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RAJASTHAN
:: JAIPUR
CITY GUIDE |
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Jaipur
General Information |
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Area |
11117.8
sq. km. |
| Altitude |
431 meters |
| Temperature |
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Summer |
450C-25.80C |
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Winter |
220C-50C |
| Clothing |
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Summer |
Summer
Light Cottons |
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Winter |
Woolens |
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Languages |
Hindi,
Rajasthani, English |
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Jaipur
History |
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The historic city of Jaipur or
"The City of Vicotory" was founded in
1727 A.D. by the great Kachhawah ruler Sawai Jai
Singh II (1700 - 1747 A.D.), and named after him.
The monarch was not only a great builder, but also
a poet and an astronomer. Under his aegis, the city
was designed by his talented architect Vidyadhar,
who gave shape to the creative aspirations of Sawai
Jai Singh in the form of the dream city of Jaipur.
The city is rectangular in shape
and divided into nine blocks on the basis of principles
laid down in the "Shilpa Shastra", the
ancient Indian treatise on architecture. 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 bazar, all arranged
in nine rectangular city sectors (Chokris).
The principal monuments of Jaipur
are concentrated in the centrally situated Palace
area (Chokri Sarhad ) in and around the city Palace.
In course of time, the sunset-pink tinge of its
walls, buildings and temples gave it the name Pinck
City.
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How
to reach Jaipur ? |
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Air |
Indian
Airlines, Jet Airways and domestic carriers operate
regular flights to and from Jaipur. Jaipur is connected
to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad,
Calcutta and Varanasi by domestic flights.
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Rail |
The
train service to Jaipur is available from all the
major parts of the country. Other direct connections
to Jaipur are from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad,
Secunderabad, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Chennai and
Calcutta.
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Bus |
Jaipur
can be accessed from all the major places in Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Delhi and Mumbai by bus. Rajasthan roadways
runs excellent regular service of AC and Deluxe
Coaches from Delhi.
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JAIPUR FAIRS & FESTIVALS |
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Teej Festival (8th - 9th August, 2005) |
 Held during the monsoons, July-August Teej is also dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati and this time it is married women who pray for a happy and long married life. Though celebrations are held all over the state, it is particularly colorful in Jaipur where a procession winds its way for two days through the Old City. It is the festival of swings which are decorated with flowers and hung from trees. Young girls and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of the advent of the monsoon. The Teej idol is covered with a canopy whereas the Gangaur idol is open.
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Kite Festival (14th Jan of every year) |
 14 January is celebrated in India as Makar Sankranti - heralding the transition of the sun into the Northern hemisphere. It is also a big kite day in most parts of India when children from 6 to 60 can be seen with their heads turned to the sky. In Jaipur kites virtually blot out the sky. Everyone joins in this riotous celebration and shouts of " Woh Kata Hai !" reverberate from rooftops to the accompaniment of drums as adversaries’ kites are cut down. And everyone’s an adversary! Any kite in the sky is fair game.
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Elephant Festival (25th March 2005) |
 The Elephant Festival is a unique event held annually in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Groomed to perfection, glittering in gold, row upon row of elephants catwalk before an enthralled audience. The elephants move gracefully in procession, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time for the elephants.
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Gangaur Fair (11th - 12th April, 2005) |
 Gangaur Festivals holds a special significance for the Rajasthanis. It is celebrated in honour of Gauri, the goddess of abundance. Young girls adorned in their best clothes pray for a spouse of their choice. The married ladies pray for the welfare of their husbands. This spring festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal all over Rajasthan. The celebrations at Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nathdwara and Jaisalmer are full of pomp and are a must-see. |
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JAIPUR
SIGHT SEEING |
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| Hawa
Mahal (Palace of Winds) |
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 Also
known as the Palace of Winds was built in 1799
. It is a part of the City Palace and was commissioned
by Sawai Pratap Singh. The Hawa Mahal was designed
for the ladies of the royal household to watch
the goings-on on the street while themselves remaining
hidden from public view.
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Amber
Fort and Shitla Mata Temple |
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 About
11km north of Jaipur stands the spectacular Amber
Fort built by Maharaja Man Singh. A wonderful
example of Rajput architecture, it overlooks a
lake which reflects its many terraces and pavilions.
Amber is also known for the spectacular Sheesh
Mahal, Jai Mandir, Diwan-i-Am, Sikh Niwas and
the small Kali Temple.
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 Sawai
Jai Singh built the invincible fort of Jaigarh
in 1726. Jaigarh was never captured and is therefore
in a pretty good shape. A giant mounted cannon-the
Jai Ban, one of the largest in the country are
preserved here. The extensive parkotas (wallls),
watch tower and gateways of Jaigarh dominate the
western skyline.
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Jantar
Mantar |
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stone observatory, known as Jantar Mantar, was
built by Jai Singh II, a great astronomer. It
is located near the City Palace. It is the largest
and the best-preserved observatory of the lot.
By means of the instruments here, astronomers
could measure the positions of the stars and calculate
eclipses.
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 The
City Palace is a historic landmark build in between
1729 and 1732 by swai jai singh. The carved arches
are supported by grey-white marble columns studded
with floral motifs in gold and coloured stones.
Two elephants carved in marble guard the entrance,
where retainers whose families have served generations
of rulers are at hand to serve as guides.
The palace interior houses a Museum containing
select collection of various types of Rajasthani
dresses, a fascinating armoury of Mughal and Rajput
weapons; swords of all shapes and sizes, with
chased handles, some of them inlaid, enamelled,
encrusted with jewels and encased in bold and
magnificent scabbards. |
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Albert
Hall |
 It
is situated in the beautiful garden of Jaipur
city, Ram Niwas Bagh. It was constructed by Maharaja
Sawai Ram Singh in the year 1886 under the drought
relief work of Rs 4 Lacs. The design of the building
was done by Sir Swinton Jaicob. Presently the
hall is used for museum purpose. |
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Jal
Mahal |
 A
tiny palace romantically located in the middle
of a small lake, this was supposed to be a hunting
lodge for the royal family. It can only be viewed
from the banks of the lake.this lake build in
1799 by swai pratap singh. |
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B
M Birla Planetarium |
 Equipped
with modern computerized projection system, the
planetarium offers unique audio-visual educational
entertainment. A Science Museum is also a part
of this one of the most modern planetarium in
India. |
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Laxmi
Narayan Temple |
 In
the southern horizon is a privately owned hilltop
fort of Moti Doongari shaped like a scotish castle.
At the foot of the hill, Laxmi Narayan Temple,
beautifully built in sparking white marble, is
located. This build in 1988. |
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Govind
Devji Temple |
 In
the central pavilion of the sprawling Jai Niwas
Garden to the north of the Chandra Mahal is the
spire less temple of Lord Krishna. the image in
the form of Govind Devji, originally installed
in a temple of Vrindavan, was reinstalled here
by Sawai Jai Singh-II as his family deity. this
is the most famous and popular temple in Pink
City attracting devotees from all over the country. |
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OTHER
USEFUL LINKS |
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Hotels in Jaipur |
Tour Packages for Jaipur |
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