Jaipur

Jaipur, also known as the pink city, is a bustling and busy place with plenty to see and do. Our tour had us housed at the Fairmont Jaipur which is a magnificent hotel and one that you should try and experience all that it has to offer. As with all hotels for the tourists in India, they are behind security walls and gates, and entry is only allowed if you are a guest. On your arrival you are greeted with gifts from the staff in a special ceremony. The food in the hotel is of excellent quality and the breakfast in the morning is both of a western and indian cuisine.

There is Club access in this hotel which was well worth it, if you are able to pay for the upgraded rooms when purchasing your tour. The Clubs offer free alcohol and food, and in some cases you can also order from a menu if you wish to stay on and have some dinner in the Club.

Jaipur is colourful, busy and crowded, so let’s see what makes this a worthwhile destination on your journey.

Amer Fort – the fort, also known as Amber Fort, is only a short distance from Jaipur, but it is quite stunning. Situated on a high hill it is the main tourist attraction in Jaipur. The fort overlooks Maota Lake which is the main source of water for the palace. It has a rich history of treachery and bloodshed. It is divided into six separate but main sections, each with its own entry gate and courtyard, and is well worth reading about on the link. You will be in awe of the beauty of the fort and the history hidden behind it.
Palace of Winds – although we did not actually have time to explore the Palace of Winds, there is no doubt that it is a majestic building worthy of photography. Its unique five floors exterior is akin to the honeycomb of a beehive with its 953 small windows, called Jharokhas, which are decorated with intricate latticework. The original intent of the lattice design was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life and festivals celebrated in the street below without being seen. But this architectural feature also allowed cool air to pass through, making it more pleasant during the high temperatures in summer.
City Palace – the City Palace is both a museum and the current residence of the royal family of Jaipur. We were fortunate enough to have a tour which included a tour of the actual palace residence. Long narrow tunnels move you from floor to floor where you can observe some of the grandeur of royal life. The rooms where the Prince and Princess of Wales stayed on their visit are preserved as part of the tour.
Jantar Mantar Observatory – this is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments and features the world’s largest stone sundial. It is located near the City Palace. The instruments measure time, predict eclipses and track location of major stars as the earth orbits around the sun. It is well worth visiting, so if it is not on your tour, then find time to visit it.
Jal Mahal – the Water Palace sits in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. Although it is not open to the public its beauty brings many tourists to the banks to soak up the sunset over the palace.
Balloon ride over Jaipur – there are a number of places that sell balloon rides and we were definitely not sorry we took the opportunity to experience Jaipur from the air. They are relatively expensive, but we decided it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which we were not going to miss. We felt perfectly safe, but it was extremely cold as it was a 5:00am start.

Travel Tips

There is a lot of walking in India, as most sites are quite extensive. Wear very comfortable walking shoes, have a hat on hand for those sunny days, and take plenty of water.

Travel Alerts

At every tourist destination you will find a huge number of street vendors selling their wares, especially at Amer Fort. They will keep on following you and badgering you to wear you down. However, stay strong and just IGNORE them. They eventually lose interest and target another tourist.