The Incredible India 5-years before Covid-19 (Part 6)
Pink was considered the color of hospitality.
That being said, Jaipur was painted a hue of terracotta pink to welcome Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert during his tour of India in 1876.
We took yet another convincing auto-rickshaw driver’s offer to give us a tour of the city. I think he offered around ₹800 ($10.75), which was pretty fair!
First, we visited this small 18th -century Hindu pilgrimage site, the Sun Temple.
This temple is dedicated to Surya, the sun god. It was strategically erected in the eastern hill range as the sun rises from the east.
Upon visiting the temple you’ll get to see a panoramic view of the city.
It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk up from the drop-off point. The walk was quite fun and interesting!
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PLEASE REMEMBER!
You’ll encounter a lot of adorable rhesus monkeys! but as they are used to being fed by the devotees, they assume that food is always meant for them and so they will try to attack you!
So keep your food in your bag unless you really meant to feed them!
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As we were heading down a hill, we saw these little boys having the time of their lives dancing to loud music in this auto-rickshaw.
I asked them for a photo and they were very kind to pose!
Knowing India’s current situation during the pandemic, this picture breaks me. I hope these little kids are safe and can cope in this difficult time!
Just right in the middle of the bustling city is this famous architecture, Hawa Mahal or the “Palace of Winds”.
It’s said that this crown-shaped structure was made to allow royal ladies to watch the daily drama in the streets through these 365 latticed windows without being noticed!
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Amber Fort (Amer Fort) is a fortress built in red sandstone and white marble that sits atop a hill 11km away from the city center.
It was constructed as a stronghold in the late 1500s and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
The fort has a number of sections, including the King’s chambers, the women’s chambers called Zenana, as well as some gardens and temples.
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The Amber fort is open daily from 8:00am – 5:30pm, with a ticket price of ₹550 ($7.40) for foreign visitors.
Just leaving this photo here ‘cause these gentle giants are too cute!
Our driver also taught us how to drive his auto-rickshaw! It was complicated than what I’ve thought, that I can’t even describe it in writing.
Better yet, watch this tutorial video I found on YouTube.
“Oh but wait, the government is demonetizing the ₹500 and ₹ 1,000 bills? We’ve just withdrawn some more cash!”
8th November 2016
Just as we got back to our hotel, the owner told us the alarming news that the government of India had announced the demonetization of all the ₹500 and ₹1,000 bills to cut down the black market and reduce the use of illicit and counterfeit cash to fund illegal activities and terrorism.
The hotel was very considerate to accept our cash, but in about a day or two, everyone will treat the bill as an ordinary piece of paper.
People swarmed the banks to exchange their banknotes, while cash points always had long queues. Plus the ATMs were limited to dispense ₹2,500 for each transaction.
There was a time when we had waited for an hour in line and when it was my turn, the ATM ran out of cash. Imagine my frustration and the people behind me when I announced that news!
Although there was also a lucky time when the ATM had no queue, and the next minute after we arrived, the men who refill the machine appeared.
Anyhow, the trip must go on!
Where we stayed
We stayed at Royal Aashiyana Palace Hotel. It’s less than 1.5km from the train station. They got a cozy rooftop restaurant that serves delicious local dishes, so it was less hassle for us to look for restaurants around this busy town! They ask for ₹700-₹800 ($10-10.80) for a night!
How to get to Jaipur
By Train
Take a train to Jaipur Junction railway station (Station code: JP), which is right in the city center. There are about 9 daily trains that operate from Jaipur to New Delhi.
Once you arrive, auto-rickshaws are available right outside the train station to drive you to your hotel.
Check the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation IRCTC’s official website for train schedules and online ticket booking
Or you can download the IXIGO app, IRCTC’s official booking partner right on your mobile phone for a more convenient train booking!
By Air
Jaipur Sanganer International Airport is less than 15km from the city center. Prepaid taxis are available near the arrival gate.
Next stop..
Disclaimer:
We’re not sure if the hotels and restaurants in the blog are still open due to Covid-19.
Please help us know by writing in the comment box
Nevertheless, we encourage everyone to support them if ever you visit India as we enjoyed their warm hospitality!