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City that lives and breaths royalty – Jaipur

“The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” – Rudyard Kipling

Step into the world of kings, queens and palaces and you are immediately transported into the era of the Kachwahas- the dynasty that made their mark in Indian history and the city Jaipur which stands tall and majestic till day, ready to recite the long lost tales of its makers to those who lend their ears.

Words do not suffice the beauty this city holds. The culture upheld by the proud but humble people of this land is so refreshing that any traveler would find themselves overwhelmed and  at the same time crave to devour everything the city has to offer.

Jaipur named after its founder Sawai Jai Singh II is the city that offers a great blend of old and new catering to all kinds of travelers. It has been a representative of modern thinking in ancient times where the then kings planned and built the city to improve the lives of their subjects and cater to the needs of a growing population. 
Built in 1727, the city is  based on the scientific and architectural principles per the ancient shilpa sharatas. Jaipur till day is recognized as one of the best planned cities of the country.

My visit to this alluring place happened only because of  my dear husband who is equally passionate about such age old places and antique collectibles. His desire to own a gramophone and not any but to buy it from one of the hidden jewels of Jaipur and  a connoisseur of musical instruments Aziz Bhai, led us to our own little adventure in the pink city. 

As soon as you enter Jaipur, you are greeted with the hustle and bustle of city traffic and urban chaos to reach their destination  like any other city  but as you travel through this clutter, you unveil the glory and glam this city held under the reign of Kachwaha Rajputs. Each gate wall has a story to tell and every part of the old Jaipur is covered in a beautiful terracotta pink. 

Our stay for this short trip was going to be Narain Niwas Palace Hotel. We wanted to experience the elegance of royalty and this hotel surpassed our expectations. Narain Niwas was built by General Amar Singh Ji in 1928 as a country residence and was later converted into a hotel which offers exquisite rooms, ambience and great service. 

Eager to get his hands on his dream gal (hehe i mean the gramophone obviously!!) My husband dragged me to Ramganj Bazar where we met with the maestro himself, Aziz Bhai from Gramophone and Radio house (shop no. 33). I was surprised by the simplicity and charm this old man and his shop held. It is evidently a very old and tiny shop which at the first glance looks like a shabby place but holds hidden treasures. 

This man values a good conversation more than money. With a sweet smile he narrates his life story, about his father who was a ghost writer and a witty poet with four wives. And how he has always been invested in the gramophones so much so that he manufactures the intricate machinery needed for the instrument and fixes any old musical instrument with his own caring hands. My husband made a new friend in Aziz bhai and bought a rare round bottomed Gramophone. Bidding our farewell and promising stay in touch we ventured into the streets of Jaipur.

Street shopping must be one of the best things about Jaipur. The streets are filled with small vendors selling souvenirs, silver jewelry, colorful garments, puppets and the very famous razais (Quilts) which are extremely soft and light. Be mindful of the quality and as any shopping goes negotiation is the key 🙂

The other must do thing in these lanes is to savor the street food.  The food in Jaipur has to be one of the best I have had. Please do not shy away from street stalls who sell Pani puris or Garam Garam pyaaz Kachoris.To even think of the delicious lassi and Jalebi brings water to my mouth. 

Food contributes a lot to the culture of any place and it is true for Jaipur as well. The authentic Rajasthani thali is so soulful and heartwarming that each mouthful will leave you spellbound.

Our goal was met and we found what we were looking for and now was the time to explore the rich history of Jaipur through its forts and palaces.

Our first destination was Hawa Mahal, built intricately with 5 levels and was inspired by the shape of the crown of Lord Krishna. It was built for the queens to view processions, festivities and celebrations without any disturbance, as they followed a Purdah system, in which they were not allowed to be seen in the general public without a headcover.

The colorful glass windows and intricate Lattice Work at each level is noteworthy. Walking through these walls makes you wonder how people lived in the olden days.

A tour of the city palace provides few answers to your thoughts by showcasing the lives led by the royal family through enclosed cases which hold the royal paintings, attire, weapons and other everyday articles giving you a glimpse of the past.

Our next destination was the famous Amer fort, which acted as home to the Rajput Royal family before moving to Jaipur. The walls recite the hardships the fort faced and how it survived the political power struggles in its days. One of the most distinguished features of this fort is the amalgamation of Rajput architecture smoothly with the mughlai influences. A sheesh mahal is the main attraction of this fort. Each structure has beautiful doors each with its unique and meaningful designs. 

Amer fort offers a beautiful light and sound show which helps in understanding the history of this region. The show has an intricate narration with effective light effects transporting you to the glorified days of Amer Fort and its kingdom.

Other but most recently built forts we had the chance to visit were Nahargarh fort and Jaigarh fort. Both these forts stood to protect their capital Jaipur. The former acted as a place of retreat while the latter acted as a center for training and defense.

Do take your time in visiting each of these monuments as the strategy used while building and the intelligence of utilizing nature to their advantages can be seens evidently. The use of rainwater harvesting and the filtration systems built to cater to varied  water usage or the natural air coolers placed utilizing the natural breeze offered by the mountains and many such complexities implemented centuries ago without the aid of modern technology is truely astonishing and commendable. 

Bidding farewell to this place was hard but we did end up packing lots of memories and souvenirs and promising to explore the other splendid parts of Rajasthan.

All in all, this was one the most memorable trips and would remain so for a long time. So what are you waiting for, pack your bags and as Rajasthan popularly says “Padharo maare des” 🙂