One Day in Jaipur: Five To-Dos in The Pink City

Jaipur, Rajasthan’s capital, is referred to as the pink city of India, but surely shines in more colours than just one. It’s the gateway to India’s most flamboyant state and strikes with chaos and historic charm at the same time. In a frenzied city where leisurely camels meet nervous drivers of autorickshaws, where luxury hotels meet slums, where historical palaces meet modern veneer, the decision of how to start exploring appears challenging.

With the following excerpts of the Love Travel Guides - LOVE JAIPUR edition we have mapped out a beautiful one-day experience for you to fall in love with the gems of the city:

1. Jaipur Morning Walk

Join fit Jaipurians on their early morning perambulation around Central Park and then head to Tapri Central - a hip tea house with more than fifty varieties of tea - to enjoy your first chai (tea) of the day on their lovely rooftop terrace. Alternatively, head into the old city with Jaipur enthusiast Vineet Sharma of Jaipur Walks. Choose from the bazaar walk, the build heritage walk, the temple walk, the cuisine walk or the craft walk. All are superb and you could do one each morning of your stay. Without a doubt spending time with Vineet is the nicest way to discover the old city.

2. Designer Brunch

Pre-book a garden pavilion at the gorgeous Bar Palladio and enjoy a delicious Sunday brunch amongst Jaipur’s beautiful people. If you are lucky, some dancing peacocks will strut past. The fresh juices are the best in the city, and there is a great range of Ayurvedic teas, however, an excellent Bloody Mary, peach Bellini or a Prosecco Mimosa might win out. Cheers!

3. An Artist’s Date

The Albert Hall is a magnificent Indo-sarcanic building, which houses the central museum’s superb collection of fine arts and traditional crafts from across Rajasthan. It deserves a few hours at least, or ideally multiple visits. From here visit both Neerja and Kripal Kumbh for Blue Pottery and then head to one of the best contemporary craft shops in India, AnanTaya by AKFD.

4. Textile Touring

Explore the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, where you see an extraordinary collection of textiles and then, suitably inspired, go shopping at the exclusive museum boutique, and you can create your own hand-printed souvenir. Visit as many of the block print specialists as you can.

Head to the centrally located C Scheme and Civil Lines Kilol*, known for superb quality hand-block printed silk saris, Rasa*, a boutique for outstanding, contemporary and sophisticated block print textiles, Soma*, a popular Indian brand selling block-prints on 100% Indian cotton, and Cottons*, a popular local store with lively, easy-to-wear clothes and accessories. Underprivileged women earn livelihoods from making the fabric shopping bags here. End the tour at the Anokhi store*, a beautiful fashion store and role model for ethical and environmentally friendly business practices and the ongoing revival of traditional textile skills. In the Anokhi café everything comes from their own organic farm. Stop off here to take a well-deserved refreshment break.

5. Amber Evening

Start with the sound and light show Son et Lumière at the majestic Amber Fort - the iconic fortress palace of India - listening to Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan describing the rich history with great gusto, accompanied by magical Rajasthani music. Then head to Mosaics Guesthouse, which is located in a small village on the edge of Amber, for a simple supper. Dine under the stars on the rooftop and relish the silence.

*Kilol: E141/A Sardar Patel Marg, C Scheme (nxt to Mr Beans coffee shop). Ph: (0141) 511 4683. Daily 10am - 7.30pm
Rasa: C55 Ashok Marg, C Scheme (adj to Shehnaz Herbals). Ph: (0141) 4038584, Manish Mob: 9829064223. Mon to Sat 10am - 7.30pm, Sun 11am - 5pm.
Soma: A5 Jamnalal Bajaj Marg, C Scheme (nr railway crossing). Ph: (0141) 237 2246, 237 2247. Mon to Sat 10am - 8pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Cottons: Hari Bhawan, Main Achrol House, Jacob Rd, Civil Lines. Ph: (0141)2223870. Mon to Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm.
Anokhi: 2nd For, K.K. Sq, C11 Prithviraj Rd, C Scheme (above Crosswords Bookstore). Ph: (0141) 400 7244, 400 7245. Daily 9.30am-8pm.

If these made you curious there is a lot more to discover in Fiona Caulfield’s beautiful travel guides!

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