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JEWELS IN THE CROWN OF JAIPUR

In no particular order these are some points about Jaipur anybody would consider as the Jewels in the Crown of Jaipur.

Everybody has to eat something some time. So let us list salient points related to food about Jaipur.

Jaipur is part of the desert state of Rajasthan & lack of adequate rainfall & transport saw to it that people ate ‘ana se ana’ as vegetables were scarce. Also because of the heat and the hard work the people put in the fields red chilies & Desi Ghee were used in abundance.

Ghewar

The delicacies one would consider as Jewels in the Crown of Jaipur would be

1. Gatte Ki Sabzi – A veg. curry made with gram flour dumplings
2. Ker Sangari- A veg curry made with fruit of Khejari tree & a berry.
3. Ker ka Aachar- An aachar made with a berry which grows in the wild.
4. Piyaz Ki Kachori – A Kachori made with a filling of onions & potatoes.
5. Mirchi Bare- Pakora made out of green chilie & allo based filling & gram flour.
6. Pheeni- can be had as a dessert or at breakfast with milk.
7. Gazak – Sweet made of Til & sugar or Gur
8. Mishri Mawa- Mawa based sweet
9. Mawa ki Kachori – a Kachori with mawa filling served with sugar syrup
10. Omlete by Sanjay
11. Khatto – A curry made with gram flour boiled in buttermilk.
12. Paneer ki Sabzee & Bejar Ki Roti  with rabri as dessert at Mahaveer Rabri Bhandar
13. Kulfi- traditional Ice Cream
14. Namkeens from the Sonthliwalon Ka Rasta
15. Choorma Daal Baati- It has to be tasted to be defined!
16. Raabri- A little atta cooked in boiling Chach.
17. A meal at Chokhi Dhani Ethnic Village
18. Rajasthani Thali at Natraj, LMB
19. Heeng ki kachori -Kachories made of asfoetida flavored masala.
20. Heeng ki sev- Sev made of asfoetida flavored gram flour.
21. Doodh Jalebi at Breakfast
22. Meethi Lassi on M.I. Road
23. Ghewar, a sweet, from LMB
24. Gulab Sakri Mawa based sweet flavored with kesar
25. Kangan – traditional sweet made more or less like a Jalebi
26. A late night snack at the Saras Snack counter on JLN Marg
27. Laal Maans – Mutton in red curry
28. Safed Maans- Mutton in white gravy
29. Paan – chewing betel leaf with slaked lime, Kattha & Supari.
30. Jalebi made in Desi Ghee
31. Mutton  Sule- Marinated boneless mutton cooked on coals
32. Shammi Kabab- Minced meat tikiya cooked on a tawa or deep fried in oil.
33. Mangori Curry- Lentil paste dried in small pieces and later on cooked as a curry.

As Rajasthan is a border state & the Princes in The Rajputana were at war more than they were at peace so you will find Forts & Palaces in which ever part of Rajasthan you might venture. But the monuments of Jaipur are special as they are not only in good condition but the administration takes pains to keep them in pristine condition.

