Tour to Jaipur - Pink City of Rajasthan

The Rose Pink City founded by Maharaja Jai Singhcollected from Ganeshwar, Virat Nagar, Raid,
II (1693-1743), is the capital of Rajasthan. It is aSambhar and Museum of Indology, Jaipur Nagar.
major attraction for the first-time visitor. Jaipur isJaigarh Fort : It is one of the few military
surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crownedstructures of medieval India preserved almost
with forts & enclosed by embattled walls.intact, containing palaces, gardens, open and
Houses with latticed windows line the streets withcovered reservoirs, a granary, an armoury, a
their rose pink colour, lending enchantment to thewell-planned cannon foundry, several temples, a
scene, which is almost magical at sunset.tall tower and a giant mounted cannon
History of Jaipur City : The Old City (Known asModern Art Gallery
the Pink City) is a great place to wander around.A small gallery in the first floor of the Ravindra
The whole city was painted in Pink colour byManch Auditorium in Ram Niwas Garden of Jaipur
Maharaja Man Singh II when Prince of Wales, latershows a selection of works by the well known
Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876 AD. Today,modem artists and sculptors of Rajasthan.
every home within the city is obliged by law toRam Niwas Garden : The popular Ram Niwas
maintain its facade. It is a very well planned cityGardens located in Jaipur were laid out by the last
laid out in a grid pattern and was designed by aMaharaja Ram Singh II, as a famine relief project.
young Bengali engineer and scholar by the nameAt the centre is the splendid central museum and
"Vidyadhar Bhattacharya".near by is a small zoo and a bird park, good on
Jaipur was and remains the only city in the world,atmosphere but short on animals.
symbolising the nine divisions of the universe,Shri Mahavirji Fair : The Shri Mahavirji Fair is held
through nine rectangular sectors sub-dividing it.from Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi to Baisakh Krishna
Jaipur is a royal city & this is its mostDwitiya (March-April) to commemorate the
noticeable aspect, small buildings & festivalsmemory of Shri Mahavir Swami, the 24th
testify it.Tirthankara (saint) of the Jains, in Chandan Gaon.
Jaipur & its surroundings are rather like anAmong the visitors to the fair are the principal
endless museum. The city also offers an endlessfollowers of Mahavir Swami - the Digambar Jains,
variety of crafts. Jewellers here still fashion thewho come from far and wide to pay homage to
beautiful enamel-on-gold pendants, studded on thethe saint at the shrine.
reverse with precious stones or pearls &Sisodia Rani-ka-Bagh : Along the road to Agra
turquoise that one sees in miniature paintings.through a narrow gorge in the south-eastern
Jaipur's lacquer bangles are famous all over thecorner of the walled city, is situated Sisodia
world. This is a city to be visited.Rani-ka-Bagh, the largest and the most famous
Prime Attractions of Jaipurgarden built by Sawai Jai Singh II for his Sisodia
Hawa Mahal : Jaipur's signature building, the HawaQueen.
Mahal, a multi layered palace, was built byVidyadhar Garden : located near the Sisodia
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Famous for it'sGardens is a beautiful vineyard, which unfolds itself
beehive like structure, the Mahal is an interplay ofin the valley. It is named after Vidyadhar
red and pink sand stone, carefully andBhattacharjee, the architect of Jaipur. Cuddled in a
painstakingly outlined with white borders andnarrow valley, this beautiful garden was built in
motifs.honour of Jai Singh's chief architect and town
Amber Fort : Overlooking the Delhi Jaipurplanner.
Highway, the image of the Amber Fort isVirat Nagar Museum : The museum, although not
beautifully reflected in the lake below. Within thevery large has the richest collection. The
Fort lies the famous Jai Mandir (Temple) with itsexcavated material like potteries, pikkins, old coins,
world renowned Sheesh Mahal, a hall full of Mirrors.seals, metallic pieces, weapons and statues have
Govt. Central Museum : Located in the centre ofbeen exhibited here.
the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, this is the oldestExcursions from Jaipur
Museum in the State. The building was designedGalta Temple (3Km.)
by Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob. It was built in 1876Located about 10-km from Jaipur, Galta is a holy
AD when King Edward VII visited India as thepilgrimage centre, having a temple dedicated to
Prince of Wales. It was opened to public in 1886Sun God. This temple is only one of its kind in this
AD.part of the country. The small Sun Temple, built
Jal Mahal Palace : The Jal Mahal Palace, Jaipur isby Diwan Kriparam on the top of the highest
noted for its intricate architecture. The Palace waspeak is visible from any spot in Jaipur.
developed as a pleasure spot. It was used for theSamode Palace (40Km.)
royal duck shooting parties.40 kms northwest from Jaipur is the splendid
Jantar Mantar : At the entrance to the City PalaceSamode Palace set amidst fairy tale surroundings.
