My last birthday celebration in 12th December'08 was simply rocking. It was never thought of that my soul-sister will present me the wonders of Jaipur in Rajasthan. We were about to crack a business meeting in 11th December and days were so manic that I went unmindful of my birthday. With the only business travel theme, we caught a flight to Jaipur and reached there. The contact person at Hotel Maurya Palace, helped us book a deluxe-hotel room. Having refreshed, we had arranged a sound sleep overnight.
I usually feel lazy to wake up early morning, but as the our meeting was about to start sharp at 9 am, I managed to sweep away my yawning mood. The meeting got packed up by 11:30 am and guess what! We achieved our targets. So happy we were that, at night we went for shopping at Nehru Bazaar. I went on exploring bee-lined shops and all I can say that, I have haunted each bits and pieces, exhibited at the bazaar. My friend quotes me shopaholic and says “ its your absolute shopping destination”. And on returning back to our hotel-room, we got engaged in trying out the bought Minakari jewelery, Sanganeri and Bagru block prints clothes. The dress-up session continued for an hour and after having the spread out cuisines at the table, lights went off at 11pm, following a sound sleep.

At morning, when I opened my eyes, I was shocked to find the big bouquet and B'day card. My friend hugged me and greeted me a very special Happy Birthday. She has placed before me her royal plan to celebrate by day, which demanded a two night stay in this Pink City of India. And after having the refreshing lemon tea and stuffy sandwich, we wrap ourself with the best of our collection and set out for the trip

Phew! It was hot at noon and we went for a break at Haveli Heritage Inn in the Kutchery road. The menu was so attractive that I could not resist myself without having Rajasthani dal-batti-choorma and ghewar (sweet Khoya). And after filling our breadbasket we took rest for a while and resumed our trip to the awe-aspiring center in Ajmer.

Great! She had arranged a tour-guide, who had paved us the itinerary to Jaipur attraction. We had inaugurated our joyous session with offering prayer at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Having the morning prasaad and charnamrith(holy water), we made a turn towards Hawa Mahal. This historical building was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. It has 953 small windows, decorated in Lattics. We clicked out the many photographs of us, highlighting a few small screened balconies and arched roofs with hanging cornices. After spending great moments pyramid-shaped temple, we set out for a lunch-break.

Of the various food-courts in Jaipur, we have decided to taste the flavorful cuisines at Dublin Restaurants. After feeding ourself with the Rajasthani thali, our tour guide took us to the City Palace Museum in Jaipur. Besides, analyzing this fine blend of Mughal and Rajputana architectural work, the trip was a way to gaining knowledge. Each segment within the museum, is finely take care of, with holding collection of weapons, Mughal carpets and costumes, rare manuscripts, weapons, Mughal carpets and costumes, and Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures. And interestingly, our tour-guide was so intelligent that he was depicting every short stories and names of the displayed articles without having a glance of them. We then move back to our hotel room at night and received the entertaining puppet-show, organized by our hotel administration.

Well, my the celebration still continues, the next day and my creative friend has tagged the day as the post birthday celebration. Early morning, we had decided to undertake a ride on elephants' back and explore the majestic Amber Fort. Accordingly, we had a talk with the mahout and managed the programme. I was scared to perform this challenging task, but as by dearest friend was there to alley all my fears, I enjoyed it. On visiting the Amber Fort, we sat down on its stairs-case and have a sip of Coke and Bikaner Bujiya. With moving inside the fort complex, My eyes went wide-open with viewing its architecture in the form of red and white marbles. which Our tour guide was uttering glorious history of this 18th century fort, which is still reverberating in my mind and soul. We were about to leave Jaipur by 7 pm and we could not afford to miss the charismatic task of gazing the heavenly planets in the sky.

Accordingly, our post lunch period followed the world's largest Jantar Mantar Stone Observatory, built by Maharaja Jai Sawai Singh, sometime in between 1727 to 1733. Besides the attractive Sundail, all the technical instruments makes a worthy watch. We have arranged a ticket to enter the complex and understood a brief about all the laid out items. One of the instructor of the Observatory guided was with bombastic know-how. He, too, helped us handle the telescope and view the revolving Saturn ring and mars in the Sky.

Though I got a chance to explore Jaipur, I will soon flee to the place to know more about it. And this time, a surprise pack awaits my friend. Can I be fruitful enough?