Jaipur

For our first free weekend in India, five of us took a trip to Jaipur, a city 6 hours away from Delhi. We rented a driver for the weekend, who was a helpful and amusing guide, and took us out for “the best lassies in Jaipur” (a salty or sweet yogurt-based drink). We quickly found a favorite restaurant—a very authentic “down to earth” kind of place where you can get a delicious meal for well under $2. It was nice to breathe some fresh air after the Delhi smog, and the abrupt mountains and free space were a welcome change of scenery.

There are several palaces and forts in Jaipur, most of which are situated on the top of hills overlooking the area. The architecture of the buildings is quite unlike any I have seen before. Here I’ve shown a picture of the Wind Palace, a beautiful but bizarre structure in the middle of town that is only one room deep, though is several stories high. One of the most interesting places we visited was essentially a playground for astronomical study. There were all kinds of huge devices for measuring and tracking the position of celestial objects, and built over 100 years ago.

Shopping was another highlight of the trip. We bought scarves, wall hangings, and bed covers, but the best part was the haggling. Many ignorant tourists have taught shopkeepers to greatly overcharge. I found they would start with a price up to 10 times what an item is actually worth! The result is that it takes a long time to buy anything…but at least they give you free chi!