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Attractions in Jaipur
Hawa
Mahal - Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh,
Hawa Mahal is Jaipur’s celebrated building.
An intricate interplay of red and pink sandstone,
carefully outlined with broad borders and motifs,
the purpose of this complex was to allow the royal
women a view of the ceremonial processions while seated
behind the ties of pierced windows overlooking the
street below. This allowed them to look out without
themselves being seen. If you approach from the City
Palace side, you will land in a spacious courtyard,
guarded by a stately deorhi (door) . Today
it houses a small museum to illustrate mini jharokhas
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art and craft.
Jantar Mantar - Situated in
close proximity to the City Palace is the Jantar Mantar,
one of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh.
In fact his passion for astronomy was more notable than
his powers as a warrior. This observatory is the largest
and the best preserved, with 13 different instruments for
calculating the movement of celestial bodies. You will be
intrigued by the compelling collections of sculptures, with
each construction having a specific purpose, for example,
determining the position of the stars, altitude and azimuth,
and for calculating eclipses.
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City
Palace - This is the center
of the royal residences in Jodhpur. While the original
City Palace was designed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh,
each subsequent ruler made his own additions to the
structure. As you explore this edifice you will enter
a series of courtyards which houses several palatial
structures, like the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal,
Badal Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace
Museum.The City Palace accommodates the two famous
halls, namely Diwan-I-Khas(Hall
of Private Audience) and Diwan-I-Aam (Hall
of Public Audience) . You will find
here today museums of miniature paintings,
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palanquins, manuscripts
and Persian carpets. You will be allowed to visit only the
ground floor of the Palace. However, through the glass panes
you may catch a glimpse of the Sri Govinda Temple, the first
structure built by Sawai Jai Singh in Jaipur. An exotic
blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture!
Quick Getaways near Jaipur
Sisodia Palace and Garden - Maharaja
Sawai Jai Singh built this palace in 1728 for his Sisodia
Queen from Udaipur. The terraced garden is located 8 kms
from Jaipur on the Agra route. The beautiful landscaped
garden laid in Mughal style has murals depicting the life
of Lord Krishna in the interior apartments.
Galta -
An ancient pilgrimage center, Galtaji lies beyond the gardens
amidst low hills. Temples, pavilions and holy kunds
(natural spring and water tanks) along with lush landscape
make it a pleasant spot. These springs are believed to have
curative powers. The small temple of the sun god built by
Diwan Kriparam on the top of the highest peak is visible
from all parts of the city.
Amer
Fort - 11 kms away, Amer
Fort, (also known as Amber Fort), is one of the most
magnificent destinations in Jaipur. The building process
was initiated by Raja Man Singh in 1600 AD, continued
by Raja Jai Singh and then completed to its present
form by Sawai Jai Singh in the eighteenth century.
The fort is an example of a fascinating blend of Hindu
and Muslim architecture built in red sandstone and
white marble. The palace or the royal apartments lie
inside this fort. You
will witness here some spectacular architectural
marvels , including
the Sheesh
Mahal , Jai
Mandir , with its exquisite |
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mirror
work , the Sukh Niwas, Shila
Mata Temple, Kali Temple, and the well
designed garden Kesar Kyari.
Jaigarh Fort - This is one of
the few military structures of medieval India built in 1726
by Sawai Jai Singh. Situated north of Jaipur, on a cliff
and surrounded by huge battlements with inside pathways,
the fort houses the Jai Ban the largest cannon
in Asia, believed to have been test fired only once. This
fort of Victory has a museum which displays a collection
of weapons and cannons used by the Rajput rulers.
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Nahargarh (Tiger Fort) - Beyond
the hills of Jaigarh, stands proud the fort of Nahargarh
like a watchful sentry guarding Sawai Jai Singh's
beautiful capital. It overlooks the city from a steep
edge to the north, and is floodlit at night. Much
of the original structures are now in ruins, but the
lovely buildings added by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai
Madho Singh II in the 19th century have been preserved
in a good condition.
Gaitor
- Located 15 kms from
Jaipur , is Gaitor , balanced against the
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rugged hills of Nahargarh.
This is the place where Chhatris (cenotaphs)
of Jaipur's rulers stand amidst respectful stillness.
The cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder
of Jaipur, is the finest. Twenty carved pillars support
a stunning structure in white marble, its elegant
dome. Other cenotaphs that are of importance include
those of Pratap Singh and Madho Singh II. |
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Shopping in Jaipur |
Jaipur has ample space and facilities for the
production and marketing of handicrafts, which
have made the place famous throughout India
and abroad. An entire street and several city
sectors are earmarked for artisans and traders.
The main markets are stretched along Johari
Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar, Nehru Bazaar, Chaura Rasta,
Tripolia Bazaar and M.I. Road. Johari Bazaar
especially has shops dealing in precious and
semi precious stones and ornaments. A shopper’s
paradise indeed! Among other articles, Jaipur
specializes in brass work, especially lacquered
brass and carved brass. |
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A must-buy for you is the extremely beautiful Jaipur enamel
or Minakari work done mostly on gold and silver
in fact the skill and dexterity of the worker is revealed
not only in the purity of colours, but also the evenness
with which it is done. For some ethnic Indian-wear, check
out the Sanganeri and Bagru block prints, which are a hot
favourite with fashion designers today. The Bandhej
(tie-and-dye) print is a typical of this region. There are
Jaipuri quilts also available, which weigh from a few hundred
grams to a kilogram. And if this is not enough, complete
your purchases with a marble stone carving, the likes of
which you will not find anywhere else. |
Cuisine in Jaipur
The land of Princes’,
Jaipur boasts of many a fine kitchen. The princely kitchen
have produced many a sumptuous and exotic delicacies. Jaipurites
are hence very fond of eating. In fact spicy food is what
is most popular with them. While their most popular preparation
remains “dal-bati-churma” (dal is lentils,
bati
is baked wheat ball, churma is powdered sweetened cereal),
Jaipur’s specialty is Ghevar and the Mishri Mawa.
An absolute treat for the sweet tooth! |
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Getting There & Away to Jaipur
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Sanganer
Airport at a distance of around 11 km from the city
center is the main air gateway to Jaipur. There are
direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur,
Aurangabad, and some other cities from Jaipur. |
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From Delhi, there
are many trains that connect Jaipur and other cities
in Rajasthan; foremost among them is the Palace on
Wheels. Other important trains include, Shatabdi Express
and Pink City Express both from Delhi. |
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From Delhi, there
is a direct and well-maintained road to Jaipur. The
city
is connected to most of the tourist destinations in
Rajasthan as well as Agra. Jaipur is part of the Golden
Travel Circuit of India that includes Delhi, Agra,
and Jaipur. Most of the tours are conducted either
through the buses or trains. |
Getting Around in Jaipur
Taxis and autos are the most convenient ways of moving
inside the city as well as to reach some of the excursions
located in the proximity. To move within the city,
you can also look for cycle rickshaws, which are easily
available and much cheaper than other transportation
modes.
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