Getting around
ऑटो
आमेर चलिए।
To Amber, please.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Jaipur
India
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, laid out in 1727 in straight pink-washed blocks.
How the language is used
Hindi is widely used. Rajasthani varieties are heard in the bazaars as well.
In this city
- Language
- Hindi
- Also heard
- Mostly Hindi
- A local word
- कचौड़ी — One kachori.
- Writing
- Devanagari
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
दुकान
यह कितने का?
How much is it?
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
बाज़ार
नमस्ते।
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
Food
सड़क
एक कचौड़ी।
One kachori.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The language through the day
Hindi is widely used. In the bazaars you also hear Rajasthani.
Around the Pink City bazaars, Amber, MI Road, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Jaipur can run on four lines: “आमेर चलिए।”, “यह कितने का?”, “नमस्ते।”, and “एक कचौड़ी।”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in Devanagari.
- आप is the polite you in a shop. तुम is closer, with people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Jaipur, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: कचौड़ी. It means One kachori..
Places you can see
- Hawa Mahal — A pink facade of small windows, built so court women could watch the street.
- Amber Fort — A hill fort nearby, above Maota Lake.
- City Palace — A palace complex in the old city, still partly used by the former royal family.
Food
Morning streets sell onion kachori, and a festive table may include dal baati.
Getting around
Autos and city buses cover the walled town. Amber is a short ride out, and you can go by road.
Daily life
Textile and jewellery shops fill the old bazaars. Shop talk mixes Hindi with Rajasthani.
A few everyday phrases
Hindi
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नमस्ते | Namaste | Hello |
| धन्यवाद | Dhanyavaad | Thank you |
| सुप्रभात | Suprabhaat | Good morning |
| मेरा नाम… है | Mera naam… hai | My name is… |
