Jaipur Tourism
Jaipur Tourism | Jaipur Tour Packages | Tourist Places Jaipur | Jaipur Tourism Packages - Jaipur is the city of princes and princesses, of tales of valour and courage, of romance and chivalry. Majestic forts, luxurious palaces, lively temples, colourful bazaars, vibrant streets and pink face, have given the city a unique and unmatched character that immediately endears itself to every visitor.
Showing an amazing mix of modernity, traditions and old world charm this city surges forward with its roots in the past. A bustling metropolis today, it is the perfect example of the very essence of India!
The Pink City, as Jaipur is popularly known, was not always pink. Its main thoroughfares and buildings are painted earthy pink in honour of the visiting Prince of Wales in 1876. It all came about due to the fact that it was thought that the glaring white starkness of its buildings would be too bright for the visiting prince and thus the idea to paint buildings pink, came about. Today, every home within the old city is obliged by law to maintain this facade. This amazingly symmetrical and thoroughly proportioned city came into existence as early as 1727 being the only city in India which was conceptualized and conceived on such a grand scale.
Through the great vision and scholarly skills of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and extensive works by his Chief Architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharji, Jaipur rose to fame as the most beautiful and the best planned place to live in. Liberal, protective and secular policies of the rulers attracted a wide range of artisans, artists and businessmen, which today make this city, a great arts, crafts, trade and cultural centre. Architecturally, the city proved to be a milestone and other great kings like Sawai Ram Singh and Sawai Mansingh II added many more public buildings and institutions to this existing masterpiece.
Jaipur is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts and enclosed by embattled walls. The Old City, the actual Pink City, is a great place to wander around. Maharaja Man Singh II had the whole city painted pink when the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876. Fabulous, tall houses with latticed windows line the narrow streets of the old city, their rose pink colour lending enchantment to a scene which is almost magical at sunset. Today luxurious hotels and resorts offer comfortable accommodation to all who wish to visit and the tourist infrastructure is equally professionally handled.
Places of interest are the Jaipur Museum, Albert Museum, Birla Mandir Planetarium, Sisodia Rani Park, Lakshmi Narain Temple, Kanak Vrindavan, The Rajmahal Palace; Rambagh Palace (now a Luxury hotel) and other parks. No matter what you choose to do, your time in Jaipur will be remembered for a long time to come.
City Palace & Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum: The City Palace is also known as Chandra Mahal. A part of the palace serves as the residence of the royal family. On the ground floor and outer courtyards is the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. It has a rich collection of Mughal carpets, Mughal and Rajasthani miniature paintings, arms and weapons, rare manuscripts, royal costumes and textiles, etc.
Hawa Mahal: The Hawa Mahal (palace of winds) was constructed by the king Sawai Pratap Singh. Situated in the City Palace, this five-story structure is an architectural beauty. It has 953 pink sandstone windows known as jharokhas. The purpose behind this palace was to serve as a window for the royal ladies to watch everyday life and processions in the city from their covered comfort.
Kanak Vrindavan: Situated in the foothills of Nahargarh hills, Kanak Vrindavan consists of beautifully landscaped gardens. It also has a temple, made up of beige stone and with brilliantly carved marble columns and lattices. With Jal Mahal serving as the backdrop, Kanak Vrindavan serves as the perfect spot for picnic and shootings.
Jaigarh Fort: Overlooking Jaipur, the Jaigarh fort is the most magnificent hilltop fort of the city. Known as the fort of victory, it is one of the few military structures of medieval India. The fort consists of numerous palaces, a granary, a well-planned cannon foundry, several temples, a tower and Jai Ban, the largest cannon in the world. More About Jaigarh Fort
Nahargarh Fort: Providing a striking backdrop to Jaipur in the north, Nahargarh Fort is located on the Aravalli Hills ridge. It was built by Jai Singh to strengthen the security of Amber. Floodlit at night, it presents an entrancing sight. There is a Madhavendra Bhawan in the fort used by the royal family for excursion in summers. Now, it serves as a picnic spot. More About Nahargarh Fort
Amber: Located 11 km from Jaipur, Amber (pronounced Amer) Fort was the ancient fortress of the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber. The fort is an awesome fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Built in red sand stone and white marble, Amber reflects a marvelous aura. On the inside, the palace is decorated with painting scenes with carvings, precious stones and mirror settings. The Maota Lake In the forefront strikes you with its scenic beauty. More About Amber Fort
Lakshmi Narayan Birla Temple: The Laxmi Narayan temple, also known as the Birla temple, is an important tourist attraction in Jaipur. As the name indicates, the Birla Mandir/temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi. The Lakshmi Narayan Birla temple is located near the Moti Doongri fort. It is interesting to note that the Birla temple at Jaipur has three domes, representing different approaches to religion. The Birla temple is built in white marble, which glows magnificently at night. As a popular pilgrimage place, the Birla temple attracts tourists and devotees throughout the year. The Lakshmi Narayan Birla temple is very crowded especially during the Hindu festivals.
