Jaipur Sightseeing, Quick Facts, History, Packages, Tours & Excursions

You can't really see everything Jaipur has to offer in a day or two. Either spend a week exploring all its facets, or come back for repeat visits. The famous Hawa Mahal or the 'Palace of the Winds' is the pride of Jaipur. Built in 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh, the pink sandstone palace resembles a honeycomb structure. It was exclusively designed for the queens who could watch the proceedings on the road and the colourful bazaars below through the intricately latticed windows. The five-storeyed pyramid-shaped structure has 953 perforated windows or jharokhas which keep the palace cool. The top three stories are just of single room thickness, while the base has two courtyards. Hawa Mahal offers some great views of the city and its surroundings.

The City Palace spread over a large area is a beautiful blend of Rajputana and Mughal architecture with spacious courtyards, manicured gardens and temples. You can spend around 2-3 hours here exploring the Diwan-e-Am and Diwan-e-Khas besides getting acquainted with the flamboyant lifestyle of the erstwhile royalty. Mubarak Mahal, the reception hall of the kings is a museum now where exquisite royal costumes of the past are on display.

Chandra Mahal is a seven-storeyed opulent palace where the family of Maharaja Bhavani Singh still resides at present. The palace residence is not open for public viewing; however the ground and first floor form the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum.  You can see a fascinating display of paintings, carpets, jewellery and weapons here.

Diwan-i-Aam, the former ceremonial hall is an art gallery now where rare manuscripts, Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings and an elaborately crafted silver throne are on display. Sileh Khana, the erstwhile armoury houses the museum where shields and other ancient weapons are displayed. Between Diwan-i-Aam and Sileh Khana lies Diwan-i-Khas with its highlight of two giant silver urns. The urns listed in the Guinness Book of Records are the largest silver objects in the world. These vessels were made for Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, who carried Ganga water along with him for use in London.

Other interesting sights in Jaipur include Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh II. Perhaps one of the largest and the best preserved of all the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh, Jantar Mantar has 16 astronomical instruments. These geometric devices built of local stone and marble were used for measuring time, predicting eclipses and determining celestial altitudes. The famous devices include Ram Yantra used to determine the altitude of the sun, Rashivalaya Yantra used to draw up horoscopes and the 23-m high Samrat Yantra to forecast crop prospects.

Sisodia Rani ka Bagh was built by Sawai Jai Singh for his second wife. Laid out in Mughal style, the three tiered multi-level garden is quite a pleasant escape from the city's hustle and bustle. The aesthetic landscaping replete with ornate figurines, galleries and sparkling pools makes the garden a visual treat.

Jal Mahal or Water Palace is situated on the Man Sagar Lake which gets filled up during the monsoons and creates a romantic sight. Inspired by the Lake Palace in Udaipur, Jal Mahal built in the 18th century was used mainly for royal duck shooting parties. The first four floors of the building are under water; only the top floor is visible outside. The Lake Palace can be best viewed from the Nahargarh Fort.

Forts of Jaipur:

Amber Fort set in front of Maota Lake is built in white marble and red sandstone. The gigantic fort is perched high on the hills and protected by Jaigarh Fort. A steep 10-minute climb through Suraj Po, the main entrance, leads you to the fort. Inside, there is a huge courtyard, Jaleb Chowk, now lined with souvenir and refreshment shops.

The colossal fort was built in 1952 by Man Singh I but completed by Jai Singh I. The palace lies inside the massive Amber fort complex with gateways, gardens, halls, stairways, pillared pavilions and temples. The sophisticated interiors of the palace quarters are a surprising contrast to the rugged appearance of the fort outside. Intricate carvings on the walls and ceilings, delicate paintings of hunting scenes and detailed mirror work are just some of the fascinating highlights of Amber Fort. Sheesh Mahal inside the fort is a stunning sight with thousands of mirror pieces adorning the walls and the ceilings. Jas Mandir with its latticed windows and a floral ceiling overlooks the Maota Lake. Shila Devi Temple has silver doors, silver oil lamps and gigantic pillars which resemble banana trees.

