Jaipur is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded in 1727, which makes it a baby by Indian standards. The unofficial nickname of Jaipur is the “Pink City.” When the Prince of Wales visited in 1853, the entire city was painted pink to welcome him as a gift from ruler Sawai Ram Singh. (continued after gallery)
Most tour guides will tell you that the ride by car from Delhi is just four hours. Do not be fooled, this drive is at least six or more. Even short distances take forever in India, mainly because of the lack of traffic rules and or lights at intersections.
Once in Jaipur, there is plenty to see. I stayed two days and got a lot of interesting shots. The city is surrounded by mountains and a miniature “Great Wall” around the Amber Fort. I had a few good looks at it from about a mile away with a tripod. Unfortunately the tripod was later broken on a sleeper train but I only really would have needed it a few times after that, most notably at the Taj Mahal.
The main spots to hit are the Amber Fort, Rambagh Palace, Jal Mahal (Water Palace), and Janter Mantar. Jaipur is also a decent place to buy any Indian items, such as silk. Remember that no price is final, even when listed. A good rule of thumb is to haggle down at least 60% of the quoted cost.
K. Wahlgren 