For vegetarians, there is Tofu Vegetable Katsu Curry, Kinoko Tempura (Deep fried mixed exotic mushroom) as well as the Tokyo Tempura (Kabocha, bell peppers, lotus root and sweet potato). Prawn and crab tempura is a must-try for those who love sea food. If you are a non-vegetarian like me who does not want relish pork, there is chicken katsu too. Tender and succulent chicken pieces coated in a crispy batter and served with sticky rice and a thick and rich gravy that is not heavy or spicy, makes it a bowl synonymous with comfort. What stands out about the katsu curry is that it is made in-house from scratch and is not bought off the store shelves.

While you’re there also try their dessert options – fried ice cream, crème brulee as well as chocolate spring rolls. The chocolate spring rolls and fried ice cream do sound absurd at first but they are worth giving a try. The crunch, warmth and sweetness are just the right amount.  While the distance of the hotel from the city center may seem a bit much but the food more than compensates for the long drive.

When: September 4 – September 13, 7.30 pm to 11.30 pm
Where: House of Han, Crowne Plaza

Vada Pav: The quintessential street Food of Mumbai

Looking at the rainy season, Hotel Jaipur Marriott decided to bring the vibe and taste of the streets of Mumbai to Jaipur. “Cutting chai, vada pav, samosa pao and dabeli are some popular street foods of Mumbai that are loved by everyone. So we decided to bring them to the Pink City as well”, says Executive Chef of Jaipur Marriott, Jatinder Dhaliwal. The chai and snacks are made fresh during the evening tea hours every day. They are served with a wide assortment of chutneys and condiments. Thelas (carts) have been used to give the authentic feel in a modern coffee shop.

When: September 5 – September 30, 4 pm to 7 pm
Where: Jaipur Baking Company, Jaipur Marriott

Punjab Di Mehek

The culinary chronicles of Punjab are coming alive in the Pink City as a food festival ‘Punjab Di Mehek’ is currently ongoing at Hotel Holiday Inn’s Monarch restaurant. From the mandatory lassi to Amritsari chole kulche, butter chicken, sarson ka saag and makke ki roti to pinnis, doda barfi and gud ki barfi for dessert, there are a wide array of Punjabi delicacies available at the festival.

“I did my course in hotel management from IHM Gurdaspur which is in Punjab. I also worked in Ludhiana for four years and I have used my experience with the food there to curate this festival and bring the delicacies of Amritsar and Ludhiana to Jaipur”, says Executive Chef of Hotel Holiday Inn, Raj Kumar.

The ambience of the hotel has also been amped up with colourful pin wheels, khaats and accessories to give the vibe of the rural bylanes of Punjab.

When: 2 September to 11 September, 7 pm to 11 pm
Where: Monarch, Hotel Holiday Inn

The post Indulge in Culinary Delights at these Food Festivals in Jaipur appeared first on All About Jaipur.

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Aptly called ‘Hey Dosa’, a food truck in Jaipur is breaking ground by offering as many as 99 varieties of dosa.  Yes, you read that right. And if that’s not enough to boggle your mind, here’s another unbelievable fact about this food truck – it serves dosas sans sambhar and coconut chutney.

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But don’t worry about the taste getting ruined because these dosas are so flavourful that you don’t really need accompaniments. However, if you do really feel the need then there are different types of chutneys that are served with the dosas – tomato, mint and peanut. The peanut chutney has a really different taste which one should definitely try.

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Some of the must try dosas here include the Teen Maar Dosa (Filled with American sweet corn, cheese and beetroot shavings), Kerala Masala Dosa (Served with a creamy paneer filling on the side) and the cheese burst dosa (with loads and loads of cheese).

Hold your breath, as Chocolate and Paneer Tikka Dosas are also soon coming up in the menu. Another food truck will soon also be opening in Malviya Nagar. The truck also has a systematic parking space so you can enjoy the lip smacking varieties of dosa in the comfort of your car.

Where: Hey Dosa, in front of LBS College
When: All days, 6.30 pm to 10 pm

The post This food truck in Jaipur is serving 99 varieties of Dosa appeared first on All About Jaipur.

 LEHERIYA

Leheriya symbolizes the beauty and tradition of Rajasthan. Fancy traditional Indian clothing, the beauty and richness of Rajasthani handicrafts, which is said to have been started by the royal family of Jaipur is not just a favorite among the married women but is adopted by young girls as well. There goes a folklore which talks about the origin of lehariya from an accidental scrunching of a Queen’s dupatta that mixed its colors and formed diagonal stripes.

One of the popular beliefs among the people of Jaipur  is that the wavy design of Lehariya resembles the waves of the wind .Most Popular outfits in Jaipur  is Lehariya a vast variety of styles and designs as it is one of the most experimented styles in Indian wear. Lehariya is a colorful style of tie and dye and dyed in wavy patterns .Some popular lehariya patterns include Mothda, Panchranga and Satranga.  The peppy and dynamic hues of lehariya abound in plenty in Bapu Bazaar. Lehariya tunics, kurtas, salwars and skirts, being a perfect blend of traditional and modern, are the in thing these days.

