The Amber Fort - Jaipur

Going to India I had little or no expectations - what I didn't expect at all was to find a mammoth, medieval fort in the middle of the desert.

Very impressive.

There was no way we were going to walk up, so we rented an elephant. Here's our driver.

Tips were paid directly to the elephant - for once, no complaint.

Here are some pictures from inside the fort.

The first thing we saw was a group of women "repairing" the lime stone floor. They would soak it with water, then slap it with sticks. I have no idea how it's supposed to work, but they sat there doing this all day.

Above the Amber Fort was another older fort.

Some other views from inside Amber Fort.