Photo Essay: The Backstreets of Jaipur, India
The capital city of Rajasthan, widely known as “the Pink City”, is the largest and most developed in the semi-desert Indian state. Though it has gained popularity with tourists for its magnificent palaces, temples and forts, we found the friendly spirit of Jaipur by exploring its many congested backstreets and tight alleyways.
Below are a few photos captured while exploring the labyrinth of Jaipur’s bustling city streets.
The dazzling Hawa Mahal Palace located in the heart of Jaipur
Nicole dodging cows and bikes on the bustling backstreets
Everyday life in “the Pink City”
Many modes of transportation in India
Quick shave at a makeshift barber shop on the streets of Jaipur
Political parade marching through the streets of Jaipur
Sacred cows rule the streets of India
Street markets selling “fresh” produce
Bustling backstreets filled with merchants and consumers
Controlled chaos on the busy streets (we almost got smoked trying to take this photo)
Local merchant serving up deep fried pastries
The “non-pink” part of town
Jaipur certainly challenges the unsuspecting tourist with it’s never-ending flow of blasting horns and touting street vendors. Though it’s considered to be one of the finest planned cities in India, Jaipur is not the cleanest city in the world’s most heavily populated country (but that can be said for most cities in India).
However, beneath Jaipur’s decaying exterior lies a city filled with exquisite Rajasthani architecture.
If you ever find yourself in India, do yourself a favour and spend a few days wandering the backstreets of Jaipur. It’s here that you will find the true spirit of modern day Rajasthan.
Read our other popular posts from India:
- Experiencing Life and Death in India’s Holiest City
- From Backpackers to Bollywood Actors: A Day in Mumbai, India
- Transportation in India: What the Tuk-tuk?!
- Driving in Asia: Horns or Brakes?
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Have you visited Jaipur or any other city in India?
Share your experience in the comments below, we’d love to hear about it!
Great shots…the backstreets of India are magical through lens! Jaipur is one of my favorite places in India to visit.
Thanks Kurt!
I don’t think I could ever tire of looking at photos of India. There’s just so much going on in every single one, that they eye doesn’t know what to focus on first! Great photo essay.
India is definitely an eye-opener for the Westerner. It really is a country unlike any other!
Ever since I saw Jaipur on a Travel Channel show I’ve wanted to see it for myself. Great shots–I’m jealous! 🙂
Thanks Michael – glad you like the photos! Hopefully you’ll get a chance to experience the Pink City in the near future 🙂
Nice shots. Have read a lot about Jaipur, it sounds like a really interesting place.
Thanks Dean!
“Interesting” is a great word to describe Jaipur.
We have a love/hate relationship with it 🙂
Jaipur was definitely our favorite place in India – it’s both vibrant and relaxed (well, compared to New Delhi, lol). Kali also got a haircut and shave on the street in the early hours of the morning, and he had a great time drinking chai tea and chatting with the locals. 🙂
Haha… yes, “relaxed” definitely needs context. 😉
I never did get a shave on the street but I wanted to, it’s such a different experience to what we are used to in Canada
Love Jaipur with all its thieving monkeys, kite-flying boys and painted elephants.
Ah, yes. The kite flying boys in the evenings.
We loved sitting on our rooftop restaurant watching the sunset as hundreds of kites flew high above – it’s an image we will never forget
Jaipur was one of the first cities I visited in India, about 15 years ago. Lively, colourful place.
I’m sure it’s changed quite a bit since then… it’s become quite the economic center for Rajasthan. It certainly is a lively and colourful place! 🙂
Great photos! We r heading there in January, so it’s great to see what to expect.
Have fun! Let us know if we can help your planning in any way 🙂
This is a great photo essay. It brings me back to my time in Jaipur where I also did a lot of roaming.
Thanks Samuel – glad you like the pics!