Usually made of fabrics like – Chiffon, crepe and georgette.  The price of Lehariya duppata starts from as low as Rs 100. However, the cost of lehariya sarees of crepe, georgette can go up to around Rs.10,000- 12,000 with works of gota-patti, sequins and zardosi.

Apart from the lehariya sarees, the lehariya turbans of Jaipur are also famous worldwide.

 KULFI FALUDA

Kulfi is one of the most popular and favoured  frozen dry dessert. There are various flavours in kulfi. The traditional ones are rose, mango, cardamom and  pistachio. New  flavours such as apple, orange, strawberry, peanuts and avocado have also been introduced.  The best place to enjoy the yummy flavours of kulfi faluda is the Indian Ice cream outlet in Bapu bazaar (link road). The shop was inaugurated in 1957.

Their menu includes- kulfi rabdi, matka kulfi, lime soda, ice-cone, rabdi gola, ice-cream cup, softies, rabdi faluda, and shakes. Every day they witness a large number of customers. Many old customers still love the flavour, and because of their increasing demand, they will soon be opening their branches in other parts of Jaipur as well. It is a must visit shop for everyone who is crazy about ice-creams (Indian style).

PUPPETRY

What did people do when there was no TV, radio or internet?? How did they entertain themselves?? The answer to this problem was given by the traditional forms of entertainment and one such popular form is PUPPETRY.

Puppetry is an art form where string puppets are used, to tell old mythological stories and narrate the adventures of the maharajas and legends. Rajasthan, which is known for its art, culture, tradition gave the world one of the most vibrant puppets, the Kathputli. Puppetry here is said to be more than a thousand years old.

These puppets are used for shows as well as for decoration. One needs to visit the markets of Jaipur to get these beautiful puppets. Bapu Bazaar, the best place for shopping in Jaipur provides a plethora of choices and design in puppets. The speciality of these marionettes is that all of them are handmade which depicts the craftsmanship of the city. According to Kishan Bhat, a puppeteer and manufacturer, these dolls like creatures are very easy to make and all one needs is wooden stick, some paints and colourful pieces of clothes. He also said even his ancestors were involved in this business  and he himself has been making puppets from as many as 20 years.

These puppets are available in the market for the price of Rs.100-300 a pair and are available in various different colours and sizes. The major customer group comprises of tourists especially foreigners. But if you really want a good deal, ensure to bargain before you buy.

LAKH BANGLES AND JEWELLERY

“Every beauty is God blessed and every ornament is beauty blessed”.

Every woman loves to adorn herself. Bapu Bazaar is haven for jewellery lovers.

In Rajasthan women wear lakh bangles not only as an ornament but also as a sign of good fortune and for luck and prosperity. Moreover, it becomes the identity for them being married. Lakh bangles have always been an attraction for the tourists because of its vibrant colours. To gain more knowledge about Lakh bangles and jewellery, we visited  Bapu bazar and interacted with one of the shopkeepers, Ashok Baksani.

They have a variety of bangles, neck pieces and earrings. He told us about 2 different types of Lakh bangles. While one is  made of metal, the other is made from original Lakh. He then explained us how the Lakh bangles are made. The processing of Lakh bangles starts with the melting of Lakh pieces in a shallow vessel. When it is in a semi molten state, Giya pathar, powder and colour are added to it. Then the mixture is blended continuously. The Lakh slowly  gets deposited on the wooden rod which is then heated slowly on an angeethi. It is continuously pressed with a wooden tool called hattha at regular intervals. After it becomes warm and soft it is laminated with the desired colour by rubbing the coloured Lakh sticks on it evenly. Now after this process the Lakh is shaped into a coil and cut off from the plain Lakh rod. And then the coil is heated over the burner so that the ends of the bangles can be joined together to form the bangle. After joining the bangle it is slipped through a round Wooden beam. It is then embellished with sequins, semi-precious stones, etc.

The process requires great precision. The prices of both bangles vary accordingly. While the bangles made of metal cost around Rs 150, the original Lakh bangles cost around Rs. 300-400. It is more popular among tourists rather than the local people. They get as many as 50 customers in a day to buy these bangles.

MOOJRI

The famous ‘Tourist Shoe Store’ in Bapu bazaar, (link road, shop No.39) is a 65 years old shop, thus making it one of the oldest shops in Jaipur. The craftsmanship of these mojries and jooties are done and exported from Jodhpur or Jaipur itself. You can find all types of beautiful and colourful traditional shoes here. This shop has seen tourists from all over the world.

“This shop is one of the oldest ones and also been popular since my fathers’ days of running this shop. If you ask anyone around here about the best mojree store, they are going to guide you straight here. Not only tourists but local and elite families are also a part of our customer list” said the store owner. He seemed like a man who is satisfied with his job, which was overwhelming to see. There are various sizes and designs available for all type of customers to suit their taste, also making it easily affordable as the starting price to these shoes range from ₹150 to ₹300 and accordingly. These mojries and jooties are made of camel leather, buffalo leather and fish leather due to which it makes them the most comfortable and long lasting shoes.

