Vividha and her father expected me with some flowers in Gwalior and took me to there place where I met Dipti, Shikar and their cousins. After talking late that evening, Vividha skipped school next day and we went sightseeing with her father. We started at the Jai Villas Palace, that is the home to the current Maharaja. Around 40 rooms are open to the public showing off several collections of the family and memorabilia. Especially impressing are the pool area (which is not in function anymore) and the Dining and Reception Halls. In the latter, there are two big chandeliers (each 3,5 tons) - before installation the roof was tested with ten elephants. In the Dining Hall, there are three tables: one for veg and one for non-veg food and in the middle a table with the silver train supplying the guests with cigars, dry fruits and liquor after the dinner.
The rain then stopped any further sightseeing so we returned home for lunch. Afterwards, Dipti, Vividha and me made it to the fort which is crowning above the city on a cliff.
The fort has been a beautiful place with lots of decorations, mirrors, precious stone - but when the Mughal came and conquered the place, they ripped it off its opulence and today you can look only at holes and empty rooms. The fort was also fitted with some modern amenities like a pool, intercom and air conditioning. Today only bats live in the dark rooms.
Besides the fort, there are a lot of other sights on the cliff:
two temples: one for the mother-in-law, one for the daughter-in-law
a Sikh Gurudwara
and Jain stone carvings.
Later we went to see the tombs of Ghaus Muhammed (Afghan prince) and Tansen (famous musician at Akbar's court).
Next morning Sakeet, Dipti and me went to see the Chhattris - pavillions that were built on the cremation site of each maharaja.
Then we made a little city tour by car before we went back home.
In the afternoon, they brought me to the train to my next destination: JAIPUR.
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