Discover Jaipur

The Pink City of Jaipur

After a few relaxing days in Kerala, it was time to continue the journey north. I had gone from the green tea plantations of Munnar and the peaceful backwaters of Alleppey to a completely different part of India. When I arrived in Jaipur, I noticed almost immediately how big the difference was. It was hotter, drier and considerably more intense.

Jaipur is often called the Pink City, and this was something I really noticed when I started walking around the city. Many of the buildings in the older part have the characteristic pink or terracotta-coloured facades. Together with all the people, motorbikes, tuk-tuks and small shops, it created a very special atmosphere.

The first thing I had to get used to was the traffic. After the calm pace of Kerala, Jaipur felt much more intense. There were people everywhere and the traffic could sometimes feel completely chaotic. Cars, motorcycles, tuk-tuks and people all mixed together on the streets, and sometimes it felt like everyone simply found their own way through the traffic.

At the same time, that was exactly what made Jaipur interesting. I think you get a much better feeling for the city when you do not just travel between the sights but actually walk around the streets. I walked through markets and smaller streets and tried to take in everything happening around me.

One of the first things I did was visit Hawa Mahal. The building is even more impressive when you stand in front of it than I had expected. The pink facade and all the small windows make it stand out immediately among the surrounding buildings.

It was also interesting to see how much everyday life was happening right around one of the city's most famous attractions. It was not just tourists standing around taking pictures. There were shops, people working and traffic continuing as usual all around it.

I also visited Amber Fort, which became one of my absolute favourite places in Jaipur. The road up towards the fort already gave me a good feeling for the area, and when I arrived I was impressed by how large the entire complex actually was.

Walking around inside Amber Fort took quite a long time because there was so much to see. Courtyards, large halls, detailed walls and views over the surrounding landscape. I think these are the kinds of places that become much better when you do not rush through them.

I also really enjoyed the views around the fort. After spending so much time on the hectic streets of the city, it was nice to get higher up and see the landscape surrounding Jaipur.

Another place I enjoyed was City Palace. It was interesting to see how much the royal history is still such a big part of the city's identity. I personally enjoy history and architecture, so Jaipur suited me very well in that way.

I also spent quite a lot of time at the markets. It was perhaps not always peaceful, but that was part of the experience. The colours, smells and sounds made it almost feel like every street had something new to show.

I looked at everything from clothes and jewellery to small souvenirs and different types of handicrafts. I do not always particularly enjoy shopping when I travel, but in Jaipur the experience of the markets was almost as interesting as the things being sold.

Food was also a big part of the stay. Rajasthan has a very special food culture and I took the opportunity to try several local dishes. There were lots of spices and flavours, and after a long day out in the city it was perfect to sit down at a restaurant and have a proper meal.

I especially enjoyed the smaller restaurants where you could sit down and eat local food. It does not have to be a fancy or expensive place for the food to be really good. Some of the best meals during the journey have actually been at fairly simple restaurants.

The heat in Jaipur did, however, mean that I had to plan my days a little. In the middle of the day it could become really hot, and after walking around for several hours it was nice to find somewhere with shade or air conditioning.

I therefore started trying to do the longer walks and visit the main attractions earlier in the day. Then I could take a break, have lunch and continue later when it became a little more comfortable.

The evenings were something completely different. When the sun went down, it became a little cooler and the city continued to be full of life. I enjoyed simply walking around without any particular plan, finding somewhere to eat and then continuing through the streets.

What I found most interesting about Jaipur was the combination of history and modern everyday life. You can stand in front of a several-hundred-year-old fort while hearing the traffic from the city behind you. Within a few minutes, you can walk from a historic palace to a busy market.

After Kerala, Jaipur felt almost like another world. Kerala had been green, peaceful and full of water, while Jaipur was drier, more colourful and much more intense. I actually liked that contrast because it made the journey through India even more varied.

I also think Jaipur is a city that you need to experience in your own way. There are many sights that you absolutely should see, but at the same time I think it is important to leave some time to simply walk around and see how the city works.

For me, Jaipur became a city of history, architecture, food and walking. I could spend several hours simply walking around and looking at buildings and people. Even when it became a little too hot or there was too much traffic, it was still interesting.

When I started thinking about the next part of the journey, it almost felt obvious to continue towards Agra. After Jaipur, one of the places I had been looking forward to the most during the entire trip was waiting for me – the Taj Mahal.

Jaipur had given me the Pink City, forts and palaces. Now it was time to continue towards Agra and see one of the world's most famous buildings with my own eyes.