Entrance To The Palaces Of Amber

1. Amber Fort- Built in the 16^th century on a hillock it is a majestic Fort.
2. The Palaces at The Amber Fort are amazing.
3. The imposing & artistic entrance to the Palaces of the Amber Fort.
4. Elephant ride at up the Amber Fort Hillock
5. Jaigarh Fort about 15km from Jaipur is located on a hill known as Cheel ka Teela & was built in the 16^th century by Raja Man Singh & Sawai Jai singh II.
6. Jaibaan was built in 1720 and is said to be the biggest cannon on wheels in the world.
7. Cannon Foundry at Jaigarh- Jaibaan was cast here.
8. Water Tanks at the Jaigarh Fort- Still in use these tanks can store 60,00,000 liters of fresh rain water. Find out about the system thru which they collected this huge amount of water.
9. Nahargarh Fort was used for the guests of the Maharajas.
10. Stepwell at the Nahargarh Fort- This step-well was made famous by the film Rang De Basanti.
11. Man Sagar Lake This Lake is sustained by recycled water & a popular spot for birding. A birding fair is held here, every year.
12. Jal Mahal Palace- Recently restored to its former glory this palace is in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake.
13. Sisodia Raani ka Baagh- Built in 1728 by Sawai Jai Singh for his Sisodia Queen, it is a terraced garden.
14. Galta Ji- A pilgrimage site it was built by Rao Kriparam, the Sun is worshipped here.
15. Vidhyadhar ji Ka Baagh- This garden is named for the Architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya who designed the city of Jaipur.
16. Kanak Vridavan Garden- Near the Man Sagar Lake this garden was the adobe of Govind Dev ji before the idol was moved to the City Palace Complex.
17. Kos Minar at the VT Road circle was a pillar situated by the roadside, it was used to measure distances in the Mughal times.
18. Peacock Garden- On the JLN Marg near the RCDF offices this garden was decorated with sandstone chatris & fiber Peacocks made by an eminent artist.
19. Central Park is a most popular place for a morning walk, a date or for birding.
20. French Sculptures in the Central Park & the Man Sagar Lake- Made by a French artist these sculptures are a thing of beauty.
21. Isar Laat was constructed to celebrate the victory of the Jaipur forces under Sawai Ishwari Singh Ji in 1749.
22. Jantar Mantar- An astronomical observatory having with huge Sundials etc made out of marble & masonry.
23. City Palace-Residence of the ruling family of Jaipur. Some parts are open to public & some parts have been made into museums.
24. Hawa Mahal Palace- Built in 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh ji for the royal women to watch the religious processions etc. & still be in purdha.
25. The façade of Hawamahal- It has 5 stories & 953 windows & is painted terracotta pink.
26. The various gates of the walled city- As Jaipur was built according to Vastu Shastra it had 9 gates.
27. Maharanion ki chatriyans- This is the funeral grounds of the Maharanis of Jaipur.
28. Gaitore- Cenotaphs of the past Maharajas are here.
29. Sawai Jai Singh Statue Circle- Almost all circles of Jaipur have statues installed on them but only one circle is known popularly as The Statue Circle. A statue of Sawai Jai Singh stand tall here.
30. Birla Planetarium-Plan a visit to be updated about the universe.
31. Conference venue at the Birla Institute of Scientific Research (BISR)
32. Rambagh Palace Hotel- One of the best hotels in the world today.
33. Silver urns- Huge utensils cast in silver used to ferry Gangajal to UK for the use of  Sawai Madho Singh II.
34. Light & Sound Show at Amber Fort
35. Light & Sound Show at Amar Jawan Jyoti in remembrance of Kargil War Martyrs.
36. The pillarless hall at the Govind Dev ji Temple is Jaipur’s contribution to the Guinness Book of World records. It is the world’s widest RCC flat roof construction with a single span of 119 feet.
37. Rajmandir-A single screen theatre, offering bollywood song & dance movies.
38. Science Park in Shastri Nagar. A huge statue of a T-Rex roars here.
39. National Flag In The Central Park

There are so many ancient Temples in Jaipur that it is also called Choti Kaashi.

1. Thikana Govind Dev ji – The rulers of Jaipur claimed to be His Deewans & ruled in his name.
2. Shilla Mata in the Amber Fort. It has doors made of silver with  9 roops of Goddess Durga & 10 roops of Goddess Saraswati engraved on it.
3. Laxmi Narayan Temple- A poetry in white marble made by the Birlas.
4. Ganesh Temple, Moti Doongri, Jaipur ke pratham poojya!
5. Hanuman Temple, Moti Doongri, Another ancient temple
6. Kala Hanuman Temple near the old Ram Prakash Cinema Hall.
7. Garh Ganesh on a hill near Gaitore
8. Nahar ke Ganesh ji- This Temple is about 175 years old.
9. Jagat Shiromani Temple-Dedicated to the Lord Krishna His likeness in a black stone idol is worshipped here.
10. Akshardham Temple-Located in Vaishali Nagar this temple is dedicated to the 18^th century saint Swaminarayana.
11. Ram Krishna Mission is in the C-scheme colony.
12. Sanghi ji Jain Temple-A 1000 year old Digambar Jain temple at Sanganer.
13. Choolgiri near Jaipur on a hillock is a Jain Temple.
14. Padampura Jain Temple is about 30 km from Jaipur on the Tonk road.

Clubs of Jaipur-These are the best options for eating, drinking, staying, exercising or meeting people of Jaipur. They have rules about allowing non-members to use their facilities.

1. Jaipur Club on Jacob Road
2. Ashok Club on Janpath
3. Polo Club on Bhawani Singh Road
4. Golf Club on Bhawani Singh Road.

It does not matter if you like festivals to disrupt the hum-drum day to day rhythm of life  or not they do leave you rejuvenated by their mere presence. These are some of the important festivals celebrated in Jaipur.

A Bazaar Decorated For Deepawali

1. Deepawali- The festival of lights is celebrated with much gusto in Jaipur. The whole city is bathed in colored lights to welcome the Goddess Laxmi.
2.  Makkar Sakranti – A day for giving. The young guns of Jaipur fly kites, this day.
3. Holi-Is the Festival of colors.
4. Elephant Festival around Holi- If you wish to see this huge animal in huge numbers in one place all beautified for the day, this festival is for you!
5. Gangaur – is a widely celebrated festival of Rajasthan where, Gauri, symbolizing Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiv, is worshipped as a symbol of virtue & fidelity. A big procession is taken out from the City Palace on 2 days.
6. Teej-The festival is celebrated to pray to goddess Parvati for a happy married life, well-being of husband and children. A procession is taken out from the City Palace.

