Jaipur Akshardham Mandir .

Very few people know that Jaipur has its own beautiful Akshardham Mandir. I had heard a lot about these beautiful temples, so we decided to go and pay our respects to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. We started for the temple in early evening from Birla Mandir and it was supposed to be a 15-20 minute drive but the huge traffic jams (a jam in Jaipur … few years back it was un thinkable) in couple of places increased the journey time to more than an hour and it was quite dark, early November evening, by the time we reached this beautiful structure. This was my first visit to Akshardham Mandir and I was mesmerized by the  artistically lit huge building.

Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan

Beautifully carved mandap in the Sanctum where the bhakts can sit and have the unhamperd darshan of the moortis, listen to satsang and mediate.

The artistically lit temple structure.It is hard to believe that this is a modern structure and not a ancient temple.Hats off to the artists who have kept the ancient Indian art of stone carving alive in these modern times.

                                     Jaipur Akshardham Mandir .

Colours Of Jaipur , Shopping At Bapu Bazar.

Jaipur is a shopper’s paradise. Its markets and bazaars are full of exotic and modern goods. Whenever we visit Jaipur there are always a load of things to be bought and our favorite destination is Bapu Bazaar. Bapu Bazaar is a famous market near the Johori Bazaar in the old city. The shops here are full of Bandhani /bandhez / tie and die dress material, sarees, bed sheets, cushion covers, bead spreads, curtains, shirts, kurtas, long skirts, jewellery – real and artifical etc. Even the footpaths are full of trinket sellers – lakh bangles, keychains, bindis, handicrafts ... ladies surely have a gala time shopping here.

Jaipur is also famous for its many varities of chatpata digestive chooran golis …. My personal favourities are the delicious anardana (pomogranate seed) and imli (tamarind) golis, these too can be bought at Bapu Bazaar.

One thing that hits you first when you enter any shop in Bapu Bazaar is the riot of colors … all the colors in the rainbow … and may be many more. Royal Rajasthan is truly a colorful state.

Key Chains

Lakh & Glass Bangles

Jewellery

Muddhas - the traditional Rajasthani stools made of bamboo and covered in colorful patchwork or plain fabric - colorful and comfortable.

Tie & Die fabrics popularly known as Bandhini or Bandhez, this is a traditional Rajasthani fabric which is very popular all over the world. You can get many different traditional and modern styles here.

Handicrafts in stone, metal,wood. If you are lucky you may also find some rare and valuable antiques in the bazaars of Jaipur.

Colours Of Jaipur , Shopping At Bapu Bazar.

Clicking Away In Jaipur, A Photographers Paradise !

The pink city of Jaipur is a clickers paradise, if you ever visit this beautiful capital city of Rajasthan make sure u have enough memory cards and battery packs to capture all the palaces, forts, temples, colorful bazaars, interesting people in traditional dresses, delicious food which looks as good in photographs as it tastes...and much much more.

 Beautifully carved buildings are everywhere and probably are the highlight of the Jaipur city tour. they also  present good photographic opportunity in varying lights. You will see serious photographers loaded expensive camera gear everywhere, and the ubiquitous tourist with his point and shoot camera trying to capture some memorable moments of his visit to the royal city of Jaipur. 

Here are some random shots I  clicked  with my Canon P & S camera when in Jaipur sometime back, just to give you and idea of what you can expect if you are lucky enough to ever visit  one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.

Central Museum Jaipur

Statue Circle Jaipur

Shree Purvmukhi Hanuman Mandir , Sanganeri Gate, Johori Bazar , Jaipur.

Chana Jor Garam at Bapu Bazar.

Kachoris and Mirchi Badas at Raja Park

Super spicey dal lahasun payaz pakodi at Johori Bazar.