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| CITY ATTRACTIONS |
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| JAIPUR EXCURSIONS |
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| RELIGIOUS PLACES |
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| Amber Fort |
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Amber is located at a distance of 11 kilometers from Jaipur and was the old fort of the Kachhwaha clan of Amber, which used to be the capital, till it was moved to Jaipur. The construction of the Amber Fort began in the year 1592 and was started by Man Singh I, but it was finished by his descendant Jai Singh I. The exterior of the Fort is not in the least like its interiors. The outside is very imposing and rugged looking whereas the inside is a comforting and warm interior which is influenced by both Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. On the walls, are paintings depicting various hunting scenes, and there is also a lot of work on walls, w
hich are covered with intricate carving, mosaic and minute mirror work that make the halls look very majestic and imperial. |
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| Nahargarh Fort |
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Jaipur is one of the most popular destinations on a tourist's itinerary. One of the most important landmarks in Jaipur is the Nahargarh Fort. In the year 1734, Jai Singh II began the grand task of building this fort. Though it is not a big fort but in style and architecture, it is one of the most charming forts in Jaipur. At an age of Two and a half-century, it still stands tall on a steep rocky face with massive walls and bastions for company. The fort provides an excellent view of the Pink City spread out at its foot. The fort dominates the skyline by day and forms a breathtaking sight when floodlit at night. However, much of the original fort now lies in ruins except the walls and the 19th century additions including the rooms furnished for the maharajas. Jai Singh II named it as Sudarshangarh. In the 1880s Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh transformed Nahargarh into a monsoon retreat. He ordered the Raj Imarat, responsible for royal construction projects, to design a pleasure palace within the fort known as the Madhavendra Bhawan. Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, the designer of Jaipur, built this palace with its beautiful interiors of frescoes and stucco designs that was used mainly by the harem women. Each of the Maharaja’s nine wives was given a two-storey apartment, which were set around three sides of a rectangular courtyard. The maharaja’s personal living wing was built on the fourth side. The architecture was basically Indian with certain European additions like rectangular windows and western styled toilets. Thakur Fateh Singh, an engineer in the Raj Imarat helped in the design of the queen’s apartments. |
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| Jaigarh Fort |
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Whenever Man Singh I (late 16th century) or his successors warred and won gold, silver, jewels and other booty, they hoarded it in the Jaigarh Fort. and they had the loyal Minas to fiercely guard their haul. (In fact, legends tell us that the Minas were such strict guards that they let each new Kachhawaha king to enter only once and pick one single piece for himself from the dazzling pile!) Anyway, all this treasure paid first for building Amber, then Jaipur and for centuries of lavish living. Indian Government officials tried to retrieve whatever was left; they dug the place in 1976 but found nothing. In fact they even drained the three arched water tanks (in a courtyard on the way to the northern end of the fort) in the hope of finding the fortune there. Some say that everything was used up in building Jaipur while others claim that it is still there somewhere. The dictum of the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Puranas, 'a fort is the strength of a king', must have loomed large in the minds of the Rajputs while building the Jaigarh Fort. The ambitious Jai Singh II then expanded, remodelled and renamed it in 1726. and since this fort never fell in the hands of enemies, it stands almost intact to this day.
Jaigarh or the 'Fort of Victory' is perched on Chilh ka Tola (Hill of Eagles), 400 feet above the Amber Fort. The walls of the fort are spread over three kilometers. Once you enter through the massive south facing Doongar Darwaza, you'll instantly get a tangible feel of Rajput romanticism. and if you're lucky, Thakur Pratap Singh, a handsome Rajput with a fine moustache will be around to tell you stories of Jaigarh's illustrious past. The other entrance to the fort is through the Awani Darwaza in the east. |
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| Hawa Mahal |
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The Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, is arguably Jaipur’s best-known monument. For one, it is unlike any other Rajput monument – fort, palace or temple. Secondly, it’s a bit too whimsical and delicate, almost like a magical structure from the Arabian Nights. Despite its towering height and length, the Hawa Mahal looks like a light, airy structure which might blow away with the slightest wind.
Placed right in the middle of the bustling Johari Bazaar, near the Badi Chaupad (the big square), this reddish-pink building made of red sandstone is a constant reminder of Jaipur’s colourful history which refuses to just curl up and die.
