Jaipur, also known as the Pink City of India, was founded by
Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743) and is the capital of Rajasthan. Jaipur is
surrounded by hills and dotted with forts, and is one of the links to the
famed Golden Triangle of North India along with Delhi and Agra. Jaipur also
serves as the most convenient entry point to Rajasthan, India's most
colorful and vibrant state.
An extremely well planned city,
Jaipur was designed by an engineer and scholar Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, in
accordance with ancient Hindu treatise on architecture, the Shilpa Shasta
(Vastu).
It was planned in a grid system with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and
lanes and uniform rows of shops on either side of the main roads. Jaipur remains
the only place where the nine sectors that sub-divide the city symbolize the
nine divisions of the universe. Jaipur is surrounded by a wall having seven
gates and was built for protection from invading armies and wild animals that
lurked just outside in the jungles that surrounded the city.
The Old City, also known as the Pink City, is a wonderful
place to wander around. The whole city was painted pink by Maharaja Man
Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876.
Today, every home within the city is obliged by law to maintain this facade.
Houses with pink latticed windows line the streets, and look almost magical
at sunset.
Jaipur's regal heritage is evident in its
architecture and culture. Beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive
monuments and marvellous heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharajas
are testaments to the Rajasthan of yesteryears.
The arts and
crafts of the state are amazing. You'll find elaborately fashioned
jewellery, the multi-coloured 'bandhini' fabrics, richly decorated
handlooms, and other trinkets at the colourful bazaars of Jaipur. These
bazaars are a lot of fun not just what's available, but also for the
cheerful people in their traditional costumes..
For the
first-time visitor, it is an intriguing and unforgettable experience.
Population: Approximately 1.9 million
Climate:
Summers are hot, with temperatures soaring beyond 45°C. Winters are
cold with temperatures as low as 8°C.
Best time to
visit: October to March. The weather is pleasant, but you should go
prepared for winter.
Amer Palace This magnificent fort with its huge ramparts &
watchtowers, is believed to have been the capital of the "Minas",
the original inhabitants of Rajasthan.
City Palace
A magnificent structure, the palace occupies one
seventh of the walled city of Jaipur and is a wonderful blend of Rajput and
Mughal architecture. Constructions and additions to the palace continued
until twentieth century. The palace houses an extensive collection of rare
manuscripts, Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures, Mughal carpets, costumes and
textiles, arms and weapons, objects of art and royal paraphernalia.
Jaigarh Fort This fort was cleverly built to gives its
archers an advantage over their targets. It is said that Raja Man Singh
buried huge treasures here. The fort also houses the Jai Ban - the largest
cannon in Asia, rumored to have been test fired only once.
Hawa Mahal The enchanting Hawa Mahal is a multi-layered palace,
with a profusion of windows and stone screens.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar, one of the five observatories built by Maharaj Jai
Singh, in 1718. He was an avid Astronomer and loved to study the movements
of stars. It is the one of largest and the best preserved observatories
today. A collection of complex astronomical instruments chiselled out of
stone - most of which continue to provide fairly accurate information to
this day - is the highlight of the observatory. Constructed with stone and
marble, its complex instruments whose setting and shapes are precisely and
scientifically designed represent the high -points of Medieval Indian
astronomy.
Nahargarh Fort Nahargarh meaning abode of
the tigers was built by Jai Singh to bolster the defense of Amer. Originally
called Sudarshan Garh, Nahargarh offers a breathtaking view of Jaipur.
Albert Hall
Erected in the middle of Ram Niwas Garden, Albert Hall
was built in 1876 to mark the visit of Prince of Wales. It was designed by
Sir Swinton Jacob and opened in 1887 as a public museum. It contains a fine
collection of sculptures, paintings, decorative art objects, natural history
specimens, an Egyptian mummy and a celebrated Persian Garden Carpet.
Makar Sankranti (January 14): Makar Sankranti ushers in
the New Year. Across India it is celebrated as a harvest festival. This is
the period when the winter recedes, paving the way for summer. This is the
day of kites at Jaipur. Jaipurites are famous for their expertise in kite
flying. The kite flying starts well before the Makar Sankranti day, and
continues after the festival. It is a treat to watch the skyline of the Pink
City, studded with colourful kites.
Gangaur (March-April):
This
is the festival of women, dedicated to Goddess Gauri.
Teej
(July-August): This festival, dedicated to Goddess Parvati, is
celebrated only by women. Teej welcomes the monsoon rains. The women dress
in bright costumes and flock to a swing hung from the branches of trees.
They then lead a procession of Goddess Parvati signifying her departure from
her parental home to her new home with her husband Lord Shiva. Elephants,
camels and dancers form a part of the processions
Deepawali
(Diwali):(October-November) Though Diwali or the festival of light
is celebrated all over India, Jaipur's Diwali is something special. The
entire city is ornamented and dressed like a new bride. Every corner of the
city sparkles. The skyline is filled with colourful light crackers and the
Nahargarh Fort over the hill seems like a glittering palace in the sky.
HOW TO GET THERE:
By Road: Very well connected to
Delhi
(265 kms) and
Agra
(250 kms), Jaipur also serves as a convenient gateway to the rest of Rajasthan.
By Air: Jaipur is connected by Indian Airlines and Jet Airways flights
with Delhi,
Jodhpur,
Udaipur
and
Mumbai.
By Rail: Jaipur is served by many super fast and express trains linking
it with Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur,
Ranthambhore
as well as Mumbai.
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India Travel Hotel.
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