Hire a guide & a driver

Jaipur has a rich and fantastic history. There are many little secrets around the city which only a well-versed guide can show you. We had a guide for a day and he was really beneficial. This very lovely man not only showed us the secrets of Jaipur but also served as a kind of bodyguard in the markets and advised on purchases.

Shop the markets

Rajasthan is where many of the items sold across India come from. Similarly, most of the precious stones come through and are made here as well – the mountains are very healthy! I bought some unique pieces, like the skirt below, representative of the local embroidery pattern. Most tours here would involve a stop at some sort of jewellery shop. Our stop proved to be very fruitful. Not only did I find some great earrings at a fraction of North American cost I also had a custom ring made. Many of these quick finds might require tailoring. My skirt, for example, needed a custom waistline finish, tailored to my body. Both the skirt and the ring were delivered to me the same day to a place I indicated I’d be at a specific hour.

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Splurge & sleep like royalty at the Rambagh Palace

The hotel is currently run by the Taj company but for many years was home to the Rajasthani royalty. It is an unforgettable treat to stay here, read more about it here.

Spend time with elephants

There are many places you can do that but not all are ethical. Riding elephants is incredibly painful for the animals, even though you can see many of them dressed up for the occasion around town. Elephants of Jaipur live in the Elephant Village where various organizations take care of them.

A friend did a lot of research on the topic and chose Elefantastic because they appeared most ethically responsible. Many of the elephants are circus rescues. Some of them were born in the village, and the only way you can ride them is bareback. This is also not advised but much kinder and more uncomfortable than painful for the animal. Riding the elephants is really only popular because tourists want to, so help the elephants by not riding them. The owner is a lovely man. We spent a few hours in the park and got to feed and wash the elephants. This time period was enough to build a small bond with these majestic animals. My elephant, Chanda, was born and raised in the village and is known to be a bit of a moody creature, but we found common ground easily. Dear Chanda, I still miss you! Experiences like this one are often accompanied by a home visit with a lunch.

Tip: See me wearing pants? Don’t follow that example, it’s too hot and too uncomfortable and I was dumb.

And now, on to the cultural & architectural sites!

Hawa Mahal 

Hawa Mahal translates to Palace of Winds. This is one of the most photographed places in Jaipur, as you may have noticed on Instagram. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh this palace was primarily a zenana – women’s chambers. The women of the main palace used it as a way to observe street processions and daily life while they couldn’t be seen themselves. We had a rather quick stop near the Palace but there is a cafe across the street that offers a great view.

Jantar Mantar 

This is an observatory built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II. I know, names are hard to keep up with but they make these places more personal. The site is home to a collection of 19 architectural astronomical instruments including the biggest stone sundial in the world! With mad accuracy, I might add. Among many other structures – instruments – each zodiac sign has its own structure. Jai Singh built the site to be able to better predict the position of celestial objects. There is a mini version of this in New Delhi but it’s not nearly as impressive.

Amer Fort

This entire site is absolutely majestic! I won’t retell the whole story because it’s a lot and you should hear it while visiting the Fort. But in short: Amer Fort is the centre of Amer Town. It was built by Meenas and later ruled by Raja Man Singh I. As the town grew, the city of Jaipur, as we know it now, was built below. That land was chosen for Jaipur because of its flat nature to facilitate Jantar Mantar, in addition to all the people of course. The views of the surrounding area from the Amer Fort gates are fantastic!

The Patrika Gate

Patrika Gate is the 9th gate of Jaipur and is located in Jawahar Circle. On the other side of the gate is a nice park but the gate itself is absolutely stunning! From the outside, it is decorated with intricate stone carvings. On the inside, the colours, fine lines, and layers create an incredibly intricate frame. A lot of people, naturally come here to take pictures, but it’s also a nice place to relax.

