Pink City Jaipur
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
First
things first, Jaipur is called the Pink City because of
the orangish pinkish brick reddish buildings
that build the Pink City up. When you look from FAR FAR away, you see a little series of tiny Pink houses hence the term “Pink City”.
Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, India, was founded by
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II on November 18, 1727.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II was a Kachwaha Rajput who ruled
Jaipur from 1699 to 1743. Prior to Jaipur, his capital was Amber which is 11 km
away from Jaipur.
Jaipur,
India the first planned city out of India is known as The Pink City. But why?
Answer: when the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria announced their visit in
1876, the King of Jaipur, Maharaja Ram Singh, mandated that the city be painted
its now-famous reddish-pink hue. This is because pink is believed to be the
color of ‘hospitality’. If you go to Jaipur for a taste of local culture,
shopping, sightseeing, and of course, incredible photos, you will not be
disappointed. Believe me, it is hard not to feel welcome in such a beautiful,
bustling city!
One
of the largest cities in India, the old city
surrounded by walls and gates decorated with drawings on the backdrop of a
beautiful pink hue, Jaipur, the pink city successfully manages to retain its
old-world charm. Home to a few UNESCO World Heritage sites including
Amer Fort and Jantar Mantar, Jaipur holds many magnificent forts, palaces,
temples, and museums. I will give the details in my next blog.
The city brims with bustling local bazaars where you can shop to your heart's content. Popular bazaars in the city include Bapu Bazaar, Tripolia Bazaar and Johri Bazaar. Details in my next blog.
Jaipur is also home to all the modern amenities with some of the most exotic
hotels and resorts in the world. The city boasts an international airport and
is also very well connected by rail and road. The metro, local buses, shared
tuk-tuks, auto-rickshaws, and taxi aggregator apps including Uber and Ola solve
the commute problem in the city quite comfortably.
Jal Mahal, Jaipur
When to visit Jaipur
October to March
Jaipur has a warm climate but October to March can be
described as the best time to visit the pink city. ... Winter
is definitely the best time to visit Jaipur, the weather is perfectly dry and
sunny. There’s barely any rainfall, so it turns out to be the destination
to escape the cold winter temperatures at home.
On
the other hand, considering that it is the time where most tourists visit the
city, one may have to be prepared for higher prices for accommodation. Since the most popular hotels in Jaipur are usually in high demand
during this time, plan in advance if you intend visiting the place during this
period.
When not to visit:
April to June:
These months make up the summer season in Jaipur.
It is quite hot especially during the daytime. May and June are
the hottest months, summers in Rajasthan can be brutal and hence,
sightseeing can be difficult. The temperature can soar up to 47 degree
Celsius.
July to September: Though
still hot in Jaipur, the monsoons during these months bring with it high
humidity levels.
Getting
There:
By Air:
Sanganer
Airport is 10 Km away from the main city and has both Domestic and
International Terminus which is 7 Km and 10 Km far respectively. All the major
Airlines like Air India, IndiGo, Spicejet connects Jaipur with the other major
cities in India.
Direct
flight to Kuala Lumpur, Sharjah, Muscat, and Dubai is also available from here.
Delhi to Jaipur Flights (Non-Stop) duration 50 minutes to 1 hr 5 minutes.
Mumbai to
Jaipur Flights (Non-Stop) duration 1 hr 40
minutes to 1 hr 50 minutes
By Train:
It has 3
Railways Junctions at Gandhinagar, Durgapura, and Jaipur main. Indian Railways
has connected this popular tourist place with all the major cities like Mumbai,
Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmadabad, Jammu, Kanpur, Bhubaneswar, Agra, etc.
Major
trains like Shatabdi Express, Intercity Express, and other Express Trains
connect Jaipur very well with other cities on a regular basis.
Palace on WheelsYou can enjoy the exotic
train journey in ‘Palace on Wheels’.
It originates from Delhi and connects Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, and Chittorgarh,
Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, and Agra for a week-long luxury trip.
Costs : Single @ $950 per person and
Double $715 per person per night and the itinerary is 7 nights 8 days. For
a truly luxurious experience, opt for the ‘Palace on Wheels’.
Delhi to
Jaipur Train travel time between
6 hours to 9 hours
Mumbai to
Jaipur Railway Station Train travel
time between 17.50 hours to 22 hours.
ByRoad:
Jaipur, the pink city is linked with all the major cities of India through the network of National Highway 8, 11, and 12 to name a few. There's also an excellent bus service between Jaipur and Delhi provided by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) with the buses at about every half an hour to and from both sides.
There are non-AC and AC Volvo
buses in which the fare of the AC bus is more. From Jaipur, you can board
the bus from Narayan Singh Circle or the main Sindhi Camp bus stand whereas in
Delhi you can take the bus from Bikaner House on Pandara Road which is next to
India Gate. Also, there are some private buses which are available from Dhaula
Kuan in Delhi. There are some express buses which connect various cities and
towns of Rajasthan such as Bundi, Kota, etc. to Jaipur. This city is also
connected to Mumbai via Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, and Vadodara and is also well
linked to Agra via bus.
·
Delhi
to Jaipur - 269 Km (4h 13 min via NH8)
·
Agra
to Jaipur - 237 Km (4h 15 min via NH11)
·
Jodhpur
to Jaipur - 338 Km (5h 8 min via NH112 and NH8)
·
Bikaner
to Jaipur - 343 Km (5h 20 min via NH11)
·
Jaisalmer
to Jaipur - 592 Km (8h 36 min via NH15 and RJ SH 19)
Where to Stay:
- 5 Star Hotels: Hotel Oberoi Trident, Hotel J W Marriot, Jai Mahal Palace, Radisson
Blu, Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre & Hotel Le Meridien to name a few.
- 4 Star Hotels: Hotel Ramada, Hotel Park Prime, Hotel Peppermint, etc.
- 3 Star Hotels: Hotel Arya Niwas, Hotel Maharani Palace, Ummaid Mahal Hotel, Comfort Inn Hawa Mahal, etc.
- Heritage Hotels: Alsisar Haveli, Bharat Mahal Palace, Bissau Palace, Castle Kanota, Chomu Palace.
What to Pack:
- Lightweight cotton clothing for the summer as temperatures can peak beyond 40C.
- Essentials like a good pair of walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a sunhat and mosquito repellent.
- A
jacket and woolens for winter nights as temperatures can dip to 4C.
Experience the royal way of
life in Jaipur, where the hospitality of the people is as warm as the blush
hues that embrace the cityscape!
What to Eat:
The
Pink city is one of the most visited destinations of many holidaymakers.
Rajasthani cuisine the city is always on the travel list of many. A visit to
this beautiful city calls for a dip into the pool of rich flavors of Rajasthan.
Your trip is not complete without trying Dal Baati Churma, Pyaz ki Kachori,
Gatte ki sabzi, Ghewar, Mava Kachori, Lassi, Chokhani Kheer and Mirchi Vada, and
the mouthwatering Kachoris!
For all those who are wondering
what Kachori is?
Well, it is a puffed-up fried snack that is crispy and flaky in texture and is
filled with sweet or savory flavors. Please see my next blog on what
should one eat whilst in Jaipur.
Every
morning starts with a plate of Kachoris and a warm cup of chai (tea), and if
you’re traversing the city, you ought to live and travel like a native.
I shall explain in detail the foods to be eaten, places to visit, shopping to be done, and monuments around Jaipur in my next blog.
Inputs from vegrecipesofindia,spicypunch,Wikipedia and Rajasthan Tourism, Google
Pls follow me on envigblogs
Comments
Post a Comment