If the name conjures up visions of fairytale princesses in romantic forts and typical Rajput valour - visions fuelled by watching 'Paheli' and reading Kiran Nagerkar's 'Cuckold', well, you are not far from the truth - but that is the glorious romantic part, look a little beyond and Jaipur is a fascinating city offering a rich study of contrasts.
Let’s start at the beginning. You can get there by cheap flights from
For Jaipur sightseeing we choose Rajasthan car rental company. Its simply great driver has got excellent knowledge about jaipur. He is very helpful and friendly.
So, you're there and doing the city rounds - that fare is usual – check for Rajasthan Tourism buses who take travellers on sightseeing tours. But if you like you could try local or private transport and do it on your own pace.
There is the City palace with a nice museum right in the middle of the old city. Here is an amazing collection from the past - rich heavy garments with craftsmanship that you wont find anywhere now. With these you get a glimpse of the really lavish lifestyle of the times - also some amazing body proportions of the time!! A very unique collection of armaments - all kinds of old guns - elaborate in aesthetic as well as technical details. There are rare manuscripts - old handwritten books on parchment amazingly illustrated. If you are the kind, you could politely request and access the library for some amazing and rare books. The museum is a treat for all old world romance hunters - a must see!
Right outside is Jantar Mantar - the open air amazing astronomical lab! The mechanics of each of those installations are wonderful in their details - just a play of light and shadow and they get things precisely to the last second. They are not just fancy sun dials, mind you - the amount of engineering that went into just planning these would be impossible without computers today. Be sure to take a guide or invest in a good guide book and if you're on a shoestring budget just eavesdrop on the closest bunch of guided tourists...:)
Amber palace- about half an hour's drive from the city, with some nice view of Jal Mahal on the way - up a winding hill road - this is a place where after the guide's done his bit, you should linger around. A former capital, this walled fort/city has many nuggets of legend built in. Ask about the cooling systems, the underground tanks, the saffron gardens, the many chambered courtyard of the many wived king and his secret access to all of them. There are some amazing frescos that are closed to public here and if you are lucky you can view them if some restoration work is on. Ignored but still interesting are some very old temples around the fort. If you are up to it take a walk around the fort to check out some ruins.
Otherwise let the car trudge you on to Jaigarh (on a neighbouring hill) and its monumental world’s largest cannon. Avoid a trip to Nahargarh (and yet another hill) during the day - try reaching their by twilight (but for lone travelers, try finding a group or better still find out if the Rajasthan Tourism is providing night tours that include transport, dinner and entertainment in form of folk dances at the time you are there). There somewhere between earth and sky, see the city lights giving competition to a sky full of stars. It is the best city view to be had. And if you want to do that extra romantic thing, you can even rent rooms right in the fort, including an octagonal room with windows looking out onto the city and its expanse.
And then there is the Birla Mandir- but its like the Birla Madir anywhere else - elaborate marble edifice - still doesn't feel a patch on the unfortunately closed to public Moti Doongri fort (where apparently the royal family stays) that you can see right above it.
Want to do more? - Feed pigeons a la Trafalgar square at the Albert Hall museum. The building in its details is more fascinating than any exhibit -and from what I remember it was a very badly kept museum - including a model of a fish - which was simply labelled fish.
Go to Raj Mandir and catch the latest sentimental movie. Its one of the first really fancy theatres in
Read the papers and get lucky to catch a screening, a mela or if you are really lucky a concert at the Jawahar Kala Kendra. It is very worth a visit in any case - with a beautiful Charles Correa designed building on the theme of the nine divisions of the cosmos, which also forms the basis of the planning of the walled city.
And the walled city, this is where you should leave your car behind and take a cycle rickshaw instead. Not only because the traffic is appalling but also so that you can see more. Thanks to a surprisingly good move by the government most of the bazaars are cleaned up and walkways covered. So go to Choti Chaupar, Hawa Mehal (a Rs. 5 ticket and you can go up), browse and muse over the melee of tourists and local crowd. The walled city is entered through gates - Ajmeri, Sanganeri and New gates. The markets they lead to are often specialized - and often behind the row of retailers there are the wholesalers in those really narrow by lanes. One visit should be to simply browse. And to inhale local flavour! Amidst the Pink City, and anciet buildings dotted all over by jharokas - see the people dressed in fluorescent coloured turbans and odhanis in their chaotic crowded rush going about their own business in camel carts or swanky cars...
the very first village resort- Chokhi Dhani literally translating into 'good village'. It has rides, potters, jewelry makers, magic shows, a good chill-out ambience and really good authentic food - served with what is called 'manwar' - everyone who serves you would tempt and insist a whole more onto your plate and palate than you had previously planned. For a traditional sit down all included dinner, it feels generous and it is. Immense fun especially for a large group of enthusiastic people. Go early enough to enjoy all that happens there. Especially if you have children with you.
You could also drive up to
Another interesting time would be from around the 14th of January onwards, as the Jaipur Heritage International Festival will be on, with a wide variety of programmes, events, parties and performances to suit all tastes. International and Rajasthani Folk Fusion music, Theatre, Classical Performances etc., will have you engaged from fairly early in the day till late at night . Carry sun screen, water bottle, road map and contact numbers. Even if you book your hotel online, do call and confirm. Take your driving license along if you thing driving around will be fun, but be careful of one ways and avoid the walled city altogether. And reading up a bit on the history and architecture never hurt... But even if you don't there is enough beauty and romance in the city to do more than a 'been there done that' routine here. Linger and who knows what treasures you may discover…
Ruby - About the Author:
Ruby is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. She has authored many books on tour guide for Car Hire In Rajasthan and Rajasthan Tour Package. Now she is rendering her services to http://www.rajasthancarsrental.com/
Mob no.: 09950750550, Email: rubyyadav2001@gmail.com
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