Jaipur is the famous city and capital of Rajasthan. It was
founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber,
after whom the city has been named. Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India
because of the colour used exclusively in the walled city.
The city was built on the principles of Shilpa Shastra, the
science of Indian Architecture. The city was divided into nine blocks. Two of
which contained the state buildings and palaces, while the remaining seven were
allotted to the public. Huge fortification walls were built, along with seven
strong gates. The directions of each street and market are east to West and
North to South. The Eastern gate is called Suraj (Sun) Pol, while the Western
gate is called Chand (Moon) Pol. There are three gates facing East, West, and a
Northern gate (known as Zorawar Singh gate) which faces toward the ancestral
capital of Amber.
The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is rich in history and
culture. Here the past comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces. The
bustling bazaars of Jaipur, famous for jewellery, fabric and shoes, possess a
timeless quality and are surely a treasure-trove for the shoppers. This
fascinating city with its romantic charm takes you to an epoch of royalty and
tradition.
Places to
Visit
"Hawa Mahal", Palace of the
Winds
The intricate and fascinating facade of the Palace of the
Winds is probably Jaipur's most recognized building. Constructed in 1799, it
has five floors that contain rows of small windows and screens. Wind used to
flow through the openings, giving the palace its name. However, the wind has
now gone from the Wind Palace. Legend has it that the palace, which overlooks
the main street of Jaipur's lively Old City, was built so that the women of the
royal household could watch the streets below without being observed. A
panoramic view can be had from the top of the building. Take a peek behind the
facade of the Hawa Mahal.
·
Location : Next to the City Palace. Enter from
the rear of the building.
·
Entry Cost : 50 rupees for foreigners & 10
rupees for Indians.
·
Opening Hours : 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily.
City Palace
Upon visiting the magnificant City Palace, it's easy to see
that the royal family of Jaipur was one of the richest in India. The huge
complex of courtyards, gardens, and buildings blend both Rajasthani and Mughal
architecture. The Peacock Gate is exquisite, and contains an alluring display
of detailed workmanship featuring bright peacocks. Today, the royal family
lives in the graceful Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace) bordering the courtyard. Also
inside the City Palace complex is a museum, art gallery, and interesting
displays of royal costumes and old Indian weapons.
·
Location : Chokri Shahad, Old City, Jaipur.
·
Entry Cost : 300 rupees for foreigners (includes
camera fee and entry to Jaigarh Fort). 75 rupees for Indians, plus 75 rupees
for a still camera.
·
Opening Hours : 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Galta Monkey Temple
Getting to this rather ruinous but holy Hindi temple,
nestled in peaceful surroundings between two granite cliffs, is quite an
adventure but it's completely worth the effort. The temple is part of a larger
temple complex, which also has three sacred pools of water. One of the pools
has been taken over by thousands of monkeys that congregate there to swim and
bathe. They're generally friendly and love to be fed.
·
Location : At the far eastern side of the city,
outside Gulta Pol, near Agra Road, Jaipur. To get there, take a rickshaw, walk
up the hill to the white Sun Temple, then follow the steps downhill into the
gorge.
·
Entry Cost : Free
·
Opening Hours : Visit late afternoon, near
sunset, when the monkeys flock to the temple.
Amber Fort and Palace
Around half an hour's drive from the city center, like
something out of a fairy tale, Amber Fort is set on a hill top overlooking
Maota Lake. It was the original home of Rajput royalty until Jaipur city was
constructed, and contains a number of breathtaking palaces, halls, gardens, and
temples. Inside, the elaborate mirror work adds to the grandeur. The fort
entrance is reached by walking up the hill, going in a jeep, or taking a
lurching elephant ride. The evening sound and light show, which brings alive
the Fort's history, is impressive. If you're interested in the art of
traditional block printing, also don't miss the Anokhi Museum near Amber Fort.
Workshops are held there.
·
Location: North of Jaipur. Frequent buses depart
from the Palace of the Winds to Amber Fort. Taxis are also available.
·
Entry Cost: 200 rupees for foreigners. Elephant
rides are 900 rupees for two people.
