Rajasthan is a very colorful state. Jaipur capital of Rajasthan is just 200 k.m. Away from Delhi and is easily approachable by road and train. I prefer to use my own vehicle for outings as it saves you from by chance bad drivers, flexible plans and dependence. Delhi-Jaipur highway is ok, as traffic has increased over the years. Still as per me this is the only highway on which you enjoy every second of journey. This trip can be taken for relaxation/fun. Up and down trip from Delhi is not advisable. 1 night and 2 days is good period to see the city.
It is advisable to leave Delhi early morning by 5-5.30 am so that you can avoid traffic chaos at Gurgaon during office time. One can plan breakfast on the way. By starting early, one will surely miss Haldiram Eating joint(Worth place) but one can stop for dinner on the way back. Half the way to Jaipur is Behror, where one can stop at RTDC midway. It used to be choice but not any more. Reliance has opened A 1 food plaza in most of its petrol pumps and these places are value for money. Neat and clean eating joints with other necessary facilities. It takes usually 3-4 hours to reach Jaipur.
When one reaches near Jaipur, there is one road going to right hand side for city and straight as Jaipur by pass. If you are going by own vehicle, take right turn to go into city via Amber fort. So first stop is Amber fort. You can visit this royal fort and enjoy the architecture, old charm etc. There is a temple of Shila Devi in the complex and is worth seeing. It takes good time to cover the fort. One can take car up to the fort from side lanes. After Amber one can drive towards city and on right side will observe the boards of Nahargarh and Jaigarh fort. Nahargarh is a deserted place with improper care. We had the food in restaurant there and it was cold and unpalatable. Jaigarh fort is impressive with huge water tank, world famous canon and armory museum. Finishing this side now you can go to city choose a good hotel and relax.
I find it always better to stay in tourism department hotels, as these are safe and no bargaining. Its fact that rooms are not of it standard as one would get in private hotels for same tariff. Gangaur, Teej and one more RTDC hotels are there. In budget of Rs. 1.5-2, 500/- Hotel Jaies on MG road is good place to stay. One can come across some of the good restaurants on MG road(Natraj, Neros). Best place to enjoy good food and tasty sweets is LMB(lakshmi Mishthan Bhandar). Evening can be used for shopping and strolling. Bapu Bazaar and Johri bazaar are famous for handicraft, local product, clothes, shoes, saris and what not. But I found that Johri bazaar is expensive and one needs to do good bargaining in both the markets.
Next day, other places like Hawa Mahal- this is well known figure to most of people, just go up from the backside and enjoy cool breeze in summer afternoon evening. City Palace and museum- is royal and informative. Here one can see huge silver urns in which maharaja of Jaipur used to carry gangajal for his abroad trips by ship. Govind Dev Ji mandir is in next compound to City Palace. Birla Mandir in white, Birla Planetarium, Museum nears the Jaipur Zoo. Another good place to visit is Galta ji, which is a Devi temple and is surrounded by high hills. You will find many monkeys there. Scenery beauty is to feel, it can’t be explained in words. This is on Jaipur Agra highway.
Budget hotels are near main bus stand that is known as Sindhi camp and near polo victory, which is just at walking distance from bus stand. It is advisable to look for economy hotels near polo victory.
Auto rickshaw can be hired for sightseeing and rates should be fixed before hand.
Avoid eating near bus stand as you have better choices available.
Don’t buy from shops near to tourist place and from emporiums where your auto driver may take you.
Ladies must buy Lakh bangles and other colored lakh jewelry if visiting Jaipur for the first time.
I will write about other places in Rajasthan as it is the most colorful state and those who love vibrant colors, history and tradition must visit to believe.