Don't let the disappointing City Palace in Jaipur put you off visiting the Amber Palace which is perched on a hill-top about 15 minutes' drive out of town. It is beautiful and huge, and full of interesting things to see. I hired a guide instead of the audio tour (but ignore the fake guides at the bottom of the hill, and make sure you talk to any potential guide for a while first to get a sense of how good they'll be) and it was one of my best experiences in Rajasthan.

Hire a taxi in Jaipur to take you.

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This hotel has lovely rooms that include antique furniture and balconies, as well a huge bathroom that was completely black marble. We actually originally booked into the Umaid Bhawan, run by the same family but due to a problem with our room, we were relocated to the Umaid Mahal. However, we were allowed to use the pool at the Umaid Bhawan which was one of our main requirements as we knew the weather would be warm.

The staff were a bit indifferent (apart from the very friendly room cleaning man) but if asked, would organise what you wanted. Being left alone by the staff in some ways was a welcome break from constantly being asked where you were going and whether you wanted a lift (at a price of course !).

The location was in a quiet residential part of town which was about a 15 min drive into Jaipur but there were always autorickshaw drivers outside to take you where you wanted.

Umaid Mahal - A classic heritage castle
C-20 / B-2 Bihari Marg, Jai Singh Highway, Opp. Lane of K.P. Automotives,
Bani Park, Jaipur - 302016, Rajasthan (India)
Telephones : +91-141-2201952 / 2201954 Fax : +91-141-2204470
Email : info@umaidmahal.com
website : www.umaidmahal.com

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I stayed over a week with this wonderful family in the Umaid Bhawan in Jaipur, India. I absolutely fell in love with it, as well as its sibling, the Umaid Mahal. The family is extraordinarily kind and giving, the facilities are wonderful, and do I even need to start on the food?

When you are in this hotel, you feel as if you are royalty. Everyone seems to know and be close with everyone, and servants are willing to wait on your every need.

I plan on coming back to India simply to visit this wonderful family and their luxurious hotel once again. Ranvijay, the hotel manager, will go to any length to see that you are satisfied with your stay in his hotel.

Visit the hotel, or at the very least, stop by simply to eat a meal on the rooftop of this castle.

Hotel Umaid Bhawan
D1-2A,Behind Collectorate, (Via) Bank Road, Bani Park,
Jaipur-302016, Rajasthan, INDIA

24-Hour Direct Line to Ranvijay: +91 9314503423
Hotel Lines: +91 (141) 2316184 / 2206426 / 2201276 Fax us: +91 (141) 2207445
Email us: info@UmaidBhawan.com
website : www.umaidbhawan.com

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Hotel Pearl Palace has to be experienced to be believed.

Incrediably cheap - it cost me the grand total of just under £30.00 (room/food/drinks) for a four-day stay in a hotel which can only be described as a work of art.

The staff are wonderful (with a capital W) and, unlike the four-star hotel I stayed in Agra, who were hell bent on chiselling every last rupee out of me, they bend over backwards to ensure that you get a fair deal.

I cannot reccomend this hotel enough. I for one, will be returning as soon as I can.

Hari Kishan Somani Marg,
Hathroi Fort,Ajmer Road,
Jaipur - 302001.India
www.hotelpearlpalace.com/

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A small textile museum dedicated to the ancient craft of hand block printing. Housed in a recently restored 400 year old haveli this museum has 3 floors of well kept displays, good information, friendly staff, a printing & wood block carving craftsman demonstrating on site, lovely clean toilets, an excellent small (fixed price) museum shop, & a cafe serving cafetieres of organic coffee. A quiet haven away from the hustle of the city & just a 10 minute walk through the quaint old town of Amber.

Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, Anokhi Haveli, Kheri Gate, Amber.
Jaipur +91-141-2530226 / 2531267 www.anokhimuseum.com anokhi@handblockprinting.org

Check out Anokhi's museum and learn about unique aspects of hand printed textiles. Visit the link below to watch the video:
www.geobeats.com/videoclips/india/jaipur/hand-printing-museum
Open 10.30am - 5pm daily except Sundays 11am - 4.30pm
& Mondays Closed.
Entry fee rs 30 adults (concessions available for children/ students etc)

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On arrival at the train station in Jaipur we got the usual pitch from the scooter taxi driver - give him is due he took us to our original hotel to compare, but there was no contest once we saw what we got at Shahpura House in comparison. Great place to stay.

Contact: Mr. Virendra Singh
tel: +91 141 2203392
fax :+91 141 2201494
email: shahpurahouse2@yahoo.co.in, shahpurahous@usa.net;
www.shahpurahouse.com

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My new favourite hotel in the world!

The building itself is beautiful; a small, gorgeously restored haveli with astonishing attention to detail (handpainted fresco walls that have to be redone after every monsoon), and a great pool.

The food is fantastic, the chef will listen to anything you have to say, then knock up something wonderful (ask him for his excellent off-the-menu Rajasthani thali, only Rs300 for 2).

But it's the staff that make this jewel of a place so special; they're kind and caring and friendly and considerate, especially Abdul, the head houseboy and Hanuman his sidekick.

They don't yet have a drinks licence, but there's a beer shop around the corner, and the guys don't mind you bringing it into the hotel at all; there's a fridge in each room. Plus, there's plans for a bar in a few months.

So good we went back again a week later! Note, the website pics were taken before the pool was built.

www.shahpurahouse.com/

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