Jaipur :- The Pink City Of India
The Capital of the modern state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a modern city built according to the specifications laid down in ancient architectural texts Famously known as the ‘Pink City,’ the city boasts the rich and cultural heritage of Indian history. Beautiful and well-maintained forts, camel rides, bustling street markets and what not, Jaipur is a perfect blend of the past and present. Known as the pink city on account of the flush colour of its sandstone palaces, it is a major centre for handicrafts.
in 1727 AD Jaipur was founded by Sawai Jai Singh II, a great ruler as well as renowned mathematician and astrologer. Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, designed Jaipur as per the Hindu treatise, Shilp Shastra. In 1876 Jaipur dressed itself in pink to welcome Prince Albert, consort of queen Victoria, and earned the epitaph ‘Pink City’. The excellent handicrafts of Jaipur are exquisite gold jewellery enameled or inlaid with precious stones, blue pottery, carving on wood, stone & ivory, block print & tie & dye textiles, handmade paper etc.
Must Visit Places in Jaipur
Located amidst the picturesque and rocky Aravalli Hills, Amber Palace is a not-to-be-missed place to in Jaipur. The foundation stone of this palace was laid by Raja Man Singh I and was completed by Mirja Raja Jai Singh. Beguiling beauty of the red sandstone and white marble adds to the magnificence. While the high formidable walls defended its residents from enemy attacks, the main building of the citadel served its people with all the luxuries and amenities.The scenic backdrop of the Maota Lake and panoramic views of sunrise and sunset contribute to the eternal beauty of this palace. Intricate wall paintings, frescos and the use of precious gems and jewels in these paintings add to its timeless beauty. Sheesh Mahal or the ‘Palace of Mirror’ is also one of the captivating halls to visit within Amber Palace. Decorated with numerous pieces of mirror tiles, this hall was designed in such a way, even a single ray entering into it can illuminate the entire hall.
Hawa Mahal Palace of the Winds :-
Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, or also called Palace of the Breeze, is one of the important places to visit in Jaipur. Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1798, Hawa Mahal is a five-storey extension in the form of a honeycomb. This unique building has 953 small windows, called jharokas, decorated with intricate lattice work. The entire palace represents the crown of the Hindu God, Lord Krishna. Even though this palace was built during ancient times, it reflects the scientific vision of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in a distinct way. The windows of this palace have been designed in such a way that irrespective of the time or season of the year, cool breeze always persists inside the palace. Due to this reason, Hawa Mahal was the favourite summer holiday destination of the Rajput family and is today a popular place to visit in Jaipur. Another purpose of this palace was to prevent outsiders from catching a glimpse of the royal women. The incredible lattice of windows were designed in a way that it allowed a clear view of the outside world to the insiders, yet restricted outsiders from being able to stare inside the palace.
To get a panoramic view of Jaipur city, Nahargarh Fort is the ideal place to visit. Built by Jai Singh II, Nahargarh Fort was originally named Sudarshangarh and was later renamed as Nahargarh or the Abode of Tigers. The then Maharaja of Jaipur constructed this fort in order to tighten the security of the region. It also served as a safety shelter to the British wives during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Located on the rocky ridge of Aravalli Hills, Nahargarh Fort offers the most striking view of Jaipur’s scenic landscape. During the night, when the entire Jaipur city gets lit up, Nahargarh Fort offers the most sparkling view of the entire city. Rooms in this fort are connected through common corridors and are well decorated with delicate wall and ceiling paintings. The royal families also used this fort as a popular destination for their summer excursions and picnics. Jungles around Nahargarh Fort served as popular hunting places for the Maharajas of Jaipur.
Jal Mahal :-
It was during the Rajput era that India has seen some of the glorious forts and palaces. Jal Mahal or the Water Palace is one of the classic names in the list of Rajputana architecture. Located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, this palace is also a fusion of Mughal and Rajput styles of architecture. Built in red sandstone, Jal Mahal is a five-storey building, of which four storeys remain underwater when the lake is filled. This, in turn, offers a breathtaking view of the palace and makes it one of the important Jaipur tourist places so if you are in Jaipur, Jal Mahal is one of the must-visit places in the tour list. Since the palace is located in the middle of the lake, traditional boats are used to reach the palace. The clear water of the lake and the scenic Aravalli mountain range dotting this palace, offer a splendid view of Jal Mahal. The location of Jal Mahal makes it an indigenous home to some of the colourful migratory birds, several species of fish and rich flora and fauna. Flamingo, Great Crested Grebe, Pintail, Kestrel, Coot and Grey Wagtail are some of the migratory birds that can be found around Jal Mahal.
Jaigarh Fort :-
Each of the palaces and forts in Jaipur is unique in its own way. Amongst all the forts and palaces, Jaigarh Fort is the most spectacular in the list of places to visit in Jaipur. This fort is situated on the rugged promontory of the Aravalli Hills, called the Cheel ka Teela or the Hill of Eagles. If the majestic appearance of Jaigarh Fort has to be compared with other forts and palaces in Jaipur, it will surely stand ahead of most. Built in the year 1726 by Jai Singh II, Jaigarh Fort is also known as the Fort of Victory. The thick walls of this fort are of red sandstone, run about 3 km, and are dominated by watchtowers. The granaries, water reserves and storage systems in this fort are the finest examples of ancient science and technology. Some of the best places to visit here are the Ram Harihar Temple, Kal Bhairav Temple and a museum that showcases primitive arms and ammunition. Once a popular cannon foundry of the Mughals and Rajputs, Jaigarh Fort is also home to Jaivana, the world’s largest cannon-on-wheels.
City Palace :-
Located in the heart of Jaipur, City Palace is the most remarkable monument in the list of places to visit in Jaipur. Guarded by huge impounding walls, this palace is a fusion of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Whether with its everlasting architecture or the enchanting decorations, City Palace has kept the amplitude of the Rajputs alive. Constructed during 1729-1732, under the supervision of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the City Palace boasts of very minute detailing. Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal comprise the major portion of this palace. Udai Pol, Jaleb Chowk, Tripolia Gate and Virendra Pol are the entrances to this palace. Embossed with fine artworks and engravings, every corner of this palace is filled with immemorial imprints from the past. The entrance to Chandra Mahal is adorned with enticing peacock gates, which depict the four seasons and Hindu Gods through its splendid artworks. Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Aam of Mubarak Mahal served as gathering places of the Royals. Both of these halls are ornamented with crystal chandeliers. A portion of this palace has been converted into a museum, depicting the elegance of the Rajputs and is open to the public. Maharani Palace and Baggi Khana are the two most striking museums among these. Maharani Palace, which was once the royal hall of the Rajput queens, now displays the weapons and ammunition used by the Royal Family. Baggi Khana showcases the different carriages used by the Royal Families of Jaipur.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the ruler of Jaipur was one of the best theorists of ancient India. After achieving the milestones of constructing the planned city Jaipur, as well as several other scientific and architectural epitomes, the Maharaja built five astronomical instruments to study space. These instruments were called Jantar Mantar, which means Calculating Instrument. The largest of these instruments is located in Jaipur and has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Jantar Mantar consists of fourteen geometric devices that measure time, predict eclipses, track the location of stars and the Earth’s movement around the sun. Samrat Yantra is the largest instrument in this observatory and it was used to forecast time. Plotting the shadow of Samrat Yantra, the time for eclipses and the arrival of monsoons can be calculated. Samrat Yantra is also the largest sundial in the world. Jantar Mantar now serves as one of the major Jaipur tourist places and a pioneering source to amateur astronomy students.
