Jaipur Travel Guide
A vibrant city, which was established in the year 1727, Jaipur has been acclaimed as the first planned city in India. The capital of the former Kachwaha rulers, Jaipur offers a multifaceted tourist destination. This thriving city has derived its name from the illustrious ruler SawaiJaisingh II, whose progressive thinking gave birth to a perfectly planned city. The term Sawai has been bestowed upon him by the then Mughal Emperor as an honour to his multifarious personality. This poetic expression literally means JaiSingh was valuable than one.
Widely acclaimed as the Pink City of India, Jaipur proliferates in its magnificent past, bellicose history, renowned tradition, architectural elegance and natural vista. Though the Rajputs are famed for their valor and bravery, the rulers of Jaipur differ from the rest of the Rajput clan. Apart from exhibiting their chivalry, these great warriors have shown much diplomacy in their relation with the mighty kingdoms of their time.
The planning of the city in accordance with the strict norms of Indian Vasthusasthra shows their credentials as good administrators. Perhaps this might be the only city in the world, which symbolizes the nine divisions of the Universe. Jaipur is mostly renowned for its majestic buildings, which displays unique architectural grandeur. These stunning facades of medieval India have received a global acclaim for its intricate and exquisite charm.
A quaint place, Jaipur reproduces its magnificent past through its sumptuous forts, captivating palaces, littered walls, serene temples and lovely havelis. Its effervescent panorama is attributed by the charismatic lure of its outstanding gardens. The serenity and tranquility of the verdant gardens with its marvelously tended landscapes and colorful floral arcades presents a picturesque appeal, which will certainly mesmerize any visitor.
It is not just monuments and palaces that Jaipur offers. Apart from an array of fascinating attractions this vivacious city holds exquisite handicrafts and marvelous jewelry. These delicate artifacts, which portray the rustic and colourful village life, would be a great treasure for every visitor. With its charismatic panorama of architectural grandeur, tradition, and natural splendor, a trip to Jaipur would be a retreat to those who are enthusiastic and eager to know about the rich cultural heritage of India.
How to Reach Jaipur
- Air – The city is connected by both National and International flights. The airport is about 10 km from the town and it is connected by means of buses and taxis.
- Rail – Jaipur is well connected with all major cities of India by means of trains.
- Road – National Highways 8, 11 and 12 connect Jaipur to major cities of India.
Distance of Jaipur from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Delhi |
280 |
|
Udaipur |
400 |
|
Jaisalmer |
560 |
|
Jodhpur |
340 |
|
Mount Abu |
500 |
Weather
Jaipur Temperature
- Summer (Mar to Jun) – Temperatures are high and range between (16°C) to (41°C). Not a recommended season for tourists due to the excessive heat
- Monsoon – (Jul to Sep) – Being a desert area, rainfall in Rajasthan is not very high. Temperature is on the higher side.
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are low and range between (6°C) to (33°C)
- Best Time to Visit – Oct to Feb is the best season for tourism
What to See In Jaipur
Amber fort, also known as Amber Palace boasts of an artistic grandeur and structural expertise. It is a reminiscent of the bravery and courage of the mighty Rajputs, who had played a remarkable role in the history of medieval India. This rambling Palace depicts the true lifestyle of the gutsy Rajput’s who are better known for their radical, audacious, volatile and decadent behavior. One among the best hill top palaces, amber palace presents a curious blend of Muslim and Hindu architectural design. An aide memoir of the yesteryears, this palace is a redolent of creativeness of the artisans of ancient time.
The palace is surrounded by a sky-scraping wall on all sides, which makes it slightly difficult to find out the main entrance of the palace. The plan of this extensive mansion is the plan of the city itself and so the palace can be accessed only after roaming through the various bazaars of the city. Occupying the 1/7th area of the city, the city palace poses as an impressive citadel, which displays an elegant mixture of Mughal and Rajasthan style architecture.
Built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, this complex building has witnessed many additions and alterations to it. Numerous courtyards, extensive gardens and buildings make the palace as an imposing structure. It houses several splendid formations like Mubarak Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple, Badal Mahal and the City Palace Museum.
One of the most imposing structures in Jaipur, Hawa Mahal is built in the year 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh. This beautiful monument was the structural design of the eminent artist LalchandUsta. A five storied structure, Hawa Mahal, is a huge tapering composition with frequent arches, small windows, spires and trellised casements in spite of its lofty formations, the Hawa Mahal appears like a light, roomy structure which might puff away by a gentle breeze.
