The Amber Fort, India

The Amber Fort outside of Jaipur in Rajasthan, was built roughly 500 years ago and has seen some changes during that time. It's a very popular tourist attraction, with its many halls and palace made of red sandstone and marble, its multi-levelled courtyards and gardens and its ornate, artistic details and murals. The palace was built for the local Maharajas and their families, but today it is more of a museum than anything, high up on a rocky hilltop.

I spent a couple of hours exploring the grounds and admiring the details of the various buildings, each with its own artistic style and distinctive character. By the time I was done, I'd gathered many photos and several ideas for a drawing. On the way out, I stopped and watched a snake-charmer play his horn for a cobra in a basket. Which became the subject of another drawing...