Just an update for anyone interested.

The one place that I found some solace in the subsequent days of my trip: in Jaipur, I went to the Amber Fort, but instead of going in the fort with all the crowds and noise, I climbed the opposite mountain where a Great Wall-like structure lines the hills with brick ramparts and towers. You can see the wall stretching out into the distance up and down the hills. I was the only one for a mile, and everything was peaceful and quiet, watching the sunset -- almost forgetting that you are in India.

It was the best part of my India trip.

(I then went to Amritsar, which was very interesting too, but still quite noisy and chaotic).