Jaipur Pink City of Rajasthan

Jal Mahal Palace

2011-07-17T22:13:00.001+07:00

The famed Jal Mahal Palace, which has for long remained an abandoned dilapidated 18th century palace in the midst of the murky Man Sagar Lake, has finally been restored and is soon to be open to tourists. Rather than having just glimpses of the monument, travellers can now partake of tours of the mystical Jal Mahal, starting with a boat ride through the serene lake

Restoration of the historic palace began in 2005 with a major clean-up of the 310-acre Man Sagar lake by de-silting and by preventing rain water and sewage from entering it. The lake's depth was also increased by 1.5 metres.

To restore the four-storey palace, the team of historians and conservation architects first set about researching the monument’s history which was very inadequately documented. It took a year for team to locate a ledger document at the Rajasthan State Archives in Bikaner which stated the cost and year of building the Jal Mahal: 30,000 monetary units in 1730 AD during the time of Jai Singh’s rule.

The renovation project included the workmanship of local artisans in restoring the domes, arched pavilions, latticework and murals - which are the hallmarks of Rajput architecture. An additional feature has also been added in the form of "char bagh" - a garden of jasmine and frangipani flowers.

Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Jaipur's Oberoi Rajvilas and Rambagh Palace amongst the World's Best in a travel poll

2011-07-13T23:54:00.001+07:00

World's Best Awards - the annual readers' survey of the Travel+Leisure magazine - are out with their 2011 poll results; so let's see how our Jaipur hotels have fared this year. From the listings below, it can be summarized that Oberoi Rajvilas has maintained its 3rd spot amongst the Top Resorts of Asia. Whereas Rambagh Palace has lost its position from Asia's Top Resorts list, but has found itself ranked 6th among the Top City Hotels in Asia. Both these hotels also won places on the World's Best Hotels top 100 list - with Oberoi Rajvilas ranked 8th and Rambagh Palace much lower in the list at 80th.
This year marks the 16th of the popular survey that lists out and showcases the best of the travel and tourism industry as voted by readers.

Top Resorts in Asia 2011

*2011*	*2010*	*2009*	Hotel, City, Country
1	4	3	Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
2	9	15	Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
3	3	10	Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India
4	2	5	Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India
5	-	-	La Résidence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang, Laos
6	8	11	Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
7	5	4	Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
8	14	-	Discovery Shores, Boracay, Phillippines
9	-	-	Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India
10	10	-	Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, India
-	1	1	Oberoi Vanyavila, Rajasthan, India
-	7	14	Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, India

source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2011/hotels/resorts-asia/300

Top City Hotels in Asia 2011

*2011*	*2010*	*2009*	*Hotel, City, Country*
1	7	1	Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand
2	6	7	Ritz-Carlton, Financial Street, Beijing, China
3	14	-	Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam
4	1	6	The Peninsula, Bangkok, Thailand
5	-	-	Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Japan
6	-	-	Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, India
7	-	-	The Peninsula, Tokyo, Japan
8	-	-	St. Regis Hotel, Singapore
9	20	-	The Imperial, New Delhi, India
10	1	-	Park Hyatt, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
12	-	-	Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, India
14	-	-	The Oberoi, Mumbai, India
-	5	16	Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India
21	-	-	The Oberoi, New Delhi, India
-	10	-	Leela Palace Kempinski , Udaipur, India

source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2011/hotels/city-hotels-asia/301

World's Best Hotels 2011

*2011*	*2010*	*2009*	*(India hotels ranking)*
5	15	8	Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur
8	13	70	Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur
14	5	28	Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
43	39	78	Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur
75	-	-	Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
80	35	87	Rambagh Palace, Jaipur
87	-	-	Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
-	1	2	Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambhore

source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2011/hotels

Delhi to Jaipur by Bus

2011-01-24T22:37:00.002+07:00

Besides taxis, another good way to get from the capital city New Delhi to Jaipur is by bus. This is especially safe for female travellers and those travelling alone. Delhi to Jaipur by bus is over 280 kms and takes about 5 hours, and sometimes more, due to traffic jams.

The main operators of the services are the interstate RSRTC (Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation) and DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation: http://dtc.nic.in/dt4.htm#5). There are several bus types available - from the ordinary (non A/C) barely-there service to the luxury air-conditioned ones.

The most luxurious bus service currently plying the route is the RSRTC's Volvo Service - a 45-seater spacious air-conditioned (AC) super luxury Volvo bus which also offers on-the-move entertainment by Airtel digital TV (comprising TV screens for every seat). There are many buses running at regular intervals each day and the fare is around Rs 500 per seat. The official website is http://www.rsrtc.gov.in/services.asp, but you can also find useful information regarding timings and ticket prices on http://www.indiatransit.com/india_bus_routes/jaipur-delhi.html

Oberoi Rajvilas and Rambagh Palace move up the ranks of T+L world's best awards

2010-07-10T16:22:00.001+07:00

The results of Travel and Leisure magazine's annual readership survey of the World's Best in the hospitality industry are out for 2010; and this time too Jaipur's Oberoi Rajvilas and Rambagh Palace have both moved up the listings.

