Sightseeing at Jaipur

Day 4

March 7, 2012

Jaipur

I have never heard of Jaipur before our trip to India. Apparently, it is part of the so-called golden triangle, along with New Delhi and Agra. We spent the day visiting the attractions around the city, before heading back to New Delhi later in the afternoon.

Our first stop was at Hawa Mahal, a famous landmark in the city built in 1799. It literally means “Palace of the Winds.”  

Afterwards, we went to Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory built between 1727 and 1733. It has a collection of large astronomical instruments that measure time, track stars, and predict eclipses, among others.

Bazaar outside Jantar Mantar

We then spent more than an hour at a local textile store to buy shawls and beddings. It was almost impossible to leave the store without buying anything, even with the steep prices, as the merchant was very accommodating and persuasive. I think he showed us every color and type of shawl there is, from the cheapest to most expensive such as Pashmina.

After shopping, we ate lunch at Royal Treat multi-cuisine restaurant where we ordered Reshami Kebab and stuffed cheese nan. We all loved the food here so I highly recommend this. Judging by the number of tourists in the restaurant, I bet this really is highly recommended by many.

Our last stop was at Amber Palace and Fort, located on a hilltop overlooking an artificial lake. Inside were  palaces, halls, pavilions, temples, and gardens. Built in the 16th century, the palace is a mixture of Hindu and Moghul architecture.

Late in the afternoon, we started the 5-hour journey back to New Delhi, where the Holi festival was to start the next day.