Bharat Ek Khoj
Jaipur: The finest jewelry ever created on earth, where king was the jeweler and bricks his gems.
Jaipur, India’s “Pink City”: there’s much more to this royal Rajasthan’s capital than its pink peach buildings and historic splendor. The impressive cuisine, unmatched architecture, and royal natural beauty of the Rajasthan countryside would be enough to make Jaipur into a world class place. Jaipur is my favorite Indian destination, a place that is magical and vibrant…just the mere thought about Jaipur brings a smile to my face and my heart flutters with joy of its beauty!
Jaipur is known as the Pink City because of the terracotta pink color buildings that are in the area. Although it is named as Pink, you can say that it is more towards Peach or Orange color, nevertheless they look stunning. This adds to the wonder, placing you in a fantasy as you wander around, gazing up at the historical architecture. This exalted home to erstwhile royals is complete with old-world fantasies surrounded by colorful markets and chaotic streets.
Jaipur is both traditional and modern at the same time, The old side of Jaipur has more culture but the new also provides some of the 21st century comforts like shopping malls, bars, modern restaurants etc. There are so many amazing monuments and places to visit in Jaipur, and in my opinion most of them are a must see in Jaipur.
Let me share few recommendations of picturesque places of Jaipur:
Amber fort is one of the most visited spots of Jaipur. This Fort is situated on a Hill and offers a beautiful, unbelievable view of the city.
Next beautiful place which I have in my mind is Hawa Mahal of Jaipur. Hawa Mahal or the palace of wind, is one of the most iconic places of Jaipur. The romantic pink sandstone fortress cascading over the streets of Jaipur, was originally built in 1799 as a vintage point for the ladies of the royal household. Hawa Mahal is famous for its windows or ‘Jharokhas’ which enable free circulation of air within the building. Hawa Mahal, lights up with the sun. Right on the main road, all you need to do is wake up early for a perfect start to your day to see this gorgeous building shadow against the rising sun.
City palace is another place to visit in Jaipur, it is situated just behind Hawa Mahal, it is the centerpiece of the city and the heart of founder Jai Singh II’s reign. City Palace is a reflection of royal influences of Jaipur. Its architecture is a combination of Mogul, Rajput and European styles. The main thing which is iconic here is the royal archway doors which are situated in the center, these doors gained popularity when it was featured on the cover of Lonely Planet for their Rajasthan publication. City Palace has a great cafe and you can also see some puppet shows there as well. City Palace has a room where artists show their artworks, the artworks include various handmade woodwork, carpets, jewelry and paintings.
When thinking about Jaipur, another place that comes to my mind, which is not that old built, but still has a cultural reflection of Jaipur and Rajasthan is Chokhi Dhani. It is a model village resort in Jaipur. Chokhi Dhani is like a never-ending festival without the normal chaos. A meal here is a must try for anyone visiting Jaipur and along with that you can enjoy some spectacular traditional performances. Chokhi Dhani definitely gives you a mode to absorb all the cultural aspects of Rajasthan.
Jaipur’s uniqueness comes from its fascinating and spell bound history which are reflected in its marvelous architecture. Jaipur royalness is mesmerizing, its history has a lot of impact on its mouthwatering cuisine as well. Jaipur royal rulers focused a lot on the tradition and quality of the food in their kitchen. As Jaipur is surrounded by desert region, so the cuisine has a lot of usage of beans and berries, ker-sangri is one of the famous dishes of Rajasthan made with beans and berries. There are many known spices that get exported all over India. Red chilies and fresh turmeric are some of the famous spices produced in Jaipur. Jaipur has many authentic dishes like Dal Kachoris, Phenis, Ghevar, Laal Maas etc. Each of the dishes have a unique and royal flavor. Jaipur is a destination with a sweet tooth, and you can find these goodies served up at restaurants or food stalls throughout Jaipur. Some local favorites include mawa and ghevar.
It’s been years since I have visited this beautiful destination, but the memory of this royal place is still fresh in me. I absolutely love Jaipur and it reflects Rajasthani culture with a touch of modern lifestyle. Jaipur indeed offers a vibrant, colorful vibe and an experience you can’t forget. If you haven’t been to this most popular tourist spot in India, then do plan to visit to the gorgeous city of Jaipur on your next visit to India.
–Ridhima Mahajan