Jaipur Tour - The Famous Forts and Palaces to Visit in The Pink City Jaipur

A Word about the founder 

Jaipur

the city of victory is a dream come true from the enlightened mind of city planner , diplomat , astronomer and king - Maharaja Sawai Jai singh II who built the city in 1727 AD.

He carried out the total plan of Jaipur , initiating a new architecture. The city was divided into nine rectangular sections ( representing the nine divisions of the universe ). Lousi Rousselet , the 19th century traveler wrote " the town is built in a style of unusual magnificence …" The English Bishop Heber , who passed through Jaipur says" The fortifications of the city are so much like those of the Kremlin that I could almost have fancied myself at Moscow"

Astronomical observatories built by sawai Jai Singh still survive at Jaipur , Delhi , Varanasi , Mathura &and Ujjan.Eveen after centuries of existence Jaipur stands out as one of the few planned cities of the world.

Popularly known as the Pink City , Jaipur owes its existence to Sawai jai Singh II whose vision and architectural acumen can be felt by a tourist everywhere in Jaipur. Jaipur, built in 1727 AD became the Capital city of the state of rajasthan package. The earlier capital was Amber which still stands high atop a hill.

The Pink city was designed and engineered by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and is based on he principles of city- planning laid down in the Vastu- Shastra, an ancient architectural treatise. It has in nine rectangular blocks divided by perpendicular roads, each with a market on the ground floor and offices or residences on the floors above. Also , the Pink City was fortified by high walls and gates. Such planning was seen at the ancient sites of the Indus Vally civilization which is said to automatically air-condition the city. Jaipur was painted pink in honour of the visit of the Prince if Wales in 1876 AD and has since then adopted this unique colour scheme to earn its present epithet.

Jaipur can be called the entry point to best rajasthan tour packages and has gradually transformed into a metropolitan city , contemporary in its ambience and upto date in its attitude and lifestyle. Trade and commerce flourish here and its infrastructure can be compared to any other modern city of the country. Heritage hotels and Fast- Food chains, latticed Havelis and Multiplexes, Traditional Arts & Crafts, cyber Cafes and the world's best known brands available off the shelves make Jaipur a unique fusion of traditional and the modern.

PLACES TO SEE :

THE CITY PALACE :

The city Palace is a historic landmark. The carved arches are supported by grey-white marble columns studded with floral motifs in good and coloured stones. Two elephants carved in marble guard the entrance , where retainers whose families have served generations of rules are at hand to serve as guides.

The Palace interior houses a Museum containing select collection of Various Types of Rajasthani Dresses, a Fascinating armoury of Mughal and Rajput weapons: Swords of all shapes and sizes, with chased handles , some of them inlaid , enameled, encrusted with jewels and encased in bold and magnificent Scabbards. It also has an Art Gallery with a fine collection of Paintings , Carpets , Royal Paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian , Latin and Sanskrit , acquired by Sawai Jai Singh _ II for his study of Planets and their Movements.

JANTAR MANTAR :

Jantar Mantar is one of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories . Constructed with stone and marble its complex instruments whose setting and shapes are precisely and scientifically designed represent the high-points of medieval India astronomy. The Two Ram Yantras used for gauging altitudes are unique in their isolation. This the largest of five observatories founded by Sawai Jai Singh -II in Various parts of the country.

HAWA MAHAL :

Bulit by the poet - king Sawai Pratap Singh, the Hawa Mahal is the most strikingly designed monument in Jaipur. What is seen from the Sireh Deorhi Bazar is the multiniched five storey high backside of the complex. It was conceived to provide adequate vantage position behind delicate stone- carved Jali screens to the palace woman for watching the royal processions passing through the bazar below.

GOVIND DEVJI TEMPLE :

In the central pavilion of the Sprawling Jai Niwas Garden to the North of the Chandra Mahal is the spire less temple of Lord Krishna. The Image in the form of Govind Devji , originally installed in a temple of Vrindavan, was reinstalled here by Sawai Jai Singh II as his family deity. This is the most famous and popular temple in the pink city attracting devotees from all over the country.

SWARGASHULI / ISAR LAT :

The tower dominating the skyline on the western side of Tripolia Bazar is the highest structure in Jaipur. It was built by Sawai ISHWAR SINGH in 1749 to commemorate an important Victory.

RAM NIWAS BAGH :

To provide open space and greenery to the citizens, this large garden with a zoo, an aviary, a greenhouse , a herbarlum , a museum and several sports grounds was built during the reign of Sawai Ram Singh II in 1868 as a famine relief project. The beautiful indo-Saracenic structure of the Albet Hall designed by Sir Swinton Jocob was opened later with sculptures, paintings, decorative art objects, natural history specimens , an Egyptian mummy and the celebrated Persian Garden Carpet.

