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I visited India for the first time in March 2020 on a group trip, shortly before COVID-19 shut everything down. Jaipur is a good base for exploring the Golden Triangle as it’s centrally located.
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There are a plethora of gorgeous historic buildings to explore in the Pink City, Jaipur’s city center. City Palace and Hawa Mahal, the world’s most famous screened in porch, are must visits. Cross the street and head to Tattoo Cafe for an unobstructed view of the Hawa Mahal. Stop for a photo op at the Water Palace, which appears to be floating in the middle of a lake, before heading up to Amber Fort. I’d recommend getting a tour guide at Amber Fort so you can fully appreciate the history. There are many nooks and crannies to explore here, so be sure to allocate 2-3 hrs. Patrika Gate, a colorful gateway, is another must visit. It’s about 30 mins from the city center, making it a good photo stop on your way to or from the airport.
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For hotels, I recommend Umaid Bhawan, a former heritage home turned hotel. The staff is friendly and the decor is lovely. Order a thali, a sampler plate, to taste a bit of Rajasthani cuisine.
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As a black traveler, I didn’t enjoy travelling in India. Everywhere I went I received many stares and requests for selfies. I would often say no, but people would proceed to try and sneak photos. I found that people would leave me alone once I stated a photo with me would cost money.
Jaipur is a stunning city with lots to do. Definitely check out the Amber Fort and Amber Palace, both are beautiful! Also check the City Palace, the Hawa Mahal, and one of the bazaars. There are many restaurants and bars with delicious Rajasthani food. The whole city is pink and very picturesque! I had the chance to visit the Chokhi Dhani Village, which is like an amusement park that aims to give visitors a very traditional Rajasthani experience. It was very interesting!
I recently did the Golden Triangle tour which includes 3 cities: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur from 4-12 September. Jaipur was my favorite of all these cities because of the amazing architecture and all-around beauty and history. Jaipur is also known as the Pink City as most buildings are pink!
If you visit, make sure to do the following:
– Mahal (go to the rooftop restaurant opposite the road for the best view)
– Amber Palace
– Mahal (Water Palace)
– Jantar Mantar
– City Palace (additional cost to view the “Blue Room”)
– Panna Meena (stepwell)
You might need at least 2/3 days if you’re a slow traveller, but make sure to get a guide who can tell you the stories behind all the amazing forts and mausoleums.
Just to add: Indians will treat tourists with a lot of respect and are very hospitable. Because the cost of labour is very low, ALWAYS make sure you tip your guides, waiters, drivers etc.
Solo females: Indians are rather curious, so please do not think that when they stare at you they mean bad. Just ignore ;-)
Where to stay in Jaipur: check out Umaid Bhawan Heritage Hotel. (https://www.umaidbhawan.com/)
Tour operator: India Package Tour
Contact: Narendra +91 98113 22567
I was able to negotiate many of the places I wanted to see and Narendra and my Driver Raj always made sure that I was safe, especially travelling solo as a woman!
Jaipur was my favorite stop on my solo trip to India. The architecture here is unmatched. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful and detailed structures here. Some of my favorite things to see in Jaipur were: Hawa Mahal (amazing architecture), amber fort, monkey temple (feed wild monkeys), and birla Mandir Temple.
Make your way to the old city and do some shopping for spices, jewelry and traditional Indian clothing.
A must visit restaurant is bar Palladio. Located in Jaipur this Italian restaurant has some beautiful decor and very good food to match. It’s an “upscale” restaurant but reasonably priced (in the eyes of a New Yorker).
For those interested in a real adventure, take a tour 3 hours outside of Jaipur and visit ranthambore National Park. Here you will see tigers in their natural habitat which was a real treat for me.
Visit Jaipur if you’re into adventures, sightseeing and architecture !