug making

Burning the back side of new rugs, the burnt material just scraped away

Rug washing

Clipping the new rug

Finally, the shop - rugs, fabrics, scarves, clothing. Let's us say our luggage got heavier today!

Tomorrow we leave Jaipur and head to Ranthambore Fort National Park where to hope to see tigers.