Oberoi Rajvilas is now ranked 3rd amongst the Top Resorts in Asia, moving up many places from the 10th rank last year. While Rambagh Palace has moved from 14th rank last year to 7th this year. Other Oberoi properties feature heavily in the list, including the first two spots:

Top Resorts in Asia 2010

2010	2009
1	1	Oberoi Vanyavilas, Rajasthan, India
2	5	Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India
3	10	Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India
4	3	Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India
5	4	Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
6	-	Hôtel de la Paix, Siem Reap, Cambodia
7	14	Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, India
8	11	Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
9	15	Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
10	-	Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, India

While in the more prestigious listings of the World's Best Hotels, Oberoi Rajvilas achieved the 13th rank and Rambagh Palace was placed 35th. It should be remembered that Rajvilas had won the 2nd rank in 2008. Several other Oberoi Hotels in Rajasthan (outside Jaipur) also made it to the list as follows:

World's Top 100 Hotels 2010

2010	2009	(Rajasthan hotels ranking )
#1	#2	Oberoi Vanyavilas (Ranthambhore, India)
#5	#28	Oberoi Amarvilas (Agra, India)
#13	#70	Oberoi Rajvilas (Jaipur, India)
#15	#8	Oberoi Udaivilas (Udaipur, India)
#35	#87	Rambagh Palace (Jaipur, India)
#39	#78	Taj Lake Palace (Udaipur, India)

While in the list of Best Cities in Asia, Jaipur is ranked 6th, just behind Udaipur on the 5th place. It should be noted that last year there was the World's Best City list where Jaipur came in at 12th.

1    Bangkok
2    Chiang Mai, Thailand
3    Kyoto, Japan
4    Siem Reap, Cambodia
5    Udaipur, India

6 Jaipur, India

7    Hong Kong
8    Hanoi, Vietnam
9    Tokyo
10    Beijing

For more details and complete lists, visit the site - http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2010

For more info about Oberoi Rajvilas, visit the official site www.oberoirajvilas.com or view my previous post
http://jaipur-india.blogspot.com/2008/07/oberoi-rajvilas-is-ranked-2nd-among.html

For more info about Rambagh Palace, visit the official site http://www.tajhotels.com/Palace/RAMBAGH%20PALACE,JAIPUR/default.htm or view my previous post http://jaipur-india.blogspot.com/2009/09/rambagh-palace.html

Raj Palace Hotel is voted world's best Heritage Hotel

2009-12-22T10:52:00.000+07:00

The results of the 16th World Travel Awards (WTA), voted by travel agents worldwide, are out, and Jaipur's Raj Palace Hotel has once again been voted as World's Leading Heritage Hotel, and the hotel's Durbar Mahal Suite has been voted Asia's Leading Suite.

Some of the 2009 World Travel Award winners are:
World's Leading Heritage Hotel - The Raj Palace
World's Leading Destination Marketing Campaign - India (Incredible India)
Asia's Leading Destination - India
Asia's Leading Resort - Taj Lake Palace (Udaipur)
Asia's Leading Suite - Durbar Mahal Suite, The Raj Palace

To know more about the hotel, see my older blog post: http://jaipur-india.blogspot.com/2008/07/darbar-mahal-suite-of-raj-palace-hotel.html or visit the hotel's website: http://www.rajpalace.com/

World Travel Awards is the most prestigious, comprehensive and sought after awards programme in the global travel and tourism industry. To be voted a World Travel Award by a process involving 183,000 travel tourism and hospitality professionals across the globe is the highest accolade a company can receive.

Rambagh Palace

2009-09-09T23:37:00.003+07:00

The Rambagh Palace is perhaps one of the most precious jewels in the crown of Jaipur's palatial monuments-turned-heritage hotels. How can it not, when it used to be the very residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.

The Rambagh Palace's history can be traced back to 1835 when its first building - a garden house - was built for a royal attendant. Being then situated in the middle of a dense forest, the building was converted into a royal hunting lodge in 1887. Decades later, in 1925, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II made it his main residence, with subsequent addition of suites - thus turning it into his palace. By the 1950s, the royal family could not afford the costly upkeep of the palace and its 47 acres of gardens; therefore, converted it into a luxury hotel, which was taken over by the Taj hotel group in 1972.

Serving generations of Rajput royalty for over a century, the Rambagh Palace has retained its majestic aura and now offers the regal experience of royal living to its guests.

Rambagh Palace has 79 rooms out of which there are 33 suites, which also include the chambers of the former Maharaja. The palace hotel also has meeting and banquet facilities. Its 79 rooms and suites are classified into:
- 5 Luxury Rooms
- 41 Palace Rooms
- 24 Historical Suites
- 5 Royal Suites
- 2 Grand Royal Suites
- 2 Grand Presidential Suites

To know more about the hotel or its rates, check out their website:
www.tajhotels.com

Rambagh Palace voted best hotel 2009 by Conde Nast readers

2009-09-09T20:45:00.002+07:00

Rambagh Palace in Jaipur has been voted as the best hotel in 'Asia and the Indian subcontinent' in the Readers' Travel Awards 2009 of Conde Nast Traveller magazine. The hotel scored very high for its ambience/decor & location; and also ranked 2nd in the overall list (emcompassing all categories) of Top 100 places in the world. Rambagh Palace is a historical royal Rajput palace converted into a luxury Taj hotel, located about 8 kms from Jaipur's city walls. For more info about the palace, visit my next blog post.

