Procession of Elephants at Jaipur; Galta; Raj Mahal

Armoured elephants, sacred monkeys and a camel carriage feature in Col. George Craster’s home movie despatch from Rajasthan

The Craster family home movies offer a fascinating portrait of regal Rajasthan in the 1930s as well as a charming snapshot of filmmaker George and daughter Mary at home in Jotwara (Jhotwara). This film features a procession of elephants in extraordinary silver-plated armour and other scenes in Jaipur; the Craster family at Jotwara with Pertab Singh, George's orderly; John McLeod Campbell at Galta; sacred monkeys; a fakir; diving in the holy lake at Galta and a camel carriage at Tonk.

Colonel George Craster had a long and distinguished career in the Indian Army and was first commissioned in 1898. He retired in 1930 and became Chief Staff Officer of Jaipur State from 1931-35, where these films were taken.