Cities: Jaipur
It's popular for its forts, infamous for its heat, and known for being (not so) pink. As for me, I'd say it was magical, straight out of a storybook.
I was looking for all the pink hues in the world's renowned Pink City but all I saw were peaches and oranges. Nevertheless, it's a city of color.
I have never been as fascinated with a place before. There was just so much ancient royalty to take in. For a moment I was disoriented. It felt like an entirely different elsewhere, ten steps back in time.
Jaipur sticks to you.The pink city is just the walled city, very much like Intramuros. It's India's first planned city, and it's easy to see that. It has 7 gates and is divided into market streets called bazaars, Johari Bazaar being the most popular one. The streets are aligned, every area carefully measured.
These primary streets form markets like Johari Bazaar, Sireh Deorhi Bazaar, Kishanpole Bazaar, Gangauri Bazaar, Chandpole Bazaar, Tripolia Bazaar and Ramganj Bazaar. The saturation of the consequent markets gave birth to subsequent markets that grew into the interior of the residential areas of the different chowkris. The width of the consequent markets, like the main streets, is 110 feet, while that of the subsequent markets is 55 feet; these markets are rastas. The rastas meet the main markets at rightangles. - IHCN
It was difficult to choose which cities in India to visit. There's still Varanasi, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur... but the moment we entered the walled city through 1 of its 7 gates, I knew at least that I made one good decision.
1) Amer (Amber) Fort
If there's a reason Jaipur gives off that ancient feel, it's because of Amer Fort. It's a vast expanse of land with palaces, courtyards, and secret passageways. It felt like an Indian Hogwarts of some sort. Several parts look alike so it's easy to get lost because of the whole symmetry, but it's also one of the reasons why it's so beautiful.
To my demise, the elephants were on another festival that day so we weren't able to ride one up the fort. On the way up, the roads were reminiscent of Arabian nights.
2) Jai Garh Fort
It's easy to dismiss as a kind of "nothing to see here, move along" place but I'm glad to have paid a visit. It's home to the Jaivana, the world's largest cannon on wheels in the early modern era. It was never used for battle and was fired only once. This wasn't what I liked about Jai Garh though; it was the view. It was the kind of view that made your world shut down despite all the noise around you. Warm hues everywhere -- red, orange, brown, yellow -- but serene because it puts you high above the city where there's nothing to see but hilltops in the background and desert-like grounds but with a lot of dried grass.
3) Nahargarh Fort/Tiger Fort
Ah, the lovely one. This one was very feminine, colors were in pastel and floral embellishments all over, which is very fitting because it was home to all 9 wives of the king. They each had their own room, one similar to the other and linked through corridors. How convenient for the king! The view was very much royal. With a view like that, it felt like watching the world from Mount Olympus. I may be exaggerating but it really did feel like the fort was isolated from everything else and built on tall stilts.
4) Jal Mahal
The lone water palace in the middle of Man Sagar Lake.
5) Jantar Mantar
A collection of huge astronomical instruments built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Clearly he was a fan of astronomy. There is also one in Delhi but this is larger.
Also where I got my mehndi, which took 2 weeks to remove.
6) Chokhi Dhani
Cultural village where you can ride on a camel and eat authentic Indian food inside a banquet hall while watching native performances.
7) Hawa Mahal
Probably Jaipur's ID photo. The final climb to the peak is steep but worth it. While the other forts show a view of the whole of Jaipur, this one shows a good view of the walled city.
8) Sisodia Garden
A quiet garden courtyard.
9) Albert Hall
A museum named after King Edward VII with a collection of artifacts, paintings, and sculptures. The facade itself is attractive (although it looks haunted in photo). It reminded me of one of the Hogwarts towers, which is saying something.
10) Birla Mandir
Stark white at day, and said to be radiantly lit at night, I think this one's worth a visit.
There was just so much to see and every time, there was something mesmerizing. I drowned in antiquity. I felt the movement of ages as I explored the palace grounds. It was a weekend to remember.
