Sawai
Raja Jai Singh founded Jaipur, which is now the capital
of Rajasthan, the Land of Rulers. The city has evolved
into a great tourist attraction in India and is one of
the three cities of the acclaimed Golden Triangle of
India besides Agra, the city of Taj and Delhi, the
capital of India. The fantastic forts, pompous palaces,
full-of-life temples, multihued bazaars, effervescent
streets have earned it a special place in the hearts of
the people. Its uniqueness lies in the use of a rusty
pink color that envelops all the structures and edifices
of the building and has earned the city its oft-used
name, 'The Pink City'. The color was meant to 'welcome'
the Prince of Wales in 1876 and was envisioned by the
then ruler Ram Singh II as an effective scientific way
to cut down the severe glare of the sun.
It is compulsory for everybody residing in the old city
to maintain this distinctiveness of the city. The name 'Jaipur'
has dual emphasis - 'Jai' means victory and was also the
first name of its maker while 'pur' meant city. Most of
its house has beautiful latticed windows with
intricately carved lattices. Govind Deo ji ka Mandir is
perhaps the most magnificent temple of the city while
Galtaji has natural springs to boast of. The three
massive
forts of the city are the Nahargarh Fort, the
Amber Fort and the Jaigarh Fort. Jal Mahal or the Water
Palace is a perfect royal retreat while the sprawling
mansions of the City Palace recreated the times of Kings
and Queens with its rugged exteriors and tasteful
interiors. Hawa Mahal has almost become the icon of
Jaipur tourism.
Jaipur's Prime Attractions
Amer
Palace
Raja Man Singh built the 16th century palace using an
eclectic mix of Hindu and Mughal architectural styles.
The palace complex houses the stunning edifices such as
Jai Mandir, Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Niwas and Ganesh Pole.
Hawa Mahal
Delicate stone screen façade made in the style of a
honeycomb is the key point of Hawa Mahal or the Wind
Palace. The latticed windows and beautiful trellises and
intricate carvings embellish the multi-layered look of
Hawa Mahal. Raja Sawai Pratap Singh, the grandson of
Sawai Jai Singh, built it in 1799 to enable the ladies
of the royal household to look at the colorful bazaars
and the proceedings of the court without being seen.
City Palace
A part of Chandra Mahal or the City Palace is still the
private residence of the erstwhile royalty of Jaipur
while the rest is occupied by the Maharaja Sawai Man
Singh II Museum that has various sections related to
rare manuscripts, Mughal carpets, armory, regal costumes
and textiles and Mughal and Rajasthani miniature
paintings.
Nahargarh Fort
Raja Jai Singh II built Nahargarh or the Tiger Fort in
1734. It was then known as Sudarshan Garh. One of the
three forts of Jaipur, it provides some of the most
breathtaking views of the Man Sagar Lake and its scenic
surroundings.
Jai Garh Fort
Sawai Jai Singh built this fort prior to Nahargarh in
1726 and it is similar to Amber Fort in architecture.
The stately canon 'Jaivana', which is the largest
wheeled canon in the world can be seen here. The fort
also houses a museum; three water tanks and some good
views of Amber.
Samode Palace
40 km from Jaipur, Samode Palace belongs to Rajput
royalty that has now been converted into a heritage
hotel run by the family. Apart from the Rajput Haveli
architecture and picturesque landscaping of the gardens
and lawns, the facilities, treatment and services
provided to the guests here is also reminiscent of the
past royal traditions.
Jal
Mahal
Water Palace of the 18th century, this island palace is
situated in the Mansagar Lake and cast mesmerizing
reflections of its magnificence and majestic bearing in
the water. One can also cross the bridge and visit the
royal cenotaphs nearby.
Government Central Museum
Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob founded the oldest museum of
Rajasthan in 1876, known today as the Government Central
museum or Albert Hall Museum. The edifice has
Indo-Persian architecture and is situated in the
Ramnivas Gardens. It has utilitarian metal objects on
its display along with Bundi, Kishangarh, Kota, Udaipur
and Jaipur schools of miniature paintings, traditional
ceremonial dresses for the royalty and the wood block
printing.
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
Built for Sisodia queen, the wife of Raja Sawai Jai
Singh II, it has gorgeous multi-tiered gardens featuring
fountains, pools and painted pavilions along with
sculptures that are fabulous to look at.
Vidyadhar's Garden
The garden is dedicated to Vidyadhar, the chief designer
of the Pink City and has been remodeled recently. It is
situated picturesquely in a narrow valley and has high
hills all around it. It has also served as the vineyard
of the royalty in the past and has been terraced. The
royal resort is also fitted with beautiful fountains,
pool and pavilions to give it an imperial look.
Jantar Mantar
The observatory built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh is
three-storey-high. It was built between 1728 and 1734
and its name means 'Magical Device'. The masonry
instruments of this observatory are so accurate that
their readings can compete with the most modern
astronomical instruments.
Elephant Festival
Held in March or April every year on Holi, it features
parade of a number of bedecked elephants at the Chaugan
stadium, where a prize is given to the 'mahout'
(caretaker) of the best-attired elephant. Other
interesting events here are Elephant Polo and tricks
performed by these giant beasts and folk and cultural
songs and dances.
Jaipur Festival
A recently started event to promote tourism in the city,
it is celebrated in the month of November annually and
features programs, competitions and felicitations meant
to revive old customs and traditions of this princely
state. It ends on 18th of November, which is supposed to
be the 'birthday' of Jaipur.
Jaipur City Facts
