On my vision board I had the Hawa Mahal which is located in Jaipur. As I was planning to go to India, I knew I had to make this vision come to life. Jaipur is in the state of Rajasthan, which is a short (1 hour) flight from my family’s home state of Gujarat. I loved the architecture, history, design, food and culture of Rajasthan.
Places to Visit:
It’s best to hire a private driver, guide and car to take you around to all the touristy places.
Hawa Mahal: Hawa means “wind” and “mahal” means palace, often referred to as “Palace of the Winds.” It is made with red and pink sandstone and so beautiful in person. It is great to see it from the outside during the day as well as after sunset.
Amer Fort: This fort is on a hill in nearby Jaipur in the namesake town of Amer. It is a beautiful fort with so much history. There is also Sheesh Mahal “Palace of Mirrors” inside the fort which is known for intricate mirror work, but can only be seen from the outside. You also have the opportunity to ride on an elephant in the courtyard for an additional cost.
City Palace: A great place to learn history and culture of Jaipur and admire the architecture. It has several courtyards, buildings, temples and gardens.
Jantar Mantar: If you are into astronomy, then this is a great place to visit. This observatory features 13 architectural astronomy instruments.
Jal Mahal: A “water palace” in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. It is not open to visitors, however, you can admire the beautiful architecture from afar.
Places to Eat:
LMB (Laxmi Misthan Bhandar): This place is well known for their vegetarian snacks and sweets in the heart of Johri Bazaar. Highly recommend any of their savory chaats or for a sweet dish, try their ghevar.
Rawat: This place is known for their pyaz kachori, which is really delicious. They also have other sweets and snacks including ghevar and sutarfeni.
Cafe Kothi: Great for light meals, snacks, sandwiches or beverages. Everything is made fresh to order so it does take some time. Located inside of 28 Kothi.
28 Kothi: We stayed here and also made reservations to have a candlelight dinner featuring a Rajasthani thali on the patio. It was so delicious and everything was made fresh. You need to make reservations ahead of time.
The Johri Jaipur: A fine-dining restaurant inside of a hotel in the heart of Johri Bazaar. They offer a season menu of organic vegetarian food. A lot of jain friendly items as well. The staff and service were also amazing.
Rambagh Palace: They have afternoon tea in the gardens with a prix fixe menu offering vegetarian items, including snacks, sandwiches, desserts, tea and coffee. You can also see peacocks roaming around the property.
Lassiwala (Original): This iconic lassi shop has been around since 1944. They sell lassi in kulhads (clay pot glasses) in 2 sizes from 7 AM – 4 PM. My favorite is their sweet lassi with curd on top.
Where to stay:
28 Kothi – a boutique hotel away from the city that has various types of rooms. We stayed in the Topaz room, a double-bed room with a private balcony. They also carry organic and ayurvedic shower products. The rooms are clean and efficient. They also serve a wonderful, complimentary organic vegetarian breakfast with so many options. The staff is really great and accommodating.
Where to shop:
Anokhi: A famous textile shop in Jaipur where you can find hand block print design outfits and accessories.
Ellementry: A shop that sells kitchenware, tableware and home decor items.
Hot Pink: A cute shop with clothing and accessories for adults and kids.
Ratan: A textile shop where you will find hand block print design bedding, clothing and accessories.
Bapu Bazaar: A market in old city that sells clothing, shoes and accessories where you can and should bargain.
Johri Bazaar: A market in old city that is known for gems, fashion jewelry and accessories where you can and should bargain.
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