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Love in the Land of the Raj
by Paris Permenter & John Bigley
The blushing pink city of Jaipur, India
welcomes lovers with lavish palace hotels, a rich history, and the game
of maharajas... elephant polo!
Mention India's Golden Triangle and travelers can
quickly come up with two stops on this must-see itinerary: Delhi and
Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.
But the third leg of the Golden Triangle is
equally fascinating. At the edge of the desert, Rajasthan's capital city
of Jaipur is a destination all its own. Most buildings in the city are
painted pink, a sign of welcoming. The color, which was chosen for the
visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876, also has a practical side: it cuts
down on the glare of the midday sun.
The most beautiful blushing pink building, a true symbol of Jaipur, is
the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of the Winds. This five-story building is
actually not a palace at all but a collection of 593 screened windows
that permitted the ladies of the royal court to look out upon street
life without being seen.
The City Palace is still home to the royal family but we found several
museums here featuring everything from textiles to art to weapons. One
of the most fascinating stops at the palace is the artisans' area in
which the crafts of Rajasthan are made and sold. We watched the
manufacturing of handmade paper, the creation of the famous blue and
yellow pottery for which Jaipur is known, and the production of the
famous miniature paintings.
After our look at the historic museums of the palace, it was time for us
to explore Jaipur's history in a more active manner: on elephant. At Jai
Mahal Palace, we were to experience, if not the sport of kings, the
sport of maharajas.
We were to play Elephant Polo.
Jai Mahal Palace is the world's only place where visitors can watch this
unique sport played year around. Although it's not available every day,
guests can check with their hotel for dates and times to watch and
experience this one-of-a-kind sporting match.
Climbing high atop the elephants, each manned by a skilled mahout, two
teams of three players each received their sticks, modified in length
for playing elephant-back.
"Let the game begin!" the announcer yelled, tossing in what looked like
an inflated volleyball.
Pop. Make that a deflated volleyball. After an elephant stepped a little
too close, it was time to start again with a new ball.
The chase was on, albeit at an elephant's pace. Sticks swung. Elephants
bumped each other. Mahouts maneuvered the beasts into position. Another
ball popped.
In the end, our team lost but the game was well worth the effort. After
one final photo, it was time to head back to our room at Rambagh Palace
and to (where else?) the Polo Bar.
Surrounded by polo trophies and memorabilia of the late Maharaja, we
proudly recounted our elephant polo match to our fellow travelers. Like
our stay in the maharaja's palace, it was a day we'll never forget.
For more information on Jai Mahal Palace and Rambagh Palace, contact the
Taj Hotels at 800-44-UTELL or see
http://www.tajhotels.com.
Paris Permenter & John Bigley are founders of
www.LoveTripper.com - a
romantic travel site featuring getaways of special interest to lovers in
search of a honeymoon, a destination wedding, or a weekend away.
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