·
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily.
Note that elephant rides are only possible in the mornings
until 11.30 a.m. Be sure to be there early to get one, as it's not possible to
pre-book and demand is high. Take this Amber Fort and Jal Mahal Including Elephant
Ride Tour from Viator to save on hassle.
Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh Fort, also known as Tiger Fort, is perched high on
the rugged Aravali Hills overlooking Jaipur city. The fort was built 1734 to
help defend the city. It found fame in 2006, after many scenes from the movie
Rang De Basanti were filmed there. Nahargarh Fort offers spectacular views,
which are best seen at sunset. It also makes a great place for a picnic as
there's a cafe on the premises, which serves beer and snacks until 10 p.m. The
fort looks particularly attractive at night when it's lit up.
·
Location : North west of Jaipur city center. Get
there by local bus, taxi, or a steep half hour trek directly up the hill.
·
Entry Cost : Foreigners 30 rupees.
·
Opening Hours : Sunrise to sunset, daily. Palace
open from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily.
Jaigarh Fort
The massive Jaigarh Fort was built in 1726 and holds great
appeal for military lovers. Flanked by towering gateways and watchtowers, it
contains the world's largest cannon on wheels. The cannon has never been fired
though, and neither has the fort been captured. As a result the fort has
remained intact over its long life, and is very well preserved. Infact, it's
one of the best-preserved military structures of medieval India. Jaigarh
doesn't have the delicate interiors of Amber Fort, and therefore appears as a
real fortress. Climb the Diwa Burj watchtower to get an excellent view over the
plains.
·
Location : North of Jaipur, within walking
distance of Amber Fort.
·
Entry Cost : 50 rupees ($1).
·
Opening Hours : 9 am to 4.30 p.m. daily.
Elefantastic
Elefantastic offers the opportunity to get up close and
personal with some of India's much loved
elephants for a day. An elephant farm
in an elephant care village, Elefantastic was formed in 2012 to promote the
wellbeing of these giant creatures and show tourists that not all of them are
mistreated. Before starting Elefantastic, Rahul (the founder) worked as an
elephant rider for nine years. At Elefantastic, you'll be able to wash, feed
and water the elephants, learn about elephant decorating and have a painting
class, and learn about the elephants' medicines and treatments. Numerous
options for elephant rides and safaris are offered, both in Jaipur and the
surrounding countryside.
·
Location : 90 Chandra Mahal Colony, Delhi Road,
Amer, Jaipur.
·
Cost : Expect to pay around 3,500 rupees per
person.
Markets and Shopping
Jaipur is an excellent place to shop and you'll find an enticing
variety of goods available there. Some of the most popular items are precious
gemstones, silver jewelry, bangles, clothes, blue pottery, and textiles. Don't
miss these top 5 places to go shopping in Jaipur.
·
Location : The main shopping area is M I Road.
·
Opening Hours : Many shops are closed on
Sundays.
Jantar Mantar Observatory
Jantar Mantar, built by King Jai Singh II between 1727 and
1734, literally means "calculation instrument". More than just a
curious collection of sculptures, each structure at the intriguing Jantar
Mantar observatory has a specialized astronomical function. There are 14
structures in total, which measure time, predict eclipses, and track stars. The
most impressive one is the huge Samrat Yantra sundial. At a height of 90 feet
(27 meters), it has a shadow that moves roughly the width of a person's hand
every minute. It's a profound display of how quickly time does in fact go!
·
Location : Next to the City Palace, Jaipur.
·
Entry Cost : 10 rupees (20 cents) plus 50 rupees
($1) for a camera.
·
Opening Hours : 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily.
Government Central (Albert Hall)
Museum
This old and famous museum was modeled on the Victoria and
Albert Museum in London. Its collection includes portraits of local kings,
costumes, woodcarvings, paintings, and arts and crafts. Unfortunately
photography isn't allowed.
·
Location : Ram Nivas Bagh, south of the Old
City, Jaipur.
·
Entry Cost : 30 rupees (60 cents) for foreigners.
·
Opening Hours : 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. daily.
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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