Jaipur city

Rajasthan's beautiful Pink City Jaipur, was the stronghold of a clan of rulers whose three hill forts and series of palaces in the city are important attractions. Known as the Pink City because of the colour of the stone used exclusively in the walled city, Jaipur's bazaars sell embroidered leather shoes, blue pottery, tie and dye scarves and other exotic wares. Western Rajasthan itself forms a convenient circuit, in the heart of the Thar desert which has shaped its history, lifestyles and architecture.

Founded in AD 1727 by Sawai Jaisingh II, Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as the Pink City with broad avenues and spacious gardens. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is steeped in history and culture. Here the past comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces, blushed pink, where once lived the maharajas. The bustling bazaars of Jaipur, famous for Rajasthani jewellery, fabric and shoes, possess a timeless quality and are surely a treasure-trove for the shoppers. This fascinating city with its romantic charm takes you to an epoch of royalty and tradition.

The imperial city, replete with amazing legends of romance and heroism. A land where the past thrives still. This is the fortified city of Jodhpur, standing a wary sentinel to the great Thar Desert. Beckoning you to the wilderness of fascinating dunes, rocky terrain and thorny vegetation.

Once the capital city of the Marwar state, it was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodhaji - chief of the Rathore Clan of Rajputs who claimed descent from Lord Rama. A major trade centre of 16th century, the city, today, has grown to become the second largest city of Rajasthan, retaining the medieval splendour.
The city is encompassed by a high wall, 10 km. long with eight gates. Within the city, atop a rocky hill, stands the massive fort, 120 mtrs. above the plains.
Packed with history, art and culture, this princely state is a treasure trove of some exquisite palaces, forts, temples and havelis standing a testimony to the imperial grandeur. But what entices the most in Jodhpur is the traditional lifestyle, festivity and smiling people.

How to Reach Jaipur
By Air :
Jaipur has an airport called Sanganer, 15 kms from the city, which connects Jaipur to all major airports in India through direct flights. It has regular flights to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur and Udaipur.

By Road
The bus service between Jaipur to Delhi by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation with buses approximately every half an hour both sides. There are several types of buses including Deluxe, AC and the superior AC Volvo buses. From Delhi you can board the bus from Bikaner House on Pandara Road next to India Gate. From Jaipur you can board the bus from Narayan Singh Circle or the main Sindhi Camp bus stand.

By Rail
Jaipur has a railway junction, which connects Jaipur with the metros and all the major cities of India. Apart from these trains, a specialty train called 'Palace on Wheels', which leaves from Delhi and connects a number of tourist attractions. Other trains are the Shatabdi Express and the Intercity Express.

Important places to visit

Amber Fort
Amber Fort is located on top of a hill which is 11 Km away from Jaipur. Amber Fort is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Muslim elements. The solemn dignity of its red sandstone and white marble pavilions, when reflected in the lake at the foot hill, is a sight to behold. The original palace was built by Raja Man Singh. Sheesh Mahal chamber of Mirrors. Diwan-e-Am or the Hall of Public Audience is a beautifully proportioned hall open on three sides and stands on two rows of ornamented pillars. Diwan e-Khas or the Hall of Private Audience has delicate mosaic work in glass. Sukh mandir is guarded by sandalwood doors inlaid with ivory.

Abhaneri
Abhaneri is a small town village, situated at a distance of 95 km from Jaipur. Originally Abhaneri was named as Abha Nagri, which means the city of brightness, later it is changed. Abhaneri is prominent for 'Baoris', which are the unique invention of the natives for harvesting rain water. Amongst the other step wells, Chand Baori is one of India's deepest and largest step wells. This colossal step well is located in front of the Harshat Mata Temple. Step wells are the unique concept of India. Adjoining the Chand Baori, there is a temple, dedicated to Harshat Mata.

Albert Hall
This museum is supposed to be the oldest museum of the state. Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob designed it in 1876 to greet King Edward VII as Prince of Wales on his visit to India. Positioned amidst the gardens of Ram Niwas Bagh in Jaipur, this museum has an assortment of rare articles on its display including textiles, carpets, paintings, metal and wood crafts, pottery, arms and weapons, flora and fauna of the state, toys, dolls and even an Egyptian mummy that belongs to the Ptolemaic Epoch and is famous for the carpets, which portrays the scene of a Persian garden carpet with running water streams. Puppets and Phad paintings occupies another gallery of the museum.

Bairath
Bairath is located at a distance of 86 kms from Jaipur, on the Shahpur - Alwar road. It contains the relics and structures of Mauranyas, Mughal and Rajput periods. The excavated remains of a circular Buddhist temple, unique in Rajasthan and the earliest structural temple in India, make it an important historical place. Akbar the great, constructed a mint and his son Jahangir a beautiful Mughal garden and a remarkable monument with painted chatris and walls.

Bagru
Bagru is a small village, located at a distance of 30 kms from Jaipur, on Jaipur-Ajmer Road. Its attraction is hand printed cloth industry. The desired design is engraved on the wooden block first and then the carved block is used for replicating the design in the preferred color on the fabric.

Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal is also called as Palace of Wind or Palace of Breeze. Its unique five-story has 953 small windows called jharokhas decorated with intricate lattice work is a fine piece of Rajput architecture, built in 1799, by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, and is the most recognizable monument of Jaipur. The display Jaipur past and present is the special feature of this newly setup museum.

Galtaji
Galtaji is a holy pilgrimage of India, located 10 kms away from Jaipur in Rajasthan. The Temple of Galtaji is famous for its natural water springs. Galtaji is considered holy place, as Saint Galav spent his life meditating here. However, the temple was built mach later by Diwan Rao Kriparam, a courtier of Sawai Jai Singh II, in the 18th Century. The outstanding structure of the Temple looks more like a mansion or Haveli.

Gaitore
Located off the Jaipur-Amber road, Gaitore is the final resting place for the maharajas of Jaipur. Set in a narrow valley, the cenotaphs of the former rulers consist of the somewhat typical chhatri or umbrella-shaped memorials. Of special mention is Jai Singh IT's chhatri because of the carvings that have been used to embellish it.

Govind Devji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple is one amongst the major tourist attractions of Jaipur and is dedicated to Govind Dev Ji (Other name of Lord Krishna). Govind Devji Temple of Jaipur is situated in the City Palace complex, between the Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal. Govind Dev Ji is the principal deity of Amber's Kachawaha Dynasty. According to a legend, Govind Dev Ji appeared in the dream of Raja Sawai Jai Singh and asked him to bring his idol from Vrindavan to Jaipur. As a consequence, Raja Sawai Jai Singh brought the idol and placed in the City Palace complex of Jaipur.

Swargasuli (Isar Lat)
Swargasuli also known as Isar Lat meaning the heaven piercing minaret was built in 1749. It is located at the junction of the Tripolia Bazar and the Gangori Bazaar. Isar Lat or Swargasuli is a seven storey minaret built on the lines of the Qutub Minar and Kirti Stambha of Chittaurgarh. The walls are designed in archetypal Rajasthani lattice work which helps to provide air and light to the entire building.

Jal Mahal
This is built to be a pleasure palace for the royal family in 1799, Jal Mahal Palace (translated as Water Palace) of Jaipur is an extremely romantic place with its red sandstone intricate architecture casting beautiful reflections in the calm waters of the Man Sagar Lake, full of hyacinths. Surrounded by Nahargarh Hills, Jal Mahal is known for its majestic architecture and sophisticated design. Set opposite the cenotaphs of the royal family, the first four floors of Jal Mahal is under water and only the top floor is above the water level.

Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is the most famous place to visit in Jaipur housing the collection of architectural astronomical instruments built in 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Jantar mantar consists of 13 different instruments of various geometrical forms for calculating the time of day, the heights of heavenly bodies, predicting eclipses. These instruments are of gigantic sizes and can make accurate measurements within one second.

Jaigarh Fort
Jaigarh Fort or Fort of Victory is located 15 Km away from Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan and is the most well fortified structures in India. The magnificent fort was constructed by Sawai Singh of Jaipur in 1726 on the top of the hill in order to tighten the security of Amber and Jaipur. The main highlights of the fort are massive Cannon, fortification, museum, palaces, temples and the magnificent water tanks. Among all the major highlights Cannon is the prime attraction of the fort and is the largest cannon in the world.

Kanak Vrindavan
Kanak Vrindavan Valley is an exotic place in the desert lands of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Kanak Vrindavan is situated in the bottom of Nahargarh hills adjoining the ex-Amber Fort, on Jaipur-Amber Road. The beautiful green valley was labeled as Kanak Vrindavan Valley by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, almost 280-years ago.

Laxmi Narayan Temple
Birla Mandir, in pure white marble, dominates the skyline of southern part of Jaipur. The enormous temple was built during the year 1988, by Birla Group of Industries and is situated just below the Moti Dungri Fort. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi, Birla Mandir in the pink City exhibits contemporary architecture.

Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh Fort is the first of the three forts built by Maharaja Jai Sawai Singh of Jaipur. The term "Nahargarh" refers to "the Abode of Tigers", so it is also known as the Tiger Fort. The Fort was constructed mainly in 1734. There are numerous buildings situated inside the Nahargarh Fort and amongst them, Madhavendra Bhawan appeals the most.

Sambhar
Sambhar is a small town, located at a distance of 60kms in the west of Jaipur. Sambhar is famous for the largest saline lake in India and is known as Salt Lake City. Literally, Sambhar means salt and the lake has been providing salt for over a thousand years. Sambhar Lake is a place where horizons stretch to perpetuity, where water and sky merge in a shimmer of gossamer blue.

Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh is a beautiful garden, located at a distance of 10 kms from Jaipur, on Jaipur-Agra Highway. In 1728, Sisodia Rani Garden was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, with an intention to gift the garden, to his Sisodia Queen from Udaipur and was named after the queen, who was adorable to the King.

The City Palace
The City Palace is situated in the heart of the old City, it occupies about one seventh of the old city area. The palace is a blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, it houses a Seven storied Chandra Mahal in the centre, which affords a fine view of the gardens and the city.