The dusky pink capital of Rajasthan is the states most polluted and hassled-loaded city. Filtering past the dirt, noise and hassles, Jaipur offers a full spectrum of sights and experiences; from hilltop forts and glorious palaces, delicious cuisine and the finest lassis to unparalleled shopping in the bazaar-lined old city. Here is the best place in Rajasthan to purchase gems and a wide assortment of crafted jewelry. Comparatively, I find Jaipur less polluted and certainly easier to navigate than other large Indian cities. Jaipur owes its name, foundation and planning to the great warrior-astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II, who in 1727 moved to the new capital from his hillside fort at nearby Amber. In 1876 Maharaja Ram Singh had the entire old city painted pink, a colour associated with hospitality, to welcome the Prince of Wales – and that tradition has been continued to the present day.