Destination: India Diary. Today, rest and relaxation at the beautiful Umaid Bhawan Hotel, an artfully decorated mini Rajasthani palace. Our room is facing the interior court yard with a fountain and a golden door as back drop. The trickling of the water drops of the fountain is so calming for an afternoon of rest. It has been a very long drive from Agra to Jaipur. Very soon it will be time for dinner at the roof top Restaurant at this hotel.

The golden door is the gate to my imagination. Step through into a world of Rajputi Splendour. We have dinner at the roof top restaurant.

The food is very traditional Northern Indian Cuisine. We eat mostly vegetarian. We enjoy it. The view is over the mostly modern part of Jaipur. There is a different entertainment every evening. This is the typical Rajasthani puppet theater with music.

Theater performance with traditional string puppets and music. Very elaborate costumes.

A display of the string puppets used in the performance. Several evenings we have dancers with a musical group entertaining us.

This young dancer is balancing a pot with fire on her head and smiling. I am impressived.

Dancing and smiling while balancing the pot.

Many buyers for fashion and jewelry or gemstones stay at this hotel. Is is small, precious, just like a jewel box. I don't think too many people know about it.

more information: www.umaidbhawan.com