Rajasthan: Jaipur Information
Travelling in Rajasthan in February 2008
Jaipur >> Shekhawati >> Pushkar >> Jaisalmer >> Jodhpur
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Previous Posts: Travelogue on visiting Jaipur’s monuments
1. Arriving at Jaipur
2. Seeing Jaipur with Raju
3. Old City (Pink City)
4. City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal
5. Amber Fort and Jal Mahal
One of the most popular tourist destinations, Jaipur has much to offer to visitors. There is plenty of history in every other building in Old City. There is Rajasthan’s food to savour, most popular being Dal-Bhati-Churma. For the shopaholic tourist, Jaipur is a heaven of souvenirs and handicrafts. If you are there during any festival season, there is plenty of cultural immersion to soak up in.
View Jaipur in a larger map
Map of Jaipur with important places to see
Places to see. See the travelogue links above for more about each of the monuments. City Palace is the most dominating structure in the city, and a must visit. Close to the palace is Jantar Mantar, the astronomical observatory. Not for from these is the well known Hawa Mahal. All these places are in the Old City, also known as pink city due to uniformly painted buildings in this part of Jaipur. Swargsuli is a tall minaret, not so well known and popular with tourists but worth visiting for a bird’s eye view of the old city.
Just outside the boundary of the Old City is the Gaiter Village, which has the cenotaphs of the rulers of Jaipur. It’s another less visited spot, but don’t miss seeing its fine marble structures.
Looming large and visible from anywhere in Old City is Nahargarh Fort, also called Tiger Fort. A restaurant/bar in Nahargarh stays open in the evening and worth a visit. Amber Fort (pronounced Amer) is a large fort on a hill 10kms outside the city – another must visit.
Also worth experiencing is a walk in the Old City where many old buildings have remained, and things have not changed much in many decades. You can also buy puppets(katputli), colorful robes, marble art work and other handicrafts is some parts. Visit some of the gates of the Old City – Chandpol and Ajmer Gate and Sanganer Gate. The fortifying walls of the city have been restored near these gates.
Food and Accommodation. The Rajasthani food to try is Dal-Bhati-Churma. Bhati is roasted wheat balls. In the middle of the desert, the final steps of cooking bhati involves burying it in sand, but they would have some alternatives to this in the restaurants. Chokhi-Dhani, a resort outside the city serves some amazing delicacies that includes Bajra Roti, Bhati and many other local cuisines that will have you drooling. Chokhi-Dhani also has a mock cultural village which unfolds a the rural setup of Rajasthan. Over the years, Chokhi-Dhani also has become a must-see tourist attraction in Jaipur. There are dance shows, puppet shows, cart rides, camel rides and things that you should expect in a village in the desert, all showcased between the walls of the resort. Om Restaurant on Mirrza Ismail Road is another place to go to eat – they have a revolving restaurant at 11th floor where you can sit and see the city unfold as you have lunch.
Being a touristy place, accommodation is plentiful. Ask for a list of home-stays at Rajasthan Tourism Office. Most of the premium hotels and resorts are outside the city and requires some driving. Rajasthan Government has a few mid-range properties in the heart of the town.
There is a lot for shopaholic and souvenir hunter too. There are small shops around City Palace, and near Chandpol. For a more organized shopping, visit the art gallery at City Palace and Rajasthan Government’s Rajasthali Emporium on Mirza Ismail Road. Jaipur is also known for its gems and jewelery industry.
Continued at Marwari Language