City Palace, Jaipur

This is where the Maharajas of Jaipur resided. It is lavish and it is extravagant. One of the things that leaves everyone astounded are the two huge silver water jugs- the largest single silver objects in the world. One can gauge the level of extravagance and indulgence of the maharajas by the fact that when Madho Singh II went to Britain to attend the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 he carried water from the Ganga in them for daily prayers and purification. Today they are on display. I was surprised to see a sapara- snake charmer-inside the city complex who shows a cobra dance for money. I wonder if the Rajasthan Government is even aware that catching of snakes and making profit out of them is illegal. There is also a face-reader and palmist in the complex. The government seems to be working overtime to keep up the image of India as a land of snake charmers, charlatons and magic.