Your Ultimate 'Touristy' Guide to the Pink City of India - Jaipur!

When I think of Rajasthan, the first city that comes to mind is the beautiful Pink City, Jaipur! It is the city of royal, charming and marvellous palaces and forts. Jaipur had to be first on my list! This time, I travelled with two of my friends who didn't know each other at all; so, I was pretty excited about how that would play out. And fortunately, it turned out pretty damn good! Brownie points to me!

We took an early morning flight from Mumbai to Jaipur and stayed in the city for 2 nights and 3 days. However, I think we needed a day or two more, because there's so much to see there, and we hardly managed to cover half of it.

The first night, we stayed at Jaipur Zostel which is a hostel, if you couldn't figure by the name. It was the first time I lived in a hostel with people from all over the world. At first, I didn't know what to expect at all. Will there be nice people? Will the place be clean? I really had no clue. But I guess having no expectations whatsoever has its perks, and most of the time the Universe surprises you! I walked into the most quirky, comfy and welcoming place ever. The rooms were clean, the washrooms looked hygienic and well kept, the common room looked so inviting and comfortable and the other hostellers were kind, generous and very sweet. We got to spend a little time at breakfast with some of the hostellers, and then headed out to soak in the city's vibe and culture.

We walked along the main tourist market, gawking at the leather bag boutiques, silver jewellery stores, jutti shops and vintage antique sellers. I wanted to buy everything. I was in heaven! From the main market, the grand Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace) stands tall in red and pink sandstone. Its unique five-storey exterior is akin to the honeycomb of a beehive. The jharokhas (balconies) have tiny intricate designs and paintings. We skipped going into the palace, and instead entered the City Palace of Jaipur. Its peach and pink tones, detailed carvings and magnificent architecture will make you fall in love with the palace. The beautiful jharokhas and pretty walkways make you feel no less than royalty! The palace complex incorporates an impressive and vast array of courtyards, gardens, and buildings. After hours of walking and exploring, we went back to the hostel to rest. We spent the night playing Scrabble, jamming to music, and interacting with fellow hostellers.

The next day, we woke up really early in the morning to go to the Amber Fort and Palace in Amer. It was about 20 minutes away from the Jaipur city centre, so we took an Uber cab up to a point, and then walked up to the fort and palace. As the fort progresses, you begin to see its magnificence, and I was stunned at the sight. Its massive walls, huge doors and windows, and its royalty, as it stands high on a hilltop, make for a mesmerising view!

Usually, I'm not the kind to hire a tourist guide, but this time I thought, why not? They probably have their own version of the history and story of the palace, but I was curious to know what they might bring to the table. And so, we hired one. He took as to all the corners of the palace, gave us minute details about it, and even cracked us up a few times. This palace was one of my favourite ones out of all the ones we saw on this trip. With its intricacy, organic colouring, brilliant architecture and golden vibe, I was awestruck! This is one palace you CANNOT miss if you're visiting Jaipur.

The same day, we visited the Jaigarh Fort that was just about 15 minutes away, on a higher hilltop. Two important things about visiting this fort are; one, there's not much to see because it was a fort for the Rajput soldiers of the time. It has some beautiful views of Amer city from that height, and the world's largest cannon. But that's about it. Two, the cabs will take you up to the fort, but on your return trip down, they'll charge you 200 rupees more than your billing amount. Why? I still haven't understood. After getting cheated by rickshaws asking for a 200 rupees downhill drop, you're on your own. In all, I'd say it's not really worth the inconvenience.

That day, we moved from the Jaipur Zostel to the Mansingh Tower Hotel. It's a part of the Club Mahindra properties, and a fairly regular hotel. Of course, it has its perks of comfort, luxury and bathtubs, but somehow, I wanted to go back to the hostel!