You have to understand that in India things may happen unexpectedly, not as you wanted. If you stick to the plan, you may become upset very easily. Calmness, determination and a pinch of acceptance are the traveller’s virtues in India. I assure you, everything you wish will happen, but not exactly how you projected with a European mentality. Not in that moment or not in that rhythm.  People in India have a different relation to time. If you accept this, you’ll meet a peaceful and interesting world here, but as soon as you get nervous, your journey will become a nightmare. So just remain cool, open your eyes and your mind and let things happen naturally. Don’t forget to enjoy the moment!

We left the motel in Jaipur after breakfast and got a deal with a tuk tuk driver. We wanted him to carry us all day long so we would have ample time with the sights we wanted to see.

We presented the plan and the destinations and told him to take us to the Amer Fort, first. –Yes Sir! – He said and the trip had started. We were getting out of the city and the traffic had disappeared. Then we suddenly stopped in a small square, in front of the huge gate of a building with a palace-like facade. There was a valley behind the gate with rock-walls on both sides. We were sure it wasn’t the fort so we asked why we stopped.

He said that it is Gaitor and we must see it, because he thinks it’s beautiful. We were disappointed at first and thought that we were wasting time, but we obeyed and entered the gate.

No entrance fee, no tour-guides, no info-boards so we needed time to understand its importance. The Hindu rulers’ burial ceremony is different from the European custom. Gaitor is no graveyard, there are no human remains there. The fascinating buildings has been raised where the rulers’ funeral pyres were.

Maharaja Jai Singh II, who founded the city of Jaipur in 1733, decided to locate this place for the cremation ceremonies of the Rajput Kachwaha dynasty. Every Kachwaha ruler ended his earthly life here since then.

This outstanding construction of Jai Singh II is a memorial place made of white marble decorated with fantastic carvings. Our favourite is an elephant relief (approximately 140 x 70 cm).

Marble carving on Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II cenotaph – Gyönyörű márványfaragás Sawai Jai Singh II maharadzsa emlékhelyénél

If you’re in a rush, half an hour will be enough but one can spend half a day here for a more detailed discovery of the surrounding area. Then you can reveal the real beauty of this place.

We stepped out the gate and thanked the driver for taking us there.