The capital and largest city of Rajasthan is Jaipur. It is referred to as the “Pink City” because of the colour of its buildings. When Prince Charles visited the Pink City in 1905-06, it was painted in Gerua (or ochre) to honour the Prince of Wales’s visit. Even though Jaipur is known for its fascinating monuments and vibrant marketplaces, it’s also known for its beautiful handloom garments and well-maintained gardens.. When you arrive in Jaipur, it’s hard not to fall in love with the city. The Golden Triangle of Indian tourism includes Jaipur, Delhi, and Agra. Jaipur is a popular tourist destination for both Indians and foreigners alike. Jaipur is also a starting point for trips into Rajasthan’s countryside. From the majestic Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, to the desert city of Rajasthan and the lesser-known Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, Jaipur serves as a starting point for all these destinations and more.
Named after its founder, the city of Jaipur bears the name of Jai Singh II. As a young boy, he succeeded his father as King Bishan Singh died, leaving him in charge. Jai Singh, a member of the Kucchwaha Rajput family, continued his ancestors’ diplomatic relationship with the Mughals. This does not imply that Jai Singh’s alliance with the Mughals was always a pleasant one, however. When Aurangzeb, who had once favoured Jai Singh and bestowed upon him the title of Sawai, died, the alliance reached its lowest point. Azam Shah and his son Bidar Bakht lost the succession battle because Jai Singh II sided with them. As a result, he was shunned by the Mughal court. Aurangzeb’s successor, Bahadur Shah, demanded the removal of Jai Singh II from the throne of Jaipur. Jai Singh II, never one to sit on his laurels, formed an alliance with two other Rajput states in the face of defeat. Together with the Marwar king, he married the princess of Mewar and drove the Mughals from Rajputana. Once again, Jai Singh found himself at the head of the Mughal Empire’s most important provinces.
As Jaipur’s borders expanded, the city prospered as the dust settled. And it was at that point that he began construction on the city that would eventually become his capital: Amber Fort. Jaipur was named in honour of him. Jantar Mantar, the observatory in Jaipur, was also built in Ujjain, Delhi, Mathura, and Varanasi as a result of Jai Singh’s interest in astronomy. In contrast to the other four, the Mathura Jantar Mantar has been lost to history.
After Jai Singh’s grandson Ram Singh painted the city pink to welcome the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) in 1876, Jaipur became known as the “Pink City.” To avoid confusion, the British referred to the colour as “pink” because they couldn’t think of a better name for it. Even in the midst of a flurry of construction and unplanned development, Jaipur retains much of its original character.
Below are most popular tourist attractions of Jaipur:
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Hawa Mahal
The Palace of Winds, also known as Hawa Mahal, was completed in 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh and is the most recognisable landmark in Jaipur. Hawa Mahal, a red and pink sandstone structure built as a high screen for the women of the royal household, stands on the edge of the City Palace and extends to the women’s quarters or zenana.
The five-story Hawa Mahal, with a honeycomb-like facade, was built to resemble Krishna’s crown. To protect the Rajput women from the bustling streets below, the Hawa Mahal was built with 953 intricately latticework jharokhas or small windows. Pratap Singh was inspired by Jhunjhunu’s Khetri Mahal. Hawa Mahal rose to prominence and became the symbol of a city that drew visitors from all over the world in the centuries that followed.
Intricate latticework, though beautiful, served a practical function. In order to maintain their purdah, the royal ladies could observe life on the streets below through the lattice. Even in the height of summer, the latticework acts as a natural air conditioner by only allowing the cool breeze to pass through. Due to Hawa Mahal’s strategic location in Delhi, it provides stunning views of the City Palace, the Siredeori Bazaar and Jantar Mantar.
City palace
The City Palace of Jaipur, which sits next to the Hawa Mahal, was built a few decades before the latticework masterpiece. The Maharaja of Jaipur had his official residence in the City Palace, which was completed in 1732. Part of the City Palace remains off limits to the public because it is still used by the erstwhile Jaipur royal family. Kucchwaha Rajputs allied themselves with both Mughals and Europeans during their time in power, so the city palace complex houses Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal, as well as numerous iconic gates like Tripolia Gate, Udai Pol, and Virendra Pol.
It was Jai Singh II’s decision to relocate the capital of Jaipur from Amber Fort to the plains that led to the construction of Jaipur’s City Palace. Large avenues divided the city of Jaipur into six distinct blocks. During the two years that Jai Singh II was in charge of building the Jantar Mantar, he also ruled from the City Palace.