Excursions

1. Samode is about 42 km from Jaipur Samode Palace is used as a heritage hotel & charges an entry fee for non residents to view the Sheesh Mahal & Darbar hall.
2. Abhaneri- About 95 km from Jaipur off Jaipur-Agra Highway it is a huge stepwell in the shape of an inverted Pyramid.
3. Bhangarh- Ruins of an ancient town said to be haunted .It is off Jaipur Agra highway.
4. Tonk- About 110km from Jaipur it is also known as the ‘Lucknow of Rajasthan’. Sunehri Kothi is a must visit place. It is famous for Namdahs.
5. Sambhar-About 65km from Jaipur it has the biggest salt lake in India. It is also a birders paradise around monsoons.
6. Bharatpur-About 175km from Jaipur. It has a rich bird life for the Nature Lover and The Lohagarh Fort for the history buff.
7. Ajmer- About 135 km from Jaipur. Holiest Muslim shrines of the world, Dargah Sharif is located here.
8. Pushkar- is about 145 km from Jaipur & is famous for the Brahma Temple and the Savitri Temple, Sarovar  & the yearly Camel Fair.
9. Pachewar-About 90km from Jaipur it has a 300 year old fort which has been coverted into a heritage hotel.
10. Sariska Tiger Reserve- About 107km from Jaipur this National Park is spread over 866 sq km.
11. Bairath or Viratnagar – About 86km from Jaipur. This town has been around since the times of Mahabharat. It was also a flourishing Buddhist centre during the reign of King Ashok.
12. Seel Maata ki Doongri- 35km from Jaipur near Chaksu. This temple is dedicated the the goddess of small pox. Sheetala Ashtami is her day.
13. Ranthambore- About 180km from Jaipur. This National Park has a rich natural life to be observed by the Nature Lover besides the Tiger.
14. Alwar-About 150km from Jaipur. Famous for its monuments & Alwar Ka Mawa.
15. Siliser-About 110 km from Jaipur near Alwar & Sariska. There is a palace hotel in the middle of the lake.
16. Shekhawati- Encompasses the Districts of Jhunjhunu & Sikar.It is most famous for frescos painted on Havelies.
17. Mehndipur Balaji off Jaipur-Agra Highway. The deity here is famous for exorcising evil spirits from a person.

Personalities

1. Sawai Jai Singh Ji II (1688-1743) A keen Astronomer he made the Jantar Mantars of Jaipur, Delhi etc and also founded the city of Jaipur.

2. Rajmata Gayatri Devi( 1919-2009) Voted as one of the World’s 10 most beautiful women by Vogue she was also an educationist & a philanthropist. She founded MGD School for girls & Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya. She also revived the art of Blue pottery.

3.Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt- Born in 1952 he won the Grammy award in 1994 & the Padam Shree in 2002 for taking Indian classical music to new heights.

Shopping

1. Silk/Woolen Carpets, Rugs & Durries made in Jaipur are world famous.
2. Mojari-Traditional leather shoes.
3. Lac Work – Bangles made of lac are a must for any auspicious occasion.
4. Laheriya- A saree dyed in diagonal stripes of different pastel colors usually worn during the monsoons.
5. Bandhej is the process of tying & dying a saree etc.
6. Thewa-This process of fusing 23 carat gold with colored glass was developed about 350 years ago in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan.
7. Jewelry made with silver has much favour with the rural folk.
8. Kundan- is the process of inserting gold foil between the stones and its mount, commonly used to make necklaces, believed to have originated in Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is the oldest method of making 24 carat gold jewelry in India.
9. Meenakari is the art of fusing metal like gold, silver or copper with different lacquers of colors like blue, red or green.
10. Miniature Paintings are a fine rendering in water color of the court life etc over the years.
11. Brass decorative items are a must buy on a Jaipur visit.
12. Hand made paper of Sanganer- Paper made out of waste materials. One brand even adds a ratio of elephant dung to the formula. A variety of paper is made of Akda plant, commonly found in Rajasthan growing by the roadsides.
13. Jaipur Blue or Blue pottery a collectors item.
14. Jaipuri Razaai-A sheer delight to use, made according to a centuries old formula, a must buy on Jaipur visit.
15. Bagru Hand Block Printed clothes & furnishings
16. Sanganeri Hand Block Printed clothes & furnishings
17. Turbans-Headgear of men in Rajasthan. Every region had its own style of tying a turban. They were made of different colorful materials & designs all with its own significance.
18. Heritage Liquor- Traditional liquor made by Ganganagar Sugar Mills as per recipes provided by the former Royal houses.
19. Itra- locally made traditional perfumes
20. Supari/Churan- A huge variety can be found at Link Road near Sarawagi Mansion.
21. Gota- Lace made of metal or plastic used to trim traditional clothes of women.
22. Batik print- A variation of Bandhej tie & dye process.
23. Terracotta stuff- The best terracotta articles come from Baswa village.

