Jaipur is the largest city in Rajasthan and was built in the eighteenth century by Sawai Jai Singh as India's first planned city. Jaipur is a major tourist attraction amongst Indian as well as international travellers. A 48 hour stay in Jaipur including two nights stay and tons and tons of sightseeing of this stunning Rajasthani city.
Jaipur is one of the most important cities in India from the point of tourism. Situated in Rajasthan 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.
Tourist Attractions of Jaipur :-
Amber Fort ( Amer Fort ) - The Amer Fort, situated in Amber, 11 kilometers from Jaipur, is one of the most famous forts of Rajasthan. Amer, originally, was the capital of the state before Jaipur. It is an old fort, built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh. This fort is also very popularly known as the Amer Palace. The Amer Fort was built in red sandstone and marble and the Maotha Lake adds a certain charm to the entire Fort. Though the fort is quite old and may even look so from the outside, it is beautiful on the inside and boasts of various buildings of prominence like the 'Diwan-i-Aam', the 'Sheesh Mahal' and even the 'Sukh Mahal'. The Amer Fort has influences of both Hindu and Muslim architecture. This fort also has the 'Shila Devi' Temple and the 'Ganesh Pol' which is a gate that leads to the private palaces of the kings. The Amer Fort has many pavilions and halls of great interest and other popular attractions.
Architectural Layout - The structure has four different parts, each with a separate entrance. The main entry to the fort is through the 'Suraj Pol' or Sun Gate which opens up into the main courtyard. This east-facing gate is also the main entrance to the palace and its position with respect to the rising sun is the source of its name. The 'Jaleb Chowk' is one of the four courtyards of the Amer Palace. The 'Sila Devi' Temple is right at the entrance to the main palace grounds. The second courtyard is famous for its 'Diwan-i-Aam' (Public Audience Hall), the 'Sheesh Mahal' and the 'Sukh Mahal'. A very famous attraction here is the 'Magic Flower', a fresco carved out of marble.
Jaigarh Fort : The Jaigarh Fort, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the 18th Century, is a magnificent palace located on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of the Eagle) promontory of the Aravallis in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Designed by an architect named Vidyadhar, the fort was built to depict the affluent culture of the city of Jaipur. Since the fort is located on an altitude, the entire city of Jaipur can be seen from the top. It mainly served as the residential building of the kings but later on, was used as the artillery warehouse.
Jaigarh Fort has a rich history behind it. During the Mughal period, Jaigarh Fort, located 150 miles away from the capital, became one of the main cannon foundries due to abundance of materials there. It was also a storage place for arms, ammunition and other important requirements of war. It was looked after by Dara Shikoh but when he was defeated by Aurangzeb, the fort came under the rule of Jai Singh, who renovated and refurbished it. One interesting story goes with the history of the fort. According to folklore, the rulers buried a huge treasure in the soil of the Fort. However, the treasure was never recovered.
One can get a panoramic view of Jaipur from the fort, it being located on top of a hill. Structurally, the fort looks like its immediate neighbour, Amber Fort, which is located almost 400 metres down. Otherwise known as Victory Fort, this huge structure is 3 km in length and 1 km in width. The outer layers of the fort are made of red sandstone and the internal layout is quite interesting, with a beautiful square garden at the centre. There are huge court rooms and halls provided with screened windows. The fort encloses the largest cannon in the world, called the Jaivana, which is kept on wheels. The grand palace complex consists of Laxmi Vilas, Vilas Mandir, Lalit Mandir, and the Aram Mandir, which used to be the residences of the royal family during the reign of the kings. Two vintage temples have increased the attraction of the fort, one being the Ram Harihar temple built in the 10th Century, and the Kal Bhairav Temple, built in the 12th Century. The fort is well protected from all sides with high walls. There is an armory and a hall for the warriors, along with a museum that preserves old clothes, manuscripts, weapons, and artworks of the Rajputs. One can find a watch tower at the centre, which provides a beautiful view of the landscape around. The adjoining fort of Amber is connected to the Jaigarh fort through a secret subterranean passage. It was designed for emergency escapes of the ladies and children. There is a central water reservoir in the fort to provide water to the Amber Fort.
