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Soar Sky High During the Jaipur Kite Festival in India
Published by Paromita Goswami, Writer
Country: India 
The Experience
If you're a kite lover then you can't miss the Kite Festival in Jaipur, India on January 14th each year. Kite flying is traditional celebratory fare in various parts of India, as this day marks the the occasion of Makar Sankranti - the retreat of the winter season.
Family and friends gather in throngs on top of roofs, celebrating Makar Sankranti and unleashing their kites on the sky. The band of revelers is so great, that the sky becomes almost invisible behind the mosaic of colourful paper creations.
The Jaipur Kite Festival is a three-day celebration that starts on the Polo Grounds in Jaipur. Indian Air Force helicopters commence the Makar Sankranti festivities by releasing kites from the sky, while hundreds of schoolchildren release balloons together from the ground. Aside from leisurely kite flying, you can also try your hand in a serious kite fighting competition, or just enjoy the colourful kites on display from expert kite makers. Kites here can measure up to 1.5 km and are often crafted to carry social messages or even caricatures of politicians.
With the popularity of the Jaipur Kite Festival growing among tourists, this mega event is taking the shape of an international festival. People from all parts of the world come to witness the kite wars and feel the rush of excitement swoop down on them from the soaring kites above.
Family and friends gather in throngs on top of roofs, celebrating Makar Sankranti and unleashing their kites on the sky. The band of revelers is so great, that the sky becomes almost invisible behind the mosaic of colourful paper creations.
The Jaipur Kite Festival is a three-day celebration that starts on the Polo Grounds in Jaipur. Indian Air Force helicopters commence the Makar Sankranti festivities by releasing kites from the sky, while hundreds of schoolchildren release balloons together from the ground. Aside from leisurely kite flying, you can also try your hand in a serious kite fighting competition, or just enjoy the colourful kites on display from expert kite makers. Kites here can measure up to 1.5 km and are often crafted to carry social messages or even caricatures of politicians.
With the popularity of the Jaipur Kite Festival growing among tourists, this mega event is taking the shape of an international festival. People from all parts of the world come to witness the kite wars and feel the rush of excitement swoop down on them from the soaring kites above.
When to Go to Makar Sankranti
Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan, and is the first urban planned city of India, with lots of tourist attractions to offer. Jaipur is also known as the “Pink City” as the buildings here are mostly constructed with pink sandstone.
Present-day Jaipur is a big commercial centre, with all the amenities of a metropolitan city. One can feel the Royal touch here in the sculpted colonnades, imposing battlements and intricately-carved havelis.
Due to it's desert climate, Jaipur has a very hot and dry summer. The best time to visit the “Pink City” of Jaipur is during winter from October to March. The city is well connected with all the other major cities in India by road, air and train. There are also many hotels in Jaipur, which you can easily select according to your budget.
The Elephant Festival and Gangaur Festival are also two other great festivals hosted in Jaipur during winter.
Present-day Jaipur is a big commercial centre, with all the amenities of a metropolitan city. One can feel the Royal touch here in the sculpted colonnades, imposing battlements and intricately-carved havelis.
Due to it's desert climate, Jaipur has a very hot and dry summer. The best time to visit the “Pink City” of Jaipur is during winter from October to March. The city is well connected with all the other major cities in India by road, air and train. There are also many hotels in Jaipur, which you can easily select according to your budget.
The Elephant Festival and Gangaur Festival are also two other great festivals hosted in Jaipur during winter.
Odds n' Ends
Due to the desert, Jaipur experiences extreme climates. If you are visiting in summer, then your wardrobe must include lots of cotton wear and other comfortable clothing, while you can include lots of woolens during winter. Nightlife in Jaipur is not as active as other global cities. People usually enjoy quiet evenings by listening to music, puppet shows and traditional dances, which are exhibitions of Rajasthan's rich heritage. Many palaces of the city have been converted into heritage hotels, and many of these hotels comprise imperial bars to provide world-class comfort and ambience.
Japiur is also very famous for its fabrics, jewellery and leather crafts. You will get distinctive quality and exclusive variety of Jaipur handicrafts in the market here. Leather items like Jutis, mojaris (slippers), bags, sandals, shoes and purses made in Jaipur catch the attention of the tourists. The markets here have always been the centre of attraction for tourists visiting Jaipur.
You can enjoy the flavour of Rajasthan with traditional dishes, such as: dal bati, churma, mawa kachori, ghewar, mirchi bada, rajasthani subjoin, and different kinds of chapattis. Be mindful that these dishes are mostly spicy, although there are other less spicy cuisines available too.
Japiur is also very famous for its fabrics, jewellery and leather crafts. You will get distinctive quality and exclusive variety of Jaipur handicrafts in the market here. Leather items like Jutis, mojaris (slippers), bags, sandals, shoes and purses made in Jaipur catch the attention of the tourists. The markets here have always been the centre of attraction for tourists visiting Jaipur.
You can enjoy the flavour of Rajasthan with traditional dishes, such as: dal bati, churma, mawa kachori, ghewar, mirchi bada, rajasthani subjoin, and different kinds of chapattis. Be mindful that these dishes are mostly spicy, although there are other less spicy cuisines available too.
Want a Guide?
