The beauties of Jaipur
The cities of Rajasthan have an inexplicable charm, wrapped in a thick blanket of dust that hovers in the alleys. The streets overflow with pedestrians, scooters, carts and cows. Silence reigns, or an annoying roar of motorcycles, houses are open, laundry dangles from windows, chiselled buildings are decaying works of art.
Jaipur has something different. It's not pleasant to get lost in the alleys, the streets are invaded by cars, fast roads pass in front of monuments, the bazaar areas are wholesale markets, full of neon lights, western clothes, and household appliances.It is called the pink city, as its buildings are built in red or pink sandstone, and even the walls are painted in pastel pink.
It is not by walking in the streets or getting lost in the alleys that you will find the charm of Jaipur, unfortunately. But unlike other cities in Rajasthan, this is a treasure chest of few masterpieces, which you can't risk to miss.
PANNA MEENA KA KUND
The baoli, or baori, are stepped wells, in which rainwater was collected in view of drought periods. Today they are fabulous photographic spots and something really special to visit.
Next to the more famous Chand Baori (which is located outside the city), this smaller cousin is not far from the Amber Fort and although it does not have the refined charm with which it appears in digitally retouched Instagram photos, it has a fascinating decadent flair.
THE GATES OF THE CITY WALLS
Unfortunately, the roads leading through the city walls are driveways, and definitely busy. But if you can carve out a little place to observe them, they are true artistic masterpieces.
HAWA MAHAL
The Palace of the Winds in Jaipur is a large pink sandstone building overlooking, of course, a large busy artery. It is a huge matroneum, made of a nested sequence of protruding windows, which served to allow the women of the royal court to watch the parades or life on the street, without being observed.
It is evocative in the evening, when everything is illuminated and its three-dimensionality is highlighted by shadows, as well as during the day, when its pink colour and delicate white patterns are appreciated in the light.
AMBER FORT
On the outside it doesn't compete with the articulate beauty of Jodhpur's Mehrangarh Fort, even if it's imposing in size, but on the inside it's an indescribable treasure. The fortress is located outside the city, on an elevation which can be accessed by a 10-minute uphill walk, or on the back of an elephant.
Did you know that for elephants carrying heavy tourists on wobbly canopies is a considerable pain, and that you could cause them an unpleasant backache? Well, now that you know, you could put aside a little laziness and walk to the fort on foot, perhaps taking a few unfriendly glances at the other tourists.
The most special feature of the fort are the decorated portals, the perforated windows, and the endless sequence of courtyards connected by narrow tunnels.
CITY PALACE
Even if you have visited the fort, the City Palace is a must-see, even more than the fortress, actually. It is surrounded by a pink wall, decorated with white floral designs, and consists of a sequence of courtyards, colonnades and the magnificent portals of the Pitam Niwas Chowk, the inner courtyard from which you access the royal residences (which require a separate entrance ticket). You will surely recognize the spectacular decorations of the peacock, rose and lotus doors.
JANTAR MANTAR
It is the city's astronomical observatory, a playground that houses countless instruments for observing the stars and for astronomical calculations, which has even become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It will be difficult to understand how all the instruments work without a guide, but it is still a curious experience to visit it.
PATRIKA GATE
It is just a sequence of access portals to a park, but they are an exceptional perspective masterpiece to photograph and admire. Colorful designs and complex moldings. The only drawback is that they are the meeting place of so many young people in the city, who will find it hard to leave room to allow you to take a picture.
