Jaipur - attractions and spectacular city views

 


Jaipur is another city I visited 32 years ago, and where I was happy to return. But it's not a foreign tourist friendly place, I learned. In the hotels and guest houses of the city centre, in old Jaipur, only Indian people are allowed to stay. I wasted quite a lot of time figuring this out and then trying to find a place in a less central suburb, just to return to the area around the bus station which is quite run-down but fairly central and where hotels accept foreigners. Because of this initial disappointment I decided to stay only two nights, so all the attractions I wanted to visit had to be covered in one day. I visited the historic centre in the morning, then took a threewheeler to Amber Fort, and returned to Jaipur for the sunset. You can get spectacular city views from two spots.

Jaipur bus station with Aravalli Hills and the Nahargarh Fort in the background, as seen from the Metro stop.



The walled old city, also called Pink City: one of the gates, Hindu temples, and a landmark minaret.










The minaret known as Iswari Minar Swarga Sal offers a beautiful panoramic view of Jaipur.

























A peek into the courtyard of the City Palace.





Similar to the one in Delhi, there is a Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory in Jaipur, too.












































Snake charmers travelling the villages often get only a handful of rice; business seems to be doing better in a big city like Jaipur.



The Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of the Winds, the attraction that is most associated with Jaipur.











Another gate and pink building in old Jaipur.




The Nahargarh Fort on the Aravalli Hills stands right above Jaipur centre and provides spectacular views of the whole city. You have to be careful as monkeys steal water bottles. 

















































Another gate of the walled old city, on my way back to the bus station.




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