GENERAL INFORMATION

This famous city is the capital of Rajasthan and has earned universal are known as the ‘Pink City’, and pink it is with beautiful constructed palaces, havellis and forts. Tall, rugged men with handle-bar whiskers sport bright-pink turbans. Jaipur, which means the city of victory, was built exactly 269 years back and is 262 km by road from Delhi. A strong wall encircles the old city and even today has a suggestion of formidable strength, its function of protecting all within is obvious.

The plains of Rajasthan of which Jaipur is the capital once thundered and echoed with the clash of swords and the drums of war.

Built in 1721 by Sawai Jai Singh-II, Jaipur was the first planned city of its time (the earlier planned city in Northern India having been built near Taxila sometime in the 2^nd century BC).

Jaipur was planned by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Bengali architect, in a grid system with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes and uniform rows of shops on either side of the mani bazaars, all arranged in nine rectangular city sectors (chokris). The city itself is an attractive creation worthy of universal admiration.

There is a feast in store for the tourist. Attractive monuments where one can breathe the fragrance of history. Comfortable hotels, once the proud palaces of kings, parks, gardens, and excursions of nearby places of interest, make Jaipur a tourist’s paradise.

WHAT 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 gold and coloured stones. Two elephants carved in marble guard the entrance, where retainers whose families have served generations of rulers are at hand to serve as guides.

The palace interior houses a Museum containing select collection of various types of Rajasthani dresses, a fascinating amoury 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, Persina, 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 Indian astronomy. The two Ram Yantras used for gauging attitudes are unique in their isolation. This is the largest of five observatories founded by Sawai Jai Singh-II various parts of the country.

HAWA MAHAL

Built 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 Bazaar is the multiniched five storey backside of the complex. It was conceived to provide adequate vantage position behind delicate stone-carved jail screens to the palace women for watching the royal processions passing through the bazaar below.

GOVIND DEVJI TEMPLE

In the central pavilion of the sprawling Jai Niwas Garden to the north of the Chandra Mahal is the spireless 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 Tripollia Bazaar is the highest structure in Jaipur. It was built by Sawai Ishwari Singh in 1749 to commemorate on 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 herbarium, 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 Albert Hall designed by Sir Swinton Jacob was opened later with sculptures, paintings, decorative art objects, natural history specimens, an Egyptian mummy and the celebrated Persina-Garden Carpet.

Recently, the Rabindra Manch with an auditorium, a modem art gallery and an open-air-theatre have been added to promote cultural activities.

DOLLS MUSEUM

Attractive dolls from various countries are housed in the compound of the school for deaf and mute children, near the Police Memorial.

BM BIRLA PLANETARIUM

Equipped with modern computerized 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 serence green landscape. The small temple of the Sun god, built by Diwan Kriparam on the top of the highest peak, is visible from all parts of the city.

JAIN TEMPLE

The Jain temple on the night side of the Agra road where it reached level land has some of the most beautiful paintings of 19^th century Jaipur style on its inner walls.

MOTI DOONGARI AND LAKSHMI NARAYAN TEMPLE

The other important landmarks dotting the southern horizon are the small privately-hilltop for of Moti Doongari shaped like a Scottish castle, the Ganesh Temple at the foot of the hill and sparking white marble Lakshmi Narayan Temple built a few years.

STATUE CIRCLE AND PLANETARIUM

The full length white marble statue of Sawai Jai Sing installed in the centre of the Circle in the newly developed ‘C’ Scheme area, was erected as a homage to the founder of Jaipur. The latest addition in this area is the BM Birla Planetarium and Science Centre.

GAITORE

On the road to Amer 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 spot of the centre of the Man Sagar Lake; and the konark Vrindavan complex of temples and gardens recently renovated to its pristine glory. To the west of this road, in a 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 cut for its delicate carvings and beautiful shape.

SISODIA RANI GARDEN

Along the road to Agra through a narrow gorge in the south eastem corner of the walled city, several landscaped gardens were constructed by the kings and important courtiers in the 18^th and 19^th 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 suites 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 of 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 of about two centuries.

