Tailor-made : In the News

New elephant house planned at Amber Fort: 29-10-2007

Although Amber Fort in Jaipur is already an attraction in itself, a special complex is being planned for the decorated elephants that carry visitors up to the 16th-century palace and fort on the mountainside.

Over 50 elephants will be housed in the complex, with a pond for them to bathe in after a hard day's work and a veterinary hospital to care for them. Visitors will be invited to the complex to dine in its restaurants and learn about the Rajasthani culture in a new museum.

Although it will not be completed until 2008, officials told IANS that the foundations of 24 elephant sheds are already finished.

Visitors need not fear that the elephants will be overworked for their pleasure, as the Rajasthan High Court has asked the state government to specify how it is protecting the animals that take tourists up to the Amber Fort. Any elephant owner who does not have a licence will have action taken against them immediately, a spokesperson confirmed.

Jaipur is part of the area known as the Golden Triangle, which includes Delhi and Agra at its other two corners. Located 270 kilometres southwest of Delhi, Jaipur is called the Pink City, which is the Indian colour denoting hospitality.