Jaipur is the largest and one of the most beautiful cities of Rajasthan.
Jaipur is also known as the Pink City, due to the dominant color scheme of its buildings
The Jaipur Delhi highway is smooth and is very convenient, so we decided to self- drive and it took us around 4-5 hours to reach Jaipur.
In the evening, we headed towards old Jaipur which is painted in pink and saw the most iconic structure Hawa Mahal, the palace of winds. A honey combed palace that Maharaja Pratap Singh built in 1799 for the royal ladies to see the city crowd without being ogled back at. After taking the picture of this beautiful structure, we checked out its interiors.
Watching sunset here was truly mesmerizing. The soft sunlight reflecting the pastel pink colour. It appears to be ‘la vie en rose’.
Q. What is more beautiful than watching the sunset in Hawa Mahal?
A. It is HawaMahal at night.
At night, the lights manifold its beauty. Watch fascinatingly carved windows light up against the dark sky. Right on the main road, all you need to do is visit the terrace café on opposite side. As the sky grows darker, the cool breeze stroking your hair, see the majestic Hawa Mahal glowing along with hustle bustle of city. Do not forget to visit the beautiful market around it. The vibrant colours, artistically crafted handicrafts are a true delight to any shopaholic.
The next day we left the hotel in the morning around 9:30 am and went to see Nahargarh Fort, Nahargarh means 'abode of tigers'. The palace has 12 matching boudoirs for the queens and a suite for the king. This is another beautiful point to see sunset. The sun melting in the sky and filling the aura with molten gold is a truly picturesque sight to watch.
After the sunset, we went to see Jal Mahal, ‘the water palace’. The palace is not open for public. So, we flocked around the banks of the lake. In evenings, it is crowded with street and food vendors. A true delight to watch this serene spot and taste lip smacking food. The light-coloured sandstone walls create a sharp contrast with blue water of lake making it one of the most photographed places in Jaipur.
The third day started with visit to Albert Hall museum. The Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur is the oldest museum of the state. The building is situated in Ram Niwas garden outside the city wall. The museum has a rich collection of artifacts including paintings, jewellery, carpets, ivory, stone, metal sculptures, and works in crystal. An Egyptian mummy is the main attraction of museum. The outside view of this museum was spectacular. It is melange of Indo-British architect. The background is perfect for cinematic videos with 100s of pigeons flying every now and then.
In afternoon we visited another scenic marvel of Jaipur ‘the Amber Fort’. Amer fort that epitomizes the glorious heritage of Jaipur is carved out with white marbles and red sandstones. The fort is also called Amber, a name that suits its golden-brown colour. The phenomenal interiors of the Amer Fort are influenced by both, the Hindu and Muslim manner of ornamentation. Amber fort is associated with rich history which involves treachery and bloodshed.
We saw a beautiful café inside the fort. It has open terrace with background of Nahargarh Fort and green Aravalli hills. Take a pause, sip some coffee, and listen some old folk story of this palace.
The fort looks brilliant when floodlit at night. Overlooking the city, it presents a glittering view of the city lights.
Late in evening we went to famous Choki Dhani . This model village resort in Jaipur is like a never-ending festival without the typical chaos. A meal here would really test your appetite and can be enjoyed while being treated to a fusillade of spectacular performances. Being here is the best way to imbibe in you the essence of Rajasthan; noise, spices, aroma and fun.
The last day of our trip was dedicated to the final place on our itinerary situated at a height on the hills of Aravali, the Jaigarh fort . The unending walls of the forts of Rajasthan have their own story, some are scripted and some are sipped deep inside as cry of war and dark secrets. provides a picturesque view. Forts are meant to be massive in structure to protect against attack from enemies and hence their walls are the major attractions. The high walls of the fort give a magical appeal to the entire area. The Jaivan cannon is the major attraction which is kept on top of the the hill.
I particularly loved this day. The weather added the colours to my journey. We were standing at the top of hill when it started raining cats & dogs. Everyone took shelter under the small canopy of Jaivan cannon. Life is all about enjoying each & every moment.
While everyone took shelter, I decided to go out and shoot the beauty of nature at its raw form. The thundering of clouds, strong winds and endless rain manifolded my joy. Drenched in rain from head to toe, I enjoyed the cinematic view nature gave me. With each sound of thunder, with each drop of rain I could feel, Rajasthan was calling out to me and saying “ Padharo mere desh” . My journey ended on this beautiful note and late in evening we drove back to Delhi.