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Some palaces, some jewels...
By RANA SIDDIQUI
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Jaipur is close enough for a day trip from Delhi. Besides its tourist spots, there is plenty to satisfy the intrepid shopper.
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A model view... Mementoes on sale at Jaipur.
WHAT DOES the prospect of a trip to Jaipur bring to the mind of a die-hard Delhiite? Shopping! Well, what creative ideas can be expected from those of us deprived of anything more refreshing of a free evening than ice cream cones and colas, or a muggy walk around India Gate? So a rare chance to shop for handicrafts, garments, footwear, accessories and utility items from as many as 22 States in a makeshift village at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur - with a little tourism thrown in - is lapped up with alacrity. The one-day trip is organised by the Rural Non-farm Development Agency - RUDA - for the promotion of rural artists.
A pleasant journey
The road trip to Jaipur, less than 300 kilometres from Delhi, is a pleasant one, passing through the lush greenbelt of Gurgaon and Haryana, with a quick halt at a highway hotel for breakfast. Entering the Pink City evokes mixed emotions. Founded in 1727 by the astronomer king, Sawai Raja Jai Singh, considered one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan of the deserts, today's Jaipur gives an idea of being very traditional, though urbanisation has crept. Locals in bright orange, blue and green can be seen working in the fields, their clothes contrasting sharply with the green fields and muddy earth. The horn of a car makes many anxious, and mobile phones cause surprise.
Whispering winds
The Hawa Mahal, built in 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh, is a sure draw, what with its myriad windows allowing free passage of air. You can just imagine the sighs of separated lovers whispering their forlorn messages through them. The palace's countless windows also provide a view of the streets below and much of the city. Not too much romance down there though. Countless shops selling garments, pagdis, handicrafts in each of the square spaces outside contribute to a hotchpotch look. "These wide spaces were used as servants' quarters for sainiks who used to guard the palace," our chauffer informs us for the record.
On the way back, we catch a glimpse of Jal Mahal. A glimpse is all we can hope for. "No one is allowed to go near it. For years, it has been an abandoned palace," says a local.
The palaces have been a bit disappointing. We turn to comfort shopping. Available liberally at the Jawahar Kala Kendra. Then there is the famous Jauhri Bazaar at M.I. Road, with its countless shops specialising in silver and stone jewellery. Bargaining is the key here. There are also numerous shops speicalising in bandhej (tie and dye) and block-printed suits. The bazaars look splendid at night as the lights go up in innumerable shops.
Shopping bags full, we are ready to return to Delhi, a sated lot.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
|
