Jaipur is the fastest-growing city in India. Today the city has more than 4,309,000 inhabitants and is the capital of the state of Rajasthan. It is located about 265 km southwest of Delhi and about 250 km from Agra. Jaipur is known as an industrial city, among other things, jewelry and textiles are also manufactured there. You also don’t have to miss visiting universities, theaters, cinemas, or the zoo, as well as various art monuments. The city has excellent transport infrastructure with railways, airports, and roads. The city of Jaipur is also called the Pink City because the houses in the old city were painted pink to emphasize the hospitality of the city. The reason for painting the houses pink in 1853 was anticipating the visit of Prince Albert of England, husband of Queen Victoria. Due to its trade and economic center, Jaipur is a prosperous city and one of the most modern and advanced centers in the world.
There are many first-class and good mid-range hotels available for overnight stays, which are very well equipped and the hotel staff is extremely hospitable. Prices can vary greatly, so it is worth comparing. It should be mentioned that the price-performance ratio is considered very good in most cases, not least because of the excellent offers and very good facilities. A visit to the bazaar is also highly recommended to experience and enjoy the atmosphere. The city of Jaipur offers a lot to tourists, especially due to some very impressive and breathtaking views. Every year many travelers stay a few nights in Jaipur to see the city. On Indian tours, such as those proposed by various tour operators, a tour of this city should not be missed.
Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal)
The Palace of the Winds, or Hawa Mahal, is a world-famous landmark in India. It was built very uniquely and elaborately and is located in the old city of Jaipur. Also, it is an architectural attraction of the city of Jaipur that attracts many tourists every day. This five-story palace was built in 1799, has countless small bay windows, and was made of pink sandstone. It was originally built to allow ladies-in-waiting to participate in urban life. So that they would not be visible in public, they could stay in the palace and look out from the many windows.
Depending on which floor you were on, you could see the whole city from above or enjoy the bustle in the streets of the old city. The entrance to the Palace of the Winds is somewhat hidden. Today this palace is open to tourists. There is an entrance fee, but it is worth paying. So you can watch the bustle of the streets and see, for example, snake charmers or camel drivers. If you are in the city of Jaipur, then definitely visit Hawa Mahal. The palace is open daily.
One of the special things about this palace is that it also has a novel written on it named “The Palace of the Winds”. It was written by Mary M. Kaye in 1978, it is said that this novel was not based on reality and only shows different parts of the story. More than 15 million copies of the book have been sold. The novel takes place in the 19th century and tells the story of love, adventure, and war. Apart from the novel, a film was also made on the story and a musical based on the material of the novel was also released in 2005. If you have visited the palace, you can also read the novel.
Amber Fort
Amber Fort is a huge fort and was the capital of the Kachchwaha for more than six centuries before Jaipur was made the capital of Rajasthan. In the 16th century, the fort found several rulers, the most famous of which was Raja Man Singh, but also Raja Jai ​​Singh I and II are among the many sightseeing places in Jaipur that you should visit if you have city stops in this area. It is therefore advisable to spend several days visiting Jaipur, as you have many places to visit in this city, with interesting places worth seeing. Amer Fort is located about eleven kilometers north of the city of Jaipur. There is a palace complex here that stands on a hilltop and tourists can visit it. The fort is an imposing building, and its past has been very well preserved, there is hardly any damage to complain about, so the Amber Fort can be found almost as it was.
It was built in Mughal and Hindu styles using materials of red sandstone and white marble. You can also visit a small military museum. Among many other objects, the wheeled cannon should also be noted, as this cannon is said to be the largest cannon in the world. The fort of Amber Fort has a small temple which was named Kali Mandir in honor of Goddess Kali, who was considered the protector of many battles at that time and the temple wanted to thank her for the victory. The huge entrance gates of the temple are made of silver and there is also a picture of Goddess Kali hanging inside. The fort is surrounded by a high wall, which serves as protection from intruders, from which you can see who is coming towards the fort.
Jantar Mantar ‘Observatory‘
The term Jantar Mantar translates as “magical instrument” and refers to 5 historical astronomical observatories that Maharaja Jai ​​Singh II had built between 1724 and 1734 in the cities of Delhi, Ujjain, Jaipur, Varanasi and Mathura. The largest and most famous of them is the one in Jaipur. It consists of 14 constructions based on astronomical aspects. This system was used, among other things, to measure time, observe the orbits of the planets, predict solar eclipses, or determine astronomical altitudes. The largest of the 14 structures belonging to Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the Emperor Jantar, a sundial that reaches a height of 30 meters.
Jal Mahal
There are many attractions in and around Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan. One of them is located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, about 10 kilometers northeast of Jaipur: Jal Mahal, a water palace.
You should plan to stop at this magnificent building when you tour India. It is a red sandstone palace built in the 18th century as a summer residence and can only be reached by boat.
The palace lay vacant for two hundred years and has now been extensively renovated. In the future, Jal Mahal will be open to tourists again. But admiring the exterior from a boat or the river bank is an experience in itself. In total, the Jal Mahal is made up of several floors. However, only the upper part is visible on the water surface, the rest are underwater.
