Places to see
Amber fort
11 kms away from Jaipur is the Amer fort or the Amber fort. The fort borders the Maota Lake, and is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan. Jaigarh Fort is located on a hill above the Amber complex, and is constructed of red sandstone and white marble. Amber Fort is also constructed of white and red sandstone. Amber Fort is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) architecture.
Just prior to the palace entrance is a narrow staircase leading to the Kali Temple, also known as the Shila Devi Temple, made popular for its enormous silver lions. There is a image of Ganesha at the temple entrance, carved entirely from a single piece of coral which worth a watch. One can also ride up to the fort from the base of the hill on elephants. One of the most striking parts of the fort is the Hall of Mirrors. It is said that the hall could be lit at night by a single candle because of all the tiny, intricate mirrors.
11 kms away from Jaipur is the Amer fort or the Amber fort. The fort borders the Maota Lake, and is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan. Jaigarh Fort is located on a hill above the Amber complex, and is constructed of red sandstone and white marble. Amber Fort is also constructed of white and red sandstone. Amber Fort is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) architecture.
Just prior to the palace entrance is a narrow staircase leading to the Kali Temple, also known as the Shila Devi Temple, made popular for its enormous silver lions. There is a image of Ganesha at the temple entrance, carved entirely from a single piece of coral which worth a watch. One can also ride up to the fort from the base of the hill on elephants. One of the most striking parts of the fort is the Hall of Mirrors. It is said that the hall could be lit at night by a single candle because of all the tiny, intricate mirrors.
City Palace
The City Palace as the name suggests lies in the heart of the city. Two elephants carved in marble guard the entrance. The centre of the complex is the Chandra Mahal is where the present royal famaily residing.
The buildings around the Chandra Mahal is open to the public and it also forms a part of the museum which has a few exquisite silver urns, swords, outfits in gold etc. They are placed in the Mubarak Mahal and Diwan-i-am. The painted doorways arches and pillared halls form a speciality of the City Palace architecture.
The City Palace has seven stories and each story is known by a different name. The top most is called Mukut Mahal. It also has an art gallery with a fine collection of paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit, acquired by Sawai Jai Singh-II for his study of planets and their movements. Today the palace is also a reisdence of the royal family.
A canon ceremonially placed inside the Jaipur City Palace. The actual precints of the palace is a place meant to see the beautiful architecture of the period when it was built, and is very well preserved. Maharani's Palace, which was meant for royal queens, has been converted into a museum, showcasing weapons dated back to 15th century. Badal Mahal stands opposite to Chandra Mahal and while crossing the path, one would find Govind Dev Ji Temple between them.
Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. It was actually built in the deign of a crown of Lord Krishna. It is actually a part of the City Palace and it was called the Zenana or the womens chambers.
This was the place where the women of the royal family would sit concealed and have a look at the street below. In Hindi these screen windows are reffered to as Jharokhas. It also provides a good ventilation.
Located on one side of the City Palace complex is the Hawa mahal. It is easily viewed from the street. The Hawa Mahal is located inbetween a bustling market. This beautiful piece of Archtecture has 5 tiers of corridoors on the inside with screen windows which over look the street down.
The Hawa Mahal is 5 storied and built in red and pink sandstone. There are said to be 953 small windows looking into the streets and even in hot summer months the windows allow ventilation keeping it cool.
There is no known fact as to why Hawa Mahl was built. It is obvious that it was bot built as a residence. The best time to witness the beauty of the Hawa Mahal is early in the morning when the sun rises and the yellow rays fall on the sandstone.
Jantar Mantar
Outside the palace of the city gate is the Jantar Mantar which is a creation related to astronomy. The Jantar Mantar is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja (Ruler) Jai Singh II who was a keen to know and study the movements of the sun and earth. The name 'Jantar' means instrument and 'Mantar' means calculation.
Apart from this there are other astronomical observations like this in Ujjain, Banaras and Delhi. But the one is Jaipur is the largest of these. The concrete structure can measure the time as well as the altitude, map and also the movement of the planets and the stars.
The observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides. The Hindu chhatri (small cupola) on top is used as a platform for announcing eclipses and the arrival of monsoons.