Miscellaneous

1. Jaipur Bus – A fleet of Lo-Floor Buses are plying the streets the city every day & connecting the far flung areas of Jaipur.
2. Musical Fountain, Jawahar Circle, JLN Marg performs everyday from 7-7.30 pm in winters. They even show music videos on a wall of spray.
3. Sanganer Airport – Recently renovated one of the top air-ports of India.
4. Akshay Paatra- Providing free mid-day meals to the school going children.
5. Gaalibaazi- An irreverent Kavi Sammelan at Holi, a tradition almost as old as the city.
6. Hella Khayal Sangeet Dangal have been held in Lalsot on the 2^nd day of Gangaur  for more than 257 years now. Through this platform the artists inform the public about current affairs and issues, put forth problems to government officers, or comment on social, political and economic issues.
7. Jaipuri Weddings- you have got to attend one to know the difference.
8. Sculptures at the Circles- part of the drive to beautify Jaipur, this is priceless art commissioned for the city of Jaipur.
9. Mandana-are the rangoli done in white & red colored lime on the floor & walls of a house on an auspicious occasion to welcome the gods.
10. Bandarwal- door hangings tied at the entrance of a house on an auspicious occasion.
11. Shorgar-They make traditional crackers by hand in earthen pots to be used at weddings etc.
12. Neelgar- They dye clothes.
13. Mehendi is used in all important occasions in life. A woman’s Shringar is incomplete without some mehndi on her hands & feet.

Educational Institutions

1. St. Xavier’s School on Bhagwan Das Road
2. MGD Girls School, off M.I. Road.
3. St. Xavier’s College in C-Scheme.
4. Rajasthan University on JLN Marg
5. Rajasthan School of Art in Kishan pole Bazaar.

Music

1. Maand-The local singers sung praises of the Rajput folk heros like Tejaji, Gogaji and Ramdeoji in this style of folk singing.
2. Pabu ji ki Phad-The heroic stories of the folk hero Pabuji sung as folk songs.
3. Kathputli- Folk songs which accompany the antics of the puppets on stage.
4. Ravanhattha is a two-string stick fiddle used by bhopa community to narrate the epic tales of Pabuji.
5. Panihari- songs sung by the local women, narrating the scarcity of water etc.

Dance

1. Ghoomar – A dance performed mostly by Rajput women in groups or singly.
2. Kaalbelia- Dance done by the snake charmer community.
3. Therah Taali- This dance is performed in praise of folk-deity Baba Ramdeo by the Kamad community of Pokaran & Deedwana.
4. Kacchi Ghodi- An important dance form of Rajasthan. It is performed with the help of a dummy horse and elaborate costumes.

Mela

1. Pushkar- Camel Fair

2. Nagaur- Cattle Fair

3 Looniyawas, near Sanganer- Gadarbh (Donkey) Mela

Museums

1. Albert Hall -The central Museum of Jaipur. It has an Egyptian mummy here.
2. Sanjay Sharma Museum-A fine collection of rare manuscripts, art & shoes.
3. Alice Garg Sea Shell Museum- A huge collection of sea shells.
4. In the city Palace
5. At the Jai Garh Fort
6. Anokhi Museum- Hand Bloc printing museum
7. Dolls museum- A collection of dolls from all over the world.

Work-In-Progress

Jaipur Metro Is On Its Way

1. Jaipur Metro
2. Museum in the Old Town Hall in the City Palace complex.
3. Pet Show- usually held in Delhi going to be held in Jaipur this year.
4. The tunnel at Ghat ki Ghuni on Jaipur-Agra Road

Unique Eating Places of Jaipur

Rambagh Palace

1. Swarna Mahal, Dining Hall at the Rambagh Palace
2. Steam, Lounge & Bar in the Bogies of a defunct train & a Steam Engine
3. Polobar, Bar at the Rambagh Palace
4. Neelmahal, Restaurant for snacks at the Rambagh Palace
5. Durg Cafetaria at the Nahargarh Fort.
6. India Coffee House(ICH) on M.I. Road
7. Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) Branch Of India Coffee House
8. 1135, on the ramparts of Amber Fort.
9. Restaurant at the Jaigarh Fort
10. Palace Café, Café at the City Palace.
11. Cave In Natraj Restaurant
12. Revolving Restaurant at Hotel Om Tower
13. Pink Pepper A restaurant on a moving Bus.
14. Tapri – A tea stall, much frequented by the youngsters.
15. Niros- If Delhi has Moti Mahal Jaipur has Niros.

Adventure

1. Skywaltz- A firm providing Hot-Air Balloon rides in & around Jaipur
2. Vintage Car Rally- An annual fixture in Jaipur’s List of yearly events.

Culture

1. Rabindramanch- The 1^st venue of Jaipur where plays were held over the years.
2. Open Air Theatre Behind Rabindra Manch
3. Open Air Theatre near Simriti Ban
4. JKK- A hotbed of cultural activity in Jaipur
5. Open Air Theatre at JKK
6. Jaipur Lit Fest – A trend setting congregation of the elusive faces behind the books we read. An annual affair.

Flowers

1. Rose Garden- Located at the Jawahar Circle. It is a sight to behold in the winters when the flowers are in full bloom.
2. Guldaudi Exhibition & Sale – Annual fixture. A very successful show & sale of Sevanti.

