We had another terrific breakfast under the banyon tree on the terrace of our hotel restaurant. We left the hotel at 9 with Singh and Santosh to go to Galta Ji Temple, known as Monkey Temple. It is a sacred complex a few kilometers east of Jaipur, set among hills and natural water pools, known for its peaceful setting and resident monkeys. Just as we arrived, rain poured, so we ducked into one of the temples until the rain passed. Monkey Temple is a very interesting place!
We drove back into the heart of Jaipur and visited Albert Hall Museum, the oldest museum in the state of Rajasthan, with local art, textiles, and history exhibitions. Just as we arrived, a young Indian girl approached me, with her family, and asked us to have our photo taken with them. This is not the first time this has happened. The Albert Hall Museum opened in 1887 and is a beautiful example of Indo-Saracenic architecture.
Our next stop was at Gaitore ki Bawdi, owned by the Royals, the site is filled with cenotaphs of only royals. Its location is at the end of the road, in a quiet place, with beautifully detailed, elegant cenotaphs. It was a hidden gem.
This evening, we were invited to have dinner with family friends of our tour guide, Singh. Our hosts were Dr. Meeta Singh and her husband, Dr. Ashok Singh. Meeta is a doctor, humanitarian, and founder of Dignity of Girl Child Foundation. Ashok is an Opthamologist. We enjoyed conversation with them, about their lives and careers, what they are currently doing, and we had a typical Indian dinner together in their home. It was a fascinating evening!