- Jaipur Tour
- Famous as Pink City- Jaipur is certainly a major attraction for first time visitor. The city is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills and symbolizes the nine divisions of the universe. The city, apart from offering innumerable historical monuments, palaces and forts patronizes several arts too.
- Kite Festival-Makar Sankranti, Jaipur
- Its been five years that this Desert Kite Festival is held. Kite makers flaunt kites sized as big as 1.5km of various shapes and Designs.
- Jaipur city tour package
- This is a 3 days 2 nights city tour of Jaipur city the pink city of India with shows all the three forts, city palace, wind palace, water palace and Albert hall etc
- Rajasthan Tiger Tour
- Welcome Rajasthan tours welcomes to Place of Kings RAJASTHAN, This is a perfect region and is the world’s most attractive Part in India in these days, Which includes Mughal city.
- International Kite Festival, Jaipur
- Jaipur, the Pink City of India , is home to several fascinating tourist spots such as the Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort, and the Nahargarh Fort . But Jaipur is also well-known for the International Kite Festival that is held here on Makar Sankranti or 14th January every year.
Places to Eat
- Jaipur Darbar Restaurant
- The Restaurant has been artistically designed symbolising the Jaipur Traditional Mehrabs.
- Gulab Mahal Restaurant
- This is when you feel like dining in style, the style patented by the Taj group. Since this is a heritage hotel, you will be sitting in a many-arched restaurant with chandeliers glittering over your head. This is one of the few places in the city that has a large selection of Rajasthani dishes, although they also offer Continental and Chinese cuisines. Meal for Two: Rs.2500 approximately
- Chokhi Dhani Restaurant
- Mention Rajasthani food and everyone, whether from Jaipur or not, brightens up and says Chokhi Dhani. The name means roughly, the excellent hamlet, and no attempt has been spared to convert this place into a kind of Rajasthan for Beginners. Thus, as soon as you enter, you are greeted with a bright red tikka, and bestrewn with flowers. Inside, you have young women dancing with pots on their heads, street acrobats with children spinning on poles, young boys dancing to folk tunes, camel rides, cotton candy on sticks, hookahs being passed around and a haat (market) selling everything from printed bed covers to silver jewellery and the ubiquitous miniatures. Meal for Two: Rs.450 approximately
- Handi Restaurant
- This one is low on the ambiance but high on food. They did try with the bamboo walls and the thatched roof but then they put in plastic chairs. But all that evaporates the instant you dig into their non-vegetarian menu which is about the best in town for its price bracket. Meal for Two: Rs.250 approximately
- The Copper Chimney Restaurant
- The Copper Chimney has beer on offer and a bunch of continental dishes including a Baked Alaska for which you must allow a 20-minute preparation time. Meal for Two: Rs.350 approximately
Recommended Places to Stay
- The Rambagh Palace Hotel
- Five Star Deluxe Heritage Hotel Rambagh Palace, resplendent in all its 47 acres, was finally converted into a hotel in 1957. The Management was then entrusted to The Taj Group in 1972. The Rambagh Palace has since blossomed in to one of the finest experiences any hotel can offer.
- Hotel Jai Mahal Palace
- Five Star Deluxe Heritage Hotel Jai Mahal Palace, the former residence of the Prime Minister of the princely state of Jaipur, seamlessly blends the elegance of 19th century royal Jaipur with the finest contemporary luxury. The recently refurbished heritage hotel -a vast complex of regal rooms, pretty pavilions and charming colonnades set amidst 18 acres of landscaped gardens- offers an exclusive royal lifestyle experience.
- Hotel Le Meridien
- Luxury Hotel Le Meridien Jaipur is a haven of tranquility, surrounded by lush green fields and built over 25 acres of land.
- Sheraton Rajputana
- Five Star Deluxe Hotel The lifestyle created by the aristocracy and the nobility of Royal Rajasthan finds an echo in WelcomGroup Sheraton Rajputana. Built on a 7-acre landscape, the hotel is designed on the lines of a royal Haveli (mansion).
- Hotel Holiday Inn
- Three Star Hotel Set in sylvan surroundings, away from the hustle & bustle of city life, Hotel Holiday Inn Jaipur, promises to provide you a unique experience of traditional Rajasthani hospitality blended with international standards of service.
- Hotel Gangaur
- Budget Hotel Hotel Gangaur, an economy hotel operated by Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC). RTDC offers a vast network of accommodation throughout Rajasthan. These complexes are strategically located and come in low budget, economy and deluxe ranges.
Additional Places to Stay Nearby
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The Santha Bagh Hotel is located in Jaipur making it one of the best hotels to stay at while in town.All hotel's guestrooms have all ...
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More Experiences Nearby
- Spot an Indian Tiger in the Wilds of Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan
- If you want to watch an Indian tiger living in its natural surroundings, then Ranthambore National Park in India is the best place to visit. You’ll hardly find any other tiger reserve in India that offers as much chance of spotting a tiger as Ranthambore Park. Tigers in this park can be watched hunting in the broad daylight, and Ranthambore National Park is absolute heaven for the wildlife photographer and wildlife enthusiast. Ranthambore National Park lies about 15 km west of the Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, close to the “Golden Triangle” of Delhi-Agra-Jaipur, and covers an area of around 1,330 ...75 miles away.
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