Jaipur,
the capital of western state of Rajasthan is also known
as the Pink City, because of its pink hued buildings.
Situated in a desert-like landscape, the city is
surrounded by the famous and the country's oldest
Aravalli hills. Jaipur derives its name from Maharaja
Jai Singh II, who was a great ruler and also
warrior-astronomer. The credit of city's foundation and
its excellent planning goes to the king, who laid out
the city in 1727. The palaces, forts and temples of the
city beautifully narrate the tales of a glorious bygone
era. The old city of Jaipur is located in the north-east
of Jaipur, while the new parts are spread across the
south and west. Located at a height of 431 m above sea
level, Jaipur covers an area of 64.75 sq. kms. Main
languages of the city are Hindi, English and Rajasthani.
Climate & Clothing
Like northern parts of India, Jaipur has an extreme type
of climate. The region is quite hot and humid during
summers and chilly in winters. Temperature during
summers (April-June) rises to a high of 45șC and dips
below 5șC during winters (November - February). Monsoon
rains arrive in the city by July and stay till
September. The best time to visit the city is during
winters between November and March. During summers,
travellers need to carry light cotton clothing, while in
winters one needs woollen clothes such as thick
jacket/coat, socks, gloves and sweaters.
Accommodation in Jaipur
Stay during your Travel in some of the most popular
hotels in the city include Jai Mahal Palace (5 Star,
Jacob Road, Civil lines), The Rambagh Palace Hotel (5
Star, Bhawani Singh Road), Welcome Hotel Rajputana
Palace Sheraton (5 Star, Palace Road), Hotel Jaipur
Palace (5 Star, Sahakar Road, Tonk Marg), Country Inn &
Suites by Carlson (5 Star, Khasa Kothi Circle), Hotel
Clarks Amer (5 Star, J.L.N Marg), Hotel Mansingh (5
Star, Sansar Chandra Road) and Hotel Jaipur Ashok (4
Star, Jai Singh Circle, Bani Park).
Tourist Attractions of Jaipur
»
City Palace : Situated in the heart of the old city,
the City Palace houses spacious courtyards, beautiful
gardens and magnificent buildings. The outer wall of
this palace was built by Maharaja Jai Singh, but later
additions were made by his successive rulers.
» Hawa Mahal : Built in 1799, the Hawa
Mahal or the Palace of Winds is central landmark of
Jaipur. The five storeyed building offers breathtaking
views of the city.
» Jantar Mantar : Located close to the
City Palace, the observatory was built by Maharaja Jai
Singh in 1728. Of the five observatories he built, the
Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is the largest and the best
preserved.
» Central Museum : Situated in the Ram
Niwas Gardens, the museum houses the portraits of the
Jaipur Maharajas, miniature paintings and other works of
art.
» Amber Fort : The fortress-palace
constructed by Raja Mansingh in 1592 is located at a
distance of 11 kms from Jaipur.
» Nahargarh Fort : Perched atop a
hill, the fort offers spectacular views of the city.
Also known as the Tiger Fort, the fort was originally
built in 1734 and extended in 1868.
Airport
Sanganer airport, the only airport in Japiur, is
situated at a distance of 11 kms from the city centre.
Jaipur Airport is well connected to the major cities in
India. Direct flights are available to Delhi, Mumbai,
Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad and some other cities of
the country.
Local Modes of Transport
Taxis,
RTDC buses and autos are the most convenient ways of
moving within the city as well as to reach nearby
destinations. Cycle rickshaw is another good option and
is also the cheaper mode of transport.
Entertainment Options
Most of the star-rated hotels arrange cultural
programmes including folk music and dance performances
that are a brilliant way to get acquainted with the
culture of the region. It's a place where dance and
music forms still breath the glory that the Maharajas
are known for.
Adventure Activities
As Jaipur is situated in the desert land of Rajasthan,
camel safari, horse safari and jeep safari are good
adventure options. Sporty tourists can play a game of
cricket or golf, see a spot of polo, or enjoy riding at
the clubs of Jaipur. Water sports can be arranged by
RTDC (Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation) at
Ramgarh Lake near Jaipur. Ballooning is another
adventure sport which can be enjoyed here.
Shopping
Jaipur one of the most popular jewel markets of the
world, is known for for precious and semi-precious
stones, handicraft items and other artifacts. Apart from
it, Jaipur is equally famous for its tie-and-dye and
block printed fabrics, textiles, table linen, full
length skirts, scarves, quilts, cushions and blue
pottery. The colourful bazaars of Jaipur offer great
opportunity to shop and enjoy the vibrant culture of the
city. Main shopping markets of the city are Jauhari
Bazar, Bapu Bazar, Nehru Bazar, Chaura Rasta, Tripolia
Bazar and M.I. Raod.
