How Much Can You Travel In Jaipur In 24 Hours?
Wherever you go, go with all your heart – Confucius
When I visited Jaipur a few years back, I had just 1-day in hand, and I made the best out of it.
Traveling should be spontaneous. Eat, breathe, pack your bag, and let set go. The more you plan; the greater is the chance of going nowhere.
My impromptu visit to Jaipur for a one-day official trip is something that I am really proud of. Let’s take a look at how I enjoyed my trip there.
I started my day in Jaipur with the delectable Rajasthan Thali. In one word, EXCELLENT. I can’t describe the quintessential Rajasthani taste and flavors in just a few words.
Jaipur – India’s First Planned City
Today, we have several planned cities across India including Bhubaneswar, Gurugram, Noida, Secunderabad, and others. However, Jaipur holds the distinction of being India’s first and the oldest planned city.
It came into existence in 1727 under the patronage of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The city was then divided into nine squares under the craftsmanship of Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a prominent architect from Bengal.
The pink color, Rajputana heritage, and the traditional folk dance and songs continue to remain the cornerstone of Jaipur’s rich historical legacy. Apart from that, the Pink City is synonymous with the art of jewelry designing, stone-cutting, footwear designing, and much more.
A Traveler’s True Paradise
What makes Jaipur a traveler’s true paradise is its old-city charm, new day milieu, Rajputana architecture, royal heritage, and of course, the flavor of Rajasthani Thaali.
Jaipur has positioned itself aptly on India’s famous Golden Triangle Circuit connecting DELHI and AGRA from the other ends.
My morning started with a light breakfast. Once I went to the street, the traditional flavor of desi ghee (refined butter) from the nearby eateries just kept on mesmerizing my taste buds with unhindered temptation. But I preferred not to indulge in street foods. With the temperature already soaring above 40-degree Celcius, I wanted to see the city as much as I can before the end of the day.
I also spent a considerable amount of time talking with the local tradesmen selling traditional items like bangles, typical Rajputana Turban, traditional jewelry, and gems. From our brief discussion, I realized that they are very serious about their work. They are immaculate, skilled, and meticulous.
Top 3 Places To Visit In Jaipur
Hawa Mahal – Jaipur
Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh commissioned the construction of the Hawa Mahal in 1799. The primary purpose of this monument was to let the royal women have a bird’s-eye view of what’s happening on the streets. The building allowed a free-flow of wind from all sides and thus its nomenclature was formed.
You can make your entrance to the Hawa Mahal from the back gate. The monument is currently under Rajasthan’s Department of Archaeology & Museums. You can easily see the marvel of Hawa Mahal with a ticket costing 300/- INR per person from morning to evening.
With the same ticket, you can even see the beauty of Nahargarh Fort, Jantar Mantar observatory, and a couple of other famous spots too.
Jantar Mantar – Jaipur
The founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, founded this site for mathematical and astronomical observation in 1738. It’s a UNESCO world heritage site.
Jantar Mantar is all about astronomy. This takes you back to the ancient era when people used to measure time, track stars, and observe the occurrence of eclipses sans any scientific instruments. This Jantar Mantar happened to be a famous astronomical observatory for such purposes. Fascinating, isn’t it?
The 90-feet sundial will astound you with its accurate timing. You can see its shadow moves in a clockwise direction after every 60 seconds – almost naturally yet unfathomably!
Jai Mahal – Jaipur
Every time we across Jaipur or Rajasthan, the first word that comes to our minds is WATER. Very few people know that Rajasthan is not all about scanty water, Thar Desert, and dry weather.
Udaipur, located around 400-Km from Jaipur, is known as CITY OF LAKES. Similarly, your mind will stop working the very moment you visit Jal Mahal!
Jai Mahal is another marvel of Rajputana architecture. Jai Mahal (Water Palace) floats on Man Sagar Lake. Can you believe it?
Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh (I) founded it in the 18th century. It was marvelously designed with its four floors standing underneath the water. Strangely enough, the monument still stands tall with no water seepage – thanks to specially-constructed walls and pillars with Lime Mortar.
The Conclusion
Hmm… My short visit to Jaipur came to an abrupt end. I wasn’t willing to go back leaving the town half-explored, but I was on official duty. I nonchalantly accepted the reality that the next day, I was leaving Jaipur.
Apart from all the marvels of Jaipur, what fascinated me most were the subtle arts and crafts of the local craftsmen. Today, we lost ourselves in the glitzy world of gems and jewelry to such an extent that we started overlooking the wonders of our indigenous artisans and craftsmen.
Their traditional artistry and expertise can create a lot of well-designed jewelries for all occasions. We need to support them. If you are in Jaipur, don’t forget to buy some dazzling fashion ornaments from them.
I left Jaipur only with good and fond memories. It was an accidental visit, and I cherished every part of my 24-hour sojourn at this great city.
My promise to visit Jaipur one more time is on my travel bucket list on a priority basis!
(This article was first published on https://atishhomechowdhury.wordpress.com/2020/10/12/my-24-hour-sojourn-in-indias-bejeweled-pink-city-jaipur/)
