Known as "the Pink city", Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and gateway to other places in the state. It is known for ethnic handicraft, Jewelry and foodstuff like "Ghevar" and "Dal Bati".
Video: Jaipur city
Background:
The walled city of Jaipur is the Capital of Rajasthan and is the favorite tourist destination forming the famed golden triangle along with Delhi and Agra.
Named after its founder Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh (1688-1744), Jaipur was founded when the Maharaja decided to move the capital from the hilltop city of Ambar (Amer) to the plains. Jaipur was designed by Bengali architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and was perhaps the first planned city of India.
It was the major weapon producing center during the Mughal period for the Mughals and the Rajputs.
With the backdrop of ancient forts on hilltops, Jaipur is a bustling city, which has retained its age old charm in its excellent palaces, gardens and forts.
The old Jaipur city, painted in Pink is rich in cultural heritage while the new Japiur is developing as one of the industrial cities of India.
Video: Jaipur attaractions
What to see:
City Palace
Location: In the heart of the city
Built by Sawai Jai Singh, it is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The complex also has buildings made by other Maharajas in the later dates. It has Mubarak Mahal or Palace of Welcome, which was built by Sawai Madho Singh in the 19th century. It is now a museum displaying costumes, cloths and other items of arts.There is a Maharani's Palace (Queens Palace), which houses different arms and ammunition used by the Rajputs. The art gallery is located in Diwan-I-Aam (Hall for public audience). Between the Maharani's Palace and Diwan-I-Aam is Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of private audience), which has amongst other things, two very large sliver vessels, which are mentioned in Guinness Book of Records as largest silver objects in the World. There is also the Chandra Mahal Palace, which is residence of the present day royalties.
Hawa Mahal
Location: Within the City Palace, overlooking the bazar.
The five-storey palace is the best-known landmark of Jaipur. Made by the poet King Sawai Pratap Singh, the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds has 953 sand-stone windows (Jharokhas), which were built so that the ladies of Royal household could watch the everyday life of people from the comfort within. It also has an archaeological museum.
Jantar Mantar
Location: Near the Palace
The Jantar Mantar is one of the five observatories in India and was made by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The Maharaja has passion for astronomy and this observatory is one of the largest and the best preserved. The main attraction here is the large Sun-dial, which can show accurate time and positions of heavenly bodies.
Moti Dungri
Location: On a small hill in the middle of the city
The Moti Dungri (Pearl hill) has a palace made in Scottish style of architecture and has a famous temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
Ram Niwas Garden, Albert Hall and Zoo
Location: In the outskirts of Jaipur
Ram Niwas garden is a very beautiful garden with fountains, Pools, lawns and flower beds. It used to be the venue for recreational activities and evening parties specially during the British time. The high society people and royalties were entertained here. In the center of the garden is the beautifully built structure called the Albert Hall. Built in 1887 AD, it is the pride of the new Jaipur and has a large collection of paintings, costumes, ivory work, woodwork, brassware, jewelry, etc. Opposite the Albert Hall is one of the oldest Zoo of India.
Nahargarh Fort
Location: On the Aravali hills in the North of Jaipur
Built in 1734 and extended in 1868, the fort has an excellent view of the Jaipur city lights in the night. The fort is also floodlit in nights and is a beautiful sight. Within the fort is the Madhavendra Bhawan, which was used by the Royal family during their excursions in summer and is now a picnic spot.
Jaigarh Fort
Location: On the hilltop, 15 km from Jaipur
Built between the 15th and the 18th century, Jaigarh or Victory Fort is the most magnificent of the three forts of Jaipur. It is one of the few ancient Indian military structures, which is very well preserved. It has palaces, granary and cannons including Jai Ban, the largest cannon in the world! The fort was responsible for protection of Jaipur and Amber (Amer).
Amber (Amer) Fort
Location: 11 km from Jaipur
Amber was the capital before Jaipur. It has the classic romantic Rajasthan fort-palace of red sandstone and marble built by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by Sawai Jai Singh I. The architecture is the fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles. The inner-wall of the palace has paintings and sculptures with settings of mirror and precious stones. At the foreground is the Maota Lake. Elephant rides are available for the tourist to reach the Amber fort.
Gaitore
Location: 15 km from Jaipur off the way to Amber
It is the final resting place of the Maharajas of Jaipur and has chhatris made in typical Rajasthani architecture. The cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, is the finest.
Kanak Vrindavan
Location: On the foothills of Nahargarh hill on the way to Amber
It is a famous picnic spot and location for film shooting with a complex of landscape gardens, beautifully carved temples, marble columns and terraces.
Sisodia Rani Ka Baug
Location: 8 km from jaipur on Jaipur-Agra Road
A beautiful Mughal style multi-level garden with lawns, fountains, watercourses. It was built in 1728 by Sawai Jai Singh for his Sisodia Queen from Udaipur.
Birla Temple / Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Location: Below the Moti Dungri
Built on the raised ground and surrounded by lush green gardens, the white marble temple is dedicated to Lord Vishu and his wife Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth
Video: Elephant ride to the Amber fort
Sites Nearby:
Sanganer
Location: 18 km from Jaipur
Sanganer is known for beautifully carved Jain temples, crafts and hand & block printed textile, paper making and pottery.
Samode
Location: 40 km from Jaipur
Samode is a small village famous for its beautiful Samode Palace Heritage Hotel, which is the winner of the Best Heritage Hotel of India for 5 consecutive years and in Jan '99 was voted the 5th best hotel in the world by London Times.
Sambhar Lake
Location: 60 km from Jaipur
It is the largest salt water lake in India spanning around 190 sq km. The lake is divided into two parts by a 5 km long stone dam. There are salt pans and a rail-trolley system that is used to carry salts and people over the long dam. The lake and some nearby fresh water ponds are known for its birds population like flamingos, storks and pelicans.
Tonk
Location: 98 km from Jaipur
Tonk is an old town, which was ruled by the Pathans of Afghanistan and is known for its leather work and the Sunehri Kothi or Golden bungalow, which has extremely beautiful and very ornate interiors.
Video: driving through Jaipur city
Reaching there:
Air:
Sanganer Airport, Jaipur is very well connected with daily flights from important cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jodhpur and Udaipur. There is an internationsl flight from Dubai.
Rail:
Jaipur is on the mainline and is very well connected by trains to all major cities of Western and Nothern India. There are regular trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Channai, Bikaner, Jodhpur etc.
Road:
NH 8 connects Jaipur with Delhi, Ahemdabad and Mumbai. NH 11 connects Jaipur to Agra and Nikaner. NH 12 connects Jaipur to Bhopal and Jabalpur.
Jaipur is very well connected by road to places nearby and it is very easy to reach Jaipur by road from Delhi or Agra.
Video: Folk dancers at the Elephant festival
Copyright @ Data Online. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying/use of content
from this website, either in part or full is strictly is prohibited.
No comments:
Post a Comment