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- Glimpses of Jaipur’s Regal Past
Written By Ambika Anand
Jaipur, most commonly known as the pink city, is located amidst India’s oldest mountain range, Aravali in Rajasthan. From the Amer Fort to kitsch art in Narain Niwas, Jaipur is a confluence of terrains, cultures, colours and royalty.
As I arrived at the Hilton Jaipur, I was treated to a warm welcome at the reception. The hotel interiors speak of all things Jaipur: from the wall at the reception to the golden eye on the ceiling, everything gave me a surreal feeling of being transported back to another era. I even had a chat with Chef Japvir from Chaandi about Laal Maas, which is a traditional Rajasthani recipe being served for centuries. My interaction with him taught me the amount of work that goes into preparing this historical Rajasthani dish.
Jaipur is also home to many arts that have been practised for generations. Blue Pottery is one such art-form that I had the fortune of exploring. Jaipur Blue Pottery is one such place which works towards preserving this centuries old art-form. From plates, kitchenware, block printed textiles to vases, it is basically a shopper’s delight.
On my way to visit the blue pottery workshop, I met Teekam Chand, who has been a photographer on a stretch of sidewalk outside Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal for 3 decades. He is the proud owner of a 'Minute Camera", which is a 159-year-old camera that was first brought to India by his forefathers in the 1880s and weighs about 50 pounds. He uses a Carl Zeiss lens to bring his vision to reality through his camera.
I also managed to go to Tokree, a charming boutique, which produces exquisite cotton salwar kameez at reasonable prices For something a bit more glamorous, head to Nidhi Thalia’s ‘Saffron’ for some gorgeous Indian wedding clothes using traditional Gota work.
With so many places and arts to explore, Jaipur definitely stands out as a tourist’s delight. Whether you’re interested in history, art, food or even shopping, Jaipur is a city which leaves one in awe of its grandeur. My stay at the Hilton Jaipur was the perfect respite after a day out in this vibrant city. It was a relaxing yet enlightening experience, and that’s exactly what one looks for in a vacation, isn’t it?
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Jaipur, most commonly known as the pink city, is located amidst India’s oldest mountain range, Aravali in Rajasthan. From the Amer Fort to kitsch art in Narain Niwas, Jaipur is a confluence of terrains, cultures, colours and royalty.
As I arrived at the Hilton Jaipur, I was treated to a warm welcome at the reception. The hotel interiors speak of all things Jaipur: from the wall at the reception to the golden eye on the ceiling, everything gave me a surreal feeling of being transported back to another era. I even had a chat with Chef Japvir from Chaandi about Laal Maas, which is a traditional Rajasthani recipe being served for centuries. My interaction with him taught me the amount of work that goes into preparing this historical Rajasthani dish.Chef Japvir’s Laal Maas Recipe
- Step 1 - For the preparation of the core ingredients: Mutton Red chilli paste Yoghurt Ginger and garlic mixed together
- Step 2 - Set aside to marinade
- Step 3 - Fry some onions in the pan till they turn brown. The mutton is added and the gravy is cooked for two hours
- Step 4 - Once it's cooked, the gravy is smoked with cloves and ghee to get that earthy flavour The final dish turns out to be a burst of flavours for my taste buds, and I still crave that taste of careful culinary craftsmanship
Jaipur is also home to many arts that have been practised for generations. Blue Pottery is one such art-form that I had the fortune of exploring. Jaipur Blue Pottery is one such place which works towards preserving this centuries old art-form. From plates, kitchenware, block printed textiles to vases, it is basically a shopper’s delight.
On my way to visit the blue pottery workshop, I met Teekam Chand, who has been a photographer on a stretch of sidewalk outside Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal for 3 decades. He is the proud owner of a 'Minute Camera", which is a 159-year-old camera that was first brought to India by his forefathers in the 1880s and weighs about 50 pounds. He uses a Carl Zeiss lens to bring his vision to reality through his camera.
I also managed to go to Tokree, a charming boutique, which produces exquisite cotton salwar kameez at reasonable prices For something a bit more glamorous, head to Nidhi Thalia’s ‘Saffron’ for some gorgeous Indian wedding clothes using traditional Gota work.
With so many places and arts to explore, Jaipur definitely stands out as a tourist’s delight. Whether you’re interested in history, art, food or even shopping, Jaipur is a city which leaves one in awe of its grandeur. My stay at the Hilton Jaipur was the perfect respite after a day out in this vibrant city. It was a relaxing yet enlightening experience, and that’s exactly what one looks for in a vacation, isn’t it?Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.India with its diversity is any traveller's delight. From breathtaking mountains to serene beaches, from sky diving to scuba diving, chances are if you are planning a holiday of your dreams, there is a perfect destination waiting for you in some part of this country.
You could be a conventional traveller looking to follow the map or someone not afraid to tread on the path less taken. Either way, there will always be new perspectives and new stories worth sharing. On Hilton Destinations, we aim to capture the various hues that a place has to offer and highlight how the same place can offer different experiences to different people. In this leg of the journey we pick three of the country's most visited cities - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, famously known as the Golden Triangle. Explore these three cities with us and discover the known and little treasures that define these places and make them such a draw for tourists from within and outside India.
