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JAIPUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM - OVERVIEW |
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JAIPUR - THE PINK CITY (Rajasthan)
- Places to see in Jaipur
JAIPUR TRAVEL AND TOURISM OVERVIEW: Jaipur is one of the most well planned cities of the world of its time. This capital city of Rajasthan, popularly known as the Pink City, was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1727 A.D. The old Jaipur painted in Pink can grip any visitor with admiration. Jaipur was not always pink, the original city was light grey, edged with white borders and motifs. It was painted in pink in 1876 to honor the visit of the Prince of whales, which has been retained in the walled, old city. Jaipur is worth halting for a couple of days. There are many tourist attractions in Jaipur, which will enchant you with their distinct architectural style and artistic designs. With its towering forts and impressive city palace, Jaipur is a good indicator of what to expect as you progress to interior Rajasthan. LOCATION: In the north Indian state of Rajasthan. 261 km (163 mi) southwest of Delhi, 343 km (215 mi) east of Jodhpur, 405 km (251 mi) northeast of Udaipur. JAIPUR ATTRACTIONS AND SIGHTSEEING: A large number of tourists come here each year, some of the popular tourist attractions of Jaipur are: Hawa Mahal: Also known as palace of winds, was built in 1799 and is the best known landmark and signature monument of Jaipur. It is a five storied building with 953 pink sandstone windows that are built in such a manner that it resembles a giant honeycomb. It was built so that the women of the court could discreetly take some air and watch the activity on the streets below. At sunrise, Hawa Mahal seems to glow and looks especially mesmerizing. City Palace: City Palace was built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh in the heart of his newly founded capital and it is clearly one of the most imposing and magnificent examples of art and architecture. The succeeding rulers made several additions to the building, giving it a pleasing blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture. Today, City Palace is a museum with a rare collection of manuscripts, Mughal and Rajasthani miniature arts, weapons and other items used by the royal family members. The palace also houses a multi cuisine restaurant. A part of this palace is still occupied by the royal family. Amer Fort: Amer Fort is 11 km from Jaipur and is Surrounded by ramparts. This marvelous fortress is built in red sand stone and white marble on a hill near Maota Lake. Raja Man Singh began building it in 1592; Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh continued the construction over a period of 125 years. Although the fort is in ruins, the interior palaces, gardens and temples retain much of their pristine beauty. Both the art and architecture combine Rajput and Mughal influences in felicitous ways. Jantar Mantar is built in stone and marble and is the most extensive of the five observatories built by the warrior-astronomer Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The construction and precision of the observatory were a unique achievement for the year 1716. It is a popular tourist attraction in Jaipur as it showcases India's scientific prowess in a time when U.S. didn't exist. It has 16 instruments, each has a specific role and are finely calibrated; some are sun-dials while others trace the movements of the stars and planets. Jaigarh fort: Jaigarh fort is one of the most spectacular forts of Jaipur. It has been recently opened for the public after being sealed for seven years, due to a rumor that an enormous amount of treasure in gold and precious stones was buried in it. It gives a fantastic view from its watchtower, and an air of ruin and abandonment. It has the largest wheeled cannon in the world which draws visitors to its periphery. Nahargarh Fort: You can get a breathtaking view of Jaipur and its natural defenses from Nahargarh Fort's scenic hilltop location. Initially built by Sawa Jai Singh in 1734, it was enlarged in 1885 by Sawai Madho Singh. Cannons placed behind the walls recall the days when artillery was positioned against attackers below. Sisodia Gardens: On the road to Bharatpur stands one of many palaces built for the Sisodia Rajput queens of Sawai Jai Singh II. It was built in 1779, the place still looks lovely against the backdrop of the hills. From the terrace you can see plenty of Peacocks and Monkeys. Come during the day, since it is often reserved for weddings and parties at night. Albert Hall Museum: This museum is worth a visit just for its architecture, this sandstone and marble building was built in the late 19th century in the Indo-Saracenic style. The collection, which unfortunately is not very well maintained includes folk arts, traditional costumes, miniature paintings, unexpected exhibits of yoga posture, and visual explanations of Indian culture and traditions. Kanak Vrinavan Gardens: This picturesque set of gardens and temples in Jaipur are below the majestic Amer and Nahagarh Forts. From here you can take a good look at the Jal Mahal palace in Man Sagar Lake. If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of Indian movie stars filming a Hindi Movie. Other Jaipur attractions: Along with these there are several other forts, temples, monuments and tourist attractions that are worth a visit. Some of them are: Jal Mahal, Gaitore, Statue Circle, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Nhawan Palace, Birla Planetarium, Nawab ki Haveli and Gultaji's Temple. Jaipur is a remarkable travel and tourism destination. EXCURSIONS - JAIPUR TRAVEL: Sanganer (16 km), Ramgarh (25 Kms fron Jaipur), Bagru (30 km), Samode (40 Km), Abhaneri (95 km), Sariska National Park (107 Km) and Karauli (182 km). Tip of the day Tip #10. Drink bottled water. All water contains different sets of microbes and mineral deposits, just that your body is used to some and not to others. So water which is safe to the locals may not always be safe for you. If you cannot find bottled water, then at least try to thoroughly boil it and let it cool before drinking.
To expand this tourism and travel site, we need your travel articles. Share your tourism experience with us. We do not own any responsibility for correctness of this information, or any loss/injury resulting from it. These travel articles are for entertainment only, please do your own research. -- Last Article Update: Nov 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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