Other Indian hotels in the top Asian hotels list include:
5th rank - Devi Garh (Udaipur)
7th rank - The Oberoi Amanvilas (Agra)
12th rank - The Oberoi Rajvilas (Jaipur)
13th rank - The Oberoi Udaivilas (Udaipur)

For a complete list, visit:
www.cntraveller.com/ReadersAwards/2009/Overseas_Leisure_Hotels

Souvenirs from Jaipur - II

2009-08-12T00:03:00.006+07:00

On my recent trip to Jaipur in April-May 2009, I got some souvenirs for my friends from a pavement stall in Bapu Bazaar. The stall had a mind-boggling array of decorative handmade trinkets and useless nicknacks - pretty cheap if bought in large numbers. But just make sure to take your time to pick and choose as many of the pieces have bad finishing due to poor quality crafting.

A cute tiny elephant keychain:

Anyone for miniature wooden cannon guns??

Of course, how can we forget the iconic Rajashtani Camels? - here are some less than perfect but still cute, small wooden versions:

Oberoi Rajvilas & Rambagh Palace - voted among top resorts in Asia

2009-07-13T23:58:00.003+07:00

Jaipur's Oberoi Rajvilas and Rambagh Palace have been voted to reach among the top 15 resorts in Asia, with Rajvilas at no. 10, and Rambagh at no. 14 - according to Travel and Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards 2009 survey.

Last year, Oberoi Rajvilas was 2nd as World's Best Hotels 2008 and has thus been heavily outranked this year.

Amazingly, 5 of the top 15 Asian resorts (including the 1st rank) are in Rajasthan. They are:
Rank 1. Oberoi Vanyavilas, Rajasthan, India
Rank 3. Oberoi Udaivilas, Rajasthan, India
Rank 10. Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, India
Rank 11. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
Rank 14. Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, India

For the complete list, see http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2009/hotels/resorts-asia/91

Jaipur is 12th World's Best City

2009-07-13T23:38:00.003+07:00

Jaipur has been voted 12th amongst the World's Best Cities 2009 in a survey conducted by the Travel & Leisure magazine. Udaipur is the surprise list topper this year - a newcomer unseen in the list before. The World's Best Awards survey is conducted by the magazine through its readers every year. The top ten cities are:

1. Udaipur, India
2. Cape Town, South Africa
3. Bangkok, Thailand
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand
6. Florence, Italy
7. Luang Prabang, Laos
8. New York, USA
9. Rome, Italy
10. San Francisco, USA
11. Sydney, Australia
12. Jaipur, India

To view the complete list, and other category winners, check out the website www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2009/results.cfm?cat=cities

Delhi to Jaipur by Road

2009-07-08T19:10:00.005+07:00

Due to low connectivity that Jaipur airport has with international flights, one of the ways to get to Jaipur is from New Delhi via the Delhi-Jaipur highway. The expressway is a section of the National Highway 8 (NH 8) that connects New Delhi with Mumbai, along the way passing through the cities of Gurgaon, Jaipur, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Silvassa.
You can either get on a bus or hire a taxi car - the latter option would be quicker. The distance is over 250 kms, and it will take about 4½ to over 6 hours depending on the traffic conditions on the road. A one-way ride can cost you anywhere from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000 or more - depending on A/C or non A/C, bargaining, and also the quality /reliability of the service.

On my last trip there in April 2009, I had hired a private taxi, a Tata Indica (from Jaipur), which came to pick us up directly at the New Delhi airport. The 4½ hour ride was very smooth and incident-free. Just while leaving Delhi, the highway passes by Gurgaon - the IT hub of northern India. We did not make any stop in mid-journey in order to (a) save time and also (b) because it was already dark at night and we were two ladies travelling alone. The ride was a very enthralling and nostalgic experience - to return to India after 2 years and find myself landed right away on an Indian highway countryside - passing what seemed to be a thousand monstrous trucks, animal-driven carts, a dozen tollway gates and what not. The worst part of the entire journey was the pollution - toxic fumes and dust - inescapable even in an air-conditioned car. The return journey from Jaipur to Delhi airport took considerably longer - 6 hours - due to the traffic throughout the route on the highway. Luckily, we had left 8 hours before our flight time. We had also made a 'Midway' rest stop on the journey - and the place had surpassed my expectations. I was expecting to see a dirty, rundown little roadstop with unmaintained facilities. But when I got there, I was immediately impressed with all the modern amenities - clean toilets, a shop selling almost eveything you might need, and lots of food options to fill our hungry stomachs. I didn't feel unsafe for even a moment as there were so many other travellers from dozens of other tourist buses, cars & taxis, also taking a break from their journeys.

Hot-air Balloon ride over Jaipur!!!