Bazaars

1. Bapu Bazaar & Nehru Bazaar-You can shop here to your hearts content for all the stuff Jaipur is famous for.
2. Johri Bazaar- You can buy all sorts of jewelry, women’s clothes & bangles etc here.
3. Thatheron Ka Raasta- A lane home to the utensil makers.
4. Maniharon Ka Raasta – For Lac jewelry & other stuff made of Lac
5. Khazanewalon Ka Rasta- Marble stone carvers lane.
6. Raja Park Market- A micro Punjab in Jaipur
7. Sonthliwala Ka Rasta- For all things Namkeen
8. Choti Chaupar- silver jewelry. Rosted Namkeen at Vijay Store. Mithai at Bhagat ji.
9. Bari Chaupar- Flowers, Bangles.
10. Rajasthali at Ajmeri gate. A state government (RTDC) showroom offering all goodies Rajasthan is proud of.

Birding At

1. Simriti Baan on JLN Marg
2. Chandlai Dam30 km from Jaipur ahead of Sanganer. Home to the Flamingoes visiting Jaipur.
3. Man Sagar Lake on Amber Road.
4. Central Park in C-Scheme

Zoo

1. Jaipur Zoo Ram Niwas Garden

2. Animal rescue centre at Nahargarh

3. Deer Park & Duck Pond are located in the C-Scheme. Nice place for a visit with children or a date.

Library

1. Maharaja Library 1^st public Library of Jaipur home to many rare manuscripts.
2. Radhakrishna Library Located off  JLN Marg. Popular among the students preparing for their exams.

Activities

1. Morning Walk in the Central Park
2. Shopping
3. Clubbing
4. Golfing
5. watching Polo
6. Camel/Jeep/Horse Safari in the dunes
7. Attending A Conference
8. Fine Dining
9. Judicious Street Food Sampling
10. watching Bollywood Potboilers
11. Cycling
12. Photograph Monuments of Jaipur
13. Photograph the people of Jaipur
14. Sightseeing
15. Birding
16. Going on Excursions
17. Fly Kites
18. Learn to cook Indian cuisine
19. Learn a language like Hindi or Rajasthani
20. Write a journal about your Jaipur trip & share it on the Net
21. Bar hopping
22. Sampling Heritage liquor & learning its legends
23. Learn how to tie a turban & its history
24. Learn how to tie a saree
25. Learn how to wear a Dhoti
26. Go for a ride in a Cycle Rickshaw or a Horse drawn Tonga
27. Go for a ride in a Vintage Car.
28. Get Mehandi applied to your hands & feet
29. Learn Indian Classical music at Naad Sadhna www.nadsadhna.com

Interesting Facts to Know.

1. State Tree of Rajasthan – Khejari

2. State Flower of Rajasthan – Rohida

3. State Bird of Rajasthan – Godawan or Great Indian Bustard It is pretty rare now.

4. State Animal of Rajasthan – Chinkara (an antelope)

A Gourmand’s Jaipur

When on a visit to a tourist destination eating is the last thing on our mind. We try to maximize the sight seeing, the shopping, the destinations… But if we were to slow down and taste the authentic delicacies the city  has to offer us it would be a more rewarding trip than if we just got a bite to eat on the run.

This is such a post. It will inform you about where to eat while you are on your way about the city of Jaipur.

For an emerging Metro, Jaipur still  does not have many options by the way of an establishment offering early breakfast. On the weekends the Mcdonald  on the M.I.Road opens early. On Sundays the sweet shop in Bagariya Bhawan Market offers great Sabzi-Poori from 8 am to 11 am. Rawat Mishtan Bhandar on station road opens early offering traditional snacks like pyaz ki kachori, Mirchi Baras & mawa Kachori & Desi Ghee Jalebis. On M.I. Road the Lassiwala opposite Natraj restaurant  & the Samosa-Kachori-Jalebi wala near the Narsingh Temple open shop early.

Amber Palace opens at 8 Am & the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar open at 9 Am. So it is a good idea to head for Amber Palace & Jaigarh Fort & Nahargarh Fort after breakfast. If you have brought your own car or are in a Taxi, on your way you can photograph the magnificient facade of Hawamahal bathed in early morning sunshine and click the Jal Mahal in Man Sagar Lake against the rising sun. For lunch you can eat at the Nahargarh Fort’s Durg  Cafetaria or  return to Jaipur and & eat at the LMB or the Palace Cafe in the City Palace. After lunch you can visit the Hawamahal Palace from the inside, Jantar Mantar, City Palace & climb the Isar Lat. All these monuments are nearby. While at the City Palace you can also visit the Govind Dev ji Temple where the darshan are according to Jhanki Times which change as per summer or winter. The deity here is offered Chowgani ke Laddu as prasad. As it is sold during Jhanki times you ought to buy some because it is a delicacy. Also a point to note is, if you plan to offer prasad at the Temple you out to get some  with you from outside.

By the time you finish sightseeing at the City Palace Complex you will be ready to head to the hotel for evening tea. Or you can have a cup of tea at SAHU’s at shop no. 365 in Chaura Rasta. It has been in business for about 45 years, now.

After you freshen up at the hotel, what next?