Among the items on display in the City Palace Museum are some of the most exquisite and rare Pashmina shawls, Benaras silk scarves, Sanganeri prints and folk embroidery, as well as weaponry used by the Rajputs and other knickknacks that give an insight into the life and times of the various Sawais, which are on display in the museum.
Jantar Mantar
One of Jai Singh II’s observatories, Jantar Mantar, is located in Jaipur. The world’s largest sundial is one of the many instruments in this observatory. The stone and brass instruments at Jantar Mantar, which is close to the City Palace and the Hawa Mahal, were constructed using ancient text-based principles for instrument design. There are a total of 19 instruments that aid in visual observation of astronomical positions. There are three main classical celestial coordinate systems at Jantar Mantar: the Ecliptic system, the Horizon-Zenith Local system and the Equatorial system. The Ptolemaic positional astronomy at Jantar Mantar is an excellent example. The first major restoration of Jantar Mantar was undertaken by Major Arthur Garrett, an amateur astronomer who served as the Assistant State Engineer in Jaipur.
Albert Hall Museum
Located in the sprawling Ram Niwas Gardens on the outskirts of Jaipur’s traditional market area, Albert Hall Museum is one of Rajasthan’s oldest museums. Exhibitions at the Albert Hall Museum aren’t just limited to a collection of rare paintings; they also include a wide range of artefacts from jewellery to pottery to natural stone to ivory goods to metal sculptures and crystal works.
While in India in 1876, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) laid the foundation stone for Albert Hall Museum, an Indo-Saracenic architectural marvel. During the construction of the building, there were numerous ideas about how to best utilise it. A town hall or a school or an educational institution were obvious possibilities for the building. However, in 1880, Madho Singh gave his blessing to the plan to turn it into a museum. By the year 1887, all of the work on the structure had been completed. Dioramas, tribal costumes, miniature paintings, carpets, and an Egyptian mummy are among the many exhibits at the Albert Hall Museum.
Rambagh Palace
The Rambagh Palace in Jaipur is known as the “Jewel of Jaipur,” and it’s easy to see why. Once the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, the Rambagh Palace is one of India’s most beautiful palaces. Despite the fact that the palace has been converted into a top-notch hotel, the family is still given preference. The Rambagh is Jaipur’s most expensive hotel, according to most estimates.
Rambagh was originally built in 1835 as a garden house for Ram Singh II’s wet nurse, Kesar Badaran. As a hunting lodge, this garden house was transformed into a royal residence during the reign of Madho Singh, as the area was surrounded by dense forest. It was given to Sir Swinton Jacob, who designed the Albert Hall Museum, to transform a garden house into a hunting lodge. Rambagh Palace became the primary residence of Man Singh II in 1931, when marble halls, corridors, and courtyards were added to the garden site. Maharani Gayatri Devi was also a resident of the palace, and it has hosted a number of dignitaries from India and abroad.
In addition to 78 rooms and four suites, Rambagh Palace features a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a bar, along with conference facilities, swimming pools, and a full-service spa. An Indian restaurant, Rajput Room, and Verandah Cafe offer a variety of cuisines, while Steam, the lounge bar serves Mediterranean-inspired fare. With its trophies and memorabilia of the Jaipur polo team on display, Rambagh’s watering hole Polo Bar is a great place to relax after a long day. Since the Taj Group owns and manages Rambagh Palace, it is one of the few well-preserved buildings of its time.
There is no public access to Rambagh Palace. Booking a room or dining at a restaurant are the only options if you want to see it from the inside.
Jal Mahal
The Jal Mahal is situated in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. It appears that the palace, built in 1745, is floating in the lake when first seen from above (thus giving it the name). The Lake Palace in Jaipur is based on Udaipur’s Lake Palace. The artificial lake in which it stands, Man Sagar Lake, was created in the early 1600s when a dam was built over the Dharbawati River. On the way to Amber, you’ll pass by Jal Mahal on the outskirts of Jaipur. There are forts and temples scattered across the hills surrounding the lake that can be seen from the palace’s courtyard. In the past, boat rides to the palace were available, but this is no longer the case. Jal Mahal is a five-story red sandstone structure that combines Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. When the lake is full, four floors of the Jal Mahal are submerged.
