Jaipur City Guide

  [Kite Festival: January 14^th 2008]

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Situated at the distance of 261 km southwest of Delhi, the capital of India, Jaipur is one of the most important tourist destinations of North India. Described popularly as the Pink City, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and an essential stop in any tour of Rajasthan, North India. But the city of Jaipur is not only the gateway of Rajasthan, India but also the most appropriate place to explore the versatile attractions of the vibrant and colorful state of Rajasthan, India. Jaipur is called the Pink City because of the pink-colored buildings in its old city. The old walled city of Jaipur was painted in attractive pink color to welcome the England’s Prince Alfred in 1853. Surrounded by an ancient 20 ft high wall and eight gates, the city of Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1727.


The Pink City of Jaipur is the prime example of the culture and traditions of the vibrant & colorful state of Rajasthan, India and dotted with many magnificent forts & palaces and other worth visiting attractions. The city of Jaipur is a well-planned city and has many attention-grabbing attractions to attract the tourists from various parts of the country and the world to the magical land of Rajasthan, India. The impressive City Palace Complex, the Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds), the Jantar Mantar (an open air observatory of outsized astronomical instruments), the Birla Temple and the Jal Mahal are some worth visiting attractions of the Pink City of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Apart from impressive forts & palaces, the fairs & festivals of Rajasthan are also fascinating and attract the tourists from various part the country and the world to the city and the state. It is said that if you want to visit Jaipur at its best, you must visit Jaipur during the period of fairs & festivals. During this period the city has totally a unique charm and never fails to allure the tourists with its amazing fascination.



Some major tourist attractions in Jaipur
The City Palace : The citadel of the Kachchawah Rajput rulers of Jaipur, the City Palace Complex houses a museum with an excellent & rich collection of weapons & costumes of Rajputs & Mughals. The massive City Palace Complex is located in the heart of the Pink City, Jaipur and encircled by high walls. The Palace is set amidst fine gardens & courtyards. The imposing City Palace Complex has also several stunning palaces inside the complex such as Chand Mahal & Mubarak Mahal. During tours to Jaipur the magnificent City Palace Complex is a must visiting site. Without paying a visit to the City Palace Complex your tours to the city of Jaipur will be incomplete.

Hawa Mahal (the Palace of Winds) : The Hawa Mahal is also a very important tourist attraction in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. It is the hallmark of the city. This strange structure was built especially for the royal ladies of Jaipur to visit the various processions and activities of Jaipur without coming out the palace.

Amber Fort : This grand fort is also known as the Amer Fort. Situated at very short distance of 11 km from the city of Jaipur, this grand fort is located atop a hill. One can enjoy an elephant ride from the bottom of the hill to the Amber Fort Complex and feel a royal experience. The fort is an example of a fascinating blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture built in red sandstone and white marble.

Jantar Mantar : The Jantar Mantar is an open air observatory in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India and it was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II.

Jal Mahal : The Jal Mahal is a picturesque palace encircled by the Man Sagar Lake. This breathtakingly beautiful structure was built by Rajput ruler Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 AD for royal duck shooting parties. This magnificent red sandstone palace is located at the very short distance of 6.5 km from the Pink City, Jaipur on the road to Amber.



Jaigarh Fort : Located north of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, the grand Jaigarh Fort was built by Rajput ruler Sawai Jai Ssingh in 1726. This fort is one of the few military structures of medieval India. This impressive fort has a rich museum which houses an amazing collection of Armory and cannons used by Rajput rulers. One can enjoy superb views of grand Amber Fort Complex from here.

Nahargarh Fort : Nahagarh Fort, meaning the home of tigers, is situated at very short distance of 6 km northwest of Jaipur. Perched on the rocky Aravalli Hills, Nahargarh Fort was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, in 1734. One can enjoy a superb view of the beautiful Man Sagar Lake and the imposing Jal Mahal Palace.

How to arrive in Jaipur
By Air : At the distance of 11 km from the city centre Jaipur Airport, Sanganer is situated. Jet Airways, Indian Airlines and domestic carriers operate regular flights to and from the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. There are direct flights to Mumbai, Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Aurangabad, and some other major cities from Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

By Rail : The city of Jaipur is well-linked by rail networks from all the major cities of India. An excellent railway connection from Delhi is Shatabdi Express that provides a fast, air-conditioned rail service. There are direct connections to Jaipur from Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ahmedabad, Agra, Mumbai, Delhi, Secuderabad, Lucknow, Chennai and Kolkata.

By Road : The city of Jaipur is also well-connected by road from all the major cities of India. Delhi-Jaipur highway is one of the finest roads in India. Rajasthan roadways conduct regular bus services from Delhi, India.