Jaipur is a lively fusion of the old and the modern. Also named the Pink City, the capital of the royal state of Rajasthan, had been ruled by the Rajputs for many centuries and established in the 17th century AD as a planned city. Jaipur, together with Delhi and Agra, forms the Golden Triangle, and hails as one of the country’s most popular tourist circuits. Jaipur is one of India’s largest cities, and also home to all the latest facilities including some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts. The city boasts an international airport and also has very strong rail and road links. The metro, city buses, shared tuk-tuks, auto-rickshaws, and taxi like Uber and Ola address the city’s commute problem very comfortably.
The pink city strongly maintains its old-world charm with the old city surrounded by walls and gates adorned with sketches on the backdrop of a beautiful pink hue, Jaipur. Welcome to a few UNESCO World Heritage sites like Amer Fort and Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is host to many magnificent forts, palaces, temples and museums, and bordered by busy local bazaars where you can shop to the content of your heart. Bapu Bazaar, Tripolia Bazaar, and Johri Bazaar are common bazaars in the area. The town is also well known for its local cuisine, with the Ghewar, Pyaaz Kachori and Dal Baati Churma among the most popular dishes.
Rhyali festival is celebrated to keep the rain gods happy so they don’t harm the agricultural produce. This famous festival is celebrated on a grand scale, the Summer Festival which is held every year in the month of May. Baisakhi (mid April) and Lavi fair are two major festivals celebrated in Shimla.
When you’re in Jaipur, don’t forget to visit Choki Dhani, a popular place to eat and enjoy while still out of the country. The Diggi Palace literature festival is a five day program and is open to everyone. The city is also ideal for family holidays, as it surrounds itself with attractions appropriate for any member of the family. There are also family friendly hotels and resorts in town that guarantee an unforgettable holiday experience. One of the must things to do in Jaipur is shopping as it boasts many local markets selling authentic Rajasthan handloom-related articles and traditional art and craft, reflecting Rajasthan’s rich culture and heritage.
Best time to Visit Jaipur
Jaipur can be visited during the year at any time, but the winter season is the best time to explore its rich heritage and culture between November and March. Winter experiences warm weather and cool nights and tourists are ideally suited for daytime sightseeing. This is a perfect time for outdoor sports such as paragliding, ballooning by hot air, rock climbing, camel riding etc. This is also the Jaipur festive season that attracts many tourists. If you want to explore Ranthambore National Park’s wildlife, winter is a good season, but the heavy crowd typically spoils the experience.
How to Reach Jaipur
By Road – National Highways 8, 11 and 12 are well connected with roads leading to Jaipur, the Delhi-Jaipur highway is a smooth ride often taken by residents of both cities. Bus service to reach Pink City from Delhi, Kota, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Vadodara and Ajmer etc.
By Train – Train is a convenient way to get to Jaipur, as the zonal station is well connected by trains such as Ajmer Shatabdi, Pune Jaipur Express and Jaipur Express from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Jammu, Jaisalmer, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Pathankot, Haridwar, Bhopal, Lucknow, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
By Air – Jaipur Airport is located at Sanganer, 12 kilometers from the center of town. It is the most convenient way of getting to Jaipur from various Indian states. It’s also well linked by many regularly operating airlines to most cities across the globe.