2009-06-10T13:46:00.003+07:00

A relatively new tourist attraction in Rajasthan is Sky Waltz's Hot Air Balloon rides. This unique and adventurous balloon safari was launched in Jaipur in January 2008, and has successfully flown over 1,500 passengers since then. The safari rides are now also available over Ranthambore, and the tourist season in late 2009 will see the addition of more destinations in Rajasthan, including Udaipur (starting November 2009) and the world-famous Pushkar Camel Fair.

Prices for an hour-long balloon ride over Jaipur are (as of June 09, 2009):

1-2 persons: 300 US$ per person for Foreign Nationals.
Rs. 12,000 per person for Indian Nationals.

3-6 persons: 250 US$ per person for Foreign Nationals.
Rs. 10,000 per person for Indian Nationals.

7 or 7+ persons : 200 US$ per person for Foreign Nationals.
Rs. 8,000 per person for Indian Nationals.

The above package includes-
-Approximately 60 minutes of a balloon flight.
-Pick-up from and drop to the hotel to be provided by the operator.
-Witnessing the exhilarating sight of the balloons being inflated and prepared for the flight.
-Tea/Coffee and Cookies served at the launch site.
-A Certificate of First Flight signed by the pilot.

There are several launch sites to choose from:
Samode Bagh and Palace
Amber Fort
Shiv Vilas
Jal Mahal
Delhi Road
Madhogarh Fort
or Others depending upon wind conditions

SkyWaltz is the first and only commercial hot-air balloon operator licensed by the Indian Government. The pioneers of hot-air ballooning in India follow high safety standards - the project has been set up under the guidance of one of the world’s best consultants, with world-class imported equipment, and the balloons are flown by highly experienced international pilots from the UK and USA.

For more information, visit their website - www.skywaltz.com

Rainy Season in Jaipur

2009-06-01T19:15:00.003+07:00

June is typically the starting month of the monsoon season in Jaipur which lasts through July, August and September. Generally, Jaipur is a dry city and therefore receives very low rainfall. The rainy period features frequent heavy rains and thunderstorms, though flooding is rare. Obviously, it is not the best of months to visit the city; but looking positively, it won't be as hot as the peak summer months.

The average low (L) and high (H) temperatures for the rainy months are:
June - 39 C (H), 27 C (L)
July - 33 C (H), 26 C (L)
Aug - 32 C (H), 25 C (L)
Sept - 33 C (H), 24 C (L)

July and August receive the heaviest rainfall.

This year, the peak hot season came earlier than usual - while May is supposed to be the hottest month, this year it was in April that temperatures crossed the 45 degree celcius mark, and May was not as hot as it used to be. The later part of May got a relief from heat wave conditions due to the slight drizzles of isolated rain brought on by dust storms, thunderstorms and squalls. Though the average temperature dropped by few degrees, there was a rise in humidity and moisture levels, thus making conditions just as worst.

Where to eat in Jaipur?

2009-03-02T15:03:00.007+07:00

LMB restaurant

While in Jaipur, you simply can't miss dining at the ever-so-popular restaurant called LMB, located in the heart of the city in Johari Bazar. Short for 'Laxmi Misthan Bhandar', LMB is operating since the 1950s and is a wholly vegetarian eatery serving Indian (Rajasthani, Mughlai, South Indian) and Indo-Chinese cuisine. The Rajasthani Thali is highly recommended. The restaurant accepts credit cards; with an average meal of delicious spicy Indian food costing about Rs. 500 for two persons. The place is always bustling with locals and foreigners alike, with weekends more crowded than usual. The restaurant cum hotel also includes a mithai (sweetmeat) shop with a wide selection of delectable Indian milk sweets.

Handi restaurant

For the more carnivorous of the eaters amongst us, there is no eatery offering a better value for money than the Handi Restaurant on Mirza Ismail Road. The unimpressive interiors is totally forgotten once you dig into their kababs, tandoori dishes, mutton and butter chicken. Besides these Mughlai specialities, the restaurant also serves vegetarian dishes (so the lone vegetarian travel mate in your group won't be left out). Be warned that they don't accept credit cards, but you won't need to fill you pockets with stacks of cash, because a meal for two would average only about Rs. 250.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

2009-01-07T12:40:00.005+07:00

The much-awaited new luxury train Royal Rajasthan on Wheels - RRoW - has just successfully completed its trial run during the weekend; with its first inaugural journey slated to start from Delhi on January 11, 2009. The train has the capacity to carry 82 passengers at a time; the fare for a suite of super deluxe saloon costing a hefty US$2,000 per person per night (there are just an envious 2 of these suites in the entire train), while a deluxe saloon (there are 13 of them) would cost you a tidy US$800.

With an itinerary of 7-8 days, the journeys would start from Delhi. Initially, the train was supposed to travel via Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bikaner, Bharatpur and Agra. However, because the broad gauge railway track to Bikaner is fit for the movement of train, the RRoW would continue on the same route to Sawai Madhopur as Palace on Wheels, for this season. For more details about the route and charges, visit http://royalrajasthanpalaceonwheels.com/royalrajasthanonwheels.html

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2009-01-01T16:54:00.002+07:00

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Jaipur ranks 7th amongst the best tourist destinations in Asia

2008-11-04T10:26:00.002+07:00

The renowned Conde Nast Traveler magazine recently conducted a survey poll for the 2008 Readers' Choice Awards. More than 32,000 readers voted to elect the world's best cities, hotels, airlines, and more. The results are out and Jaipur is the only city in India making it to top ten - being voted as the seventh best city in Asia to visit.

