'I have lived through ages of the British Raj and through ages of independent India. A lot of has changed “ but the magnanimity of Jaipur's simple folks still remains the same!,
Maharani Gayatri Devi, the Queen Mother of the Princely State of Jaipur, wrote thus in one of her newspaper columns. Often regarded as the most popular queen of the state, she had a better position than many to observe the state of her subjects, and her observations regarding the nature of Jaipur residents is definitely worth noting.
Jaipur is most famously known as the Pink City because of the abundance of castles, fortresses and old fashioned kothis built for large families from locally source reddish brown sandstone and marble stone. From an aerial point of view, Jaipur indeed looks like a city of pink, with a huge expanse of desert providing an excellent backdrop to accentuate the beauty of Jaipur to a surreal level.
Jaipur, ever since the days of the British Raj, has been an important tourist destination in the north of India. Magnificently built palaces, incredibly beautiful stepwells (the kind that featured in blockbuster Hollywood movie The Dark Knight Rises by Christopher Nolan) and magical night rides into unending desert landscape.
Cheap Hotels in Jaipur
India is generally regarded as an affordable tourist destination by most western travelers because of abundance of facilities and amenities available at relatively cheaper prices. Jaipur, in that very sense, is not really an exception as one can find cheap hotels pretty easily, without breaking too much of sweat.
That said, it always pays to be watchful while choosing a hotel. Sometimes, it's quite better to choose a hotel that has better security and food prospects available than simply going in favor of cheap hotels.
Royal Life in a Royal City
Who doesn't like to get a taste of royal life, every once in a while?
That's exactly why, if you are traveling to a traditionally royal city like Jaipur, it becomes essential for you to understand the cultural fabric of the city by following in the footsteps of kings and queens that ruled it. To live a royal life for the duration of your stay, you can choose one among dozens of luxury hotels in Jaipur.
These Jaipur hotels are quite different from the ones discussed in the earlier part of this article. Charging a nightly fee in excess of $100, sometimes even $250, these establishments make sure that you get top quality amenities for the top quality money you pay.
From private gardens in the desert to rooftop lounges and bars, pretty much everything that a tourist who wants to have some good time might ask for is available at one call with a luxury hotel in Jaipur. The Oberoi Rajvilas is the best known among these luxury Jaipur hotels, featuring amazingly ornate suites that befit a royal stay. Taj Rambagh Palace isn't too far behind in the list, featuring exquisite gardens and fountain works.
Sightseeing Around Jaipur
Jaipur is quite a place to get some sightseeing done. There are many sights that you might have to pack into your already tight schedule. So, it's always the best idea to understand the scope of your sightseeing so that you can prioritize your sightseeing events, making sure you do not miss out on absolutely unmissable sights.
Talking of unmissable sights, Jantar Mantar is a world famous labyrinth of short and steep tunnels built to create an unsolvable maze. The Hawa Mahal (Palace of Wind) is another magnificent piece of architecture in the old city of Jaipur. Designed to maximize the natural ventilation of air, this palace boasts of over 1,000 windows and doors.
The famous Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) is another Jaipur speciality that will remind you of literary works of Jorge Luis Borges.
The Amber Fort of the Rajputs should be your next pit stop while seeing sights in and around Jaipur. It is a beautiful palatial fort designed and built by the Rajput dynasties of the yesteryear “ a testimony to the years of devotion and dedication gone by.
Lastly, what is a royal trip to Jaipur without Elephantastic?
Elephantastic is a famed elephant ride through the winding lanes and semi-deserted patches of land in and around Jaipur. Not many are taken by the idea of riding an elephant in their lifetime, let alone actually doing it. That's why, the ride is extremely popular among the old and the young alike.
Modes of Transportation in Jaipur
Jaipur, despite being the capital of the state of Rajasthan, somewhat lacks in infrastructure when local transportation modes are being discussed. If you are planning on seeing various sights of Jaipur mentioned before, you are best advised to opt for various private touring companies that offer morning to evening sightseeing tours in and around Jaipur. These tours are not only all encompassing, they are also fairly affordable, meaning that you will be spared the expenses that you might otherwise have incurred through renting a private car or by arranging some other kind of transportation.
There are other kinds of means of transport available in Jaipur, but these are often more of the exotic kind (cycle rickshaws, tuk-tuks and even camels) and not much convenient.
Hot, Hotter & Hottest “ Just Jaipur Things
Jaipur is located smack in the middle of the North Western Desert of India. Because of its deserted location, it's very common in Jaipur to experience extremes of weather conditions, in terms of temperature, on a regular basis. In the summer “ from March to June “ temperatures can soar to 45 to 50 C quite frequently, making it extremely uneasy for travelers from foreign conditions to adapt. During winter months, post Diwali (October to December), day temperatures are quite modest in nature (25-35 C). However, night temperatures in Jaipur can drop to as low as 5 C during these months. That's the reason why traveling to Jaipur during these months is the best idea. However, hotels in Jaipur do tend to be on the pricier side during these months.