How would you feel if suddenly a seemingly boring day turned into one of the most exciting ones you ever had? Simply awestruck, I guess, and hardly believing how it can be true right? That's exactly how I felt on my trip to the famous Pink City.
Jaipur was on my travel list for a long time but somehow it always got postponed. At times I would select some other destination. Mixed reviews from other travelers also made me question whether it was worth visiting or not. Anyways, took an impulsive decision and you can continue reading to find out what happened.
A Little about Jaipur
One of the most visited places in Rajasthan, India, and also the capital city of the state, Jaipur was named Pink City because of the pink stones used for the construction of the city structures. Further, in 1876, when Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales visited this city, Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur painted the whole city pink to welcome the guests as the color denoted hospitality. This tradition has been followed throughout generations.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh || is the founder of Jaipur(1727) which flourished in the following years. After India gained Independence and all the princely titles were abolished, Jaipur became the capital of the Indian state Rajasthan.
The rulers of Jaipur, through generations, oversaw various constructions which constitute the most attractive tourist places of Jaipur. The Amer Fort and Palace, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and so on.
How to Reach Jaipur
Jaipur is well connected to the rest of India. Flight, trains, and buses are easily available from Delhi as well as other places. I started my journey from Delhi. Booked the bus online. Tickets are easily available and you get a wide range(departure time, type of bus, and fare) to choose from.
Jaipur from Delhi
It takes around 5-6 hours from Delhi. I took the night bus and reached there around 5.30 am. Pre-booking your bus helps. But if you want to book on spot you can do that from Old Delhi Railway Station Entry Gate or Dhaula Kuan Metro Station, Gate No 3. The cost of Jaipur to Delhi bus tickets usually ranges from INR250 to INR800 depending on the type of bus you select.
While booking, you can select the boarding and dropping points from the portal. Pre-booking saves you the additional worry about getting a good deal or a good seat according to your preferences. But there were plenty of buses available, so if you plan on a whim to go to Jaipur, rest assured it will be fine.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit any place in Rajasthan is Winter. The summer season brings unbearable heat, dust storms with day temperatures hovering around 45-degree Celsius.
Winter, therefore, is the best. Monsoons are fine but if you want to enjoy thoroughly, even the sunshine then winter is the best time to visit Jaipur.
In addition to this, you can also eat a lot of spicy Rajasthani Dishes without worrying about the heat or your running tummy.
Where to Stay
You can select from a wide range of hotels for your Jaipur vacation. From budget stays to luxurious palaces, Jaipur has everything.
I wanted to do something different this time. That is staying in a Hostel. If you search online you will find various hostels. I chose Go Stops and was not disappointed at all.
As this was my first time, I was a bit skeptical. I reached at 5.30 am. It was a winter night, cold and dark mostly. Luckily a few street lights were on and Google Maps showed the hostel was within walking distance from where my bus dropped me. A couple of minutes of walk and I reached my hostel.
I was shivering. Once in a while, a dog barked, breaking the spell of silence. Thankfully the Hostel was open and one of the staff was awake. As I reached way before the check-in time, he showed me the common area where I could rest.
Go-Stops Jaipur is a cool place for students, solo, groups, also budget travelers. However, if you are traveling with family and have kids, it's not the place for you.
The vibe was awesome and the decor was lively. And in terms of professionalism and cleanliness, these guys have done a seriously good job.
How to visit Jaipur in 2 days
Whenever I go to a place I do my homework. The places to visit, the must-have food, the best places to try the mouth-watering dishes and the list goes on. Hence, soon after I got to my room, I freshened up and got going.
Day 1: City Tour
My first day in Jaipur started with mouthwatering onion kachori and Mawa Kachori from Rawat Misthan Bhandar. The kachoris were heavy and it was a hearty breakfast. Time to burn some calories now. Headed straight to Hawa Mahal.
