Rajasthan Tourism reopens, but where are the tourists?

The muse misses its admirers: Earlier packed with tourists getting a picture with the monument, the Hawa Mahal awaits its admirers anew

Jal Mahal, in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur, is one of the key draws of the city

Built in the 16th century, the Amer Fort has numerous treasures for tourists to savour

Vendors selling bird feed for tourists to feed the pigeon are waiting for their customers

The oldest state museum in Rajasthan, Albert Hall, is popular with tourists and locals alike

The horse is ready but where are the riders?

Located just next to Hawa Mahal, this square is usually cramped with buses and cars ferrying tourists

A road less travelled post lockdown

Though not popular as Amer Fort, the neighbouring Jaigarh Fort is popular with visitors for its panoramic view of the city

The only visitor to show up at the Jaigarh Fort

The silence of the roads: Getting tourists back will prove to be an uphill climb for Rajasthan Tourism

Running for several kilometres, Rajasthan’s forts could parallel the Great Wall of China in design and beauty. Currently, however, Rajasthan Tourism is trying to break down every wall that may stop the tourists from coming back

The Jal Mahal dominates the panoramic view of Jaipur

Tourists spend a packet to pick up exquisitely crafted jewellery from Rajasthan

The unique flavours of Rajasthani cuisine have for long satiated many palates

Though tourism monuments across Rajasthan, one of the principal destinations in India, reopened on June 2, after over 11 weeks of closure due to coronavirus pandemic, tourists seem to be giving it a complete miss.

Even more than two weeks after tourism was allowed and lockdown eased further to permit tourists to come to the state or move within, most iconic landmarks of tourism in Jaipur, such as Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort, Albert Hall or the Jal Mahal remained entirely bereft of any tourists. All the tell-tale signs of tourists, noisy groups wielding selfie-sticks, couples getting their pictures clicked or taking most outrageous selfies, parking lots cramped with badly parked cars or buses and hawkers vending all kinds of goods to the tourists, remain completely absent from all the tourist landmarks.

Not just the landmarks, even other segments that depend entirely on tourists — large handicraft and artisanal stores or restaurants at key tourist spots have stayed shut three weeks into the opening. In addition, even the smaller shops in the Pink City’s main markets, that are frequented by locals and tourists alike, are empty with neither category of customers turning up. Local hoteliers also say there are practically no bookings by any tourists and any guests that come are there for an emergency such as a hospitalised family member. The situation is unlikely to change in a hurry as the pandemic takes a vice-like grip over the entire nation and the rate of new infections scales a new high every day.