Tourists to Jaipur who took part in the survey quoted that they were impressed by the handicrafts, food, architecture, and the meticulous town planning of the historic Pink City.

The complete lists of results can be viewed at this link, and will also appear in print in the November issue of the publication.

As per the report, the top tourist destinations in Asia are ranked as follows:

1. Bangkok (Thailand)
2. Chiang Mai (Thailand)
2. Hong Kong
4. Singapore
5. Kyoto (Japan)
6. Shanghai (China)
7. Jaipur (India)
8. Tokyo (Japan)
9. Hanoi (Vietnam)
10. Beijing (China)

Jantar Mantar undergoing renovation

2008-10-07T18:33:00.006+07:00

Jaipur's world-renowned Jantar Mantar observatory is undergoing renovation since January 2007 -- but is still open to visitors. The restoration efforts were required to fix the various openair architectural astronomical instruments and allied aids, which were deteriorating in condition. The structures were becoming brittle, breaking, some on the verge of collapse; the cemented plaster (mortar) on the devices were coming off and glass coverings were damaged.

The renovation, undertaken by the government, has displeased traditional Indian astrologers who say that some of the ancient gadgets are being dislocated and disturbed by the inexperienced workers who lack knowledge about astronomy and astrology.

Astrologers through hundreds of years have been using these monumental instruments as fixed tools - using their shadows to make forecasts. Dislocating these would lead to distortions in astrological calculations and upset the accuracy which has prevailed for hundreds of years.

Well, I only hope that if the structures are indeed being displaced, then somebody do something about it and right the wrongs!! Definitely not worth spoiling something that has stood and worked for hundreds of years...

Dial 108 for any emergency while in Jaipur

2008-09-22T14:01:00.005+07:00

The Rajasthan government together with the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) has just started a new emergency response services phone number '108'. The number is for all emergency calls, be it for police, fire or medical service. The telephone number is toll-free, without any prefix or suffix; and is accessible from landline phone (fixed line), mobile phone, as well as local telephone booths.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

2008-09-05T11:30:00.005+07:00

Following the success of 'Palace on Wheels', another new luxury train called 'Royal Rajasthan on Wheels' is about to be launched in December 2008. The itinerary of the train will be similar to the Palace on Wheels, with the journey starting from Jaipur instead of New Delhi. The train is purported to be more luxurious with more onboard facilities such as a spa, retrobars, a boardroom and Internet accessibility.

The 'Palace on Wheels' luxury train

2008-09-05T11:13:00.008+07:00

The Palace on Wheels is an exotic luxury train providing unique journeys through the heritage centres of Rajasthan since it began operating in 1982. The immensely popular heritage train which won the PATA gold award in 1987, is today rated as one of the top ten luxurious trains in the world. Uptil early 2001, it has carried over 32000 tourists in over 520 trips.

The coaches originally used on the train are believed to have been ornately designed in ethnic Rajasthani style to serve the erstwhile royalty of the princely states. With the annexation of these royal states post-independence, these trains fell into disuse due to their luxurious interiors which were unfit for normal passenger trains. Therefore the 'Palace on Wheels' project gave a new lease of life to these coaches up until 1991 when the old train was replaced by a new air-conditioned meter gauge train designed as a replica of the old heritage train.

The Palace on Wheels comprises of 14 saloons or coaches - each named after a former princely state. Each saloon has 4 cabins with twin beds, attached toilets, shower, a lounge with TV and other amenities. There are 52 rooms in total varyingly allocated to Single, Double and Triple occupancies. Any fully-booked tour would have around 104 passengers. The train has two restaurants serving Continental, Chinese and of course, Indian cuisines, and also a drinks bar.

The standard tour is an eight-day seven-night journey and includes stops at Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Fatehpur Sikri, Bharatpur and Agra. While in Jaipur, a bus transports you from the train to the various attractions around the city such as the Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, etc and then back to the train at the end of the day. You can check out the itinerary and other details from the website www.palaceonwheels.net. Bookings are recommended to be made as early as possible because rooms for the peak tourist season get sold out around 8 to 10 months in advance. There is also a waiting list for the sold-out departure dates, so if you find a tour date that you really want and it is sold out, you can try your luck by getting your name added to the waiting list and see if by chance something becomes available!

Oberoi Rajvilas is ranked 2nd among World’s Best Hotels 2008

2008-07-24T16:40:00.003+07:00

Travel and Leisure magazine's annual poll results are out this year and Jaipur's Oberoi Rajvilas has been ranked 2nd amongst the World’s Best Hotels 2008, up from rank 11 received last year.

