Jaipur - Rajasthan
From Travel Information and Popular Attractions: TravelName.com
Jaipur is one of the most well planned cities of the world of its time. This capital city of Rajasthan, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1727 A.D. The old Jaipur painted in Pink can grip any visitor with admiration. Jaipur was not always pink, the original city was light grey, edged with white borders and motifs. It was painted in pink in 1876 to honor
Jaipur is worth halting for a couple of days. There are many tourist attractions in Jaipur, which will enchant you with their distinct architectural style and artistic designs. With its towering forts and impressive city palace, Jaipur is a good indicator of what to expect as you progress to interior Rajasthan.
Location:
In the north Indian state of Rajasthan. 261 km (163 mi) southwest of Delhi, 343 km (215 mi) east of Jodhpur, 405 km (251 mi) northeast of Udaipur.
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Jaipur Attractions And Sightseeing:
A large number of tourists come here each year, some of the popular tourist attractions of Jaipur are:
Hawa Mahal:
Also known as palace of winds, was built in 1799 and is the best known landmark and signature monument of Jaipur. It is a five storied building with 953 pink sandstone windows that are built in such a manner that it resembles a giant honeycomb. It was built so that the women of the court could discreetly take some air and watch the activity on the streets below. At sunrise, Hawa Mahal seems to glow and looks especially mesmerizing.
City Palace:
City Palace was built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh in the heart of his newly founded capital and it is clearly one of the most imposing and magnificent examples of art and architecture. The succeeding rulers made several additions to the building, giving it a pleasing blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture.
Today, City Palace is a museum with a rare collection of manuscripts, Mughal and Rajasthani miniature arts, weapons and other items used by the royal family members. The palace also houses a multi cuisine restaurant. A part of this palace is still occupied by the royal family.
Amer Fort:
Amer Fort is 11 km from Jaipur and is Surrounded by ramparts. This marvelous fortress is built in red sand stone and white marble on a hill near Maota Lake. Raja Man Singh began building it in 1592; Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh continued the construction over a period of 125 years. Although the fort is in ruins, the interior palaces, gardens and temples retain much of their pristine beauty. Both the art and architecture combine Rajput and Mughal influences in felicitous ways.
Jantar Mantar is built in stone and marble and is the most extensive of the five observatories built by the warrior-astronomer Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The construction and precision of the observatory were a unique achievement for the year 1716. It is a popular tourist attraction in Jaipur as it showcases India's scientific prowess in a time when U.S. didn't exist. It has 16 instruments, each has a specific role and are finely calibrated; some are sun-dials while others trace the movements of the stars and planets.
Jaigarh fort:
Jaigarh fort is one of the most spectacular forts of Jaipur. It has been recently opened for the public after being sealed for seven years, due to a rumor that an enormous amount of treasure in gold and precious stones was buried in it. It gives a fantastic view from its watchtower, and an air of ruin and abandonment. It has the largest wheeled cannon in the world which draws visitors to its periphery.
Nahargarh Fort:
You can get a breathtaking view of Jaipur and its natural defenses from Nahargarh Fort's scenic hilltop location. Initially built by Sawa Jai Singh in 1734, it was enlarged in 1885 by Sawai Madho Singh. Cannons placed behind the walls recall the days when artillery was positioned against attackers below.
Sisodia Gardens:
On the road to Bharatpur stands one of many palaces built for the Sisodia Rajput queens of Sawai Jai Singh II. It was built in 1779, the place still looks lovely against the backdrop of the hills. From the terrace you can see plenty of Peacocks and Monkeys. Come during the day, since it is often reserved for weddings and parties at night.
Albert Hall Museum:
This museum is worth a visit just for its architecture, this sandstone and marble building was built in the late 19th century in the Indo-Saracenic style. The collection, which unfortunately is not very well maintained includes folk arts, traditional costumes, miniature paintings, unexpected exhibits of yoga posture, and visual explanations of Indian culture and traditions.
Kanak Vrinavan Gardens:
This picturesque set of gardens and temples in Jaipur are below the majestic Amer and Nahagarh Forts. From here you can take a good look at the Jal Mahal palace in Man Sagar Lake. If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of Indian movie stars filming a Hindi Movie.
