COLOURFUL JAIPURTwo days in the city of Jaipur were a burst of colours. From the sandstone pink of the city walls to the bandhani's and mojaris in the bazaars and the colourful costumes of the local folk. Jaipur was a treat for the senses. Vibrant colours, beautiful architecture, a rich cuisine, and a variety of sights and sounds that leave a lasting impression of a city seeped in history and culture.
There's not really much to do except for some basics - check out old forts, eat well and most of all shop! But apart from these basics, Jaipur packs a punch because it combines the old with the new and the rural way of life with the modern.
Like Delhi, Jaipur has history dating back centuries which makes a drive through the city, a drive through history. Driving along the Delhi-Jaipur highway, you pass rolling hills that are a part of the Aravalli range, and arid vegetation that form a part of the desert landscape. Sharp, bare and desolate. There is something eeringly beautiful about it. And if you are driving to Jaipur in the night, then be prepared to fall into a spell. For the rising and falling silhouttes of the rolling ranges won't stop haunting your mind throughout the journey.
You must enter Jaipur's city walls after the sun goes down. Ancient walls crawl across the edges of the rugged landscape, like the Great Wall of China and you meander round them till you see the Amer fort bathed in yellow lights. Unnoticable in the night, the pink coloured walls and buildings of Jaipur by daylight, seem quite unbelievable. I mean, you've always read about how pink Jaipur is, but when you see it with your eyes, you wonder how the colour pink can be a part of the city's culture. Sandstone pink can be found everywhere in the old areas of the city, including the newly constructed flyovers - merging the old with the new so well.
The bazaars by the Hawa Mahal are full of everything that you can think of as ethnic and typically rajasthani. Delightfully coloured mojaris, bandhanis, razais, silver jewellery, hand crafted umberellas and pottery - it's a shopper's paradise.
And you cannot leave without checking out Chokhi Dhani. You'll be reminded of it all along your drive to Jaipur through the numerous hoardings on the highway, and you'll keep wondering how its pronounced. And at peak tourist season, it is PACKED! Spend a few hours in this typical rajasthani village set up for your pleasure - to live like your ancestors did, stretching it out on the charpai, sipping tea in kulhars and playing marbles. But you get to see the rajasthani fare that you came there for from folk dances, puppet shows and camel rides to yes, the food.
Its one big mela, one huge party! Just like the city itself - where the fun never ends.
There's not really much to do except for some basics - check out old forts, eat well and most of all shop! But apart from these basics, Jaipur packs a punch because it combines the old with the new and the rural way of life with the modern.
Like Delhi, Jaipur has history dating back centuries which makes a drive through the city, a drive through history. Driving along the Delhi-Jaipur highway, you pass rolling hills that are a part of the Aravalli range, and arid vegetation that form a part of the desert landscape. Sharp, bare and desolate. There is something eeringly beautiful about it. And if you are driving to Jaipur in the night, then be prepared to fall into a spell. For the rising and falling silhouttes of the rolling ranges won't stop haunting your mind throughout the journey.
You must enter Jaipur's city walls after the sun goes down. Ancient walls crawl across the edges of the rugged landscape, like the Great Wall of China and you meander round them till you see the Amer fort bathed in yellow lights. Unnoticable in the night, the pink coloured walls and buildings of Jaipur by daylight, seem quite unbelievable. I mean, you've always read about how pink Jaipur is, but when you see it with your eyes, you wonder how the colour pink can be a part of the city's culture. Sandstone pink can be found everywhere in the old areas of the city, including the newly constructed flyovers - merging the old with the new so well.
The bazaars by the Hawa Mahal are full of everything that you can think of as ethnic and typically rajasthani. Delightfully coloured mojaris, bandhanis, razais, silver jewellery, hand crafted umberellas and pottery - it's a shopper's paradise.
And you cannot leave without checking out Chokhi Dhani. You'll be reminded of it all along your drive to Jaipur through the numerous hoardings on the highway, and you'll keep wondering how its pronounced. And at peak tourist season, it is PACKED! Spend a few hours in this typical rajasthani village set up for your pleasure - to live like your ancestors did, stretching it out on the charpai, sipping tea in kulhars and playing marbles. But you get to see the rajasthani fare that you came there for from folk dances, puppet shows and camel rides to yes, the food.
Its one big mela, one huge party! Just like the city itself - where the fun never ends.
[Photo Credit: Harmanpreet Kaur]
