Jaipur with Gang Macmillan - Aug 1999

This was one of those trips we planned and planned and planned yet more, numbers kept changing, people kept changing their minds – it got so tiring, yet JC and I kept at it and organized the trip :) A total of 18 of us – all from NIIT, KSB, D185, Macmillan project – for those who want more information about this, ping me, will explain the 2-3 letter acronyms so famous at NIIT!

We spent a total of 3 days and 3 nights away, traveled by the Rajasthan tourism buses and stayed at a Rajasthan tourism hotel. Was not the best, cause we wanted economy stuff. But was good fun nonetheless. A word on the Rajasthan tourism buses – they are one of the best in the country in terms of economy, neatness, and comfort.

So, finally the D-day arrived - all the guys and gals assembled at Bikaner House in Delhi (those familiar to Delhi know this landmark, I guess) all pretty excited about going away for a few days. And to add to the excitement, we had some people running in just 5 minutes before departure time, looking harassed and desperate for their morning cuppa :) So, ok, doing the headcount all 18 in the bus. Hip hip hurrah, let the good times roll!

Like normal, enthusiastic tourists, we sang and danced and had a whale of a time. Reached Jaipur by around 4 pm and by the time we settled in was time for dinner. So all we did that evening was to go to the nearest shopping place and buy a whole bunch of clothes and what not – as ever, give some time and money to a woman and she’d show you just how many things she can buy ;). Later that night, we just had fun at the hotel and talked well into the night.

Day 2: Hired a bus and visited
1. City Palace (not so grand as it is claimed to be)
2. Jantar Mantar (one of the oldest observatories in the country)
3. Amber Fort
4. Birla Mandir. Have to say we were not too impressed with the state of the places (most seemed washed out and completely unkempt).

Post lunch we saw the Jal Mahal, a sight no one should miss as is the Hawa Mahal. Ahh, Hawa Mahal… the guide here was really cute, telling us about the list of movies shot at this location – he reeled off a whole bunch of movies, actors names, songs and poses and more details than any of us cared to listen to :) We ended the evening with a darshan at the Kanak Vridavan (a mountain top temple) and a surprise bhajan session; you have to hear the melody, and witness the grace of the women who sing and dance. Was one of the really nice experiences I have had.

So now all that done, we got the bus driver drop us off at a market (sorry, forget the name of the market, is one of the biggest in Jaipur. And as ever the girls vied with each other to buy more than the other! It was close to 11 by the time we realized we were hungry… hunting for food at that hour was painful though we finally managed. Finding transport turned out to be yet another expedition that finally we got into autos meant for cattle (hee hee) – have some pix of that too :)

Day 3: Since the bus back Delhi was in the afternoon, we didn’t plan much – and broke up into groups and went out ways – we discovered a lovely restaurant that served yummy south Indian food – aaahhh, before u roll your eyes, you need to know that this set of human beings were south Indians, away from home for close to 3 months, and so the thought of good yummy palate-familiar food was totally exciting…

Of yes, we had yet more confusion about getting to the bus terminal – some very enthusiastic shoppers forgot the time of departure and so we had to pack their stuff, get some food packed and hold up the bus for them! He he.. interesting lot, wont you say?

More information from:
http://www.pinkcity.net/
http://www.ent.ohiou.edu/~kartik/jaipur.html