These are some of the  options for you- You can go pubbing or Clubing ( if you can get a member of a Club to invite you for drinks & dinner) or you can go back to Amber for the light & sound Show or you can go for a typical Rajasthani dinner with folk dances at the ethnic village named Choki Dhani on Tonk Road.

On the next day when you visit the Albert Hall museum & the Zoo in the Ramniwas Garden you can visit the Goodearth Shop for Organic food stuffs.

On your way back from the visit to the Vidhyadhar ka Bagh, Sisodia Garden & Galta ji stop off  at the Pink Square Mall for a quick bite to eat at their food court or head to the Bakewell or Chawala or Hanuman Dhaba or Nand Paani Patasi walla or Mahaveer Rabri Bhandar or Falahar ( for those who are fasting) at Raja Park.

If you decide to visit the Science Park ( there are life size Dinosaur statues)  in Shastri Nagar you can stop at the Nathu Sweets for a quick snack.

The Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg (JLN Marg) has a lot to offer a person visiting Jaipur. On this road you will find the Simriti Ban, for the nature lover or a birding enthusiast , Jaldhara- a picnic spot, Musical Fountain & the Rose Garden at The Jawahar Circle, Gaurav Towers for the shopaholics, The Peacock Garden, Jawahar Kala Kendra for the culturally inclined. There is the 24 hrs  SARAS booth at the RCDF office. Gaurav Tower has a brilliant Food Court besides the Mcdonalds. Jawahar circle has a nice Chat Bazaar.

If birding is your forte then you ought to visit the Central Park for a walk in the morning or early evening & have coffee at the Coffee shop on statue circle. Central Park is also home to a French Sculpture and the Tallest Flag in Jaipur.

For Non-Veg food best bet is Niros, Spice Court on Jacob Road & Talk of the Town on M.I. Road.

You ought to visit Natraj for Choorma Dal Baati & Rajasthani Thali.

Four seasons & the Olive in The C-Scheme & Kanha chain  for veg Multi Cuisine food.

Sankalp on Subhash Marg Off M.I.Road for veg South Indian food.

Ice Spice on Ashok Marg for veg Punjabi Food & Annapurna behind Raj mandir

for Gugrati Thali. Golden Dragon & Yo China for chinese food.

Lasun Ki Chutney

LMB has achaars  & bottled chutney &  stuff like Mangori you can take back home with you if you are partial to it besides sweets like  ghewar & pheeni.

Vijay store on Choti Chaupad has great roasted snacks. Jal mahal Ice Cream Parlour for Ice Cream Desserts. Hot Breads & Bake hut for Bakery items & snacks. Cafe Coffee Day for Coffee. Tapri for Tea.

According to Napoleon, an army marches on its stomach & in my opinion so should a tourist. A  delhi belly not withstanding.

Times Food Guide-First Jaipur Edition-2012

Times Food Guide-First Jaipur Edition

As you can see by the scan of the cover of the book it  is the Times Of India’s, Times Food Guide-First Jaipur Edition-2012 by Ms. Dharmendra Kanwar. The secret is out Jaipur is a Foodie heaven. It took the TOI to let the world know. There is no dearth of options for the food lover in Jaipur. There are bars, resto bars,lounge bars,alfresco bars & joints offering North Indian & South Indian food. And places specializing in Chinese, Italian & Mexican & Continental cuisine. There are mithai shops, Bakery shops & Coffee Shops galore.

The book not only covers the Best Food joints of Jaipur but also offers  a judicious selection from the cities like Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Chennai,Hyderabad, Ahemedabad & Kolkata.

The book will be launched on the 10th December 2011 at the Le Méridien, Kukas,  Jaipur, in a Gala ceremony attended by glitterati of Jaipur.

The Times Food Guide-First Jaipur Edition-2012  is priced at Rs.199/- only.

A Big Thank you to the JAIPUR FOOD GUIDE group members & congratulations to Ms. Dharmendar Kanwar.

The Rake

This was one of my attempts at Short Fiction, something called Quick Tales Contest by Caferati, in 2008. What do you think?

Raashi felt the pen slipping out of her limp fingers. She could not finish writing her last thought on to the yellow page of her thick leather bound journal. As a literary exercise she was describing in minute detail the coupe and her fellow passengers on her official trip to Jaipur from New Delhi. Because of the holiday rush this late night sleeper was all she could get a ticket on. She had described them all. The Rake traveling alone, the elderly couple with their grand daughter, the young couple on their honeymoon, a family of eight on their week-end holiday to Jaipur… She never knew when the lights in the coupe were doused and when she accepted   a   friendship offering of a chocolate cookie from the Rake.

She woke up thirty-six hours later in the Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur looking up into the stern face of a police inspector who  was pointing to the Rake and asking her if he had given her any thing to eat. When she said yes the other policeman took away the Rake she knew not where.

And then the inspector told her about how no body could wake her up when the train reached Jaipur .The Railway police were called in who could not find her luggage or her money belt or any identification papers on her. Some one did pick up her Journal and handed it over to the police when they took her to the hospital.

They picked up the rake on the basis of her description in her journal and the fact that she had mentioned in her journal that the cookie was stale. It helped that the rake considered the railway stations as his playground.

