If
one has to see the culture and tradition of Rajasthan within the purview of
a city, then Jaipur is the obvious choice to fall upon. The royal city of
Jaipur owes its name to the founder of the city-- King Sawai Jai Singh II
(1693-1743). The Great Warrior laid the foundation of the city in 1627. The
city of Jaipur exists as a microcosm for Rajasthan. It has glimpses of
everything for which Rajasthan is famous. The city of towering forts and
majestic palaces, Jaipur has a glorious past. It is a place where
sacrificing lives for the dignity and honour was not sole propriership of
men. Women have run shoulder to shoulder to men in matters of valour and
bravery committing Jauhar to save the dignity and honour of their clans.
Tourist Attractions
in Jaipur
Amber Fort
The world renowned Amber Palace or Amer Fort is located on the outskirts of
Jaipur city. Constructed in the 16th century AD, the Amber Fort is built in
red sandstone and white marble and represents a nice blend of the Mughal and
Rjaput styles of architecture.
City Palace
Yet another fine example of the Mughal-Rajput architecture is the City
Palace in Jaipur. Apart from many palatial buildings, the City Palace of
Jaipur also has a museum which displays a rich collection of items like
Rajput miniatures, rare manuscripts, Mughal costumes etc.
Hawa Mahal
If you are thinking of the most striking monument in Jaipur, it's
definitely got to be the Hawa Mahal of Jaipur or the Palace of Winds. Don't
go by its name, as it is not infact a palace but it is a sandstone screen
and features 593 delicately screened windows.
Ramgarh Lake
An important picnic spot, the Ramgarh Lake in Jaipur is a huge artificial
lake, formed by constructing a bund in the midst of wooded hills. Jamwa Mata
temple and the ancient ruins of the old for are attractions for visitors to
the lake.
Ram Niwas Bagh
Built by Sawai Ram Singh II, the Ram Niwas Bagh is an expansive garden
which also features a zoo. The Ram Niwas Garden was built with a view to
providing relief to the famine-hit populace.
Other tourist attractions in Jaipur include Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort,
Sisodia Rani Garden, Govind Devji Temple, Sawai Man Singh Museum, Samode
Palace etc.
Shopping in Jaipur
The bazaars in Jaipur are lined with shops filled with precious and
semi-precious stones. Tourists can explore jauhari bazaar for bhandej tie &
die, khajanewalon-ka-rasta off chandpole bazaar for precious stones,
tripolia bazaar for bangles, Hawa mahal area for antiques and
pseudo-antiques. After having a brush with these beautiful items, if you get
curious to know about the art and hands that make these items, then a visit
to the workshops at Jadiyon-ka-rasta, Gopalji-ka-rasta, haldiyon-ka-rasta,
will be a great experience.
How to reach Jaipur
Jaipur is connected to the major cities of India by domestic flights.
Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, and domestic carriers operate regular flights
to and fro from Jaipur. The train service to Jaipur is really excellent.
Direct trains to Jaipur are available from Delhi, Lucknow, Chennai,
Calcutta, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Secunderabad and Agra. Excellent A.C and deluxe
coaches are run by Rajasthan Roadways from Delhi.
Hotels in Jaipur
Staying at the palace hotels or heritage hotels in Jaipur is also a
wonderful culturally rich experience. The palace hotels of Jaipur are a
major attraction for travellers and give us an opportunity to hobnob with
the royal families of Jaipur. Some of the most famous and much preferred
hotels in Jaipur are as follows.
»
Raj Vilas
(Oberoi Group)
»
Hotel
Mansingh Tower
» Samode Haveli
» Alsisar Haveli
» Narain Niwas Palace
