Immerse Yourself in the Pink City!
Here is our guide to the Best Things to experience in Jaipur from stunning palaces and mystical temples to fantastic eats.
Jaipur is Part of India’s magical Golden Triangle which travels from the bustle of Delhi to the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal and last but certainly not least, the gateway to Rajasthan – Jaipur, The Pink City..
THE ULTIMATE MAHARANI EXPERIENCE
Arrive like a princess or Maharani and take an elephant ride up to the stunning hilltop fort at Amber, one hour outside of Jaipur.
Naturally a golden amber sandstone, this imposing fort is filled with beautiful gardens, stunning architecture and detailed exquisitely with mosaic and fresco work.
You will find stunning mirror work on the walls and ceilings of the Sheesh Mahal (which were the inspiration behind FARA’s new white peacock scarf).
SHOP THE PEACOCK SCARF
Tune into the spiritual pulse of India and visit the powerful Shila Mata Temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali, located just within the Fort entrance.
You will find a stunning black marble statue of Kali at war and beautiful silver doors adorned with the Goddess Saraswati.
Kali is often known as the Great Mother Goddess of both creation and destruction. She is a powerful figure in Hindu mythology who invites us to shed our ego and attachments. Saraswati is the Goddess of wisdom and learning and inspiration for creativity. Each of us hold the qualities of these Goddesses within us and visiting sites and temples dedicated to these Divine Feminine energies can support us in awakening these gifts and flourishing in our innate power.
Next you can take a walk through the Ganesh Gate for rooftop access and stunning views across the town of Amber.
TRY YOUR HAND AT BLOCK PRINTING
Still in the Amber Fort, you can visit the Anokhi Museum of Hand Block Printing to try your hand at the traditional art of block print and learn about the natural dyeing techniques.
On request, the excellent Tour Company IndiaBeat can take you to Sanganer to make your own scarf.
Next, head back to the city for a late lunch at the Anokhi Shop and Café just south of the Old City. Aside from the shop stocking beautiful hand block print clothes and home textiles in soft cottons they have a great range of nourishing healthy food and fresh recipes if you fancy a breakaway from traditional cuisine. The family also have a farm and the salad leaves are picked freshly every morning to be served that day, which is amazing considering you are essentially in the desert!
Us ladies at FARA, like our conscious shopping experiences, actually so do our daughters!
BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE OLD CITY
Get up early to meet the great team of Virasat Experiences at the Hawa Mahal (the beautiful Wind Palace) – an exquisite palace where the ladies of the day used to sit and watch the parades go by through sandstone lattice windows.
The guys from Virasat will then take you on an extra special walking tour of the old city where you will experience an insider’s guide to small unknown temples and meet and watch local craftsmen at work. You can see the famous lac bangles made, see the master hand loom weavers make magic happen and watch the delicate artistry of jewellery makers working with enamel.
They also have the best tips for delicious street food and lassis.
THE HEART OF JAIPUR
The heart of Jaipur is the Old City distinct by the delicate pink sandstone of the build. Visit the City Palace for antiquities, a stunning jewellery collection using sapphire, ruby, diamond and emeralds and their famous Rajasthani Miniature paintings. These intricate paintings depict stories of Gods and Goddesses, as well as palace life with peacocks and monkeys.
Lucy from Fashion Me Now has a great blog post about the flower market and although we have not yet visited this particular market, it looks so beautiful. Full of vibrant colours and of course the hustle bustle of an Indian market.
For some great shops check out Hot Pink at Narain Niwas and Rasa, as well as the beautiful lifestyle store and café at Jaipur Modern.
A must visit if you are in need of a sanctuary from the heat and hustle is Cafe Palladio which is not only fabulously decorated but serves delicious food. We recommend the smoked salmon sandwich and a cappuccino to anyone who has been travelling for longer than a month.
SUNSETS AND DINNERS
Head up to Nahargarh, the Tiger Fort, for a spectacular sunset. It is quite magical to watch as the sun goes down and the twinkly lights of Jaipur light up below.
Time to dress for dinner in your favourite FARA dress. (Link to black Flora Dress) and enjoy a cocktail at Bar Palladio, the sister bar to the Cafe Palladio.
Another option is to head to the northeast of the city to the decadent dining room at Samode Palace Hotel where the famous photographer Mario Testino shot his cover girl, Kendall Jenner, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Indian Vogue
For a choice of both traditional tastes and contemporary European food head to Jaipur Modern, which also has a little lifestyle store so you can indulge in a some retail therapy at the same time.
If you want to learn more about traditional Rajasthani cuisine and life you can head to Hotel Diggi Palace, where they have on site cookery classes on site and trips to their organic farm.
WHAT TO WEAR IN JAIPUR: FARA’s Capsule City Wardrobe
- Take a pair of Ocean Trousers – super comfortable and airy
- A Easy Tee to cover shoulders
- Desert nights can get cold – FARA’s scarf collection is perfect for chilly evenings or as a conscious cover-up when visiting temples, sacred sites and peoples homes.
- Shoes that you can slip off easily for entering temples, shops and houses.
- Whether it’s a trip to the pink city’s beautiful Hawa Mahal (the wind palace) or a romantic dinner in the stunning restaurant at the Samode Haveli Gangapolel, throw on the Orissa Dress. Beautifully cool against the warmth of the desert, this flowing maxi dress is perfect for exploring the city and sight-seeing, Bohemian style.
There are so many things to do in Jaipur – it is a trip of a lifetime in one city.