Adjacent to the City Palace (where the family of the last Maharaja of Jaipur still lives) the Hawa Mahal was built by Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by Lalchand Usta in 1799. If you view it from a distance, it looks like a palace with the promise of big, spacious rooms inside. But once you cross the road for a closer inspection, you realise that it is little more than a finely chiselled facade. Out of its five floors, the top three are just a room deep while the lower floors are connected to rooms and courtyards. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, is an enormous tapering structure with numerous arches, spires and a mind-boggling 953 latticed casements and small windows. If you observe it closely, you’ll realise that it is actually a portion of the zenana palace (women’s quarters) and what you can view from the road is merely the back of the building. |
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| City Palace |
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The City Palace was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs, but a lot of changes and additions were made to the original structure by his successors.
The architecture of the City Palace is a synthesis of Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The Complex comprises of many structures, courtyards, gardens and buildings. There are many splendid small palaces and halls in the complex, such as the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal and Badal Mahal. There is also a famous temple called the Shri Govind Temple and a museum inside, named the City Palace Museum.
As one enters the first courtyard, one comes across the Mubarak Mahal, which was built in the 19th century by Maharaja Madho Singh II. Here is a splendid gateway, which leads to the Diwan-I-Khas (Hall of Private audience). It is an open hall, where there are two silver vessels on display, which are in the Guinness book of World Records! One can also check out the Diwan-I-Aam (Hall of Public Audience). |
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| Samode |
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Samode is 42 kms from Jaipur and is a perfect place to spend one's holidays. It is a place of great interest for people who appreciate culture and local arts. The village or town is famous for its magnificent havelis, mansions and handicrafts, so for your next holiday travel to Samode and see the rural life and flavors of Rajasthan.
The famous Samode Palace belongs to the Rawals of Samode, who do not belong to a royal family but are affluent noblemen. This family was bestowed the title of "Maha Rawal" by the royal family as a reward for their loyalty and courage. The Samode Palace is about four hundred years old and has gone through a lot of restoration work. Many new additions have been made to this old palace, which is now a heritage hotel. |
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| Sanganer |
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Located at a distance of 13 km from the Jaipur city, Sanganer is the must visit for the travelers thirsty for more. There are many places of tourist attraction that this lovely place embraces. Sanganer is situated on the Tonk Road and is the abode of medieval ruins, ancient temples and has deep cultural roots. Tours to Sanganer feature a lot of interesting destinations that will completely enthrall the tourists. The first thing that a tourist will come across during the exciting Tours to Sanganer is, Kagazi Mohalla, which is celebrated for the dexterous artisans make the exotic handmade paper, employing skills learned from the previous generations. |
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| Ranthambore |
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Ranthambore National Park is a beautiful national park that is surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravalli hills and is quite close to the Thar desert. Anyone who claims to be an animal lover should definitely visit this beautiful place that not only boasts of peaceful surroundings but is also home to many endangered species. |
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| Jaipur |
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Jaipur is a very beautiful city, since it is surrounded by the mountain by all sides. You can run your eyes through 360 degrees and you will find the spectacular Aravali Mountains. Jaipur, also known as Ajaymeru, was the city which was ruled by Prithviraj Chauhan. The Dargah Shareef of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is situated at the foot of the Taragarh hill, and consists of several white marble buildings arranged around two courtyards, including a massive gate donated by the Nizam of Hyderabad, a mosque donated by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the Akbari Masjid, and the domed tomb of the saint. To this place Emperor Akbar, with his queen, performed pilgrimage on foot from Agra every year in observance of a vow he had made when praying for a son. |
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| Ramgarh |
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Today on Ramgarh tours travelers get to visit several places of tourist interest. Each have distinctive features and allures travelers with their unsurpassable charm. The Ramgarh Lake is an artificial lake which is ensconced amidst the surrounding tree-covered hills. In its vicinity the temple of Jamwa Mata and the remainders of the old fort are found. Having a length of 4 km and width of 2 km, this lake has now become one of the fascinating picnic spots also in the city.
Ramgopal Poddar Chhatri is another place of interest that again warrants special visit on a travel to Ramgarh. In this site awesome paintings from the Ramayana are available. Besides, the ceilings of the cenotaphs are other attractive features of this place.