Situated on the outskirts of Jaipur, about 7 kms from the city centre, Oberoi Group's Rajvilas was opened in the late 1990s. The luxurious resort hotel, which includes an Ayurvedic spa, has been styled in the theme of a Rajasthani Rajput Fortress. The resort is spread over 30 acres of landscaped gardens which are adorned with elegant pavilions, pools and fountains. An intriguing centrepiece is a 260 year old Hindu temple in the middle of a large lotus pond.

The hotel has a range of accommodation options to choose from - including deluxe rooms (over 30,000 Rupees per night), luxury tents (over Rs 35,000), royal tents (apprx. Rs 80,000) and villas with private pools (the Luxury Villa costs over Rs 100,000 and Kohinoor Villa around Rs 180,000). These are the off-season rates from March '08 to September '08 which are subject to change, so it is prudent to check out their website for more accurate and up-to-date figures - www.oberoirajvilas.com

'Jaipur by Nite' weekend extravaganza

2008-07-13T23:41:00.005+07:00

A three-day weekend festival called 'Jaipur by Nite' is going to be held to promote Jaipur as an all-year destination from August 1 to 3. The first-of-its-kind event will see the main historical monuments all decorated and illuminated in their splendour; and the famous bazaars situated within the city walls will be open till late night. Included in the entertaining itinerary are two cultural evenings showcasing live music, fashion show, sound and light show, shopping, food and drinks at the City Palace, Nahargarh Fort, Amber Fort, and others. Participants can also take part in the Teej Festival organized by the tourism department, play golf at the club or watch a polo match at the royal Rambagh Polo Ground.

For more details about the event schedule, hotel packages and participation fees, check out the website: www.jaipurbynite.com

The event seems targeted towards domestic tourists from Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and nearby areas who can just drive down for a weekend break; while people from further off cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad can fly down, taking advantage of the off-season low fares.

The carnival shows the defiance and resilience of Jaipur in the face of the recent bomb blasts that had placed the city in the news spotlight.

Darbar Mahal Suite of the Raj Palace Hotel voted "Asia's Leading Suite"

2008-07-04T23:11:00.006+07:00

The Darbar Mahal Suite of the Raj Palace Hotel was recently voted as "Asia's Leading Suite" by World Travel Awards (WTA) at a ceremony in Shanghai on June 19, 2008. The world travel awards are the most prestigious awards in the global travel industry, with around 167,000 travel professionals including 110,000 travel agents from over 190 countries having participated in the voting process this year.

As well known, Raj Palace is an almost 300-year-old Rajput palace which has been restored and converted to a heritage hotel by combining the glorious heritage of the historic royalty and the modern luxury facilities of today. The result is an opportunity of being transported back in time to experience the lifestyle of a bygone romantic royal era.

The Durbar Hall or Durbar Mahal Suite is one of many distinct suites in the hotel. This Suite was used by the Kings as their private quarters and its main features are a high-ceilinged reception room with apartments which overlook the inner courts of the palace and also the gardens. It is decorated with gilded walls, stucco and mirror work; with furniture in gold and silver. The Suite also has a private museum display of the Old Throne of the old kings. These luxuries come at the rate of 5000 US dollars per night, with off-season rates falling to about half.

Other suites on offer at the Raj Palace are the Standard Room (375 US$), Heritage Room (500 US$), Historical Suite (750 US$), Prestige Suite (1250 US$), Jhanki Mahal Palace Suite (5000 US$), Maharajah's Pavilion Presidential Suite (15000 US$) and there is also an upcoming suite called Shahi Mahal Suite (starting Oct'09) at a whopping price of 40000 US$!!. The rates given here are approximate converts and of course, the offseason rates may be a third or even half of the full rates. So it is best to check out the current actual rates at their website: www.rajpalace.com

The Raj Palace has also won several other awards in recent times such as the World's Leading Heritage Hotel 2007-2008 by World Travel Awards, Best Heritage Hotel in India for 2006-2007 by India's National Tourism Awards and it was also the winner of the 32nd International Award of Hotel, Catering and Tourism in 2007.

Souvenirs from Jaipur

2008-05-17T23:44:00.009+07:00

A vacation is never complete without the acquisition of some fine souvenirs for friends and relatives back home, or even for yourself! Jaipur has a myriad of handicrafted products of all sizes and price ranges to suit your needs. Due to the constraints of luggage space (and budget too, of course!), I found these little ubiquitous nicknacks to perfectly fit my definition of souvenirs (read: pretty but useless) and couldn't resist picking some...

The pictures below give an idea of how miniature they are:

Weather in Jaipur

2008-04-05T23:37:00.007+07:00

If you wanna visit Jaipur but don’t know whether it is a good time in terms of season – the chart below might help you with your decision...

As seen in the chart, the coldest months are December, January and February; and the hottest months are April, May and June. Apart from this, it is also prudent to check the rainy season – which starts in June and ends in September, with the months of July and August experiencing the heaviest rainfall.

These statistics are compiled from the previous years' averages. But in this age of erratic weather believed to have been brought about by global warming, Jaipur too has been witnessing ever changing climatic conditions. Some locals even say that they had just experienced the coldest and longest winter of their life in Jaipur at the beginning of this year.