What do you know she thought the pen proved it self to be mightier once again. And then she dozed off into a light sleep.

Guldaudi Is All Set To Bloom Again!

Guldaudi

Mums, Chrysanthemums, Guldaudi, Sevanti… Call it what you like but it is the first week of November and Guldaudi plants are in the process of budding. The Sevanti will bloom  in a riot of colors, shapes & sizes within a month. That is when the Rajasthan University Nursery is planning its yearly Mum Exhibition.This year there will be about 4000 potted Guldaudi plants of about 215 different varieties. This 3 day exhibition concludes in a sale of these potted plants. This year the authorities are going to sell these pots of Guldaudi for 50 Rupees each to the Jaipur populace.

Guldaudi Sevanti Mum Chrysanthemum

Musical Fountain At The Jawahar Circle, Jaipur

Musical Water Fountain Jawahar Circle,Jaipur

Have you been to the Jawahar Circle Garden Lately?

No, no. What I mean to ask is, have you been to the Jawahar Circle Garden between 7pm & 7.30pm lately? If you have not then it is time you went?

That is when the Musical Fountain Show is performed!

If you are going to say that you have seen musical fountains,before. Then you would be wrong! Because you have not seen musical fountains like this before. Not in Jaipur, anyway.

JDA has spent 170 lacs for the development of this circle. The money has been judiciously spent on a Jogging tracks, Walk way, Parking,Landscaping, Benches & a Musical Fountain.

The Fountain has been installed in a water-body in the center of the park. Every evening at 7 pm a show is held for 30 minutes, when the water sprays dance to the music & are illuminated by colored lights all adding up to a rare experience. Taking a hint from the Si-Fi world they even show music video’s on a wall of spray. And after the show you can have some chaat or Saras Lassi or Custard Kulfi in the Chaat Bazaar.

Radius of the water body is 47 mts. There are 290 effects. Height of the fountain is 25 mts. Water screen size is 27mts wide by 9 mts height.  There are 316 colored lights. The video  projector is 15000 lumens.

A fact worth appreciating here  is that Rajasthan is a desert state & to maintain such big gardens & fountains with drinking water would be foolhardy so the government is using re-cycled water which though safe for the garden & the fountain is definitely not safe for drinking or for bathing with. So it is a good idea to stay away from the water in the fountain.

Musical Water Fountain Jawahar Circle,Jaipur

National Flag Of India In Jaipur

National Flag Of India In Jaipur

On the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras,24.10.2011, Jaipur, gets the tallest, National Flag of India which will fly around the clock in the Central Park of Jaipur.

Listed here are some interesting facts about this Flag.

The height of the flag pole is 207 feet.( Tallest in India)

It weighs 13 tons.

The dimensions of the Flag are 72 feet long & 48 feet wide.

Total knitted polyester cloth used is 321 sq. mts. The weight is 25kgs.

The budget was  Rs.76 Lacs.

It is the 24th such Flag in India & 1^st of its kind in the state of Rajasthan.

Interesting Facts about Our National Flag.

The Tri color of India was unfurled for the 1^st time on the Red Fort on 16^th August 1947.

Parliament of India is the only building where 3 National Flags of India are unfurled at the same time.

On the 26^th January & on the 15th August  the Prime Minister of India unfurls a Flag made out of Reshmi Khadi at the Rajpath and at the Red Fort. On all other days a Flag made out of cotton Khadi is used.

On 29^th May 1953 when Tenzing & Hillary conquered the Mt. Everest for the first time  Indian National Flag was unfurled along with the Union Jack & the Nepali National Flag.

Indian National Flag went in space in the Apollo-15 in 1971.

Some Rules Regarding The Indian National Flag

The Flag should be unfurled at sunrise & furled at sunset.

All citizens of India can unfurl the Indian Nation Flag all days of the year at their homes, shops & factories.

Ordinary citizens of India can display an image of the Indian National Flag on their clothes which are worn above the waist but not on inner clothes.

The unfurled Flag should not be torn or soiled or damaged.

The Flag should not be allowed to fall on the ground or in water, knowingly.

When the Flag gets damaged for some reason it should be burned in a closed lonely space with all due respect.

The image of the National Flag should not be used in any sort of advertisement or for commercial gain.

The Flag should be unfurled only with the Kesariya stripe showing on the top.

If paper Flags are used on any National occasion etc they should not be disposed off disrespectfully.

Description of The Tri Color of India.

On 22^nd July 1947 The Costitution of India adopted & accepted the Tri Color as the National Flag of India.

The Indian National Flag has three stripes of equal length & breadth. Top stripe is colored Kesariya, middle stripe is White & the lowest is coloured green.

In the center of the white stripe a dark blue colored Ashok Chakra with 24 spokes is printed.

Kesariya color signifies Power (shakti), Bravery, (sahas) & Renunciation (tyag).

White is for peace & truth.

Green color in the Indian Flag signifies greenery of the Earth, Hope & Prosperity.

