Less viewing, more doing. Jaipur Tues 10th Feb

We stopped at a factory display warehouse, of block printing and hand knotted rugs and other textiles. We look at the displays and then I have a go, then the doors open and there is a huge shop! I buy a few silk scarves.

Three colours on three different blocks - one that was prepared earlier

Second colour going on - very intricate

Now my turn! The outline block.

It's perfect!

Now adding the first colour. Everything must line up.

Yep, I think I've got it!

Give it a thump!

All right I will!

It looks kind of brown, but the colours are Henna, pomegranate husk, cherry tree root and cacao

He is going to put it in an oxidising solution to change and set the colours

While this is drying we go and see the rug making.

They do get plenty of breaks - their concentration must be spot on as every one is hand knotted....

So the pattern even looks good from the back

Like merino there are long fibrous  threads every so often. These are burned off.

They are trimmed by hand!

Then each rug, after 3 or 4 months in production (depending on size and intricacy) is giving a final soapy suds wash before being put in the show room for sale.

Hard to decide - and I think I left one behind that I REALLY wanted!!

Then its on to the City Palace where the Rajasthani Royal Family still live. It shows in the upkeep of some wonderful buildings.

Inside the courtyard we are looking at the wing where the family lives

Tahir takes some photos of us at the peacock gate.

As the head of the royal family, A prince needed to bath in the water of the sacred Ganges. When he visited England last century he took two of these big vats made of silver with him. One came back filled with Whiskey. No wonder Royal Stag Whiskey sponsors a lot of cricket matches for the Indians

 Here there is an excellent clothing museum, but like a lot of museums with old cloth in them there is no photography allowed. We also have an excellent lunch here.
We pass Lakshmi Narayan temple on the way back. At night there is a 10minute show here, but given that it is over 30mins from the hotel we decline.

Also known as Vishnu

A glimpse of the modern university

We have another great meal at the restaurant tonight.