Therefore it is a good idea to check updated forecasts for the weather at this website: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/42348.html

Getting around Jaipur city

2008-01-15T17:25:00.002+07:00

The best way to get around the city of Jaipur is by autorickshaw, which you can hail down anywhere. Make sure that the driver turns on the ‘meter’ or if not, that a rate is negotiated. Cycle-rickshaws are cheaper but slow, so a good way to go around if you just want to observe the daily street life at a lazy and leisurely pace – not that most tourists are expected to have that amount of free time in their itinerary.

Taxis in Jaipur are convenient, comfortable and much safer; with rates double that of an autorickshaw. If you are travelling to a far place on the outskirts or outside the city limits, it is a good idea to take a taxi. But just like in most other cities and towns in India, you won’t see them running freely on the streets waiting for fares to hail them down (except in airports). Therefore, if you want to travel in a taxi, you will have to book them in advance. This you can do by arranging with one that you have already travelled in or call one of the taxi hotlines, or simply ask your hotel to fix you one. While arranging, remember to mention the exact destination and to negotiate on a fare (or best, just agree to use the meter). The taxi will pick you up wherever you want, but it is always safer to take down their mobile phone number just in case.

Amber Fort

2007-08-08T20:20:00.001+07:00

The Amber Fort (pronounced “Amer”) located about 11 kms from Jaipur is amongst the best hilltop forts in India. Set in a picturesque hillside overlooking the Maota Lake, Amber was the ancient citadel of the ruling Kachhawa clan for seven centuries, before the capital was shifted to present day Jaipur. Built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh, the fort was modified over a period of 150 years by successive rulers and was completed by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II. The fort thus stands rich in its archaeological history spanning several centuries. Built in red sandstone and white marble, the architecture is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styles.

The imposing and rugged exteriors of the building hides a warm and exquisite interiors which include magnificent temples, ornate palaces, opulent halls, intricate courtyards, pavilions, detailed carved paintings along walls set with precious stones and mirrors, and mighty gateways (ensuring protection of the fort against invasions).

How to get there?
From Jaipur, you can reach Amber Fort by a taxi. The hilltop has to be climbed on an elephant back or you can also go walking. But naturally, the more fun way would be an elephant ride which gives you a feel of royalty, while enabling you to absorb the breathtaking views of the city along the way.

While visiting the fort, don't forget to pay close attention and watch out for the following popular attractions:
Maota Lake – in front of the fort, where you can view the amazing reflections of the magnificent monument.
Dil-e-Aaram – A traditional Mughal Garden at the entrance to the fort.
Sheesh Mahal or the “Palace of Mirrors” - a big hall with walls inlaid with thousands of exquisite tiny mirrors. According to folklore, a single tiny candle would illuminate the entire hall. The intricate mirrors are well-preserved and look as royal as they did then.
Diwan-E-Aam or “Hall for the Public” - a pillared hall in the front courtyard, where the king received his subjects and listened to their problems and petitions.
Shila Devi Temple – A temple dedicated to Kali Mata, the Goddess of Victory, situated on the right side before the front entrance.
Sukh Niwas - the “pleasure” residence of the Maharaja. Note the ivory inlaid sandalwood door and the channel for water flow built to cool the palace during the hot summer months.
Zenana – a palace for the royal women. It includes a common corridor connecting all the rooms designed such as to provide privacy to the Maharaja while visiting his Queens, and also chambers from where the royal women privately watched the proceedings of the royal court.

There is some confusion regarding the Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort. The structure today known as Amber Fort was initially a Palace Complex within the Fort of Amber which is today known as Jaigarh fort. Connected with Amber through fortified passages, Jaigarh fort is located on a hill above the Amber complex. The Jaigarh Fort offers stunning views of the foothills of the Aravalli mountains and houses a collection of medieval cannons including the “Jaivana” - believed to be the world's largest cannon on wheels. Historically this was the original Amber Fort, although it became known as Jaigarh from the time of Raja Sawai Jai Singh II onwards. Still confused? Don’t bother much – just visit both and be transported back in time to experience the legendary lives and times of the Maharajas!

The City Palace of Jaipur

2007-07-07T23:50:00.001+07:00

The City Palace of Jaipur is a large complex of historic buildings which today houses a myriad of museums showcasing the grandeur of the royalty in the bygone era. Till today, a part of the palace is still home to the Royal family. The museums are spread across several buildings, each exhibiting a different aspect of the regal history, from the classic clothing worn, the extravagant palanquins, the vicious weapons used in wartimes, etc. It is really enchanting to see all these antiques and relics preserved in their timeless state and to know of their rich histories. Therefore visiting this place will not go in vain during your tour of Jaipur.

Travel Tip: Don't bother to get your digital cameras out here as (a) the fee is quite relatively and inexplicably high (b) most exhibits don't allow for photogtraphs to be taken (c) it is a museum! there is no point if you are going to see the place through a camera lens the whole time; so just enjoy without worrying about capturing the perfect shot of every turn you take or every interesting exhibit you set your eyes on!

Jantar Mantar

2007-06-24T14:13:00.001+07:00

Another important attraction to include in your Jaipur itinerary is the Jantar Mantar - an astronomical observatory situated in Jaipur’s Palace Complex. Translated as the ‘Magical Device’ or ‘Instrument for Calculation’, Jantar Mantar was built in the early 18th century by Maharajah Jai Singh II, a leading astronomer of his times and the founder of Jaipur.

