August Calendar Sheet No. 8
Jaipur, the pink capital of Rajasthan, is a relatively young city that was founded in 1727 by the Maharaja Jai Sing II as a planned city. Jaipur is known as the Pink City, as the Old Town District was uniformly painted in a pink colour in 1876 for the visit of Crown Prince Albert Eduard. Pink is the color of hospitality in India. The city of three million inhabitants is not only a cultural centre, but also an industrial centre for metal, textiles, jewellery and chemistry.
Especially in the winter months from October to March, when the monsoon has subsided and it is not quite as hot in the desert city of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.
Jaipur is also part of the so-called “Golden Triangle”, an itinerary ´for tourists that connects the three cities Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
There is a lot to experience and visit in Jaipur. But precisely because Jaipur is one of the main tourist places in India and also an Indian city, Jaipur can also quickly become strenuous. Overzealous sellers should then be ignored and in between rest should be taken with a refreshing lassi.
Below Is a small two-day travel program for Jaipur:
Day 1 Old Town- Sunset from Nahagarh Fort- Bollywood Film
On the first day, the old town of Jaipur should be explored and since almost all the sights of the old town are relatively close together, you can either do so on foot, take a rickshaw from time to time or just hire a vehicle with a driver.
You can visit the City Palace, which is located right next to the famous Hava Mahal– the “Palace of the Winds”. The landmark of Jaipur is actually only a facade, where the noble ladies used to hide in order to have an insight of the life on the street while looking secretly out of the window.
Before continuing with the sightseeing, it is now worth for a little detour to MI Road to drink the best Lassi in the city at Lassi Wala (Kishan Lal Govind Narain Aggarwal). The Lassi store has been in existence since 1944 and is so well known for its good Lassi that the store closes after 4 pm. So better run!
After that you should visit Jantar Mantar. This is an observatory with huge 18 walk-in measuring instruments, which the Maharaja, a hobby astrologist, developed almost all of them independently in the 18th century. Among them is a 27-metre sundial. The facility is a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2010.
After a lunch (perhaps at the Peacock Restaurant) and some peace and quiet in the hotel, you can either set off on foot or by car in the afternoon to the northern Nahargahr Fort. From up here you have a wonderful view of the city and can enjoy the sunset.
If have still energy, don’t miss out on a real Bollywood movie tonight in the traditional Rajmandir cinema.
Day 2 Bicycle Sightseeing Tour-Amber Fort -Ceremony at Govind Dev Ji Temple
If you’re brave enough to dare to ride a bike in an Indian city and don’t be afraid to get up early, you should take a multi-hour bike-sightseeing tour in the morning through Jaipur. I recommend the “Insight Tour” where you get a nice insight into the everyday life of the inhabitants of Jaipur. You will visit the vegetable market, a traditional home in an old Haveli, you can visit the kitchen of a famous candy shop, visit the lively Shiva temple and cycle through the various working-class districts, such as those of jewellers, marble-men and, and, and.. In between, you drive through the narrow streets of the city and have a traditional breakfast with a Rajasthani family.
In the afternoon you should visit the famous Amber Fort, which is located 11 km outside of Jaipur. On the way you pass the picturesque Jal Mahal (Water Palace).
The large fortification of Amber Fort is one of the best preserved and largest fortifications in the whole of Rajasthan. Especially the Mirror Hall is worth a visit!
Govind Dev Ji Temple is a large temple in the city center. Seven ceremonies, called Artis, are performed here every day. Those who want to experience some spirituality can take part in one of the ceremonies at 5:30 or 6:30 pm. You should not be afraid of crowds, because you will not be the only participant!
