Exploring the erstwhile royal city of Jaipur is one of the great high points of a holiday in India. The Pink City offers a melange of exciting heritage monuments, cultural venues and markets to discover at leisure by rickshaw. With the canopy pulled down, the brisk morning breeze uplifting your spirits, and the uncrowded spaces of Jaipur in the cool of the morning are a delight to acquaint yourself with.
Begin your tour with the benedictions of Lord Krishna at the 18th century Krishna Temple. Worshipped by the erstwhile royal family, the popular deity is also held in deep reverence by the Hindus in Jaipur and its surrounds.
Your journey takes you to the world of fragrance and colour and hectic activity as vendors get ready for the day’s work at the wholesale flower market located close to the Hawa Mahal. Soak in the images of hordes of turbaned flower sellers trading sacks of roses and marigolds. Your lens will be working overtime to catch the lively atmospherics here. We now move on to the iconic Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds. Built-in 1799, this unique five-storied structure with its small latticed windows, resembling the crown of Lord Krishna, served as a private, breezy lookout where the ladies of the royal household could observe, unseen, the lively street scene below. You will hop off at the famous chaiwalla on Chaura Raasta to savour some hot cardamom tea served in a kullad (terracotta tumbler), which is a specialty in Rajasthan. It’s the prefect break to also tuck into the famous pan India snack, samosa, procured from an old and famous shop in Jaipur.
We pedal on to take a sweeping turn of the beautiful Albert Hall with its elegant Indo-Sarcenic architectural features. Located in the lavish expanses of the Ram Niwas Garden it offers an excellent opportunity to stop and take some photos and selfies.