Other Jaipur attractions:
Along with these there are several other forts, temples, monuments and tourist attractions that are worth a visit. Some of them are: Jal Mahal, Gaitore, Statue Circle, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Nhawan Palace, Birla Planetarium, Nawab ki Haveli and Gultaji's Temple. Jaipur is a remarkable travel and tourism destination.
EXCURSIONS
Sanganer (16 km), Ramgarh (25 Kms fron Jaipur), Bagru (30 km), Samode (40 Km), Abhaneri (95 km), Sariska National Park (107 Km) and Karauli (182 km).
Shopping
Shopping in Jaipur is a pleasure. Jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones and the famous 'kundan'and 'minakari' work of Jauhari Bazaar attract many. The main markets popular among tourists are Jauhari Bazar, Bapu Bazar, Nehru Bazar, Chaura Rasta, Tripolia Bazar and M.I. Road.
Where To Eat
Choki Dhani:
You will enjoy your food here along with the traditional dances, including the dramatic fire dance, folk singing and puppet dancing. This is the perfect place to experience the Rajasthani culture and traditions. You will be seated on the floor in a lantern-lit hut and served in the traditional Rajasthani style.
Survana Mahal:
Once the maharaja's royal banquet hall, this room is grand with a soaring, painted ceiling, handsome drapes and tapestry covered walls. The menu includes Indian, Chinese and Continental.
Niros:
This is one of the most popular restaurants amongst the upper middle class of the city. Amid mirrors and marble floors, it serves good Indian, Chinese and continental food. Niros also has the best coffee in town, topped with a scoop of ice-cream.
Gulab Mahal:
This many-arched and chandeliered restaurant at the Taj Jai Mahal is one of the few places in the city with a large selection of Rajasthani specialties. This is a perfect place to try the
Rajasthani cuisine.
Shivir:
This restaurant is at the Man Singh Hotel and serves good Punjabi and Mughlai food. You will also get a chance to enjoy the live ghazals (Urdu love songs) along with the food. Shivir is known for its tandoori dishes, baked breads, and curries. Some of the other good places to eat are, The copper chimney, Handi Restaurant, Natraj and Sharma Dhaba.
Where To Stay:
The Oberoi Rajvilas:
Rajvilas is twenty minutes from Jaipur. It has marble and stone carvings, pastel color buildings, orchards, fountains and handmade brass doors that give the hotel a luxurious look
and blends well with the arid environment. On-site entertainment includes puppet shows and folk dances.
Taj Mahal Palace:
This palace is away from the city center and the elegant white structure is extremely romantic. The lavish, Mughal style garden has a row of fountains and an enormous chessboard with life size pieces. The interior has been restored with Rajasthani handicrafts and heirlooms. On-site entertainment includes puppet shows and folk dances.
Rajputana Palace Sheraton:
This is the place to be if you value comfort over nostalgia. This mansion has four courtyards and numerous fountains, its Western-style rooms are plush and comfortable. The pool, set in the main courtyard along with an outdoor bar, is beautifully designed, and the nightclub is one of the central meeting points for the city's upper- class youth.
Taj Rambagh Palace:
Once home to the Maharaja of Jaipur, this airy cream color palace is relaxing and wistfully romantic. It also has peacocks strutting across the lawns and arcaded back patios. This hotel on the edge of Jaipur.
Trident Hilton:
This modern hotel has a superb location. It is located in between the pink city and Jaipur's three forts, giving its customers wonderful views of Man Sagar, Jal Mahal and the Aravali
hills.
Choki Dhani:
This little hotel south of Jaipur offers a village setting plus modern conveniences. Its a little away from Jaipur but the place is delightful enough to make it worthwhile. It is a
perfect example of a traditional place with western comforts.
Rajmahal Palace:
This is a small palace built in 1729 by Sawai Jai Singh II. Today its a heritage hotel offering spacious rooms with high ceilings and few windows.
Holiday Inn:
This hotel is comfortable and conveniently located between the pink city and Jaipur's Forts.
Along with these, there are several other good hotels in and around Jaipur:- Ramgarh Lodge, Jai Mahal Palace, Le Meridian Jaipur, Hotel Mansingh, The Trident Hilton Samode Palace and Samode Bagh, Alsisar Haveli, Samode Haveli, Bissau Palace, Jasvilas and Santha Bagh.
