Jaipur Streets!

THE MAGIC OF EVERYDAY VIGNETTES

Some of the best travel writers have recommended that the only way to get to know a city is walk through its streets. Nothing could be truer of Jaipur. It is a pleasure to stroll through its lanes and bylanes, especially in the older part of the city, to see everyday vignettes create magic out of the most mundane situations. As you saunter through the streets, you will be charmed to see vendors sell sweetmeats and spicy delicacies, the chai stalls and old arts and crafts shops.

Jaipur is an extremely well-proportioned city, quite unusual among other historic Indian cities, planned to the minutest detail and to the smallest structure. Serving as thoroughfares for the ever-important processions, the wide and straight main pathways have uniform sized and shaped shops on both sides, with no residential quarters opening up on them. The rectangular blocks made by intersections of the main streets have the residential mansions known as havelis opening up on shadowy smaller rastas and galis, each one taking its characteristic moniker named after the occupation plied there. For instance, KhazaneWalon Ka Rasta, Maniharon Ka Rasta, Topkhane Ka Rasta, Lalji Saand Ka Rasta and many others are so inviting that it becomes worthwhile to explore each one. These lanes have a judicious mix of public wells, temples of different deities, chaurahas or crossroads, chowks or squares and shops ofvarious artisans. The larger squares on the main streets, known as chaupers, are conveniently located so that they can be easily reached from any of the massive gates that guard the walled town. They are the ideal places to glimpse the entire gamut of social activities which change every hour of the day. 

A morning walk to the temple of Sri Govind Devji is highly rewarding as temple bells keep tolling, birds keep chirruping and business unfolds as usual, unmindful of the cattle and pigeons being fed or snacks like samosas and jalebis being prepared in sweetmeat shops. Any time of the day and any part of the city, a walk will surely unfold the mystery of why Jaipur is a pedestrianʼs delight.