Poddar Havelis is again a very magnificent site to head for on tours to Ramgarh. This haveli was constructed by the founders of Ramgarh who were skillful architects too. From here you can head for the popular Shaniji Temple consecrated to the God Saturn. In this temple elaborate frescoes are the feast for the eyes. Another temple that is again very frequently visited is Harsh Nath Temple. This 10th century ancient temple is situated on spectacular Harsh Nath Hills. |
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RELIGIOUS PLACES IN JAIPUR |
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| Birla Mandir / Laxmi Narayan Mandir |
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The Laxmi Narayan is located in the South of Jaipur, and was built by the Birla family, which is a major industrialist family of India. This is why, the temple is also called the 'Birla Mandir'. It is situated quite close to the Moti Doongri fort, which was converted to a small palace by Ram Singh II and Gayatri Devi. Keeping in mind the secular nature of the country, the temple has three domes, which represent different approaches to religion. It is a beautiful white marble temple, which seems to glow at night. The Birla Mandir in Jaipur attracts many tourists and devotees every year. The temple is very crowded during the festivals as Hindus come from all over the state and country to pay their respect to the Lord. Next time you have a holiday, come to Jaipur and visit the Birla Mandir, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth). |
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| Galtaji Mandir |
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Galtaji Temple in Jaipur is a prehistoric pilgrimage location where the grand saint Galav is believed to have spent his life and completed his meditation. Galta is situated 10 km from Jaipur on Jaipur-Agra highway near Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh. The famous temples of the place include the triple-storied temple of Balaji, which appeals to the aesthetic sense of the visitors and is built in pink stone.
Its magnificent structure looks more like an extravagant mansion or Haveli. Situated amidst the low hills, is the Temple of Galtaji, which is also in pink stone and has a huge complex. A large number of people take a holy bath in these tanks especially on Makar Sankranti in mid-January. Gaumukh feeds these tanks, which is a spring originating from a rock shaped like a cow's head. Yet another notable temple that is worth visiting at Galta is the 18th century Surya Temple dedicated to the Sun God, which is situated on top of the highest peak here. It was built b by Diwan Rao Kriparam, a courtier of Sawai Jai Singh II. The temple is so situated that it provides breathtaking views of the surrounding plains and the city of Jaipur. |
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| Govind Dev Ji Mandir |
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Govind Dev Ji Temple Jaipur is one of the largest crowd pulling landmarks of Jaipur. The royal temple of Jaipur is built in dedication to Lord Krishna. Govind Dev Ji temple is situated in the City Palace complex of Jaipur. Well preserved by the erstwhile royal family, the image of the chief deity Govind Dev Ji (Lord Krishna) is said to have been brought from Vrindavan and was installed here by Raja Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur. The temple was built in 1890 with the money donated by Raja Man Singh, the famous general of great Mughal emperor Akbar and is set between Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal to allow the sighting of the deities of the temple from the royal palace itself.
The deity is worshipped as the patron deity of the royal family and occupies the sanctum of this spire less temple. 'Aartis' and 'Bhog' (food) are offered to the deity seven times a day, when the idol is unveiled for the benefit of the devotees who come here to pay their homage to the deities. Each time, the idols of Lord Krishna and his eternal beloved Radha are unveiled; they are dressed in different styles for the benefit of the devotees who come here to have a glimpse or 'Darshan' of the deities. Thousands of devotees visit the temple, especially during Janamashtmi, to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. It is said that Emperor Akbar donated red sandstone meant for building Red Fort at Agra for construction of the temple. The architectural style in which the temple is built is a pleasing amalgamation of Western, Hindu and Muslim architectural traits. |
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| Moti Doongri Temple |
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Moti Doongri Temple in Jaipur is quite famous for the tourists for its mind blowing location and excellent beauty. It is situated almost in the centre of the pink city. Moti Dungri Hill swanks of an striking palace that belonged to the son of Maharaja Madho Singh and is still a private property of the royal family and visitors are not allowed inside the premises of the palace. This temple lies near the premises of the palace. Rajmata Gayatri Devi and his son Jagat Singh used to live there. It is built as a replica of the Scottish castle. However, it is the Ganesh Temple, which is most famous here. It is situated quite close to the Moti Doongri fort, which was converted to a small palace by Ram Singh II and Gayatri Devi. Keeping in mind the secular nature of the country, the temple has three domes, which represent different approaches to religion. It is a beautiful white marble temple, which seems to glow at night. The architectural style in which the temple is built is a pleasing amalgamation of Western, Hindu and Muslim architectural traits. |
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The beautifully carved Jagat Shiromani Temple houses the idol of Lord Krishna and is popularly associated with the celebrated saint-poetess Mira Bai. The old temple of Narsinghji and a step well Panna Main-ki-Baodi, which still bears witness to its past glory are also located in the vicinity. |
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