The capital of Rajasthan state, Jaipur is popularly known as the "Pink City" because of its many sandstone-like pink buildings. Architecturally, the city is well planned and separated by wide roads into six sectors. Along with Delhi and Agra, Jaipur forms the famous Golden Triangle in India that is most popular among international tourists. For a visitor the city has a variety of sightseeing options, including palaces, forts and monuments, as well as national parks and wildlife and bird sanctuaries.
Palace of the Winds and Jantar Mantar observatory
The city is named after the founder Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, an astronomer and a warrior who ruled the princely state of Jaipur between 1688 and 1744. It has a central palace quarter that encloses the famous Hawa Mahal or "Palace of the Winds," a small lake and formal gardens. The palace has five stories and is built in the shape of a pyramid. It has over 950 small windows that allow for good ventilation, keeping the palace cool during the hot summer months. The intricate lattice work of the windows, small screened balconies and arched roofs with cornices enhance the beauty of the palace.
Early morning is the best time to visit this palace when it is flooded with the morning sunlight, making it a beautiful and fascinating sight. The Hawa Mahal is said to have been built for the women of royalty and they used the small screened balconies to view the passing royal processions in the streets hidden away from the gaze of outsiders and male onlookers.
Jantar Mantar, a short walk across the road from the palaces, is one of the five observatories in India. Sawai Jai Singh who had a passionate interest in the field of astronomy and numerology built this observatory through skilled laborers who created complex astronomical instruments chiseled out of stone that can provide accurate information even today. The most striking instrument is an imposing Sundial that aids in the calculation of local and meridian time and various attributes of stars and constellations. This highlight of the observatory has made it a popular attraction in Jaipur.
National parks, museums, shopping
Surrounding Jaipur are national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The Ranthambore National Park is one such park and is one of the best tiger reserves in India where tigers can be sighted even during the day. The Jogi Mahal, Ranthambore Fort and the Padam Talao are the other attractions of the park. The park was named after the Ranthambore Fort which occupies the principal position in the park. The fort, built in the 10th century is the oldest existing fort in Rajasthan. Jogi Mahal serves as the forest rest house and has the second largest Banyan tree in India in its premises.
The Albert Hall Museum and the City Palace Museum have an impressive collection of voluminous royal attire worn by the kings, Benaras silk saris, Pashmina shawls, artistic folk prints and embroidery, swords, daggers with ivory and jewel encrusted handles, poison tipped blades, small cannons and gun powder pouches.
The aesthetic arts and handicrafts in the form of carpets, camel leather items; the captivating variety of gems and jewelry offer a delightful shopping experience to any avid and serious shopper. The famous kundan and minakari jewelery - enamel work on gold, exotic blue pottery, enamel and brassware all form great items for personal souvenir and gift shopping. Cotton fabrics in Sanganeri prints, tie-and-dye (bandhani), fine kota sarees are characteristic marks of shopping in Jaipur. Woolen carpets and cotton rugs are also good buys and shipping is also done for the convenience of shoppers as these items may be too bulky to carry back.
NOTICE: This article is general in nature and for informational purposes only. To the best of our knowledge, the information was accurate at the time it was written; however, we suggest you confirm specific details and prices with the appropriate vendors before you set out on your trip since services, policies, and prices can change with time. AffordableTours.com assumes no obligation with regards to the information or to update or inform the reader of any changes or other factors that could affect the information contained herein.
