Jaipur Travel Guide

Jaipur is as remarkable for its marvelous architecture and town planning as it is for the lively spirit of the people who inhabit it. The colorful and intricately carved monuments are adequately matched by the lively spirit of fanfare, festivity and celebration of the people.

Jaipur is such a kind of city where modernity and tradition live hand-in-hand and is truly rare.

Built on the pattern of a grid, the city has wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes and uniform rows of shops on either side at the main bazaar, all arranged in nine rectangular city sectors (Chokris). In course of time, the sunset-pink tinge of its walls, buildings and temples gave it the name Pink City.

Within the palace are the Diwan-e-Aam or the "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-e-Khas or the "Hall of Private Audience" and the Sukh Niwas where a cool breeze blows across channels of water for the purpose of air-conditioning. There is also the Jai Mandir or the "Temple of Victory", with its famed Sheesh Mahal, the scintillating "Hall of Mirrors

Jaigarh Fort
Located around 15 km from Jaipur, Jaigarh Fort is one of the most spectacular forts in India, with almost all its original facilities intact. While Jaigarh Fort is on top of the hill, Amber Fort is at the bottom. The forts are connected through well-guarded passages. Many consider the two together as one complex. Jaigarh Fort was a center of artillery production for the Rajputs and it is home to the world's largest cannon on wheels. One of the few military structures of medieval India preserved almost intact, containing palaces, gardens open and covered reservoirs, a granary, an armoury, a well-planned cannon foundry, and several temples.

Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh Fort stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the pink city of Jaipur offers a breathtaking view of the city below. The word Nahargarh means the abode of tigers. Legends say that it was name after Prince Nahar whose spirit haunted the place and obstructed construction of the fort. Initially built by Sawai Jain Singh in 1734 A.D, it was enlarged and given its present shape by Sawai Madho Singh in1885 A.D. Decorative motifs in some of the rooms are delightful.

City Palace
Located in the heart of the walled city, the City Palace Complex gives you an idea about the farsightedness of the founder of Jaipur Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. He left behind a legacy of some of the most imposing and magnificent architecture in the city. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh built many buildings but some of the structures were also built by later rulers. The first building in it is Mubarak Mahal, built by Kaharaja Madho Singh. It has a beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass doors on either side of this gate. Beyond this gate lies the Diwan -e-Khas, or the "Hall of Private Audience".

Hawa Mahal
Located in the City Palace complex; it is best viewed from the road outside. This five-storey building has 953 pink sandstone windows known as 'Jharokhas'. It was originally built for the ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life and processions in the city from their veiled comfort.

Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is one of the largest observatories in India, built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The king was passionate about astronomy and numerology. The astronomer prince with the help of skilled laborers managed to create a collection of complex astronomical instruments chiseled out of stone, most of which continue to provide accurate information to this day.

Govind Devji Temple
To the north of Chandra Mahal in the midst of the sprawling Jai Niwas Garden is the spire less temple of Lord Krishna. The idol was brought from Vrindavan and installed here by Sawai Jai Singh II as the tutelary deity.

Moti Dungri & Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Moti Dungri is a small hill, centrally located in the city of Jaipur. The term Moti Dungri means Hill of Pearls or Pearl Hill. The hill is occupied by a palace and a temple. The temple of Moti Dungri is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. This ancient temple serves as a tourist attraction for the scenic view it offers. Also lies on the foothill of Moti Dungri Hill, the Lakshmi Narayan Temple built from white marble, a few years back by the B.M. Birla foundation.

Gangaur
Young girls and newly married women praying for their loved one or husband respectively, offer prayers to Goddess Parvati in spring (March-April). A colorful procession follows the silver and gold palanquins of Goddess Parvati brought out from the City Palace.

Elephant Festival
This festival is held on the day of Holi, the festival of colours. The festival begins with a procession of elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers at the Chaughan stadium. Beautifully decorated and caparisoned elephants assemble to participate in the royal procession. Even more exciting is the Elephant Polo match, the Elephant race, the tug-of-war between Elephant and 19 men & Women. The most colorful being the playing of Holi on Elephant back.

Teej Festival
The festival of Teej commemorates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Married women and young girls celebrate the festival with earnest devotion. Teej falls in the month of Sawan and brings great relax from the scorching summers. Women observing 'Nirajara Vrat' on Teej are said to be blessed with long and healthy life of their husband by Teej Mata Parvati.

Dussehra
The festival of Dussehra is celebrated almost in the entire country celebrating Lord Rama's victory over the Demon King Ravana, and victory of Good over Evil by staging Ram Lila in different parts of the city and cuminating in the ceremonial burning of the giant effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath. A mela is organized at Amer and thousands of devotees visit the temple of Shila Mataji situated there.

Diwali
Celebrated every year in October- November, to celebrate the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom Ayodhya after the 14 years of exile. The whole kingdom was lit up with diyas (earthen lamps) to celebrate his return. Houses all over India glow with the twinkle of innumerable divas, candles and electric lights. The night is illuminated with the flaming lights of fireworks, creating kaleidoscopic design against the black canvas of the sky. During the Diwali celebration decoration and lighting is done throughout the walled Pink City, with every market competing with the others to pick-up the best decorated market award..