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English: Ethical Travel in Rajasthan.

Welcome to the “Land of Kings”. Rajasthan is a true state of contrasts, and Rajasthan travel reflects that! From desert scrub to holy lakes, one thing that is hard to grasp for the first-time (or even repeat) visitor is the sheer size of the place. I was fortunate enough to have three weeks to explore the desert state. Even that wasn’t sufficient to get to all of the major sights. I did, however, linger longer in areas that would be easier to pass through in a shorter time frame. I also went well off the path more trodden on a couple of occasions—which meant more travel time. In researching a state of contrasts, I was happy to find that the relatively well-developed tourism infrastructure is matched by the gradual appearance of eco-friendly options. More than that, were the options which make an effort to connect visitors to Rajasthani culture beyond a superficial level. Thereby creating more opportunities for responsible travel in Rajasthan. Here is my guide to ethical travel in Rajasthan, covering places to stay, attractions and activities. This covers different ethical tourism efforts that are being made, from improving environmental sustainability, to sharing the economic benefits of tourism with the local community.

Jaipur

Part of the “Golden Triangle” and the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur was very different from how I thought it might be. Famous for being the “pink city” and for its wonderful palaces, I’d developed a somewhat romantic vision of Jaipur. The reality is a dusty, noisy and crowded city (even by Indian standards) that is used to tourists with plenty of money and little time to negotiate. The hustle starts on arrival at the train station where you can expect to be met with persistent offers of transport from the moment you have one foot out of the train. But this doesn’t mean you can skip Jaipur! What it does mean is that you may be better off to keep your shopping until later during your trip, or if you do shop in the Bazaars of The Pink City, be prepared to haggle very hard. Pre-arranging pick ups from your hotel/guesthouse from the train station is also a great idea, especially if your train arrives after dark.

Where to Stay in Jaipur.

I stayed with the Arya Niwas group who have several hotels in Jaipur. Family owned, the hotels are all taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint, and you’ll find a homely feel at all of their properties. Arya Niwas is the most centrally located hotel; I stayed at Tara Niwas in the Bani Park area of the city which was quieter and had a very homely feel. Tara Niwas is about 20 minute ride by auto-rickshaw to the city centre. The hotel has it’s own front and courtyard gardens, the former is even home to its own set of pet rabbits that have the run of the garden before guests are up! I loved staying here away from the hustle and noise of the Pink City.