Forced Shopping Or Subtle References In Jaipur
Once, you have hailed a private vehicle that's going to take you around Jaipur, you will notice something a little strange. Keeping in mind that you may just have a day to see Jaipur, and would want to spend most of your time sightseeing, it may come as a surprise that the driver will almost hurry you past places to visit, only to park next to shopping centers. Some may find this very helpful, while others may find this behavior a little dodgy. Either way, it's part of the package, and if you're smart enough, you'll realize why this happens.
If you really aren't keen about shopping at some particular place, then you can shop along the way, wherever you stop because there are plenty of bazaars and local artisans selling their ware. It's quite simple really. If you're headed to the Amber Fort, you will find a shop in the fort that sells gift items, and local handicrafts. Similarly, when you're at Jantar Mantar, you will find a store just outside, and if you walk up the lane that leads to the main market, there are local stores galore.
In most cases, once you have decided on a private vehicle, the driver will be rather friendly, and the perfect guide. In fact, they double up as great guides. And though they aren't insistent on stopping for a lunch break, they will ensure that shopping becomes a priority. For those who are keen on shopping, this comes as a blessing. Your cab driver is most likely to take you to Maharani Gayatri Devi's handloom emporium under the guise of seeing what the rani has done to empower local artistes.
Soon, you'll discover the purpose of the visit was to thrust you into a store where rather polite shop staff will literally lure you in by saying it doesn't cost money to see something. They'll even explain to you how stuff is made, and before you know it they will have taken out so much stuff and laid it out on the charpoy's that you would think it's rude to leave without buying something. Whether it's pure silk sarees, elaborate quilts with frills, quilt sets for every bedroom in the house, or even lightweight cotton quilts that could very well double up as a security blanket, and can be used regularly because it's not too warm.
If you're skeptical about carrying all this stuff around, the shop will ship the goods to your address. You can also buy jewelry, 'lak' bangles, and many other trinkets. What you may not want to miss is the mini embroidered cloth umbrellas that are reflective of high quality artwork. If you're keen on leather goods, your friendly guide cum taxi driver in Jaipur will take you to the next best place. At a typical leather goods store, you will find jackets, shoes, wallets, belts, and the traditional 'mojri'. The peculiarity of such a shoe is that both shoes look identical which means you can wear either on the left or right foot. The reason your guide cum taxi driver in Jaipur makes shopping an emphasis is because for every purchase you make, the driver gets a commission.