Morning in the Pink City of Jaipur - Palace of Winds and Bollywood Experience

Arrival in Jaipur It was past five in the morning and we arrived in Jaipur earlier than expected! I thought Indian trains were often delayed, but I didn't expect this train to arrive early. Hotel Umaid Bhawan also thoughtfully provided a free pick-up service, which took us directly from the station to the hotel. Because we arrived very early, we went to the hotel to dress up before 6 o'clock, and then went out to have breakfast. ⸻ Breakfast time: Gulab Ji Chai Bani Park We chose a cafe called Gulab Ji Chai Bani Park near the hotel. It looked like a cafe where internet celebrities would check in. But when we walked into the store, we found that in addition to the internet celebrities, there were also many uncles enjoying breakfast here while drinking authentic Indian milk tea. We ordered four different flavors of sandwiches, which was just enough for four people to share. Every sandwich was delicious without any vegetables, and their milk tea was super delicious, which made the morning more relaxing. ⸻ Explore the landmark: Palace of Winds (Hawa Mahal) After breakfast, we immediately headed to the most representative landmark of Jaipur - the Palace of Winds. • Introduction: This five-story red sandstone palace with 953 intricately carved windows is Jaipur's most iconic landmark. • History: Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the king of Jaipur, the main purpose was to allow the women of the palace to observe the activities on the streets without being seen by the outside world. • Tickets: Foreigners 202 INR (about 80 TWD) • Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00 Fortunately, we arrived before 9 am, and the photo effects were excellent under the bright sunlight. We couldn't wait to take pictures at the famous gate. Then as soon as 9 o'clock arrived, we immediately bought tickets to go in and take pictures. ⸻ A hot afternoon to escape the heat and enjoy a little happiness At noon, the weather was too hot, so we moved to Crazy Coffee, a small shop next to the Palace of Winds, to have a cup of iced coffee, enjoy some air conditioning, and use the free Wi-Fi in the store. As the heat wave was pressing, we didn't even have the heart to rush to the next attraction, the City Palace, and instead went to the subway station to use the toilet (only 10 rupees, clean and affordable), and then went shopping in the nearby market, enjoying this simple and interesting Indian life. In the market, we found a shop called Ramchandra Kulfi Bhandar and saw passers-by ordering mango milkshakes and ice popsicles, so we followed suit. Dried fruits are added to the mango milkshake, which has a rich taste and instantly refreshed me when I was about to faint from the high temperature. ⸻ Afternoon break and movie experience Around one o'clock in the afternoon, we returned to the hotel to rest and take a nap. At three o'clock in the afternoon, before going out to see a movie, we went to buy some Lassiwala (Lassi drink shop) which is quite famous nearby. There are three stores connected together here, and the takeaway lassi packaging is super cute, perfect for people to drink while walking. We then headed to Raj Mandir Cinema to experience the magic of Bollywood movies. • Introduction: This cinema is known as one of the most luxurious cinemas in India, and the entire environment is immersed in the glamour of Bollywood. • Ticket price: 600 INR (about 240 TWD), we chose the highest-class second-floor box. It was interesting to find out when buying tickets that boys and girls had to buy tickets separately, but in the end they were able to sit together, which was really ridiculous. Because we went back to the hotel to take a nap, my friends went shopping and then went directly to the scene to queue for 20 minutes before they could buy tickets. There were so many people buying tickets at the window. Those who want to experience this atmosphere can buy tickets online first. Originally, we also wanted to sit downstairs to feel the enthusiasm of the Indian people, but the tickets downstairs were sold out, so we had to sit in the box on the 2nd floor. And when entering the venue, he was asked to finish his takeaway lassi before entering. After entering the cinema, although there were no English subtitles, the atmosphere was lively with singing and dancing. The audience screamed and clapped as the male and female protagonists appeared. The whole feeling was like a big star had arrived. There was a 15-minute break at halftime, and everyone took out their phones to take photos and videos, and no one minded talking on the phone. It was truly a very inclusive and joyful afternoon experience. ⸻ Dinner with Dosai After the movie, we found a dosai shop near the cinema for dinner. However, because my stomach was a little uncomfortable, the food tasted greasy. Although my friends thought the dosai tasted delicious, I thought a thin slice of dosai wouldn’t make me feel too full, but it turned out to be super full! So, what exactly is dosai? Dosai (or Dosa) is a very popular flatbread in southern India. It is made mainly from fermented rice and lentil milk. It is fried thin and crispy and is usually served with coconut sauce (Chutney) and various curries. It has a crispy texture and rich aroma, and is one of the delicacies that cannot be missed in Indian breakfast and dinner. ⸻ Summary of a day in Jaipur From arriving smoothly in the early morning, being picked up at the hotel, having breakfast with an internet beauty and checking in at the Palace of Wind, to escaping the summer heat, visiting the market, enjoying the craze of Bollywood movies and having a dosai dinner, this day was full of surprises and surprises. Every detail allowed me to experience more deeply the unique style and vitality of the city of Jaipur. #IndiaTravel #Jaipur #Palace of Wind #RajMandirCinema #Lassi #dosai #BollywoodMovies #TravelDiary