Jaipur, Rajasthan - The Love City (North India)

Jaipur! So far, so absolutely amazing, fascinating and an absolute wonder world. To tell you the truth, Jaipur, without a doubt, had already conquered and captured my travelling, shining like diamond love essence. Even from the moment I was passing by and before getting down from the coach. Jaipur! Known as the "Pink City" obviously, for me personally, on the contrary, Jaipur is the "Love City". Why love are you asking me? Oh-Well. I somehow seemingly felt the love connection for Jaipur. Yea! Love! Love. Always the number one priority for literally everything in my life, and in whatever I do, and in Jaipur (Jaipur Part 1), my love for Jaipur, was pouring, oozing and dripping non-stop. Due to the underpinning, openly shown or hidden love at the sightseeing spots. In fact, even the North Indians (South India, Chennai) I bumped into and spoke to. By virtue of, staying at the hotels, shopping, whether at the shopping malls or streets, of course sightseeing places must be included as well, plus the tour guides (Varanasi North India). The tour guides who were directly or indirect correlated to love. Love as in the tour service they provided by not being selfish with their knowledge, bundled alongside bundles of smiles and laughter. All of these, all, lock, stock and barrel, trust me, whispered the language of love or akin the loud love bells ringing into my ears and on every note, in and out of my inner and outer senses.  

Alright. Day two in Jaipur. During this winter and winter, ah, honestly, just so soothing to my senses. Just right. Winter, nothing overwhelming about the breeze and breeze, as well as coldness which didn't bite, nibble, nor broke my bones apart. The first sightseeing spot we visited? Birla Mandir. Also known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Birla Mandir located below Moti Dungri Fort, a true and true representation of pure white marble modern beauty structure, and built as the honor for honoring Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Inside Birla Mandir? For whatever reason it may have been, and I too, didn't bother in finding out why, maybe the excitement of posey-mosey picturing, no. We didn't go inside. But since I have done my fair share of homework on Birla Mandir for the purpose of this sharing of mine, come, let me tell you. Inside Birla Mandir, you will see the sculpted idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, also of other Hindu Gods and Goddesses. What else? The delicate carvings of Hindu symbols, ancient quotes from the Geeta, the Upanishads ornaments, the mythological events engraved on the walls, the religious idols, pictures and figures of several religious saints, philosophers and historical achievers, like Socrates, Buddha, Zarathustra and Confucius. 

   

Time out. Out of Birla Mandir, to? Amber Fort! Amber Fort in Amber town. 11 kilometres from Jaipur. Listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the "Hill Forts of Rajasthan". Alongside five other forts and Amber Fort. Oooooooooo!!!! Simply magnificent. Simply majestic. Amber Fort and its maze-like passages and serpentine staircases. 

Built by one of the most trusted generals of Akbar, Maharaja Man Singh I in the year 1592, Amber the mighty fort, served as the main residence of the Rajput Rulers and this extensive fort, clad in pink and yellow sandstone, showcases large ramparts, several gateways and paved paths. You tell me now please. How could I have not, like Thumbelina, not tumble in extreme love, further and deeper for Jaipur. Which by far, in Amber Fort? Triggering me, from the moment, from downhill, we hopping into the jeep, for reaching uphill via the like, "Indian Snake" snaking narrow pathway, and for the next 2 hours, least to least? My mind, my eyes and my camera fixated at all things seeing and knowledge thirsting, as we headed from one section to the other, from one end to the other, and at the end of it all. Nava K. Hah! Emerging as the victorious "Indian Travelling Queen" of Amber Fort and Jaipur. Especially, after all the years of planning and planning which definitely didn't materialise and finally, I did it. Yippie-Yeh!!! 

Amber Fort held so tightly, as tight as another love of mine in Jaipur, and of course kept so close against, on, above, about and allover in my travelling heart, thereafter? Lunch. As it is, a late lunch. Not enough. The colors of the characters in this tour started fading. Fading tremendously towards the ugly side. Just plain, pure, dumb fussiness of theirs on where lunch should be. Eventually. My killing hunger killed in Rainbow Restaurant and the killing was definitely worth it. Yum. Tastiness of Mutton Briyani and Chicken Briyani, washed down by, the super duper luscious and slushy Mango Lassi and this meal, for your information, a threesome. Threesome? Hahahahaha! Threesome in the sense that, split three ways between three of us.   

Lunch and subsequently? Street shopping. Shopping at the street across Jai Mahal Palace. An impressive piece of Rajasthan's heritage, a great example of Indo-Saracenic architecture set, Jai Mahal Palace has been the residence of three Prime Ministers of the princely state of Jaipur. Today, Jai Mahal is a luxury five star Taj heritage hotel and from the distance where we were, Jai Mahal Palace, beaming like a shining armour in Sagar lake water and of course, yea, the picturesque view of the lake itself, against the backdrop of the mountains. Appreciated. Sincerely appreciated. 

Street shopping. At this street? Wow! Walla! But make sure your bargain, bargain and bargain till you irritate the daylights of the traders and don't stop till you get your money's worth. Nava K? What about her? I couldn't resist. I shopped. But not till my skirt dropped down. Me shopping within my allowable budget and the clothes, accessories, shoes, bags, and what not. All of these, like "mirror, mirror on the wall", mirror work and tassle work stuffs. Pretty so much, so attractive. Done. Street shopping desire utterly satisfied, which was also, like, Jaipur streets, roads. passage ways, doors and windows closing on us for ending our Jaipur moment in time. Over. End of Jaipur, but not the end of road for our North India touring. Tomorrow? Aha! Another, the other moment of truth I have been patiently waiting for all these years. Agra and Taj Mahal. Tadaa!!!