Hawa Mahal is part and parcel of the ladies quarters and it might be a gallery for the royal ladies to watch the proceedings around them. The airy interiors of Hawa Mahal pose a cooling atmosphere where the royal ladies can sit comfortably and watch everything whilst remaining veiled. Placed beautifully in the midst of the busy Johari Bazaar, Hawa Mahal reminds the vivid history of Jaipur. Built up of red sand stones, this magical structure, which is otherwise called the palace of winds differs from any other monuments one could see in the Pink City.
It is an elegantly designed palace situated at the centre of the Man Sagar Lake of Jaipur. It is also called Water Palace. This magical palace appears as if floating upon the lake. The color of the stone walls of the palace against the blue shimmer of the lake water provides a memorable experience to the tourist.
It is an astronomical observatory built by Raja Jai Singh in the 18th century. It is a UNESCO world heritage site owing to the scientific instrumentation and exemplary architecture of the site. There are around 20 gigantic fixed instruments inside the observatory. It is an illustrious edifice for it is reminiscent of the cosmological skills of the people of those times.
Situated on the majestic Chilh-ka-Tola or the hill of eagles, the lofty walls of the Jaigarh Fort spread over a vast expansion of three kilometers. This impregnable fort of the Rajput was built purely for the defense activities. Doongar darwaza and Awani darwaza are the entry points to this mighty fortress. What makes this elegant fort so famous is its huge canon, which is believed to be the largest one of its kind in the world. Ironically this was not used for a single time in the long history of the fort.
Other conspicuous structures of the fort encompasses Diya Burj, Vijay Garh and the palace complex. Divya Burj is a seven-storied formation, which commands the pictorial view of the whole city. Vijay Garh is the vast armory section where one can have a glimpse of the arms and ammunition of the Rajputs. The palace complex is also a worthy to watch spectacle with its exquisite architecture. Among all the formations, the most fascinating lure would be the Museum, which proudly depicts the history of this ancient fortress.
Constructed by Sawai Jaya Singh, Nahargarh Fort houses a mysterious tale with it. Its massive walls and bastions still hold the royal elegance, though much of it was not able to with stood the ramification of time. A tedious but delightful trek of two kilometers will fetch one on the uphill from where one can watch the fabulous view of the entire city.
Later in the year 1880 Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh altered Nahargarh into a pleasure palace with gorgeous interiors of stucco designs and murals. The palace exhibits an amalgamation of Indian and European architecture. The palace was so designed that each of the nine wives of the King was given a two-storied apartment. It is interesting to see that the king can join any of the queens without the knowledge of others.
Other Details
What to Do
Experience the amazing cuisine of Jaipur. Breathe in the local traditions and cultures. Visit the bazaar and divulge in the amazing on goings out there.
Where to Eat
- Copper Chimney – Street MI Road. One of the most called for restaurants in Jaipur this has a long line of waiters ensuring quick service along with the delicacy of cold beers. Cuisines are both veg and non-veg including Chinese Continental and Rajasthani Specials.
- Laxmi Misthan Bhandar — Street Johari Bazaar. This is a place that has been running since 1954. With the AC running and the sweet shop adjacent, people like to drop in here actually.
- Om revolving Restaurant — Church road. This purely veg restaurant revolves around to give an amazing view of the city. Ghazal is played at times with the cuisine ranging from Indian, Chinese, and Continental to pure Rajasthani. Thalis are also available.
What to Buy
Gems of Jaipur are good options for both collections and souvenirs. The local ‘Kundan’ style jewellery is famous throughout the world. Exotic blue pottery, block printed textiles of Sanganer and Bagru, the batik painting, sandal wood carving items, beautiful stone carvings, tie & dye fabrics, Mojari- (the local shoe), etc are the other shopping options in the city. Also famous are the Rajais of Jaipur. Colorful, soft, warm and long-lasting they are something to look forward to.
Get Around
- Bus
- Auto rickshaw
- Cycle rickshaw
- Taxi
Popular Tour Plans - Rajasthan
1-3 Days
1. Jaipur (2N/3D)
4-6 Days
1. Delhi-Agra-Jaipur (6N/7D)
7-10 Days
1. Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Bikaner-Jaipur (9N/10D)
2. Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Udaipur (8N/9D)
3. Delhi-Agra-Ranthambhore-Jaipur (9N/10D)
> 10 Days
1. Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Mount Abu-Udaipur-Pushkar-Jaipur (12N/13D)
2. Delhi-Corbett National Park-Agra-Bharatpur-Ranthambhore-Jaipur (12N/13D)