Cenotophs and Block Printing

We started our second day in Jaipur by negotiating the cost of a TukTuk, which usually ends up at around half of the originally quoted price. And at that price we probably paid a tourist premium, but it's still pretty cheap and more fun than a Coney Island bumper car. Our destination was the Amber fort, but along the way the driver had another must see stop in mind. We found ourselves at the Gatore ki Chhatriyan, a remote site with hardly anyone around. What at first appeared to be several small open air palaces with domed towers, was actually the cremation grounds for members of the royal family of Jaipur. The stone structures feature ornate carvings and statues of Hindu gods and each building contained numerous cenotophs memorializing past rulers. The driver's suggestion was, as it turned out, well worth the stop.

These Cenotaphs are not actually tombs, but monuments commemorating persons who have died.

In this case members of the Jaipur royal family.

It’s not uncommon to have a TukTuk driver suggest stops at certain shops where he receives a kick back from the owner, if the diversion proves profitable. But we are onto these tactics, and we normally loudly protest at any of these optional stops. “No obligation to buy…..just look Sir”  However the offer to see a traditional block print textile factory was too good to miss. I enjoyed watching and filming the workers ink the cut blocks and print the multicolored patterns.

Video clip of traditional textile block printing:

https://youtu.be/R1hWWGYvOsM

Applying the third of four colors            Closeup of carved printing block

After our quick tour, we explained that unfortunately, we had no time to sit, have a cup of tea and puruse the finished goods at the adjacent shop. Nice stop, but no sale!