Jaipur Travel Guide

Take a tour of Jaipur to knoe the city which is fairly young, less than three centuries old. There are some stories one can hear at Jaipur related to the kinship that existed between the valiant Kacchawahas and the more powerful Mughals, back in Delhi. One of the interesting stories is about the name 'Sawai', and how Jai Singh received the epithet - implying he was a quarter more intelligent than most others - from Emperor Aurangazeb when he was merely 7 1/2 years old. When the juvenile rajah went to visit Aurangazeb, the Moghul asked him holding his hands, " How do you expect to be powerful with your hands tied thus?" Jai Singh was quick-witted, and replied " Just as a bridegroom takes his bride's hands following their betrothal, in a sacred vow to protect her, so you, Sir, have held my hands. What do I fear now that the Mughal himself has taken my hands in his?" Aurangazeb was pleased and immediately bestowed the prince with the hereditary title of 'Sawai', placing the Kacchawaha clan (where only 10 maharajahs have sat on the throne in the past 250 years), a quarter above other Rajput families. Another example of Jai Singh's farsightedness is the way he had made sure, all those years ago, that nobody can ever get lost in Jaipur. In fact, he designed the modern capital with a Bengali Architect, Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, according to ancient 'silpa shastra', to be friendly to all those things that a logical person would dream of - to make money, to live in a city that has its own charm and simultaneously easy to navigate, and like a space enthusiast, sit under the big black sky while counting stars.

Jaipur offers one of a kind shopping experience with its rich treasure of bewitching jewellery, beautiful gems, semi precious stones, kundan and minakri work (enamel work on gold). Beautiful cotton fabric including sanganeri prints, tie-dye, and fine kota doria saries are the best buys for women. The exotic blue pottery, enamel ware and brass ware, make excellent souvenirs and gift items. The city is also famous for woollen carpets and cotton rugs, equally popular are the leather footwear, especially that embroidered Jutes. The famous shopping spots are Rajasthali, Johari Bazaar, MI road, Nehru Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Chapur stalls. The markets are generally closed on Sundays.