Visiting Jaipur

Visiting Jaipur is magical!

Visiting Jaipur is a no-brainer! After Delhi (see the article on visiting Delhi) and its multiple concoctions of noises, urine smells, but also wonderful moments of spirituality stuck between the city’s districts, I took a train for the capital of Rajasthan. This region is that of the Mughal kings of old, because a large number of forts and temples are found in Rajasthan.

Four hours by train to arrive in the heart of the city of the maharajas is nothing to thrill to an era worthy of a Disney story. Experiencing an adventure in Jaipur is like becoming Aladdin in the land of a thousand and one nights. You are in search of pure beauty within the walls of Amber Fort. That said, Jasmine is not far away gentlemen, since women in traditional dress from the Rajasthan region will pass before your eyes.

Jaipur, the arid city at the edge of the desert

To visit Jaipur is to be in an arid region. But between September and December, this drought is not noticed because it is tropical winter. A temperature between 25 and 30 degrees awaits you during this period. The streets of Jaipur are colored pink, sometimes a little yellow and blue. It is especially the Pink City which lives up to its name that you will notice. You will understand that if it bears this name, it is because of its color which is close to pink but it is not totally pink as in your imagination.

These walls are made of a ferruginous coating, which gives this “a little pink” side to the whole old city center of Jaipur. We could say that the color is close to the “Provençal farmhouses” in the south of France for comparison. To properly visit Jaipur, you have the City Palace to see without hesitation in the heart of the city. It contains the entire history of the city. A museum devotes several rooms in the city to weapons and clothing worn by maharajas in the past.

Fort Amber and its new tenants

To the northeast of the city, perched on a hill, the imposing fortress keeps an eye on the horizon. Built in the 12th century by a Rajput clan from Kachhwaha, it was Jai Singh II who gave the name to the current city during his reign between 1699 and 1743. Today, animals have replaced the warriors and watch over the walls with one eye. We come across Rajasthani goats with their drooping ears like an elephant or even monkeys. Monkeys love your packets of chips so watch out for those “snatchers’ very good at surprising you.

What an imposing building when you arrive on Amer road. Elephants pass in front of you, tuk-tuks “surf” between cows and pigs, and buses want to overtake you. But this fort absorbs your entire gaze. It transports you into a dream that will belong to you just as I had mine at that precise moment. Fort Amber is an intact citadel as if time had changed nothing since the departure of its ancestors. It will take you 1h30 to visit it, taking your time to take photos.

Nahargarh Fort: 360 degrees of Jaipur

Built in 1734 and enlarged in 1868, this fortress offers one and only interest in my opinion, when we have already seen Fort Amber. Its strong point is the view over the entire city of Jaipur. In terms of architecture, I preferred Fort Amber, and I found it a shame that restaurants were located inside. There is also what I call « fake », a mini Mahal which offers a room of mirrors and tries to make you mistake bladders for lanterns. A video at the entrance wants you to believe in the authentic side of this place. It is an attraction set up from scratch for tourists.

In the store, find my EBOOK on India, and otherwise, you can buy one of these books:

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