The city is located at a distance of around 258 km from Delhi and 232 km
from Agra, making it a part of the famed Golden Triangle tourist circuit of
North India. Jaipur got its name from its founder Sawai Jai Singh
(1693-1743), who had the vision to create a meticulously planned city as his
capital. All the houses in the old city are painted pink, including the
famous Hawa Mahal, thereby giving the city its alternative name, the Pink
City.
Jaipur offers a plethora of touristic attractions to the traveller. The City
Palace in the heart of Jaipur is known for its blend of Rajasthani and
Mughal architecture. Not far away is the Central Museum with its large
collection of woodwork, jewellery, costumes, brassware, and pottery. Another
monument near the City Palace, Jantar Mantar, is the largest of the five
observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh. The Hawa Mahal or the Palace of
Winds was constructed for the royal ladies to watch the royal processions
without being seen. Amber Fort, situated just outside the city, is perhaps
the most beautiful example of Rajasthani forts and gives a grand view of the
city down below.
Jaipur is also the base for exploring some nearby towns and cities of
Rajasthan. Ajmer, situated around 130 km south-west of Jaipur, is a pilgrim
town renowned for the tomb of Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan
Chisti. Ramnagar About 15 km away from Jabalpur is Ramnagar. Rookhad A
wildlife sanctuary adjacent to the Pench National Park, Rookhad is situated
at a distance of 101 km from Nagpur on the National Highway No. 7. A
charming retreat in bison country, Rookhad is worth a visit.
THE CITY PALACE - The City Palace is now converted into a museum,
except a small portion that is still used by the royal family of Jaipur. One
of the major attractions in the museum is the portion that is devoted to the
arms and ammunition used by the royal family in the past. Other important
attractions are the Textile and Costume Museum, Art Gallery, Chandra Mahal,
Mubarak Mahal, and Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Am.
CENTRAL MUSEUM - Located in the Ram Niwas Garden, the Central Museum
or Albert Hall is a mixture of pillars, arches, and courtyards adorned with
murals. There is a huge collection of objects displaying different facets of
Rajasthani culture and history.
JANTAR MANTAR - This largest stone observatory in the world Founded
by Sawai Jai Singh, , was a great admirer of developments in science and
technology, especially astronomy. He built the structures following every
detail given in the manual, but at the end, he found to his astonishment
that the observatory was 20 seconds more accurate than that given by La
Hire. Situated near the gate of the City Palace, the observatory has 18
large instruments, many of them still in working condition.
AMBER FORT - Standing tall over a small hillock overlooking the Pink
City, Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthan fort-palace. Man Singh I
started the construction of this fort in 1592 and, perhaps, it was the
defense that topped his priorities before constructing this fort. The rugged
walls of this fort may not look beautiful from outside, but the interior is
a virtual paradise. An elephant ride up to the fort is also an unforgettable
experience.
JAIGARH FORT - Situated in the north of Jaipur, the Jaigarh Fort is
structurally similar to the Amber Fort. The only exception is that it houses
the mighty Jaivana, the largest wheeled canon in the world.
BIRLA MANDIR - Also known as the Laxmi Narayan Mandir, the Birla
Mandir, situated in the south of Jaipur, has been built by wealthy Birla
family, one of the largest industrial dynasties in India.
SISODIA RANI KA BAGH - The terraced Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh (the Garden
of Sisodia Queen) is situated on the Jaipur-Agra road at a distance of 6 km
from Jaipur. The garden was created by the queen of Jai Singh II as an
escape from the court intrigues.
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