ABOUT JAIPUR

Jun 27, 2011

JAIPUR IN A DAY

Well, if you have decided to just stop by for a day and cover this city, ALL THE BEST! There is a lot to do in Jaipur, so doing it all in a day is absolutely impossible. If you plan on spending just a single Day, make sure its NOT a SUNDAY. Most markets and some Monuments are CLOSED on SUNDAY. Here is a Suggested Itinerary that is not too tiring yet gives you a bit of a sense of this city of myriad heritage!

SUGGESTED ITINERARY:
IF YOU JUST A DAY AND REACH EARLY MORNING 8:00 A.M.
Check into the hotel, have something light to eat and start off for your exploration session by 9:30/10:00 a.m.

Start at the Amber Fort. Here you can enjoy an Elephant ride. Leave your transport at the lower parking and take an elephant up to The Amber Fort. The ride will cost you approx INR 1000 for one Elephant (2 persons can fit in one Elephant) and those are the one way charges i.e. just to go up, to come back you will have to shell out the same amount. Amber Fort was built by Maharaja Man Singh in the 17th century. 
THE AMBER FORT


From Amber leave for The Jaigarh Fort- The fort, rugged and similar in structural design to the Amber Fort, is also known as Victory Fort and houses the largest canon on Wheels in the world- Jaibaan. You can finish these 2 Forts in approx 3 hours.
Post this drive to the Jal Mahal- "Water Palace" is a palace located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber. For more on Jal Mahal, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jal_Mahal
JAL MAHAL PALACE AT NIGHT
Fourth Stop: The City palace of jaipur & the S.M.S.II Museum. The City palace is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani & Mughal Architecture. The vast palace complex occupies one seventh of the walled city of Jaipur. While in the City Palace, you can see the textile and costume museum, arms and armour museum, art gallery and hall of public and private audience. The City Palace and S.M.S II Museum. Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. * CLOSED ON SUNDAYS. Apart from the entry Fee, these are some more charges you have to keep in mind for going into The City Palce- Parking 50 Rs., Still Cam/mobile cam-50 Rs, Movie cam-100 Rs, handy cam 200 Rs. * Subject to change. Earlier it used be closed only on holi and diwali but once or twice I know of guests who faced the issue on sunday.
THE CITY PALACE
By the time you finish seeing City Palace it will be time for lunch. So I recommend you go to johri bazaar by a bicycle rickshaw or Auto rickshaw. On way you will see the HAWA MAHAL’s facade. HAWA MAHAL- Palace of Winds, has become the Symbol of Jaipur and is an architectural marvel. For more on Hawa Mahal read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawa_Mahal Click your shots and then proceed for a traditional Rajasthani Lunch at LMB restaurant. Its nothing fancy and is a vegetarian restaurant but serves some nice rajasthani dishes. Yes its not fancy but price wise it is not cheap. Try the world famous Ghewar when at LMB- mind you its extremely sweet and made with a lot of clarified butter. Diabetics, watch out!!!
HAWA MAHAL

By the time you have had your lunch its already evening. If you are exhausted, post lunch take a nap and then by evening have dinner at one of the many options recommended a few paragraphs down the article. 

If you still have the enthusiasm and energy left then straight after lunch, leave for some retail therapy. Go to Bapu Bazar, very close to Johri Bazaar for knick-knacks, souvenirs, mojaries (the typical rajasthni footwear), quilts, bangles, cotton kurtis, cheap jewellery, puppets, handicraft items etc etc. Make sure you bargain to get the best deal!

The shops here are open till about 8:30p.m/ 9:00p.m. You can also find henna artistes sitting by the road and can get a tattoo done on one hand for approximately 100 Rupees.

If you want more shopping go to Saraogi Mansion at the entry of Bapu Bazar and you have the big Saree Emporiums- Nikhaar fashions, Pratapsons, Utsav and my favourite Parineeta. You can also find the Bnaraswala store here for exclusive hand weaves of bananras/ Varanasi. At the basement of Saraogi Mansion are many stores selling beautiful footwear, handbags, bangles and cosmetics.

Post Shopping go back to the hotel, relax for a bit and then in the evening, say by 8:00p.m. leave for dinner. You can explore one of the many restaurants of M.I. Road for Dinner. Some of M.I. Road restaurants: 

Moti Mahal Deluxe- non veg Indian cuisine,
Dasaprakasa- Vegetarian- Specialty South Indian restaurant,
Niros- Non veg- Indian & continental cuisine,
Surya Mahal- Vegetarian- Indian cuisine
Natraj-Vegetarian- Indian cuisine,
Handi non veg- Rjasthani & North Indian cuisine

We also have KFC & McDonalds at M.I. road. For fine dining, go to the end of M.I. road towards Khasa Kothi circle- to the Country Inn & Suites- and try one of the 4 restaurants there- Chinese: dragon House/ Indian: Indian Spice/ Multicuisine: coffee shop or The Lebanese: Kasbah Lounge.


WELL THAT’S PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU CAN DO AT THE MOST IN A DAY IN JAIPUR.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the itinerary! Very useful information..

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  2. Unfortunately, I will be able to spend only one day in Jaipur and that too, this Sunday :( ! Is there no way I can go around shopping for some artificial Kundan jewelry and textiles (sarees/ dress materials)? I am thoroughly disappointed ! But thanks for the warning, will probably stick to the malls, though I can do that in any other city. Very informative blog!

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