The contemporary resolutions will make on the first day of every new year and I'm not an exception. In the last year, I pledge myself to read at least twelve books to reach a certain state of mind. But I ended up traveling more, and more. I didn't realize till the day I begin my journey to 4600 KM, a round-trip from Hyderabad to Rajasthan. If I call up the year 2018 I have traveled to Kanyakumari, Hampi, Gandikota, Rajasthan, and many places nearby Hyderabad. I am well aware that the several places I have been and drove are certainly not a major league but I sure got some state of mind.
For Rajasthan trip, we predetermined to cover Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. Managing time for travel and work is so difficult and an idea of covering whole state requires lot of days. It's not easy to get ten vacation leaves unless it is a holiday season. Traveling to the northern part of India during winter is also not so easy as planned, especially on motorcycle. We beaten all odds and jacket'd up for ride.
We started off our trip on Friday at 3:00 PM from Hyderabad to Nagpur and reached our destination by 10:00 PM. Temperature has been gradually decreasing with time. By the time we reach Nagpur we all are tied and felt cold to drive any further. Unlike, Kanyakumari trip during the peak summer we have pre-booked hotel for night stay.
On our first full ride day, we started the journey a few hours late than planned due to extreme fog in Nagpur. As per schedule, we aimed to drive a thousand kilometers to reach Jaipur even if it is late. We ended up driving just 700 KMs due to small hitches like a petrol overflow to one of the bike and extreme cold of 15 degrees Celsius during the evening, potholes, bumpy roads and famous cow crossing in national highways. We called it a day at Gwalior and nearly 350 KMs away from our first Rajasthan destination - JAIPUR. On the second day, woke up early and started off to ride 350 KMS, on seeing the welcome sign "Rajasthan State Welcome You" we can't wait to see Jaipur in high spirits. Reached our first destination Jaipur in the afternoon and till here drove the total of 1600 KMs. Dropped off the luggage in hotel swiftly freshen up for sight-seeing.
Jaipur Memorandum
Jal Mahal Visit Before the start of any trip like everyone, we have cut and dried the list of places we desired to visit for each destination. As we are running as per schedule our first visiting place is to Jal Mahal. Jal Mahal is constructed in middle of Man Sagar Lake back in 18th Century. There is neither entrance to the lake nor into Jal Mahal, all visitors must see the monument from the lake shore. Best time to visit is during the weekday of midnight to avoid crowd and lightening makes the palace more alluring from far.
Jal Mahal, Man Sagar Lake
Amber Palace (also Amer Palace) Visit
Rajasthan is unquestionalbly state of forts and Amer fort is apex of them all. Amer fort has a vast history, undergone several architectural developments and modifications by various rules. It has several courtyards, audience halls for public petitions and internal garden. The Indian historical and fantasy movie BAHUBALI has a scene of sacrificing a buffalo as spiritual ritual of the battle cry. Amer fort used to have similar sort of the ritual as an offering to AMBA devi (a goddess) to protect the kingdom from droughts and in war. State government taking care of this beautiful site as the national and International travelers are lined up to visit. Beauty of this palace lies during the night when the colorful lights turned on. The architecture make you awe with the monstrous constructions and wonders how patiently developed during the non-machinery era.
Amber Palace from Inside
Amber Palace Inside Garden
Dazzling view of Amber Palace during night
On the Day1, we halted site seeing by visiting Jal Mahal and Amer Palace. All of us want to taste the famous local cuisine, and what another way to find out rather than searching for a qualified rating from online just by talking to locals. We spoke to random people to find the best place for dinner and most of them recommended "Shree Khandelwal Pavitra Bhojanalaya". I'm not going to write a review or explain how the food tastes but must say, it hits the taste buds and I would recommend everyone to visit this place with family when you are in Jaipur. Many of the visitants may not like the ambiance but they serve fast and responds well.
