Location:
336-km From Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Built In:1727
AD
Significance: Capital
City of Rajasthan State
Best
Season: October To March |
Tourism in
Jaipur
JAIPUR - THE CITY
OF VICTORY
The Rose Pink City founded by Maharaja Jai
Singh II (1693-1743), is the capital of
Rajasthan. It is a major attraction for the
first-time visitor. Jaipur is surrounded on
all sides by rugged hills, crowned with
forts & enclosed by embattled walls. Houses
with latticed windows line the streets with
their rose pink colour, lending enchantment
to the scene, which is almost magical at
sunset.
The Old City (Known as the Pink City) is a
great place to wander around. The whole city
was painted in Pink colour by Maharaja Man
Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward
VII, visited Jaipur in 1876 AD. Today, every
home within the city is obliged by law to
maintain its facade. It is a very well
planned city laid out in a grid pattern and
was designed by a young Bengali engineer and
scholar by the name "Vidyadhar
Bhattacharya".
Jaipur was and remains the only city in the
world, symbolising the nine divisions of the
universe, through nine rectangular sectors
sub-dividing it. Jaipur is a royal city &
this is its most noticeable aspect, small
buildings & festivals testify it.
Jaipur & its surroundings are rather like an
endless museum. The city also offers an
endless variety of crafts. Jewellers here
still fashion the beautiful enamel-on-gold
pendants, studded on the reverse with
precious stones or pearls & turquoise that
one sees in miniature paintings. Jaipur's
lacquer bangles are famous all over the
world. This is a city to be visited.
PRIME ATTRACTIONS
IN JAIPUR (TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN JAIPUR)
FORTS AND PALACES
Amer Palace: The magnificent fort
with its huge ramparts & watchtowers,
overlooking the Delhi-Jaipur Highway. It is
believed to have been the capital of the
"Minas", the original inhabitants of
Rajasthan. more...
City Palace: Nakkarkhana-ka-Darwaza,
the imposing gateway of the City Palace
guarded by stone elephants, is monumental.
more...
Hawa Mahal: A Pandora's box of
wonders, the enchanting Hawa Mahal is a
multi-layered palace, with a profusion of
windows and stone screens. more...
Jai Garh: Built on a peak, Jai Garh
overlooks the palace & city of Amber below.
Jal Mahal is Jaipur's lake palace. It is
surrounded with water.
Nahargarh Fort: Originally called
Sudarshan Garh, it affords a splendid view
of Jaipur. more...
MONUMENTS IN JAIPUR
Jantar Mantar: The amazing
astronomical three-storey-high observatory,
of an 18th century Rajasthani king, named
Jai Singh. more...
GARDENS IN JAIPUR
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh: Has beautiful gardens,
fountains, pools & some magnificent pieces
of sculpture. more...
MUSEUMS IN JAIPUR
Government Central Museum: This is the
oldest museum in the state. The buiding,
designed by Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob is
located in the centre of the sprawling Ram
Niwas Bagh, built in 1876 AD. When King
Edward VII visited India as the Prince of
Wales, it was opened to public in 1886.
EXCURSIONS
TEMPLES
Bairath (86-km on the Shahpura-Alwar
Road): An important historical place with
the excavated remains of a circular Buddhist
temple - unique in Rajasthan and the
earliest known temple in India. Bairath also
has relics of the Mauryan, Mughal and Rajput
periods. A mint constructed by Akbar, a
beautiful Mughal garden and a remarkable
monument with painted 'chhatris' and wall
built by Jahangir, are other attractions.
Galta (2.5-km): Beyond the gardens
amidst the low hill guarding the city lies
the old pilgrim centre of Galtaji. Temples,
pavilions and holy 'kunds' (natural springs
and reservoirs) dot the serene green
landscape. The small temple of the Sun god,
built by Diwan Kriparam on top of the
highest peak, is visible form all parts of
the city. more...
LAKES
Ramgarh Lake (32-km north-east): A huge
artificial lake created by constructing a
high dam amidst tree covered hills. While
the temple of Jamwa Mata and the ruins of
the old fort are some of its antiquities,
its beautiful landscape makes it an idyllic
picnic spot.
PALACE
Samode (40-km north-west): The
beautiful Samode Palace, has been rebuilt
and renovated and provides a fine example of
the Rajput haveli architecture. It is an
ideal spot for outings.
CITIES
Sanganer (16-km): Located on the Tonk Road.
This small town is entered through the ruins
of two 'Tripolias' or triple-gateways. The
town has a ruined palace and a group of Jain
temples with fine carvings. Entry to the
temples is restricted. The town is an
important centre for craft, industry and
produces some of the finest hand printed
textiles from units of block and screen
printers. This textile is popular all over
the country and abroad. On the Ajmer Road,
the ground level fort is still in good
shape. It is noted for its hand printed
handloom industry using simple techniques.
GARDENS
Vidyadhar's Garden: Nestled in a
narrow valley, this beautiful garden was
built in honour of Jai Singh's chief
architect and town planner. more...
OTHERS
Gaitor (6.5-km on the road to Amer):
There are memorials to the queens in the
Maharani-ki-Chhatri complex near the Ramgarh
road crossing. The white marble cenotaph of
Maharajah Jai Singh II is the most
impressive and is decorated with carved
peacocks. Next to it is the cenotaph of his
son. The island palace-Jal Mahal built by
Sawai Madho Singh as a pleasure spot at the
centre of the Man Sagar Lake, and the Kanak
Vrindavan complex of temples and gardens
recently renovated add to its pristine
glory.
To the west of this road, in a narrow
valley, is the royal cremation ground at
Gaitor. The cenotaphs of all Jaipur rulers,
with the exception of Sawai Ishwari Singh,
who was cremated outside the Jai Niwas
Garden, were built at this place. The
imposing cenotaph of Sawai Jai Singh stands
out for its delicate carvings and beautiful
shape.
HOW TO GET THERE
- JAIPUR TRAVEL INFORMATION
Air: Jaipur has its own airport, and
is well connected to all other tourist and
business centres.
Rail: An excellent connection to
Delhi by Shatabdi Express and the Pink City
Express. Other connections to Jaipur are
from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahemadabad,
Secunderabad and Lucknow.
Road: A network of reasonably
comfortable tourist buses, run by road
corporations of Rajasthan, Haryana and
others.
SHOPPING
A major gem and jewellery centre, Jaipur is
famous for Kundan work (enamel work on
gold). Also there are woollen carpets,
cotton rugs, marble statuary, enamelled
wares, brass ware, hand-block printed
Sanganeri and Bagru Cotton fabrics, exotic
blue pottery made from crushed quartz,
leather footwear and more.
NEARBY CITIES
Samode: 40-km
Bairath: 86-km
Pushkar: 146-km
Sawai Madhopur: 165-km
Jodhpur: 336-km
JAIPUR GENERAL
INFORMATION
Art emporia and galleries: Art Fair, U-2, Chameliwala Market, Opp. G.P.O., M.I. Road.
Maharaja Art Emporium, Hawa Mahal Bazar.
Boutiques: Nayika, Thalia Building, M.I.Road,
Crafts Impression, 17 Civil Lines.
Information offices: Foreigners Registration
Office, Behind Hawa Mahal; Govt. of
Rajasthan Tourist Office, Railway Station.
Hospitals: Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Soni
Hospital, J.K.Mother & Child Health
Institute.
P & T Offices: G.P.O., M.I. Road; Central
Telegraph Office, M.I.Road; Railway Mail
Service, Jaipur Railway Station.
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India
Travel Guide / States / Rajasthan / Cities / Jaipur Travel