Another fort of Jaipur is the Nahargarh Fort, also called as Tiger Fort. It was the first fort to be built by the kings of Jaipur. Perched high on the Aravali range, the fort offers a superb view of the city and the Man Sagar Lake. Sawai Jai Singh built the fort in 1734 but several modifications were done by subsequent rulers later on. The most notable structure inside the fort is Madhavendra Bhawan laid out in a maze of terraces and courtyards. It has 9 identical suits for the king's nine queens. The walls and pillars of the Bhawan exhibit a unique form of arayish or a form of plaster work which is hand polished with agate to produce a marble finish. The result is simply astounding. Government Central Museum or Albert Hall is a multi-layered museum designed by Sir Samuel Jacob. Located in Ramniwas Gardens, the oldest museum of Jaipur displays portraits of royalty, metal ware, glazed pottery, jewellery, sculpture and fine Mughal and Rajput miniature paintings. One of the world's largest Persian garden carpets is the pride of the museum, which can be seen in the Durbar Hall on request.

Other Activities:

Shopping:

Jaipur is undoubtedly the Mecca for traditional Rajasthani items ranging from mojaris or jootis to vibrant tie-dye fabrics and blue pottery, not to forget the silver jewellery and precious stones. Jaipur is also famous for kundankari (inlay work with gems) and Meenakari (enamel work).  Johari Bazaar is the one stop shop for jewellery and stone work, while Bapu Bazaar remains the place for jootis (embroidered, sequined or plain flat chappals) and unstitched tie-dye fabrics. Tripolia Bazaar is the place to look for colourful bandhni items, lacquered brass and carved brass items, marble statues, wooden drawer chests, picture and mirror frames. Other places to look for these items are Chaura Rasta and Nehru Bazaar.

For blue pottery, you can either try M.I Road or Neerja International on Bhawani Singh Road. M.I Road has a row of emporia that sell handicrafts, export-quality carpets and brassware. Sanganer Village near the airport is famous for its block-print fabrics and blue pottery, besides hand-made paper.

Jaipur Food:

The colourful city of Jaipur will not disappoint food buffs either. From a variety of rotis made out of different flours to kachoris and sweet meats, Jaipur has it all. Check out M.I Road's multi-cuisine restaurants if you want cosmopolitan fare. Natraj Hotel is famous for its vegetarian delights and amazing desserts. For simple but spicy local fare visit the eateries at Tank Road.

Laxmi Misthan Bhandar at Johari Bazaar specializes in sweets and savouries and is a must for people who have a sweet tooth. Do try their Ghewar, Rajasthan's unique sweet preparation. Handi is yet another place to enjoy delectable kathi kababs and mutton cooked in handis or clay pots. For a real taste of authentic Rajasthani cuisine drive over to Choki Dhani, around 25 Km from the city. This ethnic village resort is famous for its traditional ambience and variety of entertainment. Besides savouring Rajasthani food from Dal Baati Churma to Gatte ki Sabzi, the village complex also has puppet shows, dances, mehendi wallis and other forms of entertainment.

Tourism Info:

Govt. of India Tourist Office

Hotel Khasa Kothi, Jaipur

Jaipur or the "Pink City' as it is popularly called makes up one of the three points in the Golden Triangle of Indian tourism, the other two being Delhi and Agra. It is also the gateway to Rajasthan - and a visit to the city gives you a glimpse of the entire Rajasthan experience: forts, palaces, pink sandstone monuments, museums and colourful shopping.

Built in 1727 AD by the famous astronomer king, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur is a blend of princely heritage, feudal traditions and genuine Rajasthani hospitality. It took almost six years to complete the city of Jaipur, which was interestingly, the country's first modern city to be designed in a grid form over two centuries ago.

The city is surrounded by a crenellated wall with seven gates meant for protection against the invading enemies. At the beginning of the city stands the imposing Amer Fort, as if guarding the entrance. Around its bye-lanes is the fascinating old township of Amer, which is recently being restored by archaeologists and conservationists.

The city is strewn with palaces, monuments, gardens and  museums. Apart from these are the fascinating havelis of the traditional residents - Jaipur has a tale to narrate in every nook and corner. The 'Old City' is typically the heart of Jaipur. Designed in the 18th century, the narrow streets and squares bustle with shoppers and tourists all around.  Stemming from the main streets are narrow pedestrian lanes where everything is on display from silver jewellery to colourful textiles and local handicrafts. The pink-washed buildings jostle with the colourful local shops replete with traditional handicrafts and ethnic goods.

Today, Jaipur is fast emerging as a commercial hub for handicraft exports, jewellery and semi-precious stones, besides witnessing a rapid growth in the hospitality sector. There is practically no off-season for tourists - although winters are the preferred months for visiting here.