Jaipur

Jaipur is India's "Pink City" — population 4M, capital of Rajasthan, founded 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II as one of India's first planned cities (architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya based the grid on Vastu Shastra principles). Painted pink in 1876 to welcome Prince Albert + Queen Victoria — the color (technically terracotta-pink) signified hospitality in Rajput tradition + has been preserved by city ordinance since. The walled Old City is the third corner of the Golden Triangle (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur, India's classic 3-day intro). UNESCO 2019 inscribed entire walled city as World Heritage. Highlights: Amber Fort (16th-century Mughal-Rajput hilltop fort 11km away, elephant rides up the curved ramp), Hawa Mahal ("Palace of Winds," 1799 5-story honeycomb facade with 953 windows allowing royal women to observe street life), City Palace (Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh's residence — royal family still lives in part of it), and Jantar Mantar (UNESCO 18th-century astronomical observatory with the world's largest stone sundial measuring 27m, accurate to 2 seconds).

Iconic Rajasthani cuisine: Dal baati churma (lentils + ghee-baked baati + crumbled sweet, $5-12 — Chokhi Dhani village experience canonical), Laal maas (red mutton curry, $8-15), Gatte ki sabzi (gram flour dumplings in yogurt curry, $4-8), Pyaaz kachori (onion stuffed pastry, $1-2 — Rawat Mishthan Bhandar canonical), Ker sangri (desert vegetable curry, $4-8), Lassi at Lassiwala (1944 since, $1-2), Masala chai with elaichi (cardamom, $0.50).

Bottom line: Jaipur is Pink City + Golden Triangle final corner + canonical Rajasthan intro. 3 days hits 4 UNESCO/iconic sites + Pushkar day trip + bazaar shopping.