Why visit Jaipur? I asked myself again and again as I prepared for a two-day trip to the city of forts and palaces. Jaipur was not new to me, but then Hilton Jaipur gave me the opportunity to explore and discover Jaipur with their “24 Experiences in 24 Hours”. At Hilton, they go with “The World is Right Here”, which to me, sounded like my visit to Jaipur was going to be not just a visit but a wholesome experience of what and why of Jaipur. With that I reached my home for the next two days—Hilton Jaipur. The hotel is ideally located close to the airport (20 minutes), train station and all major tourist attractions.
With the rest of the day free to explore the city, I chalked out an itinerary for the remainder of the my stay. I couldn’t help but notice that the brand’s campaign “The World is Right Here” was apt. Be it shopping or sightseeing, the hotel Hilton Jaipur stood right in the centre of it all, telling a traveller that all you need to see and do in Jaipur is right here. Hilton Jaipur had planned 24 Experiences in 24 Hours for me which at first sounded a bit hectic and rushed but as we prepared ourselves for the next 24 hours, slowly everything started to look exciting.
We began with shopping! Johari and Bapu bazaar, six and five kilometres from the hotel respectively. A total shopper’s delight, these two bazaars are a riot of colours. Did I go all touristy with my shopping? Yes I did. Though Jaipur was not a stranger to me, I still managed to get lost in the colours, patterns and everything Rajasthani. I came back to the hotel with quite an impressive haul. From the famous mojris, traditional Rajasthani puppets, clothes, jewelries to ceramics, the works!
Back in the hotel after an evening of shopping, I retreated to my room for the much need rest. My stay at the hotel deserves to be a part of the 24 Experiences because the impeccable Hilton luxury is an experience to be had. Each luxurious room and suite come with an impressive view of either the Aravalli or the city skyline. The property had 179 spacious well-appointed rooms and suites that comes with the best and full range of facilities. Each room category, be it Guest, Deluxe, Executive or Suite, an example of fine luxury. All rooms come with Signature Hilton Serenity Bed. Deluxe Rooms had additional terrace that gave you space to host your own intimate dinners or private gatherings; Executive Rooms located on the hotel’s 8th and 9th floor offers breathtaking and unobstructed views of Aravallis and the city, and came with exclusive access to the Executive lounge perfect for business travellers; Hilton Jaipur Suite, a luxurious space of 656 sq ft, as far as luxury and comfort was concerned, it was right there at Hilton Jaipur.
“Let us show you Jaipur”, said my host at the hotel. From a distance of four kilometres to 21 kilometres, you could get to all the famous tourist attractions of Jaipur. With shopping sorted, we headed out to explore the forts and palaces of Jaipur. We began our trip with a visit to the famous Hawa Mahal, seven kilometres away. The palace of 953 windows, also called jharokhas, is a red and pink sandstone marvel. As I peeped though one of the jharokhas, out to the city below, I saw what the women of Royal families in the bygone days must have seen—the streets down below in full action.
Next we proceeded to Amer Fort, 15 km from the hotel. The fort is located in the town of Amber and probably the top attraction in Jaipur. This red sandstone and marble opulent palace was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. A quick visit to Jaigarh and Nahargarh Fort was next up on my itinerary. The drive to the farthest destination on my itinerary—Nahargarh Fort (21km) was quite a pleasant one.
Our day ended with a visit to Choki Dhaani, 40 minutes away from the hotel. This luxury heritage resort, synonymous with a traditional Rajasthani village, gave a picture of rural Rajasthan, complete with traditional arts and crafts, paintings, handicrafts and food. The number of tourist present that evening spoke volume. Food was okay there but the real USP was the environment as a whole. Definitely a must-visit (if you don’t mind the compulsory meal purchase which also works as your entry ticket).
Last attraction on my itinerary was the City Palace. A mere seven kilometres from the property, City Palace impressed me greatly. This palace complex was full of character. The royal family still reside there so except for that residential sectuon of the palace complex, rest was open to visitors. I have a thing for doors and gateways, and without a doubt the intricate artworks on the gateways of the palace successfully stopped me on my way. I found the palace musuem Mubarak Mahal and carpet weaving, that were in display, quite interesting. Henna tattoos, weaving, jewellery making, were enough to capture my attention for almost two hours at the City Palace complex. What a trip that was! A little over 24 hours and definitely more than 24 experiences, but who’s counting?
The Information
Hilton Jaipur
Location: Hawa Sadak, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Tariff: Approx Rs 5500 onwards
Contact: 0141 417 0000 , Hilton Jaipur