Jaipur

by Sophie · 7th February 2014

We passed some large, densely populated slums on our way into Jaipur, so we were not sure what to expect on our arrival. It ended up being the city which really encompassed what we expected to see in India (although we have been told it is one of the most chilled out). Jaipur was so diverse, colourful, busy and full of life all day and night! The roads had beeping cars, wedding parades with horses and elephants, tuk tuks, rickshaws and carts laden with goods.

We were extremely well looked after by the friends and colleagues of ‘Mr Ben’; Dinesh acted as a perfect guide, ferrying us to all the tourist hotspots; Pankaj showed us around the Goyal fashions factory, and took us to some great contemporary design textile stores; and Mr Goyal made sure we ate well, by taking us out for a meal at the best restaurant with a legacy of delicious foods. In addition, we stayed at a gorgeous hotel, which used to be a palace. The grounds were lovely and hosted many weddings. We even saw an elephant polo match one night, as well as dancing and music entertainment.

The Pink City, the old part of Jaipur, is home to hundreds of stalls. It is also the location of the City Palace with its giant metal urns, Hawa Palace which had colourful windows and views of the street, and Jantar Mantar which was a Royal Observatory. Albert Hall was a short distance away, and was built following a British Royal visit. It is home to lots of artefacts showcasing traditional Indian arts and crafts.

We visited three forts, each offering different views and styles of architecture, each for different kings. Our favourite was Amber Fort, it could stand its own against official wonders we have seen.
It is positioned on a hill between two valleys and was so imposing it almost looked unreal. The king living here had an incredible lifestyle and spared no expense when building and decorating. We particularly liked the mirror room, which was designed to reflect and multiply candlelight to create a starry space.