Amber Fort
At a distance of about 13 kilometres from the heart of Jaipur, one can find the Amber Fort. The architecture of Amber Fort combines elements of Hindu and Mughal styles, like many other structures from the period. Amber was the ancestral home of Jai Sing’s Kachhawa Rajput family before Jai Singh II built Jaipur in the plains and made it his capital. Raja Man Singh I began construction on Amber Fort in 1592, erecting it on top of the ruins of an earlier fortification. Amber, which was originally constructed of red sandstone, has undergone numerous renovations over the course of its century-and-and-a-half history, each adding their own distinctive features. Man Singh I was the monarch who brought Amber to its pinnacle of glory. An important Navratna in Akbar’s court, Man Singh I gave the order for Amber to be built on behalf of the Mughal military commander-in-chief.
Amber is less of a military stronghold and more of a palatial retreat. For a long time, Amber’s walls and ceilings were covered in precious gems. Intricate carvings and mirror work remain to give a glimpse into how grand Amber Fort must have been when it was at its peak of power, despite the fact that the stones are long gone. A fortified tunnel connects Jaigarh to the fort complex, which contains several palaces built in the Mughal style. Members of the royal family used the tunnel to escape to Jaigarh, which was far safer than Amber for them to take refuge in.
Nahargarh Fort
It is one of the three major forts on the outskirts of Jaipur, situated on the edge of the Aravallis and looking out over the city. Nahargarh was part of a defence ring around Jaipur that also included Jaigarh and Amber. In reality, Nahargarh was known as something else entirely. The fort, which was originally known as Sudarshangarh, was renamed Nahargarh, or “the home of tigers,” possibly in honour of Nahar Singh Bhomia, a local legend who is said to have haunted the area and hindered construction of the fort. The spirit could rest easy and the fort’s construction resumed only after his temple was constructed within the fort. Nahargarh is a much more recent fort than Amber.
It was built by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1734 and served as a retreat on the ridge above Delhi. Its fortified walls connected Nahargarh to Jaigarh, which in turn was connected to Amber by Jaigarh’s walls. Kachhawa Rajputs were allies of Mughals, so Nahargarh never really came under attack. The famous field guns of Nahargarh were only fired to mark the passing of an hour. Sawai Ram Singh moved several Europeans to Nahargarh because the Rajputs had sided with the British during the Indian Mutiny of 1857.
It’s not all about the military in Nahargarh. There are a dozen identical suites in the Madhavendra Bhawan, the royal women’s zenana, which is one of the fort’s most beautiful buildings. Beautiful frescoes adorned the corridors connecting the suites, and the suites were designed so that the king could visit any queen he wanted without anyone knowing!
Jaigarh Fort
Jaigarh Fort is the city’s third and most imposing fort. Amber and Jaipur were both guarded by the three-fort defence ring. Jaigarh’s primary goal was to protect the lower fort, which was located some 400 metres above Amber. When Jai Singh II built the fort in 1726, he named it after himself. Because the fort has never been conquered, Jaigarh’s name is also appropriate. Overlooking the Aravalli mountain range, Jaigarh is located on Cheel ka Teela (Eagle’s Hill). Dungar Darwaza in Jaigarh, a massive fort that can strike fear in the hearts of its enemies, is perched high atop a ridge covered in thorn-scrub. Both Amber and Jaigarh are connected by subterranean tunnels, so they are often considered to be part of the same fort complex despite their geographical separation. Members of the royal family could use the tunnels to escape to Jaigarh, a more secure fort, in the event of an attack.
The mediaeval fortification of Jaigarh is one of the few to have survived the ravages of time. In addition to the palaces, granary, cannon factory, numerous temples, and tower, the Jaivana is the most notable feature of the Jaigarh Fort.
An enormous cannon on wheels, Jaivana, is the most powerful weapon in the world. It was made in the Jaigarh foundry, which was famous for producing Mughal Empire cannons. Jai Singh II’s reign saw the production of Jaivana. With its four wheels, Jaivana can move in any direction, and its roller pin bearings allow it to do so. While the cannon’s ferocious power is on display, the whimsical carvings on Jaivana’s barrel serve as a welcome diversion. For Jaivana, 50-kilogram balls with a range of 35 kilometres are required. Jaivana, on the other hand, is nothing more than a gimmick. The Rajputs never had to deal with any significant attacks because of the support of the Mughals. There were no invasions of Jaigarh or Jaivana, and they were only used to test their firing capabilities.
Jaigarh is three kilometres long. It has a well-kept garden inside the fort, as well as sloping embankments in every corner that lead to the fort’s upper levels. A watchtower stands on a raised platform in the middle of the fort complex. There are stunning views of the surrounding area from the tower’s perch. The triple-arched entrance known as the Awani Darwaza leads to the courtyard garden of the Aram Temple at the fort’s northern end. Sagar Lake can be seen from this triple-arched gate, which was recently repaired.