Jaipur: Air conditioned gardens


I just love the lush green spaces of Amber Fort's inner gardens. The symbol of Islam can be seen everywhere. The little marble fence where Oliee is standing has the symbol carved right into it. Even the fountain behind her is shaped out of that symbol.

It was very sunny that afternoon, the greens somehow complemented the tainted colour of the marble floors and walls. Because it was starting to get warm, we asked the tour guide "Sir, how did the residents cool themselves down? There aren't any fans nor electricity in those days right?". He explained that every corner of this compound is a man made irrigation system that flows water down the sides of small openings in the wall. The breeze that flows through those small openings will of course be chilled by the cool water, hence you get your own home made air conditioner. Because the openings are made of marble, the water gets really cool in the summer. Because water is precious and scarce in those days, water that flows out from the side of the wall are channelled into the gardens and of course into the beautiful fountain at the center of it all.

Now what puzzled me was how did they get so much water up the hill. What they had built was something that the Chinese had already done before. They basically pump water up the hill by holding up large amounts of water at the bottom of the hill in a large air tight container. Sitting above the water surface is a large marble slab that, together with gravity, acts like a pump. I hope you can visualize this correctly because I am sure hell confused after what I have just typed out.