Calling all foot fetishists! This shop sells fabulous footwear for around ₹700 a pair. Named after the traditional decorated shoes of Rajasthan, Mojari is a UN-supported project that helps rural leatherworkers, traditionally among the poorest members of society.
Laxmi Misthan Bhandar, LMB to you and me, is a sattvik (pure vegetarian) restaurant in the Old City that’s been going strong since 1954. A welcoming AC refuge from frenzied Johari Bazaar, LMB is also an institution with its singular decor, attentive waiters and extensive sweet counter. Travellers like to chalk up at least one meal here.
This candle-lit rooftop restaurant at the Pal Haveli hotel is the perfect place for a romantic dinner. Even murky Gulab Sagar glistens at night and the views to the fort, clock tower and Umaid Bhawan are superb. The food covers traditional tandoori, biryanis and North Indian curries, and you won’t be disappointed by the old favourites – butter chicken and rogan josh.
This chilled rooftop restaurant is a great place to head even if you didn’t score a room in its popular hotel. The Indian seasonal vegetables and rice, vegetable sizzlers, pasta and pizzas are all excellent, as are the filter coffee and fresh juice blends.
Alwar’s renowned restaurant has been going since 1957. It is in the heart of the old town and serves fresh, tasty pure veg food – try the delicious aloo parathas (bread stuffed with spicy potato) and palak paneer (unfermented cheese cubes in spinach purée). The servings are big and half-serves are available.
Distinctly a deeper shade of blue in this sky-blue town, Out of the Blue is a new addition to the horde of lakeview restaurants. Let’s hope the standard of food, cleanliness and service, which raises the bar in this part of town, continues. The menu ranges from noodles and momos (Tibetan dumplings) to pizza, pasta and pancakes.
15 days
Travel to India and visit the enchanting northern province of Rajasthan. One of the most beautiful places to visit in India, Rajasthan is awash with colour and the nostalgia of a romanticised era. On our classic adventure we discover the grisly history of massive forts and the opulence and splendour of Maharajas' palaces.
15 days
For travellers on a budget who are after an experience full of the very best India has to offer, this tour showcases man-made wonders and natural marvels without missing its most famous cities and sights.
This fairly modern cafe and restaurant close to the Junagarh entrance is known as ‘Glops’ to rickshaw-wallahs. There are snacks such as pizzas, pakoras and sandwiches, and a good range of Indian and Chinese veg and non-veg dishes. You can sit outside or curl up in an armchair in the air-conditioned interior with a cold beer, espresso coffee or fuming hookah.
The cuisine at this scenic restaurant – at lake-shore level, looking across to Lake Palace Hotel, Lal Ghat and the City Palace – does justice to its fabulous position. Highly atmospheric at night, Ambrai feels like a French park, with its wrought-iron furniture, dusty ground and large shady trees, and there’s a terrific bar to complement the dining.
This famous, much-imitated institution, opposite Niro’s, is a simple place that whips up fabulous, creamy lassis at ₹14/28 for a small/jumbo clay cup. Get there early to avoid disappointment! Will the real Lassiwala please stand up? It’s the one that says ‘Shop 312’ and ‘Since 1944’, directly next to the alleyway. Imitators spread to the right as you face it.
Run by a friendly man who is a mine of information, this tiny breakfast and lunch place has delicious South Indian coffee and homemade banana cake. Soups and hearty vegetable stews served with brown rice are thoroughly healthy.
8 days
This compact Indian journey will introduce you to three very different northern cities and the colourful rural life of Rajasthan. From the hectic pace of Delhi with its bustling markets, magnificent monuments and colonial past, travel by private transport to Agra and the mesmerizing beauty of the Taj Mahal—truly one of the wonders of the world.