The hectic Rajasthani capital of Jaipur is more than a stepping stone for travelers headed to the region’s famous Camel Festival, and deserves more than a one-night stopover on the Golden Triangle package tours heading for the Taj Mahal. Thanks to the influence of the Rajput locals, Jaipur has a distinct feel from either Agra or Delhi. Vacationers brave crowds and dust—not to mention ox-carts and camel trains—en route to 16th-century landmarks and the Pink City, a walled section of town with three restored gates. Colorful costumes, elaborate mustaches, tasty cuisine, and an array of Mughal-era palaces and forts offer days’ worth of exploring. The city even has its own Mahal to crow about: The breathtaking Hawa Mahal (Wind Palace), with its sandstone walls carved to a lacey scrim. Views from the inside out display the surrounding cliffs and desert.