Jaipur

The travel agent in Jaisalmer managed to get us tickets for the Shatabdi Express train from Ajmer to Jaipur. This service is faster than an average train and the ticket comes with meals included (much like the Rajdhani Express that we got from Kolkata to Gaya). We’d trade bus for train any day of the week! The journey was quick and comfortable. The food was cute as expected; little packets/cartons of this and that – sweets, chocolates, samosas, spicy mix, etc – all served with sweet chai (of course).   

Now that we’re seasoned travellers in India, we’ve come to expect the inexhaustible attempts of touts wherever we go. As soon as we set foot onto the platform in Jaipur a chap runs over to us shouting “Welcome to Jaipur”; here we go again! He follows us around until I tell him that we’re not stupid, we can read, and we know where the station exit is – in big letters above my head! We get more of the same outside the station from tuktuk wallahs, so make our way to the prepaid booth. The prepaid booth wallah is also basically on-the-take with his prices, so we negotiate with an independent wallah who gives us a fair price. However, before we leave, this wallah makes us read his feedback book from foreign tourists in the hope that we book him for sightseeing. I suppose people are just trying to make a living; it’s usually good natured and also entertaining for us to witnessing them try. 

Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan. The old walled area in the centre of Jaipur is known as the “pink city”, famous for its vibrant bazaars specialising in textiles and jewellery. It also has some interesting buildings; City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and the stone measuring devices of the Jantar Mantar (amongst others).

As we arrived at Jaipur in the late afternoon, we got room service, relaxed, and then went bed early.

The next day we got up early and attempted a 4KM walking tour of the sights suggested in the guide book. We managed about 500 meters before bailing out due to the heat (it was unusually hot, even by Rajasthan standards – heat-wave reported in newspaper to be 38c!). We flagged a tuktuk instead, wiped the sweat from our brows, and made for the Pink City. First stop was the City Palace; a large complex includes halls, apartments, courtyards, and armouries. It is still occupied by the current Jaipur royal family (Singh). 

After the palace we visited the nearby Jantar Mantar, a park containing eighteen astronomical measuring devices. Most of the devices resemble abstract buildings rather than the sundials I had imagined. The devices were built in the 1700s and used by Jai Singh to calculate auspicious dates for special events (marriage etc).Weird place - but interesting. 

Ever since Ahmedabad we’re been taking siestas in the afternoon to get out of the sun; we did the same in Jaipur and then headed to the Pink City bazaars in the evening. The main streets in the Pink City are lined with bazaars, each specialising in a different trade. As is typical in areas frequented by tourists, shop wallahs go for the ‘come into my shop’ approach, which just ends up meaning we don’t go into any shops! We visit bazaars for the atmosphere rather than the shopping.

The next day we headed out of town to visit the temples at Galta. Locals call the area ‘Monkey Palace’, due to the large numbers of macaques that call it home. I like a bit of monkey action, so this one was a treat for me. 

We then visited the Central Museum which was housed in a nice building and contained some interesting exhibits. 

Museums here seem quite keen on depicting everyday Indian life with plastic figures. They’re usually unintentionally funny, especially the descriptions. No confusion with this one. 

After the museum it was back to the hotel for siesta time. We watched England disgrace themselves against Sri Lanka in the cricket. Bhupendra called afterwards to rub it in. Apparently I can’t now support India instead because it’s cheating. 

We spent the evening at a restaurant/theme park on the outskirts of town. The 300 Rupees entry fee included a Rajasthani thali and access to lots of different attractions (camel rides, elephant rides, palmists, magic shows, dancing ). Half way through the meal the restaurant chaps whipped out turbans for us to wear.

After Shejal found a scorpion on her napkin we left the restaurant and headed to the theme park. 

Feats of balance

Chap making Gola

Recapturing youth