Shopping And Food In Jaipur
Situated in the state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is known as the 'Pink City" of India. Located to the north of the country, Jaipur came to be known as the Pink City due to the fact that in 1853 when the Prince of Wales was due to visit the city the entire city was painted pink to welcome him. This was during the rule of Sawai Ram Singh. Until this day, a visitor to the city of Jaipur will be surprised to notice that many buildings both old and new are painted a pleasing pink color. A particular kind of stone used in the construction of many buildings too has a pink hue and add to the existing pink color of the city.
Jaipur was home to a number of royal families each of whom had their own palaces within the walls of the city. These palaces are still in existence today which is a major tourist attraction. Shopping in Jaipur is a delight for foreigners and tourists. The bazaars of Jaipur are well known for their ethnic and hand made goods as well as locally embroidered fabrics. Blue pottery is a famous type of earthenware which is handmade and hand painted by local artists to precision. Brightly colored tie and dye goods such as saris, dupattas, scarves and skirts are seen in many of the street bazaars of Jaipur. Tourists can also shop for leather goods, brass artifacts and other local handicrafts which are all made by local artisans. A virtual treasure trove for shoppers and tourists, Jaipur bazaars are also bursting with bright and colorful Rajasthani jewelry, special shoes known as 'mojris', and, mirror work and beaded textiles are what Jaipur is famous for.
The well known bazaars of Jaipur are Jauhari Bazaar, Tripolia Bazaar, Chaura Rasta and Bapu Bazaar. Here shoppers and tourists would be able to pick up bargains of Bandhani textiles, precious stones, kundan jewelry, perfumes, bags, and shoes made of camel skins. The markets of Ranganj, Subhash Chowk and Kishnapol are also famous for their handmade carpets, block printed fabrics and ready-to-wear garments as well as embroidered shoes.
Jaipur is famous for its Thar Desert which has contributed tremendously to the history, culture and architecture of the city. The people of Jaipur are known as Rajasthanis and are mainly vegetarians. A large number of hotels and restaurants offer authentic Rajasthani food items which rich, sweet and prepared in pure ghee. Jaipur is famous for its local delicacies which are spicy and made in plenty of oil. Pyaz ki Kachori, Gazak, Besan ke Gattay and Daal Bhatti are some of the local delicacies which you will find being served by most of the restaurants and roadside dhabas. In winter, you can feast on rich and syrupy Gajar ka Halwa, samosas, kachoris and sweet tea.
One can also find a number of Indian, Chinese, continental and restaurants around the city catering to foreigners and tourists who throng the city due to its rich and varied heritage. No holiday to Jaipur is complete without tasting its local delicacies and rich mithais.