These photos are nuts! I definitely want to head to India next, just need to work up the courage. Not surprisingly, these photos of Jaipur do remind me a bit of my time in Nepal – the busy streets, the cows, the dirt roads…
http://hop-skip-and-jump.blogspot.com/2010/10/never-ending-peace-and-love-nepal.html
Nepal has a lot of similarities to India, just add 10 times the people! 😉
Thanks for the link, we’ll check it out
Just checked out your Nepal post, some great photos! 🙂
In my research for India, I read that many find Jaipur rather touristy and said you only need 1-2 days there. What’s your take? How many days do you recommend? I also want to see Jaisalmer & Udaipur in Rajasthan
Just sent you an email reply.
OK. Haven’t seen it yet. But I’ll look out for it!
Great photos, what a wonderful insight in to the way a nation lives and works.
Thanks Bodlagz 😉
wonderful pictures
Thanks Zablon 🙂
I miss India! The streets are so alive and you’ve really captured that in your photos.
Agreed!
Thanks for stopping by Erin 🙂
Looks like pure mayhem =)
I like to use the term “controlled chaos” 😉
Looks so lively!
Indeed – India is filled with life!
Love love love the shots you’ve captured. Truly captures the atmosphere! Reminds us of our time there! We were there at the end of May this year and it was super hot! We were hurrying through streets rather than taking time to take pictures coz it was way too hot to hover and take photos. Would love to go back!
Thanks Shirlene!
We visited in August, so it was pretty stinking hot too. Actually, these photos were captured just after a massive rain storm hit the city, which helped cool it down.
Your pictures made me travel to India… Haven’t been to the country (yet) but your pics are a really good appetizer 😉 Thanks for sharing them
Thanks! Glad you like the photos
I am going there in three months. Can’t wait for that 🙂
Awesome! Be sure to come back to this post when you return and share your adventure! 🙂
Wow, awesome. I’ve never been to India, but I can imagine what it smelled and sounded like just from the photos!
Thanks for the kind feedback, glad you like the photos! 😉
Nice shots and they bring back fond memories of home. I was born in Madurai (near Chennai) but have never visited Jaipur and your pictures encourage me to visit soon. Did you do Udaipur too? The Lake Palace is gorgeous!
Thanks Charu – yes, we did visit Udaipur and Jodhpur on our trip to Rajasthan. Both were incredible!
Nice photographs this are fabulous photography …
Thank you for the kind words – we’re glad you like the photos
excellent photographs! I’m leaving for a quick break to India in a few weeks time. You’ve convinced me to visit Jaipur! Thanks for sharing!
That’s fantastic Amer! You will be forever changed after visiting India for the first time 🙂
Amazing. Jaipur is truly off the hook — love your shot of the Hawa Mahal Palace. It’s so imposing — but that shot does it justice.
Appreciate the kind words Daniel!
I didn’t get to cover Jaipur during my first trip to India, but I’m looking to change that. It looks lovely!
It is definitely an interesting city. We were really sick during our time there, so we spend most of our time recovering indoors 🙁
Still think Jaipur’s markets are some of the best in all of India. You could spend a month there just sampling spices and taking photographs. Good stuff on the essay.
Indeed. We were overwhelmed by all of Jaipur’s markets and shops, especially when we showed the slightest bit of interest 🙂
Just this morning I watched an episode of “Rudy Maxa’s World” where he went to Rajasthan and I was reminded why visiting Jaipur and the rest of the region is on my “bucket list.” I love your photos and can’t wait to go there myself someday. 🙂
Great to hear Michael – India should be on everyone’s travel list (at least we think so!). It’s one of the world’s greatest countries and truly challenges your idea of what travel is supposed to be. The people, culture, spirituality and history will keep you coming back for more 🙂
Canucks you made capital city of Rajasthan beautiful with your such a superb blog….undoubltedly Jaipur is famous for the Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal…but there’s a lot more you can do like it’s been called shoppers paradise, you will find jewellry, textile, carpets, handicrafts and lot more…
I was in Jaipur many years ago during a month long holiday break in college. Wow, your photos bring me instantly back- the sites, sounds, smells, and tastes. Your photos did a great job of reminding me what an adventure it was!
Hey Cameron add Handicrafts and artwork of Jaipur. 🙂 By the way nice post. You have covered good parts of Jaipur which people likes.
Great essay guys, looks amazing and is getting slowly higher on my list of places to go!