Sariska Palace Lawn Party

Many blog readers thought I should post the fact that I did attend the "lawn party" & what happen. So ...
I did attend & when I got back to my room at 3AM I was surprised to find several emails encouraging me to go to the lawn party. So - because I did go - here's a short report.
Good thing I ate long before the party because they didn't eat until about 11:30PM! Of course the food was Indian & I still have not acquired any taste for curry. Music was primarily Bollyworld Indian with a few badly "accented" English lyrics here & there. The people were incredibly interesting - 99% professional corp types. But the Royal family had been invited & several attended. I met & spoke with 2 "princes".& 1 princess - all 20-somethings who I believe attended only because the Bollyworld band that played is well..known & popular here. I found it strange that few of the corp types would even acknowledge the presence of the royals in attendance. I believe that I was the only American there & many folks approached me to talk. Some fascinating discussions resulted - primarily about IT, Obama, & residential/commercial construction <- which is what these folks/corp do - and this type of business is booming in India.

Jaipur

Today (July 15) began with a late AM, 150km, 3-hour drive from Sariska to Jaipur - world famous for its jewels (star sapphires, rubies emeralds, etc.)..
I am staying at the Alsisar Haveli - another India Heritage Hotel. It was built in 1890 by a maharaja to house his palace guests. Top pic is of the sitting area just outside my room. Center pic is the door to my room - doors are teak covered with mother-of-pearl inlays.. Bottom pic is of "part" of my room - there is also a desk/sitting area & huge bathroom. Note fresco's on all walls. - pics on walls are of royal family members.
The place is incredible - huge property in heart of Jaipur, incredibly large rooms, too many photo-ops to include in blog so see www.alsisarmahal.com/ or www.alsisar.com and then click on Alsisar Haveli for many more pics & info!

Sariska Palace - Backyard

Tonight there is going to be a big corp-type dinner & dance for a 100+ guests to be held on the Palace's back lawn. Buffet & dining tables to right & band stage in center of above pic. I was invited to attend by the "chief" sponsor - I believe he is the corp CEO! Thought that you would like to see what the palace's backyard looked like!

Sariska Tiger Refuge

The Maharaja built a hunting palace here because it is remote & there is an abundance of wildlife - so it is next door to the 900+ square kilometer Sariska Tiger Refuge or National Park. There are now only 3 tigers in the park - 1 male & 2 females (1 is pregnant). They are releasing 4-6 new tigers in the park this year. There are also 59 leopards, many Langur monkeys (top pic - which are the leopards' primary food source), peacocks/hens, parakeets, and many different dear & antelope. Bottom pic is of a young but large male Samber antelope.
Of course I didn't see any tigers because there are so few of them. Nor did I see any leopards because they are nocturnal. But - it was an interesting wildlife jaunt.

Hotel Sariska Palace

Yesterday following a 6+ hour drive w stop off @ Fatehpur Sikri Royal Palace & Fort (see below), I finally arrived at Sariska. I am staying at the Hotel Sariska Palace - an India Heritage Hotel which, like most of the Heritage Hotels I will be staying in, is still owned & partially occupied by the Maharaja's & Maharani's whose family built it in 1859 as a hunting palace - I have counted 5 full mounted tigers & 1 leopard among the trophies still here.
Top pic is of the main palace - owner-residents live on 2nd & 3rd floors. Most guest rooms are in Haveli's - 1 story buildings with 2.5' thick walls - bottom pic above. There are 80+ Haveli's here. It is in these where the Maharaja's hunting guests would stay. Rooms are very large but somewhat outdated & run-down, but it is still an amazing place - see www.thesariskapalacehotel.com/.