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A love letter to Jaipur
Khamma Ghani Jaipur is a comprehensive travel publication that captures the soul of India's Pink City — its architecture, bazaars, food, festivals, and the quiet magic that lives in its lanes. The title borrows the traditional Rajasthani greeting, "Khamma Ghani" — a warm welcome — because that's exactly what this book is: an invitation.
Created as a travel journal, itinerary guide, and photo book rolled into one, the project was a complete creative endeavour — from city exploration and research to photography, illustration, typography, and editorial layout. Every spread tells a chapter of Jaipur's story, designed to feel like a friend's hand-drawn recommendation, not a sterile tourist pamphlet.
The project spanned September 2023, culminating in the Travel Catalogue — a printed hardback publication that blends cultural writing, hand-crafted illustration, and photography into a vibrant, immersive guide of Rangeela Rajasthan.
My Role
Author · Designer · Illustrator · Photographer
Deliverable
Printed Travel Guide · Hardback Publication
Subject City
Jaipur — The Pink City of India
Duration
September 2023
Tools
InDesign · Illustrator · Photography
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Design
Design
approach
Bold Visual Identity
The cover and spreads use a vibrant, maximalist palette — deep royal blue, magenta, gold, and teal — echoing Jaipur's own technicolour personality. Illustrated city landmarks fill the pages with character, not just information.
Typography as Culture
Devanagari script sits alongside Latin type throughout — "खम्मा घणी" rendered as headline illustration, hand-drawn typography used for chapter openers and section markers. Language itself becomes a design element.
Illustration + Photography
Line-drawn architectural illustrations of Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort, and Jal Mahal are paired with real photography from the city's streets. The two modes coexist — one romanticises, the other grounds. Together they tell the whole truth of Jaipur.
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Inside the publication
Interior · Title Spread
Interior · Day Chapter Opener
Interior · Illustrated City Scene
Cover · Front
Cover · Front & Back
Interior · Photography Spread · Johri Bazar
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My contributions
C.01
City Exploration & Research
Personally explored Jaipur's landmarks, bazaars, forts, and hidden lanes to build an authentic, first-hand itinerary. Mapped tourist destinations alongside lesser-known spots to curate a route that reflects the city's true diversity — not just its postcard moments.
C.02
Photography
Shot the entire photographic content of the guide — architectural portraits, street candids, food, and cultural moments. The photography anchors the illustrated spreads in reality, giving the book texture, authenticity, and soul.
C.03
Illustration & Visual Design
Illustrated all visual elements — from the cover artwork featuring Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar to interior chapter openers, decorative motifs inspired by Rajasthani folk art, and the Khamma Ghani title lettering. Every illustration was hand-crafted in Illustrator to feel expressive and culturally rooted.
C.04
Publication Design & Typesetting
Designed and typeset the entire publication in InDesign — establishing the grid system, typographic hierarchy with bilingual Devanagari and Latin type, colour system, and page-by-page layout. The book spans 40+ pages across travel days, cultural sections, food guides, and bazaar maps.
C.05
Writing & Cultural Narrative
Authored all the written content — itinerary descriptions, cultural context, personal journal entries, and the book's introduction. The tone is conversational and personal, treating the reader as a friend being guided through a beloved city.
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Final outcome
A travel guide that made Jaipur legible — and lovable.
The Travel Catalogue emerged as a beautifully produced hardback publication: part travel guide, part photo book, part personal journal. It offers readers a blend of practical itinerary, cultural immersion, and visual delight — seeing Jaipur through the eyes of someone who grew up knowing its streets.
This project stretched every skill I had — research, writing, photography, illustration, and publication design — and proved that the most meaningful design work comes when you are genuinely invested in the subject. Jaipur is home, and this book is my attempt to share that feeling with a reader anywhere in the world.
This project stretched every skill I had — research, writing, photography, illustration, and publication design — and proved that the most meaningful design work comes when you are genuinely invested in the subject. Jaipur is home, and this book is my attempt to share that feeling with a reader anywhere in the world.
40+ Page Hardback Publication
Travel guide, photo book, and journal in one
Bilingual Typography Design
Devanagari + Latin type system throughout
Original Illustration System
All artwork hand-crafted — no stock or AI
End-to-End Authorship
Research · Writing · Photography · Design · Print
Back to work
Yash Dahiya · 2025