Facts & Figures :
| Population |
: |
1, 458, 483 (1991) |
| Languages |
: |
Hindi and English |
| Best time to visit |
: |
October to March |
| STD Code |
: |
0141 |
LOCATION OF JAIPUR .... The city
of Jaipur is capital to the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, famous for
its colorful culture, forts, palaces, and lakes. The city extends from
latitude 26.55° in the north to longitude 75.52° in the east.
Jaipur would have been a part of the Thar Desert but for the protection
afforded by the Aravali Hills that form a barrier on one side. Jaipur is
around 258 km from Delhi, 232 km from Agra, 350 km from Gwalior, 405 km from
Udaipur, and 1,202 km from Mumbai.
HISTORY OF
JAIPUR.... The royal city of Jaipur owes its name to the founder of
the city. It was the great warrior king Sawai Jai Singh II (1693–1743)
who laid the foundation of the city in 1627. He was one of the few kings of
his time having a keen eye for details and a very good scientific temper.
The city was well planned, structured, and had one of the best drinking
water systems in the medieval world.
The truism that the old order
changeth yielding place to the new is reflected in the modern-day city of
Jaipur. Being capital to the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, the city is
mirror to every thing that Rajasthan signifies, be its culture, tradition,
society, and, most important, the people.
CLIMATE OF
JAIPUR..... Like most other north Indian cities, Jaipur too has
extreme climate. The summers can be very hot with mercury crossing 45°C,
whereas winters are chilly and the temperature can fall below 5°C.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF JAIPUR.... The old city of
Jaipur has neat and broadly laid-out avenues, all painted pink, and that
gives a magical glow to the city, especially in the evenings.
Hawa
Mahal is the best-known landmark of Jaipur. As against the popular belief,
it is not really a palace. It is a sandstone screen from behind which the
ladies of the court could watch the proceedings on the road below without
being seen.
In the heart of the city is situated the City Palace,
a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The place is now a museum
except for one section where the erstwhile royal family still lives. The
city palace has an exclusive part devoted to the arms and ammunitions used
by the royal family in the past.
Jantar Mantar is only one of the
five observatories constructed by Jai Singh. The observatories show the
passion of Maharaja Jai Singh for astronomy.
Central Museum,
situated in the Ram Niwas Gardens, has a large collection of costumes,
woodwork, brassware, jewelry, and pottery.
Not all the history
books in the world can recreate the past as vividly as a visit to the
hilltop forts of Nahargarh, Jaigarh, and Amber. For each of them embodies
royal traditions of splendor and military one-upmanship. Vast courtyards
separate public halls of audience from living quarters, and labyrinthine
corridors effectively seal off the women's apartments from public gaze.
Jai Singh II built Nahargarh Fort in 1734. Along the ridge-top
road it provides magnificent views down to the Man Sagar Lake. In the midst
of this lake is a palatial duck blind, which was used for shooting parties
by the erstwhile royal family.
Named after Jai Singh II, the
Jaigarh Fort is perched on a cliff and is surrounded by huge battlements
with inside walkways offering stunning views on all sides.
Amber
is the classic romantic Rajasthan fort-palace. Its construction was started
by Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by his descendant Jai Singh I. Its
rugged forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise where a beautiful fusion
of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate refinement. Painted scenes of
hunting and war adorn the walls with precious stones and mirrors set into
the plaster. In the foreground is the Maota Lake with breathtaking
reflections of the magnificent Amber Fort-Palace. For an experience that's
truly royal, visitor's can reach the fort through snaking pathways on
elephant back.
The other places of interest are 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.
EXCURSIONS
FROM JAIPUR..... Situated 100 km from Jaipur, Tonk is an old town
dating to the middle of the 17th century. The new town, which resurrects a
forgotten era, is a colorful medley of painted mosques, mansions and
colonial buildings. The Sunehri Kothi (or Golden Mansion) is of special
mention because of its mirror work.
Located 15 km from Jaipur, is
Gaitor. This is the place where chhatris of Jaipur's rulers stand amidst
reverential silence. The cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the
founder of Jaipur, is the finest. A dazzling structure in white marble, its
elegant dome is supported by twenty carved pillars. Other cenotaphs that are
of note are those of Pratap Singh and Madho Singh II.
A 40-km
drive from Jaipur, Sanganer is famed for textile block printing, papermaking
and Jaipur blue pottery, a must for the avid shopper. For others, there are
several temples and an old palace.
Samode is a small village
famous for its beautiful Samode Palace and Garden. The highlight of the
building is the exquisite Diwan-I-Khas, which is covered with original
paintings and mirror work.
Other important tourist places around
Jaipur are Ramgarh, Abhaneri, Balaji, and Karauli
FAIRS
AND FESTIVALS OF JAIPUR.... Gangaur festival is held in honor of
goddess Parvati. The festival is held a few days after Holi in
February/March and is celebrated in Jaipur on a grand scale. Primarily a
festival for women, married women pray for their husbands and unmarried
girls pray for getting a good husband. Festive processions are taken out,
women draw water from wells, pick flowers, and chant hymns to the goddess
Parvati.
Teej is a major event in Jaipur. The festival is
celebrated during the months of July/August and dedicated to goddess
Parvati. The festival celebrates the beginning of the monsoon.
SHOPPING
IN JAIPUR.... Jaipur is famous for semi-precious stones and the
best place to buy them is off Jauhari Bazaar. Miniatures, handicrafts,
clothes, jewelry of silver and lac are other items to be bought in Jaipur.
WHERE TO STAY....To stay in Jaipur is to
experience the royalty, rich heritage, and culture of the most colorful of
Indian states. The heritage hotels of this city are tourist destinations in
themselves. If one really wants live in the past with their entire splendor,
there can never be a better chance. Regular accommodation is also available
in the city with most of the modern facilities in offering.
HOW
TO REACH ..... The city is directly connected to Delhi, Bombay,
Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ahmedabad through regular flights. All major domestic
airlines have their services to Jaipur.
Jaipur is also well
connected by trains. The Pink City Express leaves Delhi at 6 am and reaches
Jaipur at 11 am. Chetak Express and few other Jaipur–Delhi trains leave
from the Old Delhi Railway Station in Delhi. However, if one has money and
leisure, there is no better option than the Palace-on-Wheels, which leaves
Delhi every Wednesday.
