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From rural Udaipur, we flew on IndiGo to worth a visit and good for those seeking addi-
Jaipur (1 hour), with a population of some 4 tional exercise. No busses are allowed on the
million, about the same as San Diego County, narrow road up to the fort. Jeeps are available
and a similar array of great things to do, al- for hire for a ride to the top from a staging
though with a few more centuries of age on its area, which is jammed with locals hawking sou-
array of palaces, tombs, and museums around venirs, a standard practice outside the differ-
the region. ent tombs, forts and monuments. If something
Founded in 1727, the original buildings were attracts your fancy, ask the price and offer one-
painted in a variety of colors. In third to start and see what hap-
1853 when Prince Albert visited, pens. Indian snake charmers
the old city was painted pink, a show their skills with de-fanged
traditional color of welcome. It cobras and encourage tips. Ele-
has been known as the Pink City phant rides are offered around
ever since. the walls of the fort. The top
Jaipur (City of Victory) is the level, with its views, is a popular
state capital, with multiple at- destination for locals who enjoy
tractions within a short distance parading around for group pho-
of the city center and a shoppers tos and selfies. We were asked
mecca, with hand-crafted jew- to join an attractive young cou-
elry, exquisite carpets, cotton ple in their engagement photos
clothing and tailors as fine as and videos. Throughout our
those found in Hong Kong. Our travels, we found that Indians
tours included visiting the Gyan wanted to pose with members of
Jewelry Museum, and a classic our group, including two blonde
rug company with a tailored goods department lady travel advisors who had been here before
where some of our group were measured for and qualified for best-dressed honors.
new shirts, pants and business jackets (I had For getting up close and personal with the
two shirts made perfectly and delivered to the hustle and bustle of the streets of Jaipur, we
hotel that evening; one large-sized member or- zipped around and through traffic in a Pink
dered several shirts, pants and coat and had Rickshaw, run by a non-profit corporation that
trouble with a few, which were replaced by the employs some 200 women from low-income
next morning with exact fits). Neither are open households. They are trained to drive the cus-
to the public. Visits were arranged by Greaves tom designed e-rickshaws and can advance to
Travel, one of the benefits of having a DMC in own and manage their own little business. Our
each city. driver was a 5-foot-2 dynamo with Top Gun-like
We stayed at the Oberoi Rajvilas (No. 15 on maneuvering skills and some five years at the
the CN Traveler India list), in a serene setting wheel.
on 31 acres, about 20 minutes from the city For cocktails, our guides arranged a visit to
center. The 71-room resort offers a wonderful the City Palace complex, deep within the walled
escape and opportunity to unwind from the city. We were greeted by traditional Indian mu-
sometimes-intense nature of travel in the big sicians and dancers, then went to the top floor
cities in India. The villas and luxury tents are and huge veranda with a view of the city lights
spread around the manicured grounds, with a and an array of appetizers . The palace is still
temple, spa, pool, gym and business center. home to the last ruling royal family, which lives
Our tours of Jaipur included the Amber Fort, in a private section.
154 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SPRING 2023
