T Tours
Pearl Palace Heritage HOTEL $$ (%2375242; 9829404055; www.pearlpalaceher itage.com; 54 Gopal Bari, lane 2; r ₹1500-1800; aiW) The second hotel for the successful
dance are available behind Tripolia Gate. Tuition is given in traditional Indian instruments, such as tabla, sitar and flute. RTDC SIGHTSEEING (%22020778; tours@rtdc.in; RTDC tourist information bureau, Platform 1, Jaipur train station; h8am-6.30pm Mon-Sat) Offers half-/full-
day tours of Jaipur and its surrounds for ₹150/200. The full-day tours (9am to 6pm) take in all the major sights (including Amber Fort), with a lunch break at Nahargarh. The lunch break can be as late as 3pm, so have a big breakfast. Rushed half-day tours are confined to the city limits (8am to 1pm, 11.30am to 4.30pm and 1.30pm to 6.30pm) – some travellers recommend these, as you avoid the long lunch break. Fees don’t include admission charges. The Pink City by Night tour (₹250) departs at 6.30pm, explores several well-known sights, and includes dinner at Nahargarh Fort. Tours depart from Jaipur train station; the company also picks up and takes bookings from the RTDC Hotel Teej, RTDC Hotel Gangaur and the Tourist Information Bureau at the main bus station.
4 Sleeping Prepare yourself to be besieged by autorickshaw and taxi drivers when you arrive by train or bus. If you refuse to go to their choice of hotel, many will either snub you or will double the fare. To avoid this annoyance, go straight to the prepaid autorickshaw and taxi stands at the bus and train stations. Even better, many hotels will pick you up if you ring ahead. From May to September, most midrange and top-end hotels offer bargain rates, dropping prices by 25% to 50%. AROUND MI ROAD
oHotel Pearl Palace
HOTEL $
(%2373700, 9414236323; www.hotelpearlpalace .com; Hari Kishan Somani Marg, Hathroi Fort; dm
Pearl Palace team is a midrange hotel with several special characteristics and great attention to detail. Stone carvings adorn the halls and each room re-creates an individual cultural theme such, as a village hut, a sandstone fort, or a mirror-lined palace boudoir.
Atithi Guest House GUESTHOUSE $ (%2378679; atithijaipur@hotmail.com; 1 Park House Scheme Rd; s ₹650-1100, d ₹750-1200; aiW) This well-presented guesthouse, set
between MI and Station Rds, offers strikingly clean, simple rooms around a quiet courtyard. It’s central but peaceful, and the service is friendly and helpful. There’s a spotless kitchen and restaurant (guests only), and you can also dine on the very pleasant rooftop terrace.
Hotel Arya Niwas HOTEL $$ (%4073456; www.aryaniwas.com; Sansar Chandra Marg; s from ₹900, s/d with AC from ₹1800/1150; aiW) Just off Sansar Chandra Marg, be-
hind a high-rise tower, this is a very popular travellers’ haunt, with a travel desk, bookshop and yoga lessons. The spotless rooms vary in layout and size so check out a few. There’s an extensive terrace facing a soothing expanse of lawn for relaxing.
Sheraton Rajputana Hotel HOTEL $$$ (%5100100; www.itcwelcomgroup.in; Palace Rd; r incl breakfast from ₹7500; ais) Ritzy and
comfortable and staffed to the hilt, this grand hotel is a high-walled oasis in an otherwise scruffy part of town near the train station. There is an enormous pool, a select shopping arcade and several plush dining options. The rack rates are heavily discounted if the hotel isn’t full, particularly April to September.
Alsisar Haveli HERITAGE HOTEL $$ (%2368290; www.alsisar.com; Sansar Chandra Marg; s/d from ₹3400/4300; as) Another
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Maharaja Sawai Mansingh Sangeet MUSIC & DANCE Mahavidyalaya (%2611397; www.sangeetmahavidyalaya.org; Chandni Chowk, City Palace) Lessons in music and
₹175, r ₹350-1200; aiW) There’s quite a range of rooms to choose from – small, large, shared bath, private bath, some balconied, some with AC or fan cooled, and all are spotless. Congenial hosts Mr and Mrs Singh offer all manner of services including free pickup (8am to 11pm only), moneychanging and travel services. Rightfully popular; advance booking is highly recommended.
sana Meditation Centre runs courses (for a donation) in meditation for both beginners and more-advanced students throughout the year.