Jaipur the “Pink City” of india. Jaipur is the capital city of rajasthan and very popular tourist destination among travelers. Jaipur holds the distinction of being the first planned city of India. It was founded by Sawai Jai Singh II. The story goes that in 1876, the Prince of Wales visited India on a tour. That time the Colour pink was symbolic of hospitality, Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur painted the entire city pink. The pink that colours the city makes for a marvellous spectacle to behold, and Jaipur get the name “Pink City”
Jaipur is known for its forts and palaces. The fort and the palaces in the city are the major monuments of the city. The most famous fort in the vicinity is the Amber Fort, The Royal City Palace in the heart of the city, The Jal Mahal (Water Palace), The Hawa Mahal (Winds Palace), Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall Museum, Birla Temple, Galata Ji Temple (Monkey Temple) etc these are the major attraction of the city.
Attractions And Palaces To Visit In Jaipur –
Amber Fort –
Cradled on the top of the Aravali Hill and forming a beautiful reflection across the Maotha Lake, lies the Amber Fort. Amber (pronounced Amer) is at a distance of about 11 kilometres from Jaipur. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace, located in craggy hills, is a beautiful melange of Hindu and Mughal styles. Raja Man Singh I began construction in 1592 and the palace, which was built as a strong, safe haven against attacking enemies, was completed by Mirja Raja Jai Singh. once served as a capital city of Rajasthan and is one of a prominent tourist attraction today with visitors coming from all over the world. There are a lot of attractions for one to see at the Amer Fort, including the diwan-e-aam, such mandir, and the Sheesh Mahal. Amer Fort is also home to some underground tunnels that connect Amer to Jaigarh Fort. A part of these tunnels has been restored, and is now open to public as well. Encompassing all this, the Amer Fort is a perfect example of Rajasthani architecture which is a must-visit.
City Palace –
The City Palace is now the home of royal family. It is situated in the heart of pink city, built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. The City Palace Complex includes the Mubarak Mahal (the palace of reception) and the Maharani’s Palace (the palace of the queen). Mubarak Mahal now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and displays a vast and unique collection of royal costumes, delicate Pashmina (Kashmiri) shawls, Benaras silk saris, and other dresses with Sanganeri prints and folk embroidery. The clothes of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I are also on display. The Maharani's Palace, surprisingly, has an interesting display of very well-preserved Rajput weaponry, some dating back to the 15th century. Other than the arms, the palace is adorned with beautiful paintings on the ceiling that are well-maintained.
Hawa Mahal –
Hawa Mahal, Known as the Palace of Winds. It was built in 1799 by the King Sawai Pratap Singh as a summer retreat for him and his family. Hawa Mahal consists of five tiers of corridors on the inside, with pierced screen windows that overlook the street below. It is believed the women of the royal zenana would sit concealed behind these screens to see life in the city beyond the walls of the palace. It is built from pink sandstone, the Hawa Mahal is Jaipur’s iconic landmark and visitors can view its complete magnificence from outside, from across the road. However, it is also possible to climb right up to the top for a wonderful view from the windows.
Jal Mahal –
Jal Mahal is known as the water palace, but when it was built, Maharaja Madho Singh did not intend to use it as a palace. Instead, it was supposed to be a hunting lodge for the king and his entourage during their duck hunting trips. The palace stands in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city, and is a famous spot till date for sightseeing. The Jal Mahal is designed in a classic Rajput manner, with pink sandstone in a symmetrical style.
Jantar Mantar –
Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is one of the largest observatories in the world, comprising of remarkable stone assemblies that help to interpret the position of celestial bodies and calculate local time. The monument is an exemplification of architectural innovations that was built on ideas from different religious and social beliefs in 18th-century India.
Galtaji Temple –
Galtaji is an ancient pilgrimage centre in Jaipur. Set amidst low hills and packed with locals and tourists alike, the attractive spot has temples, pavilions and holy kunds (naturalwater tanks). Galtaji locally called the Monkey temple. It gets this moniker because of a large group of resident monkeys. The green landscape and chattering monkeys add to the delight of the area. On top of the hill is a small temple dedicated to the sun god, called the Surya Mandir. Constructed by Diwan Kriparam Of Jaipur State, the temple can be seen from anywhere in the city.
Shopping In Jaipur –
Jaipur offers shopping experience with its rich treasure of bewitching jewellery, beautiful gems, semi precious stones, Kundan and Minakari work (enamel work on gold). Beautiful cotton fabrics including Sanganeri prints, tie-and-die and fine kaoa 'Doria' saris are the best buys for women. The exotic blue pottery, enamel ware and brass ware, make excellent souvenirs and gift items. The city is also famous for woollen carpets and cotton rugs.