is Jantar Mantar, the 'Yantralaya' of Sawai JaiNestled picturesquely amidst rugged hills, Samode
Singh II, the last great classical astronomer inPalace with its stately grandeur and frescoed walls
India. The modernistic structures known asis one of the most impressive small palaces in
'Yantras' are the unique creations of thiswhole of Rajasthan.
astronomer-king designed by him and built byGaitor
experts to observe the movements of sun,(7Km.)
moon, planets and the stars.There are memorials to the queens in the
Nahargarh Fort : Beyond the hills of Jaigarh, standsMaharani-ki-Chhatri complex near the Ramgarh
the fort of Nahargarh like a watchful sentinelroad crossing. The white marble cenotaph of
guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful capital.Maharajah Jai Singh II is the most impressive and
Sawai Man Singh Museum : Located within theis decorated with carved peacocks. Next to it is
City Palace complex and nestled amidst oldthe cenotaph of his son. The island palace-Jal
buildings, temples and the palace quarters, thisMahal built by Sawai Madho Singh as a pleasure
museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Sawaispot at the centre of the Man Sagar Lake, and
Man Singh II. The exhibits comprise of thethe Kanak Vrindavan complex of temples and
ancestral collections built up by the successivegardens recently renovated add to its pristine
rulers of Amer and Jaipur.glory. To the west of this road, in a narrow
Sheetla Mata Fairvalley, is the royal cremation ground at Gaitor.
The Sheetla Mata Fair is held in March-April, theThe cenotaphs of all Jaipur rulers, with the
month of Chaitra, in village Seel-Ki-Doongri, Jaipur.exception of Sawai Ishwari Singh, who was
Doongri is a hillock on top of which the shrine ofcremated outside the Jai Niwas Garden, were built
Sheetla Mata stands. The fair is held in her honourat this place. The imposing cenotaph of Sawai Jai
every year and attracts hordes of visitors fromSingh stands out for its delicate carvings and
far and wide.beautiful shape.
Archeological Museum Ajmer : Located in theRamgarh Lake
Dil-e-Aram Gardens, of Amer, the ancient capital(32Km.)
of Jaipur, was established in 1949.A huge artificial lake created by constructing a
Banganga Fairhigh dam amidst tree covered hills. While the
The Banganga Fair is held annually near a rivulet,temple of Jamwa Mata and the ruins of the old
11-km from the historical township of Bairath infort are some of its antiquities, its beautiful
Jaipur district, on the full moon day of Vaishakhlandscape makes it an idyllic picnic spot.
(April- May). Visiting the Banganga Fair, taking aSignificance - Jaipur
bath and paying homage to the holy sites in theCapital City of Rajasthan State.
vicinity at this time is therefore considered veryLeisure - Jaipur
auspicious by the pilgrims who come from Alwar,Shopping in Jaipur
Behror, Jaipur, Bharatpur and many other places.A major gem and jewellery centre, Jaipur is
Birla Mandir : Birla Mandir or the Lakshmi - Narayanfamous for Kundan work (enamel work on gold).
Temple, situated just below the Mooti DoongariAlso there are woollen carpets, cotton rugs,
castle.Built on raised ground, it is surrounded bymarble statuary, enamelled wares, brass ware,
large lush green gardens.hand-block printed Sanganeri and Bagru Cotton
City Palace : The City Palace is an imposing blendfabrics, exotic blue pottery made from crushed
of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art andquartz, leather footwear and more.
architecture. The City Palace complex housesHow To Get There - Jaipur
several palatial structures. In the heart of the oldBy Air
Jaipur city, the City Palace occupies a large areaJaipur has its own airport, and is well connected to
divided into a series of courtyards, gardens andall other tourist and business centres.
buildings.By Rail
Gogaji FairAn excellent connection to Delhi by Shatabdi
Gogaji Fair is held in the memory of a popularExpress and the Pink City Express. Other
hero of the area who is known as Goga Veerconnections to Jaipur are from Bikaner, Jodhpur,
among the Hindus and Jahar Peer among theUdaipur, Ahemadabad, Secunderabad and
Muslims. The Kayam Khani Muslims claim descentLucknow.
from him and regard him as a peer (saint).By Road
Govind Devji Temple : Located in the centralA network of reasonably comfortable tourist
pavilion of the elaborate sprawling Jai Niwasbuses, run by road corporations of Rajasthan,
Garden, to the north of the magnificent ChandraHaryana and others.
Mahal, is the miniature temple of Lord Krishna.Local Transport
Hawa Mahal Museum :Just behind the beautifulTourist taxis and RTDC buses are available.
Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) in the adjoiningPlaces To Stay - Jaipur
Partap Mandir, a museum was set up in the yearThere are several budget hotels and paying guest
1983. Preserved here, is the sculptural heritageaccommodations available in Jaipur.