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The vibe & Shared spaces

The hotel is recently renovated and is always spotless, all day, every day. The grand lobby leads to the many restaurants and the ground floor bakery, if you fancy a samosa. On the property is a gym and a spa, neither of which sadly I got to try due to the packed work schedule. Next time! The service is impeccable. You are greeted upon entry and all and any wishes or needs you might have the hotel team can find solutions for. After visiting Jaipur and the elephant sanctuary all three of us took advantage of the laundry service which offered a quick turnaround and great service.

Down the stairs from the lobby and through the spa is the entrance to the private pool. The pool is modest in size, surrounded by palm trees and comfortable sunbeds. All in all, this is a nice place to spend a morning between meetings and excursions. There are also a couple of nightclubs on the hotel grounds, with separate entrances through the side gate. The second-floor event space, near the business centre, sometimes hosts fairs. During our visit, a couple of dozen local fashion boutiques were showcased there.

There are 3 restaurants on the property: Shang Palace, serving Chinese; Sorrento with an Italian menu, and Tamra, offering international cuisine. Grappa is the primary lounge and bar set away from Mister Chai, a lobby bar/cafe offering Indian treats and beverages.

Inside the Suite

Over my nearly two-week visit, I had the pleasure of staying in the Horizon, Premier King room. The rooms are soundproofed and equipped with a service request button at the entry. You can choose to not be disturbed or leave it on for nightly turndown service. All of my items, like shoes and toiletries, were neatly organized daily on crisp white napkins.

Deluxe Rooms are spacious, and the shower is fully glass, which makes the room feel bigger. The glass shower, of course, limits your privacy but there are blinds all around the shower to help you block the world out.

My travel companions shared the Executive Suite which also has a living room. A stay in the Executive Suite includes breakfast and a few other perks, such as access to the higher-level lounge with a nice view. The room is not enough space for 3 people as the booking sites claim. The couch in the living room is more like a day be but not one you can sleep on comfortably.

Note: There is only one cash machine in the hotel and it is outside near the lounge entrance. Keep in mind, that it is often out of money.

Address: 19 Ashoka Road, Connaught Place, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001, India

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Having toured a bit of Jaipur for a day we drove into the majestic Rambagh Palace in complete exhaustion. Upon exiting the car we were greeted by a parade of the hotel staff. They tossed rose petals in the air and offered all sorts of traditional pleasantries that immediately uplifted our spirits.

We stayed in the Palace Room. This suite has a garden view, a spacious bathroom, a king-size bed, and a great window seat framed by heavy curtains and wood detailing. The hotel grounds are impeccably clean and filled with Rajasthani history. The building is structured around a rectangular courtyard garden. From the outside, it is surrounded by 47 acres of a green oasis. As you wander through the palace grounds you’ll come across neatly laid out marigold flower patterns, strolling peacocks, and traditionally dressed staff greeting you with a polite smile.

The Indian speciality restaurant, Suvarna Mahal, and the Verandah Café are in the back of the building. Both restaurants are looking out on the wide-open field framed by an arched doorway. In the morning it’s nice to sit outside on a soft couch sipping tea and reading in the heat of the Indian sun. The restaurant is a place of luxury and may require reservations. But since we don’t eat on the local schedule (they prefer to have dinner much later) we were the only ones at the restaurant, slightly overwhelmed by the service and attention. 

On the way to the pool, you’ll pass a steam train, permanently parked it is now a bar-lounge. The Steam offers a fine selection of liquors, wine, snacks, and wood-fired Italian pizzas. The spa and pool area are surrounded by a wall of trees creating a private space for reflection and wellness. There are indoor and outdoor pools, both impeccably kept, a full-service Jiva Grande Spa, and an outdoor yoga room. With the little time that we had, we tried to take advantage of everything. I chose to spend my last hours as a guest of the Palace by the pool, listening to birds chirp.

If I ever felt like a princess it is here in the Rambagh Palace, a place I would certainly like to return to for an extended visit.

Address: Jaipur Bhawani Singh Road, Jaipur 302005, Rajasthan India

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