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Tour to Jaipur - Pink City of Rajasthan

The Rose Pink City founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743), is the capital of Rajasthan. It is a major attraction for the first-time visitor. Jaipur is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls. Houses with latticed windows line the streets with their rose pink colour, lending enchantment to the scene, which is almost magical at sunset.

History of Jaipur City : The Old City (Known as the Pink City) is a great place to wander around. The whole city was painted in Pink colour by Maharaja Man Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876 AD. Today, every home within the city is obliged by law to maintain its facade. It is a very well planned city laid out in a grid pattern and was designed by a young Bengali engineer and scholar by the name "Vidyadhar Bhattacharya".

Jaipur was and remains the only city in the world, symbolising the nine divisions of the universe, through nine rectangular sectors sub-dividing it. Jaipur is a royal city & this is its most noticeable aspect, small buildings & festivals testify it.

Jaipur & its surroundings are rather like an endless museum. The city also offers an endless variety of crafts. Jewellers here still fashion the beautiful enamel-on-gold pendants, studded on the reverse with precious stones or pearls & turquoise that one sees in miniature paintings. Jaipur's lacquer bangles are famous all over the world. This is a city to be visited.

Prime Attractions of Jaipur

Hawa Mahal : Jaipur's signature building, the Hawa Mahal, a multi layered palace, was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Famous for it's beehive like structure, the Mahal is an interplay of red and pink sand stone, carefully and painstakingly outlined with white borders and motifs.

Amber Fort : Overlooking the Delhi Jaipur Highway, the image of the Amber Fort is beautifully reflected in the lake below. Within the Fort lies the famous Jai Mandir (Temple) with its world renowned Sheesh Mahal, a hall full of Mirrors.

Govt. Central Museum : Located in the centre of the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, this is the oldest Museum in the State. The building was designed by Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob. It was built in 1876 AD when King Edward VII visited India as the Prince of Wales. It was opened to public in 1886 AD.

Jal Mahal Palace : The Jal Mahal Palace, Jaipur is noted for its intricate architecture. The Palace was developed as a pleasure spot. It was used for the royal duck shooting parties.

Jantar Mantar : At the entrance to the City Palace is Jantar Mantar, the 'Yantralaya' of Sawai Jai Singh II, the last great classical astronomer in India. The modernistic structures known as 'Yantras' are the unique creations of this astronomer-king designed by him and built by experts to observe the movements of sun, moon, planets and the stars.

Nahargarh Fort : Beyond the hills of Jaigarh, stands the fort of Nahargarh like a watchful sentinel guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful capital.

Sawai Man Singh Museum : Located within the City Palace complex and nestled amidst old buildings, temples and the palace quarters, this museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. The exhibits comprise of the ancestral collections built up by the successive rulers of Amer and Jaipur.

Sheetla Mata Fair
The Sheetla Mata Fair is held in March-April, the month of Chaitra, in village Seel-Ki-Doongri, Jaipur. Doongri is a hillock on top of which the shrine of Sheetla Mata stands. The fair is held in her honour every year and attracts hordes of visitors from far and wide.

Archeological Museum Ajmer : Located in the Dil-e-Aram Gardens, of Amer, the ancient capital of Jaipur, was established in 1949.

Banganga Fair
The Banganga Fair is held annually near a rivulet, 11-km from the historical township of Bairath in Jaipur district, on the full moon day of Vaishakh (April- May). Visiting the Banganga Fair, taking a bath and paying homage to the holy sites in the vicinity at this time is therefore considered very auspicious by the pilgrims who come from Alwar, Behror, Jaipur, Bharatpur and many other places.

Birla Mandir : Birla Mandir or the Lakshmi - Narayan Temple, situated just below the Mooti Doongari castle.Built on raised ground, it is surrounded by large lush green gardens.

City Palace : The City Palace is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art and architecture. The City Palace complex houses several palatial structures. In the heart of the old Jaipur city, the City Palace occupies a large area divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings.

Gogaji Fair
Gogaji Fair is held in the memory of a popular hero of the area who is known as Goga Veer among the Hindus and Jahar Peer among the Muslims. The Kayam Khani Muslims claim descent from him and regard him as a peer (saint).

Govind Devji Temple : Located in the central pavilion of the elaborate sprawling Jai Niwas Garden, to the north of the magnificent Chandra Mahal, is the miniature temple of Lord Krishna.

Hawa Mahal Museum :Just behind the beautiful Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) in the adjoining Partap Mandir, a museum was set up in the year 1983. Preserved here, is the sculptural heritage collected from Ganeshwar, Virat Nagar, Raid, Sambhar and Museum of Indology, Jaipur Nagar.

