Jaipur: The Pink City of India

A heady combination of temples, forts, palaces, lakes, festivals and shopping – that’s Jaipur for you. If you love heritage, there’s no better place in India for you than Jaipur to visit.

Why pink?

Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan, and is symbolic of majesty and colour. The city, which was founded in the 18th century, is one of the most picturesque destinations in the country. The city is called the Pink City because every building in the walled city has a pink shade. The colour is representative of hospitality and royalty. The terracotta pink that was used is made of calcium oxide, and lasts really long, especially in the dry weather conditions in Jaipur. Yet another story has it that the favourite wife of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh loved the colour pink. A law was also passed making it illegal for buildings to be painted any other colour. The law continues to be in effect even today.

Places to see in Jaipur

• The Hawa Mahal is the most iconic structure in Jaipur, and is perhaps the most photographed. The structure has been designed to look like a honeycomb and is made of pink sandstone. The Hawa Mahal also has a museum which is home to paintings and other memorabilia

  

  Hawa Mahal (Photo Courtesy: http://www.panoramio.com)

• The City Palace is another impressive structure and has buildings, gardens and courtyards inside the complex, all reminiscent of the royal past of the city.
• The Amer Fort, located about 10 km from the city, is another monument worth visiting. The Fort has wonderful courtyards, and is built in sandstone and marble.

  

  Amer Fort (Photo Courtesy: http://geekphotography.in)

• You could make a trip to the Jantar Mantar observatory, which has a huge sundial, said to be the largest in the world by some.

Things to do

In terms of activities, you could enjoy folk dances or puppet shows – many hotels organize these shows and you could seek further information from the travel desk on other options.

Puppet Shows (Photo Courtesy: https://dpstinkyfinga.wordpress.com)

 One of the best activities is shopping! Who wouldn’t want to lose oneself in the lanes and bylanes shopping for textile, the gem jewellery, and other artefacts such as pottery and brassware. You could visit Johari Bazaar, Rajasthali, Nehru Bazaar, and MI Road, among other places.

You can also check for heritage walks with different themes – there is one which focuses on Jaipur’s printed textiles, for instance.

Some of the other activities include elephant and camel safaris, hot air ballooning and sky diving. You can also enjoy boating in the city’s lake.

Eating out in Jaipur

If you are a foodie, Jaipur is a great place to visit. You can savour Rajasthani cuisine, from Dal-bhati-churma to kachoris and ghewars (the latter are deep fried snacks).

When to visit

The best time to visit Jaipur is between October and March. The city is an important place on the tourist circuit; so plan ahead and make reservations at one of the hotels in Jaipur. If you are looking at luxury options, then you could opt for one of the resorts in Jaipur.

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Udaipur: The City of Lakes

You don’t have to travel too far to see Venice, the city of lakes. It is right in India, in Rajasthan’s Udaipur in fact. The city is known for its many lakes, and is a well-known tourist destination in the country. A lot of credit for building several artificial lakes should go to the royalty.

The lake system in Udaipur includes Swaroop Sagar, Rana Sagar, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Udai Sagar, Madar and Badi. But the five lakes that the city is famous for are Fateh Sagar, Jaisamand, Rajasamand, Pichola and Udai Sagar, all major tourist attractions. If your idea of a lazy holiday is cruising on a lake as you watch the slowly setting sun casting sheen over it, Lake Pichola is just the right place for you. You can see the lit up palaces on the islands formed by the lake. If this proposition is too tempting, you should book your tickets on one of the Udaipur flights right away.

Pichola Lake Boat Ride (Photo Courtesy: http://www.rajasthanroyaltour.com)

So, when you visit Pichola, your boat ride will also introduce you to some history. Along the way are Mohan Mandir, built as a mark of veneration to Lord Krishna, the Arsi Vilas, which is an 18th-century monument, the Jagmandir Island Palace, and Jag Niwas, now converted into a hotel. The boat ride will also let you catch a glimpse of the mansions of a bygone past, the most famous of them being the Bagore ki Haveli.

Lakes galore

Udai Sagar is another lake you must visit on your trip to the city. The lake was built by Maharana Udai Singh and was completed in 1565. The lake is ideal if you want a quiet evening; of course there are plenty of photo opportunities if you are a shutterbug.

Udai Sagar Lake (Photo Courtesy: http://www.hoparoundindia.com)

Fateh Sagar Lake is located towards the north of Lake Pichola and was built in the 17th century. The well-planned lake has three charming islands. One of the islands is known for the Udaipur Solar Observatory.

Fateh Sagar Lake (Photo Courtesy: http://sundargallery.com)

Jaisamand Lake is known to be the second largest manmade lake in the whole of Asia and was built in the 17th century. The lake is the ideal setting with the summer palace of Udaipur’s queens in the background. The embankment as many cenotaphs, while one of the shores is home to a spectacular palace. There are seven islands on this lake, which is also close to a wildlife sanctuary.

Jaisamand Lake (Photo Courtesy: http://www.clubmahindrablog.com)

The Rajsamand Lake, 66 km north of Udaipur, is one more lake worth visiting. It was built in the 17th century and is fed by the water of River Gomati. The lake’s banks have pavilions constructed by the royalty. As the sun sets on this beautiful lake, you feel as though you are going back in time to the era of the Maharajas, and their regal ways, as you watch the embankment in white marble, its terraces and arches.

Rajsamand Lake (Photo Courtesy: http://www.pinterest.com)

The best time to visit Udaipur is between September and March. There are plenty of flights to Udaipur from most important cities in India; accommodation options are also aplenty.

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