As one of the biggest fans of Rajasthan and its lovely feel, This October I had planned a family trip to Jaipur after a long leap due to pandemic. Jaipur is a beautiful state of Rajasthan with planned architecture, hospitality and vividness. Its magnificence attracts tourists to visit again & again. Amazingly awesome traditional culture and fragrance attracted me again to visit and explore the pink city. Jaipur has gained its recognition in tourism history with superb fortresses, amazing havelis & forts architecture & royal palaces history. If you also love heritage of India, Jaipur tour is must for you where you can explore your photography skills of beautiful culture & history.
How to reach Jaipur
Our road trip started with prominent car rental in Delhi service by Progressive tour travels. Their facilities and vehicle were very appreciating. From cost to service, punctuality to courtesy everything is worth to praise. We have hired 7 seater Creta for 3 adults and 2 children. Jaipur is well connected with major cities of India by all transport means. You can choose from train journey, flight services, bus, cab or tempo traveller for comfortable trip.
Day 1 of our Trip
We have started our trip early morning (by 6 AM) from our home address. Our first destination on trip was Tijara Ji Jain mandir which is a holy place for Jain community. It is a Digambar Jain Temple located in tijara hill town of Alwar District. It is 115 kms distant from Delhi and takes approx. 3 hours to arrive the temple complex. Tijara ji teerth kshetra of Chandra Prabhu Bhagwan. The temple is very beautiful and boasts serene environment. I must tell you that worship process is totally different from vaishnav dharm. So you can research about it if you want to venerate inside the temple. Coming back to our trip, we worshipped our diety and then enjoyed a roam around in temple complex.
There is a beautiful vatika (garden), main temple and Manasthambha in temple complex. When you stroll further, you wil proceed to Chandragiri Vatika where 15 feet idol of Chandraprabhu is situated with 24 tirthankar idols.
There is very nice bhojanalya in temple complex where you can have pure vegetarian food. If you want to stay for any rituals, there are AC, non AC rooms to stay. Outside the temple complex, there is a big market where you can buy souvenirs, puja items, dry fruits, spices, achhar etc. We took some colourful diya and papad and said Jai Jinendra to the holy place.
It was about 11:30 am, when we get back in our car for further trip to Jaipur. Kids were enjoying a lot and clicking pictures of hill area of Alwar passing through. After a 3 hours’ drive, we arrived Jaipur city centre and check in our pre-booked hotel. Jaipur has various options to stay, so don’t worry about pre-booking. You can search and book rooms spontaneously.
We get freshen up a little and had lunch near our hotel. Now our Jaipur sightseeing begins with a visit to City Place at first. As our kids are very enthusiastic for the history, we took along a guide for palaces trip. Have a glimpse of City Palace:
Before proceeding further, I must tell you about most interesting places of Jaipur to must visit:
• City Palace
• Jantar Mantar
• Albert Museum
• Amber Fort
• Jaigarh Fort
• Nahargarh Fort
• Panna Meena Stepwell
• Choki Dhani
• Hawa Mahal
• Textile and Jems market
City Palace is the historical place that depicts the story of Jaipur and its rulers from hundred years ago. We bought entry tickets and enter the premises. The entry is open to a grand hall area where kings use to organize Darbar (where they listen to their problems or performances occur).
Gardens, terrace, Long corridors, museums are part to see in City palace. It took approx. 2 hours to roam around the complete palace and watch the preserved dresses, weapons, canons, bullets, utensils of ruler’s time.
Our guide detailed every minute details about kings lifestyle, battlefield, marriages. After that we proceed to Jantar mantar Observatory. My kids found that so much interesting. From Surya Samrat watch to zodiac signs pillars, everything has astronomical value. Astronomers and scientists have created it with keen attention and calculated astronomical values. It is one of the biggest and still working Jantar Mantar of 5 other Jantar Mantar in India.
After spending a good 1 hour at the premises, we left and have some snacks & kulfi by road side vendors. We didn’t take heavy lunch or snacks as we are leaving for Choki Dhani which is approx. 40 km form the City centre.
After a half hour drive, we reached Choki Dhani by 5 Pm approx. and enjoyed the grand welcome by tilak on forehead and music. We bought tickets that includes ad inner buffet and activities occurring in premises.
I must tell you; this was most happening hours we spend there. I have summarized the Choki Dhani fun bonanza in Key points that is very easy to read:
• Welcome drink that is simply jalzeera
• Kathputli Dnace
• Magic show
• Camel ride
• Elephant ride
• Mehndi art
The ambience of Choki Dhani was very nice and based on village theme. Lanterns, huts, cots for sitting, People in turban, their wishing harmony all will give you a pleasant experience to enjoy an evening. In a dark room like villages, an old woman was serving Bajre di roti and lehsun ki chatni with gud that was just awesome. After enjoying all activities, games, we finally get tired and had our authentic Rajasthani dinner at the food cafeteria. The food, food serving style and most important, their hospitality won our heart. We stay some more time and return back to our hotel to take ample rest and recharge us for the next day.
Good morning Jaipur, We are ready again to make a memorable day in Pink City Jaipur. We started our day with a scrumptious breakfast of idli Sambhar, kachori and then hop on our car and proceed towards Amber Fort. On the way, we stopped for some while at visit Panna Meena Step well that has so many stairs, but entry was prohibited. Only some people can go downstairs for a photoshoot with a valid permission. I have enclosed a picture:
Afterwards, we arrived Amber Fort. The Amber Fort is looking same awesome as our previous trip. We climbed the fort with our car and then took step forward alongside our guide. Amber fort resembles with queen Jodha and Sawai Man Singh. The hilltop view is so amazing and gives perfect chance for shoot photo.
The Kesar bagh, intricate carvings on marble were depicting the sense of art in old era. You will see a blend of Rajputana and Mughal architecture everywhere.
This astounding art is made with extract of flowers and vegetable peels and it look so real and lively still today.
Then we finally arrive at most beautiful part of Amber Fort- Sheesh Mahal. Mirror work was done in such way that one candle can illuminate the whole area based on reflection method. We visited every place of Fort as Aam Darbar, Rani Mahal, Snangar (luxurious bathroom), Janankhana(where only women stay), gardens.
From Amber Fort, we move further to Jaigarh Fort and see the amazing Canon which is also named as jai Nirwana Canon. This canon bears an amazing history.
To click pictures from that much height was very interesting. We had some bhel and fruit salad outside the fort and then move forward to Jaipur’s highest fort- Nahargarh Fort.
From this fort, we can view complete Jaipur in one sight. This majestic fort was built by Rajputana king to keep an eye on all their enemies. To attack this fort and win this fort was equal to impossible. There are also new attractions in premises as wax museum and Imaginary sheesh mahal.
After our Forts tour, we visited Jems market and bought some precious stones. Did candid photography outside the Jantar Mantar. Must visit Textile market if you want to buy hand printed sarees, suits or handicrafts.
As we have to complete the tour today, we make our movement fast and drive towards Khatu Shyam temple. It took approx. 1 & half hours to arrive. We just get freshen up and visited temple premises with puja prasad and flowers for veneration. It is very famous temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and worshipped by big groups of followers. We get very easy darshan and spent 1 hour there and then return back to Our home with lovely collections.
Before arriving, we took a stop at Mannat restaurant situated on Jaipur Delhi connecting Highway. Had our dinner and arrived late night at our home.
