Day 8: Not more palaces! How many can there be?

I am behind with my blog. This is due to the shaky nature of the wifi in India. There is apparently broadband everywhere but it doesn't seem work in the average hotel. There is fabulous cell phone coverage as is evidenced by people in what seem to be very remote locations speaking on mobile phones. So, this and the following entries are not yet complete. I shall remove this paragraph as I catch up. 

There are 375 steps up this flight of stairs. It leads to a viewing balcony. Once you arrive there you are tempted by a pathway to an old fort.

I succumbed to temptation and climbed the steep slope another two or three hundred metres to the  Fort. I was about to knock on the front door when I saw that it said "Visitors welcome: please call 09549876061". Mmm ... you could have told me that before I did the climb.

Beautiful detail from the balcony above the Durbur Room at the Samode Palace Hotel.

The Durbur Room at the Samode Palace Hotel. Exquisite.

You hardly expect to see this in Neemrana. But what do you know ... a bunch of flugelhorns. A hideous noise to my ears.