Albert Hall Museum: The Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur is one of the oldest museums of the state. The Albert Hall museum was built to welcome the Prince of Wales on his visit to India in 1876. Located amidst the Ram Niwas Bagh in Jaipur, the Albert Hall museum has an assortment of rare articles including textiles, paintings, carpets, metal and wood crafts, pottery, arms and weapons, dolls, toys and an Egyptian mummy belonging to the Ptolemaic Epoch. The Albert hall museum also houses the famous carpet that was bought by Mirza jai singh I from Shah Abbas of Persia. The museum also showcases the miniature paintings from different schools of Rajasthan.
Jantar Mantar: Jantar mantar is one of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories. Constructed with stone and marble its complex instruments whose settings and shapes are precisely and scientifically designed represent the high points of Medieval Indian astronomy. The Ram Yantras used for gauging altitudes are unique in their isolation. this is the largest of the five observatories founded by Sawai Jai Singh-II in various parts of the country.
Major Yantras or instruments that you can watch moving clockwise are: Small 'Samrat', 'Dhruva', 'Narivalya', The Observer's Seat, Small 'Kranti', 'Raj', 'Unnathamsa', 'Disha', 'Dakshina', Large 'Samrat', 'Rashivalayas', 'Jai Prakash', Small 'Ram', Large 'Ram Yantra', 'Diganta', Large 'Kranti'.
Galtaji: An ancient pilgrimage center, Galtaji has a number of temples, pavilions and holy kunds (natural spring and water tanks).
Govind Dev Ji Temple: Jaipur, Rajasthan sightseeing tour must include Govind Dev Ji temple. A part of the City Palace complex, this temple is dedicated to Govind Dev Ji (an incarnation of Lord Krishna), the patron deity of the royal family. The temple has been well preserved by the royal family.
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh and Vidyadhar-ka-Bagh: These two gardens in the gorge towards the east are designed in Mughal style with beautiful chatris (canopies), terraced gardens and fountains. Vidyadhar-Ka-Bagh Located near the Sisodia Gardens is a beautiful vineyard, which unfolds itself into the valley. Named after Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, this beautiful garden was built in honour of Jai Singh's chief architect and town planner.
Birla Planetarium and Science Centre: this attractive building houses a state-of-the-art centre of knowledge on the cosmos and a unique science and technology museum with several self-operated models. If you are travelling with kids, visiting here is a must do activity.
Climate
Jaipur weather is quite moderate. The summer season in Jaipur extends from April to July and is pretty hot and humid. The average temperature in summers falls in the range of 45° C (max) to 25.8° C (min). The climate of Jaipur in winters is pretty cold. Lasting from October to March, the winter season experiences average temperature in the range of 22° C (max) to 8.3° C (min). The climatic conditions of Jaipur, Rajasthan during this period lead to sunny day and chilly nights. Monsoons start around the latter half of July. However, the city of Jaipur does not receive much rainfall. Best time to visit Jaipur is during the winters.
How to Reach Jaipur
Jaipur, popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan. Rajasthan is one of the most colorful states of India, which is very well reflected in Jaipur. Some of the major tourist attractions of the Pink City include the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Amber fort, Jaigarh fort, Birla temple and the City Palace.
How to Reach Jaipur by Air : The nearest airport to Jaipur is the Sanganer Airport in Jaipur, 10 km from the city. Domestic flights connect Jaipur with Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur and Udaipur.
How to Reach Jaipur by Train : Jaipur is well connected by trains to all the major cities of Rajasthan and India such as Delhi, Agra, Chennai, Jodhpur, Mumbai, Udaipur, Bikaner and Ahmedabad.
How to Reach Jaipur by Road : A well-developed network of road connects Jaipur to important tourist towns of Rajasthan and north India. There are private as well as government buses that connect Jaipur to all the nearby major cities such as Delhi and Agra.