After a modest but wholesome breakfast of parantha, curd and pickles we headed directly to the famous Meherangarh fort, an imposing edifice on the city skyline. Feral dogs, which seem as commonplaceas stray cows in this country, bask in the sunshine on the rugged red sandstone near the Jaswant Thada white marble memorial to Jaswant Singh II where we make a brief stop. The current Maharaja Gaj Singh II, whose investiture at the premature of 4 is well documented, has taken his role as custodian seriously and the result is a well restored complex of Chowks (squares), courtyards and Mahals (palaces,) which function as a comprehensive museum of royal artifacts from palanquins, howdahs, armour, swords and daggers, to cribs, clothing and paintings. Walking through the labyrinth of corridors, staircases and arched doorways yielding surprise
... read more