City Palace :- The City Palace is a stunning sample of architecture in the royal city of Jaipur. The foundations of the palace were laid by Maharaja Jai Singh II Kacchawaha Rajput king of Amber in the 18th century. The beautifully caved marble interiors, magnificent pillars, jali or lattice work and inlaid ornamentations make the palace a cherished tourist attraction. Jaleb Chowk and Tripolia Gate are the two main entrances to the City Palace Jaipur. The architect of this opulent structure Colonal Jacob has successfully combined the Mughal, Rajput and European styles of architecture.
Mubarak Mahal - The first chamber that one comes across when one enters from through the Birendra Pole from Tripolia Gate is the Mubarak Mahal(Auspicious Palace). Built in the late 19th century by Maharaja Madho Singh II, it houses a wide variety of textiles (such as the royal formal costumes, sanganeri block prints, embroidered shawls, Kashmiri pashminas and silk saris) and forms part of the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. The Mubarak Mahal is used as a reception lounge for foreign dignitaries.
Diwan-I-Khas and Diwan-I-Aam - The magnificent brass gateway of the Mubarak Mahal leads to a courtyard where one can find the Diwan-I-Khas or 'Hall of Private Audience'. Here two enormous silver vessels catch the eye. These are the largest vessels known in the world. Next comes the 'Diwan-E-Aam' or the 'Hall of Public Audience'. Done up in a rich red and gold, this chamber holds on display a variety of embroidered rugs and carpets, miniature paintings and ancient texts. The Ridhi Sidhi Pol is the name given to the four small gates adorned with themes representing the four seasons.
Sihel Khana - Beyond the Pitam Niwas courtyard stands the Ananda Mandir. The halls here hold arms and weapons of the Rajput kings. Nearby are the Sarvatobhadra or the Sarvata and the Art Gallery previously used as the Sabha-Niwas.
Chandra Niwas - The Chandra Niwas, standing to the west is an imposing palace and various parts of this seven-storyed building are called Sukh-Niwas, Ranga-Mandir, Pitam-Niwas, Chabi-Niwas, Shri-Niwas and Mukut-Mandir.
Govindji Temple - Opposite the Chandra Niwas stands the Badal Niwas and in between lies the Jai Niwas Garden. The Govindji temple stands in this garden.
Jantar – Mantar (Jaipur Observatory): Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, this observatory, officially declared as the national monument, has a huge collection of astronomical instruments. Beautifully crafted in marble and local stone, it is one of the largest buildings in the country that is dedicated to the exploration of celestial bodies. It consists of around 14 fixed and focused devices that measure time, predict eclipses, track stars, and locate earth orbits around the sun.
Hawa Mahal ( The Palace of Wind ) :- The renowned 'Palace Of The Winds', or Hawa Mahal, is one of the prominent tourist attractions in Jaipur city. Located in the heart of Jaipur, this beautiful five-storey palace was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh who belonged to Kachhwaha Rajput dynasty. The main architect of this palace built of red and pink sandstone, is Lal Chand Ustad and the palace is believed to have been constructed in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. Considered as an embodiment of Rajputana architecture, the main highlight of Hawa Mahal is its pyramid shape and its 953 windows or 'Jharokhas' which are decorated with intricate designs. The main intention behind the construction of the Mahal was to facilitate the royal women and provide them a view of everyday life through the windows, as they never appeared in public. Read further to know more about Hawa Mahal, its history, architecture and its visiting hours.
History - It was in 1799 that the Kachhwaha Rajput ruler, Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh who built Jaipur, constructed Hawa Mahal as a continuation of the Royal City Palace. Sawai Pratap Singh's devotion to Lord Krishna is evident in the palace's construction as it resembles the lord's crown. Though many reasons are cited behind the construction of the fort, Purdah system followed by the Rajputs is said to be one of the main causes. During those days, Rajput royal women did not appear in public or in front of strangers. However, they were keen to follow the day-to-day events and royal processions occurring on the streets. It is for their benefit that the Hawa Mahal was built, complete with small windows and screened balconies. This gave the women a sense of freedom, without appearing in public.
Other tourist attractions of Jaipur –
Nahargarh Fort ( Tiger Fort )
Jalmahal ( Lake Palace )
Kanak Garden & Temples
Albert Hall Museum
Birla Temple
Galta Temples
Sisodiya Rani Gardens
Chokhi Dhani Resort
Jaipur's Handicraft & Textile Markets