The instruments are in most cases huge structures. The samrat yantra, for instance, which is a sundial, can be used to tell the time to an accuracy of about two seconds in Jaipur local time. It is the world's largest sundial, standing 27 meters tall.
Gaitore
Gaitore is the final resting place of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Here one can see the cenotaps of the Maharajas with somewhat umbrella shaped memorials.
Galtaji
Galtaji is a popular pilgrimage spot which is situated on a hill full of spires and peaks. The temples on the hill are very old and there is also a sun temple which is located on the highest point of the hill.
Govind Devji Temple
The temple is part of the City Palace. The royal family highly revers this Krishna temple.
Jaigarh
This place became famous when rumours of buried treasure came up. This place was then defended by the Mina tribesmen in the Kachchawaha army. The fort here is very old but was renovated in the 16th century.
Jai Mahal
Jai Mahal is a tiny palace which is loated in the middle of a small lake. It was once supposed to be the hunting lodge of the kings. It cannot be reached just seen from the banks of the lake.
Nahargarh
One of the three hilltop forts that gurd Jaipur, the other mentioned earlier Jaigarh is in a ruined state. It was used by the Royal family as picnics.
Jaleb Chowk
It is once a attendance court where sttendants, elephants, horses etc were collected before their procession.
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
As the name suggests the Sisodia Rani ka Bagh was meant one of the queens of Udaipur to lay down her home sickness. It has pavilions ith channels of water running through. The royals used it as the summer gardens.
Sargasuli
It is a tower which was built by Maharaja Ishwari Singh to commemorate the victory of a battle.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Is a new temple built now whcih is made of marble and looks very beautiful
Excursions
Ranthambore (180 kms)
The fort of Ranthambore has been abandoned to nature for in this nationsl park the tiger has the right of stay. One of the country's finer tiger reserves, its topography of low hills and large lakes provides a tranquil idyll.
Shekhawati (150 kms)
A region of small towns Shekhawati is primilarly known for its havelis or mansions richly ornamented with frescoes that over time ranged from the sacred to the secular. The open air art gallery of Rajasthan Shekhawati comprises the present day districts of Sikarand Jhunjhunu. The frescoes range between 1750 to 1930.
Awan (150 kms)
Established in the 15th century and loccated between Jaipur and Bndi in the forested hills, this was a shooting preserve for the Maharaja of Bundi and later used by the complete princely order. The castle Awan is a palatial hunting lodge more reminiscent of the summer retreats most royal families built in the nature of gardens.
Bhandarej (62 kms)
The village that has had a crucial role to play in history this was a Badgujar settlement till the 11th century when the Kachchwa had won it for themselves making Dausa their capital much before they occupied Amber, Bhandarej is 62 kms away from jaipur and its sorrounding countryside is ideal for jeep and horse safaris, and camel rides. One can visit Mina villages as well as some medieval step wells.
Sambar lake (94 kms)
Sambhar lake is India's largest inland salt lake with a temple dedicated to Shakambhari Devi. This place produces about 8% of India's total salt production and the wetlands attracts flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia.
Sawai Madopur(182 kms)
The base for visits to Ranthambore National Park, where the tiger can be easily sighted and where heards of deer are common. Ranthambore was one of the medieval India's greatest forts and has been the site for some fierce battles.
Pushkar (135 kms)
One of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Rajasthan ith its Bhrama temple the only one dedicated to this divinity and the site for the annual camel fair that is now world renowned. Pushkar close to Ajmer is accessible from Jaipur and is a quiet settlement that comes alive during the fair in a breathtaking explosion of colours, sounds and activities.
Pachar (85 kms)
A lake to one side and sand dunes on the other create the natural elements between which the pastoral Pachar village is located. There is also a 18th century fort here.
Neemrana (122 kms)
One of the oldest forts in Rajasthan and a Chauhan stronghold, Neemrana is conveniently located on the Delhi-Jaipur national highway. Almost neglected till very recent times, it is now developing as a industrial settlement. The fort of Neemrana is built in 5 levels, an 18th century step well within walking distance has 11 levels.