Am(b)er Fort

Early morning (earlier than yesterday) as the driver recommended that we get to Amber Fort early to bag a place in the queue for elephants. The "b" is silent, apparently in Amber.

It's about 10k outside Jaipur but the roads were relatively clear - apart from a few late-arriving elephants - they have to walk from Jaipur every morning, and they knock off at lunchtime apparently so they don't wear out.

We stopped by the side of the road to see the view across the "lake":
Then queued up (not very long - good advice from the driver. We got there at about 8.10am and queued for about 10 mins - by which time the queue was about 3 times as long) and clambered aboard our elephant. Luckily for dignity they have a high platform you can easily step aboard from.
Then up it climbed. It was a fixed price (good - no haggling - at least until it came to the tip) and although it was rather bumpy we didn't fall off.
As we were both onboard this was the best picture I could take of "me on an elephant":Although we did buy pictures taken by touts which turned out OK. Not scanned in yet of course.

At the top they deposited us on another high platform where the elephants would then pose for photos again.
Amber Fort is very beautiful - many elegant shapes and pretty gardens.
(with a view up to another fort higher up the hill - we didn't go up there as we had a long way to go later in the day).

Entrance gate:

A hall of mirrors:
View over the courtyard with the elephants: Central courtyard:
Some mad scaffolding with workers perching:
And finally, a view of the remaining lake (it's not that long after the monsoon, will be very very dry by May).