Postcard from Rajasthan
We say that someone from the Local Foreigner team is always on the road, visiting destinations across the globe - but we really mean always. Our monthly Postcard takes you along for the ride, and this month, we're writing from India.
There are few destinations in the world that capture the imagination like India, but it's also a country that intimidates travelers - after all, where does one begin in a place so packed with superlatives? The answer, for most first-time visitors, is Rajasthan. When you think of the colors, cultures, and cuisine of Incredible India, chances are you're picturing Rajasthan. Ten members of the Local Foreigner team have recently visited the Land of Kings - read on for their favorites in Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaipur.
The call of the wallas becomes the day’s alarm clock, as the azan greets the morning with its soothing hum. Chai begins to brew and jalebi fries in hot oil. The air, choked with humidity, is perfumed with car exhaust and jasmine. Rickshaws speckle the streets with their canary yellow rooftops, while monks become threads of marigold in the midday sun. Traffic horns blare. School children cry out with uncanny delight. And somewhere, in the middle of it all, you find yourself wondering how you thought you knew the world before you laid eyes on such a place.
Bright prints
An extra suitcase
Your spirit of adventure
UDAIPUR
Oberoi Udaivilas
Falling in love with the charm of the “City of Lakes” is easy when staying at the Oberoi Udaivilas. Located on the banks of Lake Pichola, the property is spread over 30 acres of lush gardens, with an intricate layout of interconnecting domes and corridors that reflect the layout of Udaipur itself. Peacocks and yellow fringed pool umbrellas make the whole scene feel impossibly vibrant. | View the hotel
Leela Palace Udaipur
Arrive by Leela's sleek, battery-powered boat and consult the palace astrologer or grab some rays next to the lakeside pool, which is flanked by stone peacocks. The museum-like hallways pay homage to Rajasthan’s Mewar rulers, and each of the 80 rooms is swathed in dramatic textiles and textures; out the windows, the lights twinkle in the inky darkness of the lake. | View the hotel
JODHPUR
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Built between 1928 and 1942 by the Maharaja of Jodhpur, this grand palace was once the largest private residence in the world. As if that’s not enough to make you feel like royalty, the royal family still lives in one of the palace’s wings. In 2004, Taj took over another section of the property and refreshed its historic charm and Art Deco style. | View the hotel
Raas Jodhpur
Located in the bustling center of Jodhpur, RAAS Jodhpur is very much woven into the city. The Mehrangarh Fort looms large and the pool is the center of the action; the rooms, while occasionally small, are streamlined and contemporary, but still speak to the destination. | View the hotel
JAIPUR
Taj Rambagh Palace
Another former royal residence, only converted to a hotel in the 1950s, the Taj Rambagh served for years as the residence of Jaipur’s most recent ruling family. In fact, the legendary Maharani Gayatri Devi, famous for hosting stylish friends from around the world, lived adjacent to the property until her passing a few years ago. A stay here evokes total old-world aristocracy and, although all the rooms are comfortable, the suites are where you’ll experience the full effect. | View the hotel
Oberoi Rajvilas
Set among 32 acres of pristinely manicured gardens full of wandering peacocks, Oberoi Rajvilas has a timeless, regal feel even though it was built in 1997. Most sought after are the 14 air-conditioned tents, with thick silk roofing, Victorian beds, and claw foot tubs (they also come with cooks, butlers, and dancers), but all are luxurious. The staff-to-guest ratio is 5 to 1, and pampering is a top priority. | View the hotel
A FEW FAVORITE SPECIAL EXPERIENCES
Jal Sanjhi Experience
Learn about the ancient craft of Jai Sanjhi, a Rajasthani temple art style in which the painter utilizes water as a canvas to create paintings in honor of Lord Krishna. Your path through Udaipur will bring you to a tiny temple where you may observe the rare "art of drawing on water." This activity entails creating iconic images on water using colored powder. You will be able to observe one of the last few practitioners of this fading art form produce a piece. It takes five hours to complete a scene, and you'll arrive just in time to witness him finish his work.
Exploring the Blue City
Set off at the foot of the fort and meander through Jodhpur, the Blue City, where ancient history and present-day life intermingle with fascinating harmony. You'll wander past head-turning architectural features, glimmering shrines, small craft workshops, and folk art. This pocket of Jodhpur remains largely untouched by the outside world and retains its historical status as a pit stop on the trade route through the desert. End your venture with a storytelling performance by the Bhopas, a nomadic tribe. Through the medium of song and movement, they recount the brave tale of a beloved hero from Marwar region.
Shopping in the Pink City
Jaipur is celebrated for its richly-patterned and hued textiles and jewels. After meeting your personal shopper, you'll revel in the dress-up box that is Brigitte Singh's workshop which sources fabrics, clothes, and household linens from talented local weavers. Next, you'll get properly dazzled at the Gem Palace, an iconic jeweler established in 1852 and run by the same family for eight generations. Next, eye up the goods at the gardens of the Narain Niwas hotel, home to Hot Pink (where you'll find India's top designers). From hand-embroidered shawls which take over three years to make to jewelry that's one-of-a-kind, there's something for everyone.
UDAIPUR
Ambrai
The eatery inside the picturesque Amet Haveli Hotel provides panoramic views of Jagdish Temple, Gangaur Ghat, City Palace, Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, and Sajjangarh Fort to enjoy while you dine on a multi-course meal. | See the restaurant
Millets of Mewar
Millet is the oldest cultivated crop and has a variety of health benefits, including lowering bad cholesterol and providing potassium. India’s first and oldest millet-based restaurant specializes in the gluten-free grain and uses local, raw, vegan, and organic ingredients to inspire global dishes. | See the restaurant
JODHPUR
Risala
Whether you're seated among the portraits of maharajas or watching the peacocks in the garden, the excellent wine list and Continental menu makes Risala, the formal dining room at the Umaid Bhawan Palace, a must-hit. | See the restaurant
Baradari
The Raas's all-day restaurant, Baradari, has a menu that spans Thai, Mediterranean, and Rajasthani, but you're really here for unbeatable views of the Mehrangarh Fort. | See the restaurant
JAIPUR
Bar Palladio
This cerulean-walled lounge and Italian restaurant draws cameras like moths to a vibrant flame, and for good reason - owner Barbara Miolini is one of the biggest names in Instagrammable Indian hospitality. Don't miss the Pimm's or the shop in the garden. | See the restaurant
Meraaki Kitchen + White Sage Cafe
These vegetarian siblings from MasterChef India finalist Neha Deepak Shah. Head to Meraaki for international fusion dishes like biryani arancini; stop into White Sage if you're looking for your avocado toast fix. | See the restaurant
The Full Slate
Enter the country by way of Delhi, the political epicenter; after your time in Rajasthan, head east to the Ganges Valley and the holy city of Varanasi. Finish your trip among the skyscrapers of bustling, cosmopolitan Mumbai.
Tea Time
Pair your visit to the frenetic cities of Northern India with the tea plantations and leopard sanctuaries of Sri Lanka. Bonus for Aman junkies: Some of the brand's most underrated hotels are found here on the Island of Gems.
The Wildcard
Many visitors to the mountain kingdom of Bhutan connect through Delhi - combine the two countries for a deep spiritual dive and a study in cultural contrasts.