Hawa Mahal: Hawa Mahal or the "Palace of Winds" is one of the most distinctive architecture in Jaipur. Built as a summer retreat for the Royal Rajput Ladies, Hawa Mahal has 953 small windows throughout the structure for the wind to keep blowing inside.
The architectural style showcases a blend of Hindu Rajput and Islamic Mughal architecture. The structure of Hawa-Mahal is shaped like the crown of Krishna. Through many windows and from the top corner balconies you get a beautiful view of Jaipur city. In addition to this, Nahargarh fort, Jantar Mantar are also visible from here. Hawa Mahal usually takes around 2-3 hours to complete. Tickets are available from the counter outside.
City Palace & Albert Hall Museums: A heaven for art and history enthusiasts, City Palace Museum and Albert Hall Museum of Jaipur have the best to offer.
The City Palace was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh || and has also served as the residence of the former Maharaja of Jaipur. Indigenous artworks, traditional paintings of Jaipur are highlighted. You can even get some souvenirs.
Albert Hall Museum was built in 1876 as a concert hall. The architecture resembles the victoria and Albert Museum of London. There are 16 galleries inside the museum. They include Metal Art, Arms, and armor, pottery, sculptures, miniature paintings, clay works, marble art, international art, ivory, jewelry, woodwork furniture, coins, musical instruments, garments, carpets, and many more.
Both City Palace and Albert Hall have specific timings and are open all day. Composite tickets are also available which include other tourist destinations as well.
Gatore ki Chhatri: Less popular but worth visiting. These are a set of temples and tombs built for the former Maharajas of Jaipur. You can take an auto or e-rickshaw from the city palace to get to this place. Tickets are nominal but the structures are eye-catching. Engraved with beautiful Rajasthani carvings, the cenotaphs are umbrella-shaped hence the reference in the name. A must mention, this location is apparently the favorite for pre-wedding shoots in Jaipur. Located in the foothills of the Nahargarh Fort hill, this structure will not disappoint you.
Jal Mahal: The last destination for the day was Jal Mahal. The light sand-colored structure offers a sharp contrast to the blue color of the sky and water all around.
However, you can see the Jal Mahal only from the lake shores. Visiting the monument is not permitted. Previously there used to be boat rides, but even those are not allowed anymore.
By the time I reached, it was evening and the last sun rays fell over the palace and enhanced its color further. There were flocks of birds all around. It was a sight to behold and an excellent prop for shooting slow-mo videos but you need to be careful regarding their sudden droppings.
So finally Day 1 sightseeing came to an end. And it's time to find something to eat. I wanted to try the famous Dal-Bati Churma of Rajasthan.
Verdict: It was fine. Bati felt a bit dry. Maybe it is supposed to be like that. It's quite similar to the Litti-Chokha of Bihar. The thali overall was delicious. And it was unlimited. 4 Batis later I was too full to move.
Reached the hostel and straight to bed.
Day 2: Forts
Today I planned to visit all the 3 forts and also make it to the sunset point for the best view. Let's get started.
After a tiring day 1, I got up late. I had a hasty breakfast from Rawat again. Yes, I wanted to relish on the kachoris. Also as I would be fort hopping all day, I decided to pack a few, just in case.
As the forts are far away from the main city and I wanted to visit all 3, I booked a cab for the entire day for INR 1300. If you team up with other fellow travelers with the same itinerary, it may save you some more. Autos and cabs are the only means available.
However, instead of the initial plan to start my day by morning, it was almost noon by the time I reached Amer Fort.
Amer Fort:
It is the biggest of all and also takes over 2 hours to cover. If you have enough time in hand, explore every nook and corner. You will find mesmerizing views from the balconies.
On your way to the fort, you may find locals selling their wares, artisans playing Rajasthani tunes. Although it was winter, the afternoon sun was warming up everything. I had a glass of refreshing lemonade before continuing.
Amer Fort and Palace was the residence of former Maharajas and their family. Some of the places to look for in the palace are Diwan-e-Aam or hall for a public audience, Sukh mandir or Sukh Niwas, Mirror Palace or Sheesh Mahal, Mughal Garden.