The palace complex rising from the placid waters of the Maotha lake is approached through a steep path, now often traversed by tourists on elephant-back to Singh Pole and Jaleb Chowk. The flights of stairs rise from one end to the chowk, one leading to the elegant temple of Shila Mata and other of the palace complex. The image of the Mother Goddess worshipped with reverence by thousands of devotees every day was brought from Jessore in East Bangal (now in Bangladesh) by Raja Man Singh and installed here.

The front courtyard of the palace complex is dominated by the spectacular pillared hail of the Diwan-e-Am and the double-storeyed painted gateway Genesh Pole. Beyond the corridors and galleries on either side of a small elegant Charbagh style garden are such Niwas to its right and Jas 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 dodoes. The older and simpler structures at the for end were built by Raja Man Singh in the later year of the 16^th century.

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

OLD CITY

The City of Amer, once a prosperous settlement of nobles, craftsmen and ordinary citizens, is now mostly in ruins. The beautitifully carved and painted Jagar Shiromani temple containing the idol of Lord Krishna, popularly associated with the celebrated saint poetess. Meera Bai, the old 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 tower and a giant 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 building added by Sawai Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II still survive.

EXCURSIONS

SANGANER

12 k on Ton road. It has beautiful Jain temples and important craft industries besides the ruined palaces, broken city walls, triple gateway sand a neglected Mughal garden. Large and small units of block and screen printers produce some of the finest hand-printed textiles in the country admired everywhere.

BAGRU

35 km south-west on Ajmer road. The ground level front is still in good shape. Its attraction is hand printed cloth industry. The designs are simpler here, the technique less complicated and the colours of more earthy shades.

RAMGARH LAKE

32 km north-east, it is famous for hits huge artificial lake created by constructing a high bund amidst tree covered hills where the citizens throng in a large number for picnic during the rainy season. The temple of Jamwa Mata and the ruins of the old fort still remind of its hoary antiquity.

SAMOD

40 km north-west. The old palace renovated and rebuilt provides the most gorgeously decorated and painted examples of Rajput haveli architecture. It provides and ideal spot for outling.

BAIRATH

86 km on the Shahpura-Alwar road. It contains the relics and structures of Mauryan. Mughal and Rajput periods. The excavated remains of a circular Buddhist temple, unique in Rajasthan and the earliest structural temple in India, make it an important historical place. Akbar the great, constructed a mint and hisson Jahangir a beautiful Mughal garden and a remarkable monument with painted chhatris and walls.

ABHANERI

128 km north-east of the Agra road near Bandikui. It is famous for the temple of Harshad Mata built in the 7^th-8^th century and the stepped Chanda badi. Two Jain temples were built at a later period.

SAMBHAR

94 km west, it is famous for the country’s largest inland salt lake. It is also known for holy Devayani tank, the palace and the nearby Naiiasar.

JAISINGHPURA KHOR

12 km off Amer road. One of the settlements of the Meena tribe, it has an imposing fort, a Jain temple and a step-well in a picturesque location.

MADHOGARH-TUNGA

40 km on Bassi-Lalsot, off Agra road. One of the historic battles between Jaipur forces and Marathas was fought at Tunga. Commanding a splendid landscape, the Fort of Madhogarh nestles amidst mango orchards.

SHOPPING

Jaipur offers myriad shopping bargains. A major gem and jewellery centre. It is famous for kundan and meenakari work (enamel work on gold). Also there are woolen carpets, cotton rugs, marble statuary, enameled wares, brass ware, hand-block printed Sanganeri and Bargru cotton fabrics, exotic blue pottery made from crushed quartz, leather footwear and more.

MAJOR FESTIVALS

Besides the national festivals, there are celebrations unique to Jaipur. Gangaur festival in March/April, concentrating on women. Elephant festivals, in March when the pachyderm is used for playing holi and polo. Teej, in July marking the onset of monsoons.

HOW TO GET THERE

AIR

There are flight connections to Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Mumbai.

RAIL

Excellent connection from Delhi is Shatabdi Express, which provides a fast, air-conditioned of vestibule, rail service. Other connections to Jaipur are from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Secundrabad, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata.

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