Jaipur City - Day2
One thing we realized on Day1 about Jaipur city has its traffic. I mean Jaipur does not have huge traffic as in other metropolitan cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi but what it really has people with lack of traffic sense. Locals are polite and respectful to visitors but when they drive they have an urgency to jump the signal and ignore the traffic rules. So we decided to give break to our bikes and try an electric rickshaw unique transport vehicle can only found in Jaipur.
HAWA MAHAL
"The palace of the breeze" constructed date back in 1799 for royal women to observe festivals on streets and everyday common man's life through this palace small windows. An exquisite architecture calmly resides on a side of the busy road in Jaipur. Out of all tourist places, Hawa Mahal has its own prominence and holds hefty viewership in social media - Selfie with Hawa Mahal.
Jal Mahal, Man Sagar Lake
The City Palace Visit
City palace resides at the center of Jaipur city and over the decades' city palace undergone several structural improvements and new constructions from the 17th century. It is a group of Palaces, Pavilions, and Gardens. The City Palace has an architecture based on the style of Rajput, Mogul and European style. In fact city palace is multiplex for various Mahals the famous constructions with rich history.
Virendra Pol - One of the entrance gates to City Palace multiplex
THE MUBARAK MAHAL
This mahal is constructed in 19th century currently it displays the textiles worn by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, royal family and common people of the era. In this museum also has the collection of paintings. This also acted as a reception center for receiving royal guests from various kingdoms and officials.
Panoramic view of Mubarak Mahal
Side view of Mubarak Mahal
Rear view of Mubarak Mahal
THE CHANDRA MAHAL
This Mahal has seven storeys and each floor has its significance like Hall of rest, Hall of beauty, the halls for worship and this palace still has kingdom flag winched alongside Indian flag. Currently, royal family descendants reside in this palace.
Cannons from 1700's
Diwan-I-Khas - The Hall of Private Audience
THE JANTAR MANTAR (Calculating instrument)
Construction of calculating instrument monument completed in 1734. It has the world hugest sundial and a total of 19 instruments in the observatory like finding the location of stars and planets, eclipse time, measurement of time, position like longitude and latitude of celestial bodies. The archeological department owns this site and also a UNESCO identified masterpiece.
World Largest Sundial
At this point, we have covered the majority of prominent places. Meanwhile, we handed over our carriers to servicing station to operate the health check because we have early morning 150 km ride to Ajmer. We are now down to visit Nahargarh Fort.
THE NAHARGARH FORT
Nahargarh Fort was constructed on the rib of the Aravalli Hills in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, The king of Jaipur. This fort is also described as The House of Tigers. The royal family members move to this fort during the summer. The entire view of the Jaipur city can be seen from this fort and significant information about this place is to see the sunset. It also has the wax museum and private restaurant for the people to have an experience as a royal guest. The evening was well spent at this place and being a sunset enthusiast, amazed to see the sunset in city lights.
We still got some fuel on us to visit one last place in Jaipur and it is none other that Palace for Queen - Sisodiya Rani Bagh
SISODIA RANI PALACE AND GARDEN
The King Sawai Jai Singh II is the founder of the current capital Jaipur, which is used to be known as Amber town. His preoccupations included Celestial objects, architectures, and mathematics. The king's vision has an influence on later generations stands high and novel, as his vision. Absolute respect and importance to the queen by constructing the palace containing fountains, and painted pavilions. Sisodiya Rani Bagh/Palace & Garden stands the truth.
Sightseeing in Jaipur cannot be concluded in 2 days but we have gone through some of the lovely sites and diverse places. The activity of watching them over the span of a little amount of time, like in two days is not enough. But I have got an astonishing experience with the city. Call it a day for Jaipur returned to the hotel and possessing the thought of traveling in the next morning to Ajmer & Pushkar. Rajasthan is one of the biggest states in India and we have visited places like Jaipur, Ajmer/Pushkar, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. So I cannot address the complete experience in a single post. So I'm splitting the voyage into multiple parts and share the experiences concerning per destination.