You can take guides, audio guides, or explore the place yourself. Light Show takes place every evening. I decided to skip that and continue to Jaigarh Fort.
Jaigarh Fort:
While the Amer Fort was the residence of the Maharajas, Jaigarh Fort presents the military might of the bygone era. This Cheel ka Teela overlooking the Amer Fort and Maota Lake was built by Jai Singh || to protect the Amer Palace or the royal residence. Also, the Jaigarh Fort is connected to the Amer Fort by a 1.5Km underground tunnel, unfortunately, which is not open for tourists.
Jaigarh Fort has an armory, museum, and big courtyards and complexes including dining halls, chariots, and stunning views of the surrounding area. Here you can find the world's largest cannon, the Jaivana Cannon which was built by Maharaja Jai Singh ||. However, this cannon has never been used. It was fired only once and it required 100Kgs of gunpowder and covered a distance of 35Kms when fired.
I found a lot of monkeys all around. They are fun to watch but do maintain distance. I saw them snatching food from people and often their brawls became scary.
Nahargarh Fort:
Nahargarh Fort is closest to the city. It stands on the edge of the Aravalli hills overlooking the whole Jaipur city. This Fort along with the other two, Amer Fort and Jaigarh fort were strategically positioned to form a strong defense.
There are 12 identical rooms linked by corridors in this fort with beautiful frescos and other paintings. Nahargarh Fort is also said to be the hunting residence of the Maharajas. The surrounding forest still has a good variety of wildlife left.
To get a good view, go to the roof of this fort. You can see the whole of Jaipur city at a glance.
Sunset Point:
Finally, it was time for sunset. I had to rush to the sunset point and get a good spot to get all the beautiful shots.
It was beautiful. As the day was clear, there was no cloud cover and I got to see the sunset clearly. The sun gradually dropping and vanishing into the horizon amidst the pink golden greyish hues was exactly how I thought it to be.
By this time I was exhausted. I needed rest and food. So for today's dinner, I decided to have the famous Laal Maas of Rajasthan. After going through a lot of reviews I chose Handi Restaurant. When the food came I was too hungry and tired to get a photo. The food was fine, not out of the world as the reviews claimed, but satisfactory.
On reaching the hostel despite being tired I wanted to go around the hostel and take some photos as I would be leaving the next day.
Things you should be aware of while visiting Jaipur
Jaipur as a place is good but I was really surprised by the amount of scamming that went on everywhere. The following points are based on my experience. I hope it helps other fellow travelers.
3 things you should be aware of while visiting Jaipur
1. Scams: Too much everywhere. It just felt like being robbed every time you took an auto or bought anything. I can understand as a tourist place, prices might be high but they have taken things to an unreasonable level. For a distance of 1Km, they charged 100-150rs. And it's not 1 or 2 drivers, but the majority. Guess what, walking is definitely a healthier option. So if you are planning a budget trip, please keep some extra money as a backup.
2. The reference shopping: Let me explain how it works. When you board an auto or a rickshaw, the driver will take you to a certain shop claiming they have the finest and the authentic stuff. At times you may get good stuff but mostly it is fake. If you buy stuff from that shop your auto driver will get a commission for bringing you there. Once or twice was tolerable, but I was fed up when this was happening repeatedly despite my straight refusal.
3. Ask reliable sources: Plan before visiting. Almost every piece of information is available on the internet. Use that to chalk out a rough plan. Also, if you need to ask anyone anything ask a person in uniform or people at your hotel and likewise. I got a lot of misleading information and then again they were trying to get money out of me.
In short, Jaipur was overall fine. It could have been better if not for all the scams and "squeeze out as much possible" attitude of people. I can understand how foreign tourists feel when they go through this. Anyways, a definite thumbs up for the food, architecture, and the genuine people who helped me on the way.
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