Recently , the Rabindra March with an auditorium, a modern art - gallery and an open- air theatre have been added to promote cultural activities. Choose the best tour operator in jaipur

BM BIRLA PLANETARIUM :

Equipped with modern computerised projection system, the planetarium offers unique audio- visual educational entertainment school group concession available. Closed on every last Wednesday of the month.

GALTAJI :

Beyond the gardens amidst the low hills guarding the city lies the old pilgrim centre of Galtaji. Temples, pavilions and holy kunds ( natural Springs and reservoirs) do to the serene green landscape. The small temple of the sun god, built by Diwan Kriaram on the top of the highest peak , is visible from all parts of the city.

GAITORE :

On the road to Amber there are memorials to the queens in the Maharani- Ki- Chhatri complex near the Ramgarh road crossing, the Island palace , Gaitore built by Sawai Madho Singh - I as a pleasure sport at the centre of the Man Sagar Lake ; and the Kanak Vrindavan complex of temples and gardens recently renovated to its pristine glory .To the west of this road, in narrow valley , is the royal cremation ground at Gaitore. The cenotaphs of all Jaipur rulers, with the exception of Sawai Ishwari Singh who was cremated outside the Jai Niwas Garden , were built at this place. The Imposing cenotaph of Sawai Jai Singh II stands out for its delicate carvings and beautiful shape.

SISODIA RANI GARDEN :

Along the road to Agra through a narrow gorge in the south eastern corner of the walled city , several landscaped gardens were constructed by the Kings and important countries in the 18th and 19th centuries. The largest and the most famous amongst these is a garden built by Sawai Jai Singh II for his Sisodia queen- the Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh. It consists of tiered multilevel gardens with fountains, watercourses and painted pavilions, Amongst others, the best preserved one is Vidyadhar- Ka _ Bagh, constructed by the planner of the city Vidyadhar , with shady trees , flowing water , an open pavilion and suite of living rooms.

AMER :

For seven long centuries before Jaipur was built ,Amer served as the capital of the Kachhwaha rulers of the old state od Dhundhar . Very little of the early structures survive now.

AMER PALACE AND SHILA MATA TEMPLE :

The complex of palaces, halls, Pavilions , gardens and temples were built by Raja Man Singh , Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh over a period. The Palace complex rising the placid waters of the Mother lake is approached through a steep path , now often traversed by tourists on elephant-back, to Singh pole and Jaleb Chock. Two flights of stairs rise from one end to the chock, one leading to the elegant temple of Shila Mata and other to the palace complex. The Image of the Mother Goddess worshipped with reverence by thousands of devotees every day was brought from Jess ore in East Bengal ( now in Bangladesh ) by Raja Man Singh and Installed here.

The front courtyard of the palace complex is dominated by the spectacular pillared hall of the Diwan - E - Am and the double - storeyed painted gateway Genesh Pole , Beyond the corridors and galleries on either side of small elegant Charbagh style garden are Sukh Niwas to its right and KJas Mandir to its left. The Jas Mandir in the upper floor combines the finest elements of Mughal architecture and interior decoration in a Rajput setting with intricately carved Jali Screens, delicate mirror and stucco works and painted and carved dadoes,. The older and simpler structures at the for end were built by Raja Man Singh in the later uear of the 16th century.

The well proportioned Mohan Bari or Kesar Kyari in the centre of the Maotha lake and the Dilaram Bagh at its north end provide a spectacular view from the palaces above.

The city of Amber, once a prosperous settlement of nobles, carftmen and ordinary citizens, is now mostly in ruins. The beautifully carved and painted Jagat Shiromani Temple containing the Idol temple of Narsinghji and the well - made step-well Panna Mian- Ki- Baoli still bear witness to its past glory.

JAIGARH :

The western skyline is dominated by the extensive parkotas ( Walls), watch- towers and gateways of Jaigarh. It is one of the few military structures of mediaeval India preserved almost intact containing palaces gardens , open and covered reservoirs, a granary , an armoury , a well-planned cannon foundry , several temples , a tall tower and a gaint mounted cannon - the Jai Ban- one of the largest in the country.

NAHARGARH :

Beyond the hills of Jaigarh stand the fort of Nahargarh like a watchful sentinel guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful capital. Much of the original structures are now in ruins, but the lovely bulding added by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II still Survive.