Weekend Muse: why Jaipur is the ideal travel destination for millennials

By nature, we millennials love to travel. But there’s one particular city that is simply made for us.

Being right in the centre of all the bustle and beauty of South-East Asia, we Thais are pretty spoilt for choice when it comes to quick getaways abroad. But most of us have probably only gone to a select few destinations over and over again. How many times have you now been to Hong Kong, or Singapore, or way out in Japan? True, these are all incredibly cool places to party and explore — but there’s one other place that should definitely be more talked about here.

I visited Jaipur last month in December (probably one of the only months where India is actually colder than Thailand). It’s now much easier for Bangkokians to travel there after the launch of two direct flights (Thai Smile and AirAsia) in recent years. While I was there, I was immediately struck by how much I loved the place, and soon I realised that many of the reasons I loved it were to do with my age. There are many stereotypes attached to millennials: we’re all self-caring horoscope readers who love pink. And while some of them are a bit exaggerated, you can bet our Instagram accounts that a lot of them are true. As a travel destination, Jaipur is one that happens to tick every box for these stereotypical millennial trends. Gorgeous and full of fascinating history — the capital of Rajasthan, India, is calling your name. And, if you were born between the years 1981-1996, here’s exactly why it’s perfect for you…

1. It’s pink

Yes, we do love pink. And Jaipur is literally famed as ‘The Pink City’, after the King of Jaipur painted all the buildings this ‘colour of hospitality’ in order to welcome Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The colour scheme alone is probably enough to lure you over there.

2. It’s Instagrammable

As superficial as it sounds, every detail of Jaipur is Instagrammable. From the incredibly detailed marble carvings to the happy smiley people, the whole city seems constantly camera-ready.

3. It’s a self-care wellness sanctuary

Yoga and meditation are as much integrated into Indian daily life as food and drink. The spiritual land is, after all, home to the origins of these practices and therefore the most seasoned yogis in the world. Paired with their excellent ayurvedic spas and beautiful local oils and aromas, there’s probably no better place in the world for a truly authentic wellness retreat. 

4. There are incredible yet affordable experiences 

From riding elephants into palaces and forts, to watching exceptional sunsets over mustard fields — you’ll be astounded by some of the things that the locals pretty much do every day.

5. They’re big on astrology

The love affair between Indian culture and numbers is one as old as time itself. Probably older. Their innate intellectual curiosity goes into exploring all things from mathematics and astronomy to astrology. The massive Observatory in Jaipur is solid proof of this passion, housing the world’s largest sundial as well as various architectural instruments to track time and planetary movements. There’s one for every zodiac sign, too. Know how to read a birth chart? You’ll be in great company here. 

6. It’s animal friendly

Unlike most other parts of the world, people and animals seem to live with each other in perfect harmony in Jaipur. The adorable cows (sacred in all of India), casually walk along the streets; monkeys are constantly photobombing you, and birds like parakeets and peacocks are as common as pigeons. Your inner Disney princess will go wild with all the birds flying around everywhere. Vegetarian and vegan restaurants are the norm, and meat-free Indian cuisine is not only absolutely exquisite, but very healthy too. 

7. Jaipur’s royalty are also young 

The young and trendy vibe of Jaipur can be much attributed to the city’s royalty. Aged 21, the King of Jaipur was technically born a little too late to be classified as a Millennial. But let’s just say his maturity (and not to mention status) adds a couple of years. He’s a regular visitor of Thailand, coming often to play Polo in Pattaya, and has a younger sister who studies at NYU. Oh, and he’s recently opened up a suite in his Jaipur palace for you to stay on AirBnB.