It is rightfully said that Jaipur is not just a city, it is rather the finest Jewel ever created on earth, where the king was the Jeweler and bricks his gems. Founded in the 17th century by Maharaja (King) Sawai Jai Singh, the name “Jaipur” literally means City (pur) of Victory (Jai). This was also to commemorate Jai Singh’s victory against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Since then Jaipur has seen some tremendous contributions from the renowned architects that India has ever had.
Best Things to do in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The Pink City, as it is widely called, derived its name from the pink buildings and monuments that embrace the city. But what in fact retain that pink color is the blush on the city’s cheeks and the little salmon on its lips, all of which comes out of the aesthetic culture it fosters. Jaipur’s vibrant culture and traditions is reflected in the festivals that are celebrated, in the pompous weddings that are witnessed and the upbeat lifestyle that is lived there.
In light of this, Jaipur remains highly popular among both domestic and foreign tourists who are attracted to its living craft traditions, its palaces and regularly planned walled city at its core. The city has also been ranked the top tourist destination in Asia by various international tourism forums. Some of these eye-catching spots have been highlighted below. Read on the best places to visit in Gulaboo sher ( Pink City)
1. Amber Fort:
Amber Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that cannot be missed visiting if you’re in Rajasthan. The fort is almost seven centuries old depicting a beautiful masterpiece of the Indo-Islamic architecture. It is set amidst the craggy hills, overlooking the beauty of the Maota Lake in front. Although it has a combative-looking exterior, the interiors are designed extremely delicately with finesse. The intricacies are witnessed in the architecture of its courtyards such as the famous Sheesh Mahal and Diwan-i-Aam. It was built by the king as a safe bastion against the enemies and hence carries stories of legendary history with its name. There are provisions of private cars, elephant rides and horse-carriages to take you from the foot of the lake to the top of the palace. The light show at the site in evenings is something every tourist talks about.
The charmingly lit chowks and mahals are imperative to visit.
2. Nahargarh Fort:
This fort was built on the lines of Amber and Jaigarh forts, which is to provide a good defense eye to the city and save it from the brunt of enemies. The specialty of this fort lies in its location. It is located up in the Aravalli hills, which gives it the privilege of capturing some breath-taking views of the city. There are various attractions within the fort such as the temple inside it dedicated to the Rathore prince, Madhavendra Bhawan and the open-air enclosure- Diwan-I-Aam where the king held meetings with common men. Something that entices a lot of young crowd is the café built in the fort, flourishing on its good food and enchanting ambience.
3. Jal Mahal Palace:
This ravishing palace is situated in the middle of the Man Sagar lake in Jaipur, making it a spectacular sight to look at. The palace is five storeys high with four storeys submerged in water. This underground magnificence is what makes it even more special. It is an amazing view of the sandstone set in the middle of the blue water with the Aravallis surrounding the serenity.
4. Hawa Mahal:
Literally translated to the “Palace of Winds”, Hawa Mahal is Jaipur’s iconic landmark. It was built in the 18th century by a king to felicitate Rajput women of the royal household. It was designed in a way that helped them see the hustle and bustle of the city, without being seen themselves. In accordance with the cool breeze that it lets in the palace, the palace was also used by the king as a retreat place for his family in summers. The structure resembles that of the shape of the crown of Lord Krishna, making it yet another unique piece of the Islamic-Hindu blend architecture. There’s a small museum within the Mahal which hangs famous miniature paintings and ceremonial armor. The panoramic view of Hawa Mahal is what everyone loves to capture in pictures.
5. Jantar Mantar:
This is the second UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jaipur and is considered as one of the largest observatories of the world. You will also witness world’s largest sundial at Jantar Mantar. It contains sixteen geometric devices, designed to measure time, track celestial bodies and observe the orbits of the planets around the sun.
6. City Palace:
This magnum opus is a fusion of Muslim, Rajput and European architecture. It is absolutely mesmerising and vast, and occupies one-seventh of the area of Pink City. The palace gives a rich insight into the bygone era through its mirrors, murals and lattices. Other than the gigantic gardens and courtyards, the palace makes a spectacular display of the royal Rajput costumes, Mughal and Rajput weapons, swords of all shapes and sizes. City Palace is also one of the top venues for a haughty, pompous wedding that can cost a fortune to you. The extravagant lightings and decorations add to the shenanigans of the occasion.
7. Birla Temple:
The beautiful white-marble temple was built by the Indian tycoon- Birla in 1980’s. Situated at the foot of Moti Dungri, Birla Temple dominates the skyline of South Jaipur. It is a place of worship of Lord Vishnu (God of creation) and Goddess Laxmi (God of wealth and luxury). The temple is a work of art and has a marvellous display of exquisite carvings and sculptures covering many mythological themes. It also consists of a small museum that consists of the early belongings of the Birlas. The religious hymns and chants, combined with the natural aura provide an enchanting peaceful ambience for the visitors. It is considered as one of the most scared temples of India and should be visited by everyone who wishes to witness the sanctity of Hindu religion.
8. Chokhi Dhani:
Chokhi Dhani is the 5-star resort, designed to replicate an old Rajasthani village. This place is always lightened up with celebrations, games and live-shows. It offers the traditional Rajasthani food with utmost love by the people serving you there. The puppet shows, folk music, traditional dance performances, snake-charmers, magicians, camel and elephant rides on the sand, art gallery and much more, add charm to this rustic setting. It is a must visit for all the tourists who want a family getaway for the whole evening.
Although the major ones have been described above, the list of the heritages and forts at Jaipur is never ending. With a few more days to spare you can visit the Jaigarh fort, the Albert Hall Museum, Statue Circle, Amar Jawan Jyoti and Ram Niwas Garden. It is also renowned for its many famous handloom items and crafts found in the famous bazaars such as Johri Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar.
The city is dressed like a bride in Diwali (festival of lights) and blooms like a flower in Holi (festival of colors). Other festivals celebrated in grandeur are Teej, Gangaur, Kite Festival. The rich culture and glorious past is perspicuously reflected in the lifestyle and infrastructure of the places. In the end, Jaipur never fails to meet its reputation of being one of the top tourist cities of the world.
To know more about jaipur and heritage places click here
Read about the More Indian heritage cities : The city of Palaces in India ~Mysore
Read about the More Indian heritage cities : The city of Palaces in India ~Mysore
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