The Blue coloured Ashok Chakra signifies the ultimate progress of the Indian Nation.

This Chakra has been taken from the Ashok Stambh found in Sarnath.

History of The Indian Flag.

In 1905 Sister Nivedita, the Irish disciple of Swami Vivekanand, first proposed the idea of a one National Flag of India. It was a red squared flag with the image of  Vajra of Lord Indra surrounded by 108 “Jyoti” in the centre of the Flag.

On 6^th August 1906 in Greer Park, Kolkatta, a flag was unfurled which had a green stripe on the top with 8 half open buds of Lotus flowers. The middle stripe, coloured blue, had vande matram written on it. The lowest stripe was coloured red  & had the images of sun & moon printed on it.

On 22^nd August 1907,Madame Bhika ji Kama, unfurled a 3 striped flag in an International forum.

In 1916 Dr. Annie Besant & Lokmany Tilak unfurled the ‘Home Rule Movement’ Flag.

In 1921 ‘Swadeshi Dhwaj’ was envisioned by a youth.

In 1931 ‘ Swadeshi Dhwaj’was altered and accepted as the Flag of INC.

On 22^nd July 1947 the present Tri colour was accepted as the National Flag of India.

 

Tallest National Flag Of India In Jaipur

Unique Restaurants Of Jaipur

Steam-The Lounge, At The Rambagh Palace

Today I read an article about 10 unusual restaurants of India. A facebook  friend had shared the link. Being on facebook has its uses, you know! Jaipur did not feature in the list. So naturally I had to make a list of restaurants unique to Jaipur.

1.The Dining Hall, Swarn Mahal, at the Rambah Palace, with its painted ceiling

is unique.

2. Steam, the Lounge Bar, at the Rambagh Palace, with restored Stem Engine & Victorian Station is very unique.

3. Polo Bar, at the Rambagh Palace, is unique.

4.Revolving restaurant at the OM Tower on M.I.Road is unique.

5.Chokhi Dhani, an recreated  ethic village restaurant is unique.

6.Pink Pepper, a restaurant in a bus which goes across Jaipur while the diners eat.

7. Durg Cafeteria at Nahargarh Fort is unique with stunning view of the city of Jaipur.

8. The Dinning Rooms in the RTDC’s Royal Trains are unique.

9. 1135 AD, A Resturant on the ramparts of the fort of Amber is unique.

10. The ancient India Coffee House at the Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) & on the M.I.Road are unique for being hot bed of intellectualism in Jaipur.

And

11. Tapri, the tea house.

These are all I can think of. If you think I have missed a Restaurant please feel free to add it to the comments.

A Recipe To Cook Raan At Home

Cooked leg piece-Raan

How To Cook A Raan At Home

Serves 4 persons

Marinade

Ginger Paste 2 Tea Spoons Heaping

Garlic Paste  2 Tea Spoons Heaping

Curd 400 gms Strained ( with as little water in it as possible)

Rum 1 large peg

Kachri Powder 2 Tea Spoons

2 Tea Spoons Red Chillie Powder

Salt ½ Tea Spoon or to taste

Masala

Ghee 150 gms

Oil     150 gms

Saabut Garam Masala ( 4 Doda, 1 ½ inch Dal chini, 5 Big Tej Patta, 20 Kali Mirch,

10 Cloves, 4 Small Ilaichi)

Oninons 4 large minced

Red  chillie powder 2 tea spoons heaping ( or to taste)

Corriender Powder 2 tea spoons heaping( or same proportion as the red chillies)

Turmeric ½ Tea Spoon

Salt -One Tea Spoon (Not heaping) or to taste.

Sour Curd 200 gms ( or lesser in proportion to the red chillies as this much curd is needed to take the bite out of the red chillies)

Garlic Paste 2 Tea Spoons

Ginger Paste 2 Tea Spoons

2 green chillies minced

1 leg piece Mutton ( 750 gms. to 1 Kg)

Wash the leg piece and prick it with knife thoroughly. Mix the marinade ingredients & apply them to the raan. Put it in your fridge overnight.

When preparing the mixture for the marinade make sure that it is not watery. You should  get rid of the water in the curd by tying it in a thin muslin cloth.

Heat the oil in a cooker till it is smoking & add the ghee. Add all the Saabut Gram Masala fry in oil for on low heat for a moment. Add the onions & fry the onions till they are brown.

Add red chillies, dhania, turmeric & salt with some water & fry till oil sepatrates.

While adding the curd ensure to stir the mixture on high flame till the masala comes to a boil. Keep the flame on low heat and keep frying the curry till it takes the color of deep oily red chillies.

Add the Garlic paste and the ginger paste & green chillies to the curry and cook some more.

Pre heat the oven at 300 Degrees and assemble the marinated leg piece and the masala in the oven tray & put it the oven.

Once the oil starts bubbling set the temperature to 150 degrees and cook till done. If you wish you can turn the leg piece a couple of times as the oil will settle at the bottom of the tray & may not cover the leg piece.

It can also be cooked in a Cooker on a slow fire.

Serve with hot  chapaties.