Jaigarh Fort : It is one of the few military structures of medieval 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 giant mounted cannon

Modern Art Gallery
A small gallery in the first floor of the Ravindra Manch Auditorium in Ram Niwas Garden of Jaipur shows a selection of works by the well known modem artists and sculptors of Rajasthan.

Ram Niwas Garden : The popular Ram Niwas Gardens located in Jaipur were laid out by the last Maharaja Ram Singh II, as a famine relief project. At the centre is the splendid central museum and near by is a small zoo and a bird park, good on atmosphere but short on animals.

Shri Mahavirji Fair : The Shri Mahavirji Fair is held from Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi to Baisakh Krishna Dwitiya (March-April) to commemorate the memory of Shri Mahavir Swami, the 24th Tirthankara (saint) of the Jains, in Chandan Gaon. Among the visitors to the fair are the principal followers of Mahavir Swami - the Digambar Jains, who come from far and wide to pay homage to the saint at the shrine.

Sisodia Rani-ka-Bagh : Along the road to Agra through a narrow gorge in the south-eastern corner of the walled city, is situated Sisodia Rani-ka-Bagh, the largest and the most famous garden built by Sawai Jai Singh II for his Sisodia Queen.

Vidyadhar Garden : located near the Sisodia Gardens is a beautiful vineyard, which unfolds itself in the valley. It is named after Vidyadhar Bhattacharjee, the architect of Jaipur. Cuddled in a narrow valley, this beautiful garden was built in honour of Jai Singh's chief architect and town planner.

Virat Nagar Museum : The museum, although not very large has the richest collection. The excavated material like potteries, pikkins, old coins, seals, metallic pieces, weapons and statues have been exhibited here.

Excursions from Jaipur

Galta Temple (3Km.)
Located about 10-km from Jaipur, Galta is a holy pilgrimage centre, having a temple dedicated to Sun God. This temple is only one of its kind in this part of the country. The small Sun Temple, built by Diwan Kriparam on the top of the highest peak is visible from any spot in Jaipur.

Samode Palace (40Km.)
40 kms northwest from Jaipur is the splendid Samode Palace set amidst fairy tale surroundings. Nestled picturesquely amidst rugged hills, Samode Palace with its stately grandeur and frescoed walls is one of the most impressive small palaces in whole of Rajasthan.

Gaitor
(7Km.)
There are memorials to the queens in the Maharani-ki-Chhatri complex near the Ramgarh road crossing. The white marble cenotaph of Maharajah Jai Singh II is the most impressive and is decorated with carved peacocks. Next to it is the cenotaph of his son. The island palace-Jal Mahal built by Sawai Madho Singh as a pleasure spot at the centre of the Man Sagar Lake, and the Kanak Vrindavan complex of temples and gardens recently renovated add to its pristine glory. To the west of this road, in a narrow valley, is the royal cremation ground at Gaitor. 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 stands out for its delicate carvings and beautiful shape.

Ramgarh Lake
(32Km.)
A huge artificial lake created by constructing a high dam amidst tree covered hills. While the temple of Jamwa Mata and the ruins of the old fort are some of its antiquities, its beautiful landscape makes it an idyllic picnic spot.

Significance - Jaipur
Capital City of Rajasthan State.

Leisure - Jaipur
Shopping in Jaipur
A major gem and jewellery centre, Jaipur is famous for Kundan work (enamel work on gold). Also there are woollen carpets, cotton rugs, marble statuary, enamelled wares, brass ware, hand-block printed Sanganeri and Bagru Cotton fabrics, exotic blue pottery made from crushed quartz, leather footwear and more.

How To Get There - Jaipur
By Air
Jaipur has its own airport, and is well connected to all other tourist and business centres.

By Rail
An excellent connection to Delhi by Shatabdi Express and the Pink City Express. Other connections to Jaipur are from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahemadabad, Secunderabad and Lucknow.

By Road
A network of reasonably comfortable tourist buses, run by road corporations of Rajasthan, Haryana and others.

Local Transport
Tourist taxis and RTDC buses are available.

Places To Stay - Jaipur
There are several budget hotels and paying guest accommodations available in Jaipur.

About the Author

http://www.rajasthanunlimited.com/

I saw a gross bug today... it was pink and it looked like a cross between a slug, caterpillar and a shrimp?

It was curled like a half moon (or shrimp), had short little legs and at least one eye. It was the grossest things I have ever seen. My brave aunt picked it up in tissue and put it in the toilet and we saw bubbles from it trying to breathe. It was about 1/2 inch wide, 3 inches long and as thick as a slug.

Your aunt was really brave,killing it. Why didn't you just put it outside? Do you happen to have a cat that was pregnant,because it sounds very much like a miscarried kitten embryo.Stop killing things just because they are different.

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