Jul 28, 2023

Travel with the Twins to Jaipur

In December of 2022 we took a very quick trip to Jaipur, India to meet with our partners (goldsmiths who work on our 14k gold assortment, stone vendors, and small workshops that craft select pieces and components from the collection). It was a fast trip, made shorter by a missed connection in Delhi (give yourself lots of time - the terminals are very far apart!) We arrived in the late morning with a full day of work ahead so we were delighted to have strong coffee and a delightful outdoor breakfast at our lovely boutique hotel, 47 Jobner Bagh.

The trip was quick, the city was buzzing, and there was plenty of inspiration to be had from the flower markets, to the architecture, to the gems!

Stay at:

47 Jobner Bagh for the perfect guest house experience. This was the perfect home base for long days of work and exploring.

Stay at The Johri if you're looking for something more elevated -- I'd love to come here on vacation!While at 47 Jobner Bagh:

Chat with owner Shiva, who has spent time in the jewelry business, lived in Italy for years, and worked on the hotel's design with the late Italian architect, Paola Giacomini. He has an exquisite sense of style, and when we admired his slippers, he sent his friend over to measure our feet so that we could customize velvet shoes of our own!

Stay in for dinner one night. Shiva's wife Anita creates incredible home cooked meals and we wish we'd eaten here more than once.

Book one of their Ayurvedic massages

Save some rupees for the gift shop, expertly curated by Shiva's daughter, Megha. I got a fabulous floral block-printed bed spread here

What to do:

In addition to visiting Jaipur's must-see sites (many of which we didn't get to delve into this trip) like visiting Hawal Mahal (The Palace of the Winds), The City Palace, Jantar Mantar (which features the world's largest sun dial), and Amber Fort, here are some less touristed stops and shops we love:

Pay an early morning visit to Phool Mandi, Jaipur's Wholesale Flower Market —a total treat for the senses:

Trek through the Old City, which earned Jaipur it's reputation as "The Pink City" (in 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh had most buildings painted pink in anticipation of a visit from Britain's Queen Victoria). The Old City is where most of our vendors work, and is rife with bazaars, shops, crazy drivers and plenty of animals (including monkeys overhead):

Visit Nila House for shopping and inspiration. Unlike the chaotic bazaars that fill the city, Nila is a serene, curated workspace and shop filled with very chic, locally made goods:

Head across the street from Nila House to Anokhi, for expert, high quality block printed clothing and homewares (and a lovely in store cafe)

Stop at the Patrika Gate (at the Jawahar Circle) on your way to the airport. The exquisitely crafted gate shows off the city's artistry and is a last awe-inspiring stop before we hit the road:

Where to Eat:

While we didn't stay at The Johri, we loved eating and drinking there. With interiors that would inspire Wes Anderson and a cocktail list that rivals New York's best bars, it's not to be missed:

We always make time for a dinner at the Bar Palladio, with it's much photographed blue interiors. Now we're just dying to go for lunch (or a few nights!) at Villa Palladio, a country estate by the same owners, that is outside of Jaipur and a feast for the eyes

While we didn't go this trip, if you want something fancier, get dressed up & head to Rambagh Palace for a beautiful dinner on the veranda (make a reservation!)

XX,

LF