Drive From Delhi
Most of us are already aware that Rajasthan is a State of opulence, but the amount of it and its beautiful architecture are what attract visitors year after year. The capital city Jaipur showcases the perfect mix of traditional and modern architecture, ranging from structures as diverse as the Patrika Gate and the Samode Haveli. Though I had visited the Pink City of Rajasthan, for a short duration earlier, I got to see the entire city in its full glory for the first time in March 2021. Here I am gonna tell you about the Jaipur sightseeing and the best places to visit in Jaipur.
An early morning road trip from Delhi is what always keeps us energetic throughout the day, and this is exactly what my wife and I did. We had to drop off my sister-in-law at Dwarka as she had been staying over with us the previous night, and resumed our journey from there towards Gurugram and subsequently towards Park Inn, Jaipur, (Jaipur Tourism). We faced a short jam before Manesar since the sheds from the farmer’s agitation were on NH-48 and due to the Haryana police barricades, but otherwise, our journey was smooth.
Day 1 Begins
We originally expected to reach our hotel by 11-11:30 but reached two hours later. Instead of venturing off to our locations, we checked into the hotel first. It took a while to get the room as guests were still checking out. We patiently waited and then changed into comfortable clothes to plan the afternoon and evening ahead with ‘cool’ minds. The outside temperature was roughly 28 degrees, and it took us a while to realize that our AC in the room was running at 18 degrees in full blast! Brr!
Places Visited Map
- Isarlat
- City Palace
- Hawa Mahal
- Laxmi Mishtan Bhandar
- Mughal Darbar
The idea was to head off towards City Palace, park there, and see it, along with the Hawa Mahal. However, at the parking location, we were told that an e-rickshaw driver, who would double up as a tour guide, would show us all the places around, which included Isarlat, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and the local markets as well. The cost for this trip was INR 350 and the parking cost was INR 80 for the entire duration, to which we agreed.
Gulshan Ji first took us to Isarlat, a 7th-century tower located close to the Tripolia Gate. The purpose of this tower today is to take panoramic views of the entire city. Armed with a Nikon DSLR, though we had planned to go all the way up, the round staircase and relatively thin path made me feel claustrophobic. However, it was only when I came back outside a couple of floors that we realized we were almost there. Although there are windows made for airflow, the climb to the top does get a bit tiring.
We were to visit the iconic Hawa Mahal on our next stopover. Looking at the mesmerizing architecture, I just couldn’t stop clicking it from different angles! The monument has five floors and large stairs, along with proper ventilation, ensuring that there is no feeling of claustrophobia. We also saw a couple of beautiful fountains in one of the courtyards, with light throwing up different colors while passing through it.
Although Jantar Mantar was also part of this tour, we decided to give it a miss since we were already familiar with the one in New Delhi.
The next place on our agenda was the famous City Palace. Those interested in architecture would love to see that the palace is a unique blend of Mughal, Rajput, and European design. The richness and royalty of the 18th century have been beautifully projected at this monument. My wife and I had purchased audio guides and both were told to go through the exhibits quickly since it was nearing closing time.
By now it was 5:30 pm and we were feeling pretty hungry. Apart from food, there were other problem-my jeans were constantly slipping down since I had forgotten to wear a belt from home! Gulshan ji first took us to Laxmi Mishtan Bhandar near Bapu Bazar, where we ate dal and Pyaaz kachoris to our hearts’ content. I also had a tasty and sweet malai lassi in a Kullad here.
Our next stop was Chand ki Taksal in Brahmapuri where we entered a Govt. emporium, collected the belt and a few other items, and headed back towards our car. Tired but satisfied, we decided to head over to Mughal Darbar on Moti Doongri Road, and got ourselves Mutton Shami Kebabs, Roomali Rotis, and Chicken Murg Hara Dhaniya. Pairing this with a Chardonnay wine in the room, we had a great evening.
