proportions of the time!! A very unique collection of armaments – all kinds of old guns – elaborate in aesthetic as well as technical details. There are rare manuscripts – old handwritten books on parchment amazingly illustrated. If you are the kind, you could politely request and access the library for some amazing and rare books. The museum is a treat for all old world romance hunters – a must see!
Right outside is Jantar Mantar – the open air amazing astronomical lab! The mechanics of each of those installations are wonderful in their details – just a play of light and shadow and they get things precisely to the last second. They are not just fancy sun dials, mind you – the amount of engineering that went into just planning these would be impossible without computers today. Be sure to take a guide or invest in a good guide book and if you’re on a shoestring budget just eavesdrop on the closest bunch of guided tourists…:)
Amber palace- about half an hour’s drive from the city, with some nice view of Jal Mahal on the way – up a winding hill road – this is a place where after the guide’s done his bit, you should linger around. A former capital, this walled fort/city has many nuggets of legend built in. Ask about the cooling systems, the underground tanks, the saffron gardens, the many chambered courtyard of the many wived king and his secret access to all of them. There are some amazing frescos that are closed to public here and if you are lucky you can view them if some restoration work is on. Ignored but still interesting are some very old temples around the fort. If you are up to it take a walk around the fort to check out some ruins.
Otherwise let the car trudge you on to Jaigarh (on a neighbouring hill) and its