Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], November 12 (ANI): Tourist footfall at major destinations in Rajasthan has started picking up after the Diwali holidays, with Jaipur emerging as a preferred destination for domestic visitors, while foreign tourists have also begun arriving ahead of the winter season.
The Pink City is witnessing a steady flow of tourists from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra, among other states. Its historic forts, palaces and heritage monuments, including Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort and Albert Hall Museum, continue to attract visitors.
According to the latest figures from the Tourism Department, major tourist destinations in Jaipur recorded a significant rise in footfall on November 10 compared to November 9.
Amer Fort received 8,186 visitors on November 9, and the number increased to 10,923 on November 10, taking the two-day footfall to 19,109, as per a release.
Similarly, visitor numbers at Hawa Mahal increased from 5,994 to 9,200, while Jantar Mantar recorded a rise from 5,423 to 7,327 visitors. Nahargarh Fort also witnessed an increase from 4,342 to 7,014 visitors during the same period.
At the Albert Hall Museum, the number of visitors rose from 2,970 on November 9 to 5,024 on November 10.
The city has also recorded more than 81 lakh domestic tourist visits in the past six months, according to the information provided.
A Canadian tourist, who is cycling across India, said Jaipur was one of his stops during the journey and praised the city's architecture and distinctive colours.
"I'm from Canada, just cycling around Jaipur, trying to cycle across India. So this is one of my pit stops," he told ANI.
Speaking about his experience in Jaipur, he added, "I like the Pink City. It is pretty beautiful here. There are a lot of things to see, and the colour is just beautiful."
Sharing his favourite destination in Rajasthan, he said, "My favourite place is Jaisalmer. I love the desert. It's beautiful."
Another tourist from England, who has been cycling for the past five months to reach India, said he was impressed by Jaipur's architecture and culture.
"I love the architecture of the city and the culture. We've just been cycling around the old city, and it is very beautiful here. There are many amazing buildings, with lovely architecture," he said.
Speaking about his interest in Rajasthan, he added, "I'm really excited to see the culture, arts, history and music of Rajasthan because Rajasthani folk music is supposed to be really nice. I also listen to it myself."
Jitendra Singh Shekhawat, a local tourist guide, said Jaipur continued to attract visitors from across India as well as overseas, particularly during the festive holiday period.
"Jaipur is popular not just across India but also abroad. A large number of domestic tourists are arriving. There are school holidays and festival holidays, and visitors are coming from Gujarat and Maharashtra as well. There is a good tourist flow at present," he said.
Listing the major attractions, he said, "Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, City Palace and Hawa Mahal are among the places that attract tourists."
He further said the city was witnessing heavy tourist movement, particularly in the old city, and pointed out that traffic congestion was an issue.
"Jaipur city is overflowing with tourists at the moment. The entire old city is crowded, and there are traffic jams at several places. If the transportation situation improves a little, the number of tourists could increase even more," he said.
Shekhawat also noted an increase in foreign tourist arrivals, with visitors from the United Kingdom, France and the United States currently coming in good numbers.
"Foreign tourists are also coming in good numbers. Currently, tourist groups from the UK, France and the USA are active. Spanish tourists are fewer at the moment, but their arrival is expected to pick up next month," he said.
With the winter season approaching, tourism stakeholders expect visitor numbers to rise further across Rajasthan. November to February is considered an important period for tourism in the state, with the pleasant weather attracting visitors to Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Ranthambore.
Shekhawat said the upcoming Pushkar Fair, scheduled to begin on November 19, would further contribute to the tourist rush.
"The winter season is approaching, and the Pushkar Fair is also going to begin on November 19. There will be a large number of tourists, particularly foreign visitors. The tourist season will continue until March-April, with interest remaining high until Holi. Tourists are arriving from different regions and countries," he said.
Tourism businesses are also expecting increased activity after November 20 with the beginning of the wedding season and the December winter holidays, which are likely to bring more visitors to Rajasthan. (ANI)
From Amer Fort to Hawa Mahal, Jaipur sees post-Diwali tourist surge