The observatory is a collection of many astronomical instruments built of stone and marble in a gigantic scale. Each device is in a unique and different geometric form with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. Because of their huge sizes and the way that they are permanently fixed to the ground, these astronomical instruments continue to give very accurate readings even today comparable to the modern technologically advanced devices. There are 14 major devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, ascertaining the exact position of the stellar and planetary bodies, calculating the lunar calendar, predicting the start of the monsoons, etc. However, the observatory's main purpose seems to have been casting horoscopes, which according to the principles of Vedic Astrology requires a precise knowledge of the positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars at the moment of birth. Till today, Hindus still have their horoscopes or natal charts cast on the basis of the positions of the cosmic bodies at birth. These are used for making life predictions as well as ascertaining compatibility for arranged marriages.

Pictured above is the Samrat Yantra as viewed from Hawa Mahal. The triangular-shaped building is the main and largest instrument at 90 feet high; with its chief role that of a sundial plotted to tell the local time of day, as its shadow moves up to 4 m in an hour.

Hawa Mahal or the 'Palace of Winds'

2007-06-10T15:25:00.001+07:00

A must-visit place of interest in Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal which translates as the Palace of Winds or Breezy Palace. From the street, this monument looks quite deceptive as if it is only a richly decorated wall, but only when you go inside that you realise it is quite a large building. It was built in the late 18th century by the then Maharaja or King with its sole purpose being to give the royal ladies the privilege to observe everyday life in the streets below without being seen and at the same time to get some fresh air, as the building keeps quite cool even in the hot summer months. True to its name, the palace is very breezy because of its 953 small windows on the side directly facing the street. While visiting the monument it is advised to stay away from the touts hanging around at the entrance. Pictured here is a view of the architechturally rich building from the counrtyard on the inside.

Heritage Hotels in Jaipur

2007-06-02T13:29:00.001+07:00

One of the best legacies left behind by the royal past of Rajasthan are the majestic palaces and stately homes built in timeless architecture, which today have been converted into heritage hotels. So if you are on a visit to Jaipur, there is simply no reason to miss a stay in one of these edifices of history, especially more so because they are available to suit all travel budget ranges.

Here is a brief list of the heritage hotels with their websites and the approximate cost of stay in a standard double room for a night. Off course, the rates of luxurious suites would be higher. The important thing to keep in mind here is that most of them are off-season rates; therefore the rates in the peak months would be higher. And also, the rates would be different (most probably higher) if booked through an agent. So the best thing would be to find out the best available deal through the various internet resources. The common features in all of them is that they are family-run and have been renovated to offer all the modern amenities that is available in the standard hotels of today.

The below figures are all rough approximations to give an idea for the rate of a standard double room for a night during non-peak season. Please check the given website links for the latest rates.

Less than US$40
- Hotel Diggi Palace - US$15 - www.hoteldiggipalace.com
- Arya Niwas - US$25 - www.aryaniwas.com
- Bissau Palace - US$25 - www.bissaupalace.com
- Umaid Bhawan - US$35 - www.umaidbhawan.com

Between US$50 - US$100
- Hotel Shahpura House - US$60 - www.shahpurahouse.com
- Naila Bagh Palace - US$65 - www.nailabaghpalace.com
- Hotel Alsisar Haveli - US$75 - www.alsisar.com
- Hari Mahal Palace - US$90 - www.harimahalpalace.com
- Hotel Narain Niwas Palace - US$90 - www.hotelnarainniwas.com

Over US$100
- Samodh Haveli - US$150 - www.samode.com
- Lal Mahal Palace - US$250 - www.lalmahalpalace.com
- The Raj Palace - US$275 - www.rajpalace.com

Weather conditions in Jaipur

2007-05-26T15:30:00.002+07:00

Having lived all my life in tropical cities, the first thing that strikes about Jaipur is the weather. Jaipur experiences harsh extremes of climate due to its proximity to the Thar desert. I noticed that most housewives' lives actually revolved around these changing weather conditions with each extreme weather bringing with them their customary tasks and mundane chores.

The summers are very very hot and dry. When I was there the temperatures revolved around 45 C. But since there is no humidity (or very less of it) you won't sweat much as in a tropical place. But the downside is that you will simply need to drink lots and lots of water - about 10 times as much as you would normally. I had to quench my thirst with 2 glasses of water or juice - anything within handreach - after approximately every 20 minutes.

The winters are equally harsh with extremities reaching near freezing temperatures. Most houses or almost all don't have heaters and so even while indoors, people have to rely on several layers of winter clothing to keep warm in the day and sleep under stone-heavy blankets at night.

Jaipur - The 'Pink City'

2007-05-24T00:03:00.000+07:00

Jaipur is the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Famed for its history as a princely state, it is said to be the first planned city in India, and is popularly called the 'Pink City' alluding to the colour of its buildings. Jaipur is now emerging as a major tourist attraction among a plethora of destinations in India.