These moojris are decent enough to sport out with all types of fashion be it jeans, long skirts, kurtis or shorts. The fanciness just doesn’t end at this. There are about 25 other business stores in Jaipur owned by the owner of the shoe store. “Doing any other business has never been a thought that crossed my mind; I earn more than enough to make me and my family satiable”.

So what are you waiting for, grab you shopping bags and head out to enjoy, what this royal city has to offer. But remember to use the art of bargaining to get the best deal on things.

 Do let us know what you like about Bapu Bazaar!

Also see – SYL Canal Issue

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“Hey! Long time no see! Let’s catch up? Where should we meet? ”

“I need new clothes for work. Where can I get a good variety of brands?”

“I’m in the mood for a late night movie. Can you check where the latest English flick is running?”

“I wanna eat Chinese starters, Indian food for main course and an Italian dessert. Is there any place where I can get all three?

Five questions. One answer. World Trade Park!

From shopping to eating to watching a movie to tarot card reading, one can find everything under one roof here. The World Trade Park has been a matter of pride for the folks of the Pink City since 2012. In merely 4 years, the mall boasts of the biggest national as well as international brands and eateries.

Located in Malviya Nagar, the vibrant blue colour and the thick layer of silver highlight  gives the World Trade Park the look of an international estate and makes it nearly impossible for anyone to miss this magnificent building.

The mall has  has two wings:  North block and South block. While the North block is based on a golden theme, the   South block is based on a silver one. Both the wings have a unique hollow bridge like connection that hosts a wide array of restaurants and eateries.  An interesting feature of the World Trade Park’s architecture is its direct slab slide where you can directly land on the first floor which is an innovation in itself. World Trade Park also boasts of  separate areas for trade fair, convention and conferences, business centres, offices and display areas, hotels and clubs, cyber-friendly building, three screen multiplex,among others. As construction and manufacturing industry cyber security is a relevant topic presently, cyber-friendly buildings grab attention.

The North Block is especially built for the purpose of shopping.  It is almost always  flooded with shopaholics and brand freaks as a large number of  national and international brands have their outlets here which one usually does not find anywhere in Jaipur. Out of all the brands, Zara is the most favoured one here. Other popular brands that you can find here include Catwalk, Marks & Spencer,  Guess, Forever 21, Aldo, French Connection, Promod, among others.

Fantasy World of the Mega Mall takes the visitor on a worldwide tour where the visitor can visit different countries of the world.You can find here many antique decorative items.

One can also indulge here in services like tarot card reading and tattoo making.

The food court of World Trade Park offers you as many as 17 different types of cuisines such as  Thai, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, among others.  Eateries like Crazy Noodles, Kebabs and Curries, The Chocolate Room are quite popular here. Apart from this, the usual fast food chains like Domino’s, KFC, Dunkin Donuts etc can also be found here.

Tell us what you like about World Trade Park?

The post World Trade Park: The Adda of Jaipurites appeared first on All About Jaipur.

Occupied majorly by Punjabis, the area is undoubtedly a haven for food lovers. Since it is a locality popular among students and young professionals staying as paying guests, there are innumerable eating joints here serving a wide array of dishes. Take a look at some of the most popular and best places to eat:

Brewberrys Café:

If you’re looking for lip smacking snacks at reasonable prices then this is the place for you. Open till late at night, this café gives you a wide range to choose from – pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, burgers and not to forget the yummy desserts and drinks. So if you’re looking for a place to indulge in some late night coffee and snack with that someone special or to play a game of scrabble with your friends, go hit Brewberrys.

Thadi:

As the name suggests, the place is an apt depiction of a rural chai ki thadi. Known for its well designed interiors, the place has ample seating space. If you’re in a rush and need a quick bite like a plate of hot steaming maggi and masala chai, we suggest you try thadi. The place also has on offer a plethora of teas to choose from like – chocolate chai, gur chai, pudina chai, sauf chai, among others.

Marky Momos:

Open till 2 am, this is another great place to eat if you’re looking for a late night snack. The place serves mouth watering Chinese snacks from Momos to Honey Chilli Potato to Chilly Chicken, you name it…

Chawla Sweets:

Chawla Sweets has been a name synonymous with Raja Park since decades. If you’re in the mood to eat chaat and street food items like gol gappas, chole bhature, papdi chaat, raj kachori, etc., this place is a must try. Apart from the great taste that is a treat for your taste buds, brownie points for hygiene and quality of food.

Sunrise Bakers & Confectioners:

This bakery has a lot of branches in the Pink City but the one in Raja Park is probably one of the biggest. With yummy patties, hot dogs, foot longs, sandwiches and pastries on offer, Sunrise is an apt place for evening junkies.

Do tell us, which of these restaurants you have visited before?  And what’s your take on the best restaurants in Jaipur, have we included your favourite? 

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