| Indian City Information,
Travel to Indian Cities, City In India, Hotels in India, Tourism in
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Jaipur,
also known as the Pink City of India, was founded by Maharaja
Jai Singh II (1693-1743) and is the capital of Rajasthan. Jaipur
is surrounded by hills and dotted with forts, and is one of
the links to the famed Golden Triangle of North India along
with Delhi and Agra. Jaipur also serves as the most convenient
entry point to Rajasthan, India's most colorful and vibrant
state.
An extremely well planned city, Jaipur was designed by an engineer
and scholar Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, in accordance with ancient
Hindu treatise on architecture, the Shilpa Shasta (Vastu).
It was planned in a grid system with wide straight avenues,
roads, streets and lanes and uniform rows of shops on either
side of the main roads. Jaipur remains the only place where
the nine sectors that sub-divide the city symbolize the nine
divisions of the universe. Jaipur is surrounded by a wall having
seven gates and was built for protection from invading armies
and wild animals that lurked just outside in the jungles that
surrounded the city.
The Old City, also known as the Pink City, is a wonderful place
to wander around. The whole city was painted pink by Maharaja
Man Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited
Jaipur in 1876. Today, every home within the city is obliged
by law to maintain this facade. Houses with pink latticed windows
line the streets, and look almost magical at sunset.
Jaipur's regal heritage is evident in its architecture and culture.
Beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments
and marvellous heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharajas
are testaments to the Rajasthan of yesteryears.
The arts and crafts of the state are amazing. You'll find elaborately
fashioned jewellery, the multi-coloured 'bandhini' fabrics,
richly decorated handlooms, and other trinkets at the colourful
bazaars of Jaipur. These bazaars are a lot of fun not just what's
available, but also for the cheerful people in their traditional
costumes..
For the first-time visitor, it is an intriguing and unforgettable
experience.
Shopping
Jaipur offers myriad shopping bargains. A major gem and jewellery
centre, it 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. Premier shopping areas
are Rajasthali (Govt. handicrafts shop at M I Road), Jauhari
Bazaar, M I Road, Nehru Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Chaupar Stalls.
Sundays are usually closed days.
Population : Approximately 1.9 million
Climate : Summers are hot, with temperatures soaring
beyond 45°C. Winters are cold with temperatures as low as 8°C.
Main Languages: Rajasthani & Hindi
Best times to visit : October to March. The weather is
pleasant, but you should go prepared for winter. |
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| Places
of Interest |
Hotels
of Jaipur |
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your Package for Jaipur |
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Amer Palace
This magnificent fort with its huge ramparts & watchtowers,
is believed to have been the capital of the "Minas", the original
inhabitants of Rajasthan.
City Palace
A magnificent structure, the palace occupies one seventh of
the walled city of Jaipur and is a wonderful blend of Rajput
and Mughal architecture. Constructions and additions to the
palace continued until twentieth century. The palace houses
an extensive collection of rare manuscripts, Mughal and Rajasthani
miniatures, Mughal carpets, costumes and textiles, arms and
weapons, objects of art and royal paraphernalia.
Jaigarh Fort
This fort was cleverly built to give its archers an advantage
over their targets. It is said that Raja Man Singh buried huge
treasures here. The fort also houses the Jai Ban - the largest
cannon in Asia, rumored to have been test fired only once.
Hawa Mahal
The enchanting Hawa Mahal is a multi-layered palace, with a
profusion of windows and stone screens.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar, one of the five observatories built by Maharaj
Jai Singh, in 1718. He was an avid Astronomer and loved to study
the movements of stars. It is the one of largest and the best
preserved observatories today. A collection of complex astronomical
instruments chiselled out of stone - most of which continue
to provide fairly accurate information to this day - is the
highlight of the observatory. Constructed with stone and marble,
its complex instruments whose setting and shapes are precisely
and scientifically designed represent the high points of Medieval
Indian astronomy.
Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh meaning abode of the tigers was built by Jai Singh
to bolster the defense of Amer. Originally called Sudarshan
Garh, Nahargarh offers a breathtaking view of Jaipur.
Albert Hall
Erected in the middle of Ram Niwas Garden, Albert Hall was built
in 1876 to mark the visit of Prince of Wales. It was designed
by Sir Swinton Jacob and opened in 1887 as a public museum.
It contains a fine collection of sculptures, paintings, decorative
art objects, natural history specimens, an Egyptian mummy and
a celebrated Persian Garden Carpet. |
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Bairath
(86 km on the Shahpura-Alwar Road) : An important historical
place with the excavated remains of a circular Buddhist temple
- unique in Rajasthani 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.
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 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.
Ramgarh Lake
(32 km north east) A huge artificial lake created by constructing
a high bund 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, especially during in oils pools, makes
it an idyllic picnic spot.
Vidyadhar's Garden
Nestled in a narrow valley, this beautiful garden was built
in honour of jai Singh's chief architect and town planner.
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| Special Festivals
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Makar
Sankranti (January 14)
Makar Sankranti ushers in the New Year. Across India it is celebrated
as a harvest festival. This is the period when the winter recedes,
paving the way for summer. This is the day of kites at Jaipur.
Jaipurites are famous for their expertise in kite flying. The
kite flying starts well before the Makar Sankranti day, and
continues after the festival. It is a treat to watch the skyline
of the Pink City, studded with colourful kites.
Gangaur (March-April)
This is the festival of women, dedicated to Goddess Gauri.
Teej (July-August)
This festival, dedicated to Goddess Parvati, is celebrated only
by women. Teej welcomes the monsoon rains. The women dress in
bright costumes and flock to a swing hung from the branches
of trees. They then lead a procession of Goddess Parvati signifying
her departure from her parental home to her new home with her
husband Lord Shiva. Elephants, camels and dancers form a part
of the processions
Deepawali (Diwali)
(October-November) Though Diwali or the festival of light is
celebrated all over India, Jaipur's Diwali is something special.
The entire city is ornamented and dressed like a new bride.
Every corner of the city sparkles. The skyline is filled with
colourful light crackers and the Nahargarh Fort over the hill
seems like a glittering palace in the sky. |
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| How to get there |
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By Road
: Very well connected to Delhi (265 kms) and Agra (250 kms),
Jaipur also serves as a convenient gateway to the rest of Rajasthan.
By Air : Jaipur is connected by Indian Airlines and Jet
Airways flights with Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Mumbai.
By Rail : Jaipur is served by many super fast and express
trains linking it with Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ranthambhore
as well as Mumbai. |
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