Have You Ever Spent a Weekend in Jaipur?

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Distance from Delhi: 288 kilometers

Hilltop forts, regal palaces, vibrant bazaars, bright turbans, camel carts, heritage hotels, bandhini sarees, pyaaz kachoris, and true blue Rajasthani hospitality. Such is the charm of the Pink City, Jaipur.

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If you live in Delhi or Agra, you’ve probably been to Jaipur for a weekend break at least once. If you haven’t, then well, you must go now!  A fascinating city, it’s got different stories tucked in every corner waiting to be explored. I remember the first time I went to Jaipur was in college with a friend who was then a budding photographer. She was on an assignment to cover the Golden Triangle of Delhi-Jaipur-Agra and I had graciously offered to be her assistant cum spot boy cum model for the shoot. With only a weekend marked for Jaipur, we had a lot to cover. Here’s how we got the best of Jaipur in two days.

Day 1: Forts and Palaces of Jaipur

Since we were driving from Delhi to Jaipur, we started our trip with Amber Fort, which falls on the way. Amber, if you recall from the film Jodha Akbar, is Aishwarya Rai’s hometown before she marries Hrithik Roshan. In fact, the kadhai that she uses in the film to cook for Akbar is supposedly the same vessel that is placed in Amber Fort. Bollywood trivia aside, this beautiful fort is of great historical significance and is a must-do on any Jaipur itinerary. The elephant ride from the parking lot to the fort’s entrance is an absolutely delightful experience.

After exploring Amber, we went on to Jaigarh Fort to check out this popular venue for film shootings, destination weddings and the largest canon on wheels in the world. Next up on our agenda was a quick stopover at the gorgeous Jal Mahal or the ‘Water Palace’ in the middle of the Mansagar Lake.

Talking of palaces, we then headed to the famous City Palace of Jaipur. A remarkable blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, the palace also houses the textile and costume museum, arms and armour museum, art gallery and the halls of public and private audience. But out since early morning, our stomachs were rumbling and we decided to stop for a scrumptious meal at the restaurant inside City Palace before exploring the museums.

Having heard that most shops around the Old City area remain shut on Sunday we decided to leave the rest of the attractions for the next day and hurried to the famous Johari Bazaar. Spoilt for choice, we bargained our way around the market and bought bags full of silver earrings, lac bangles, leather juttis, colourful bandhini dupattas and boxes of the famous Ghewar from LMB (Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar). We had heard about the shopping at Bapu Bazaar as well but alas! Time was short and we had to move on.

For the evening, we had been advised by the locals to try Chokhi Dhani, a village theme resort on the outskirts of Jaipur for a quintessential Rajasthani experience. A photographer’s delight, the place has a charming rustic environment giving it an air of a village fair complete with folk dances, puppet shows, bioscopes and authentic Rajasthani food served on the floor. Overeating is guaranteed.

Day 2: The Colours, Light and Sound of Jaipur

The next day, we retraced our touristy trail and went to one of the most well-known attractions of Jaipur – the Hawa Mahal. The beautiful façade of the palace lends itself to brilliant photo opps. After this, we went to Jantar Mantar, an 18^th century observatory. A fascinating place, we got ourselves audio guides from the ticket counter to understand the significance of each installation.

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Followed by yet another round of overeating at Rawat Mishthan Bhandar, we decided to take it easy and explore the market area at our own pace. A cornucopia of sounds, smells and colours, the streets are a delight to just walk about.

Our evening was booked for the much recommended Light and Sound Show at Amber. An unforgettable experience, the show is set at the base of the fort, known as Kesar Kyari, with a stunning view of Amber Fort with the hills in the backdrop. This magical act transported us in time and was the perfect wrap for my first ever weekend in Jaipur.

I’ve been to Rajasthan many times after that and continue to discover new things about Jaipur on every visit. Some cities have that something that call you back. Jaipur is one of them.

Insider Tips

Budget: Approx.Rs. 5,000 per person (inclusive of hotel stay and train journey)

Traveller Type: Couples, Families, Solo, Friends

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