When you explore the wide streets of Jaipur, you will understand why it got the nickname ‘ the pink city’. The capital city is now declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jaipur is live proof of why Rajasthan is known for its royal heritage. The grand palaces, stunning forts, and bazaars full of life are the best parts of Jaipur’s exciting journey.
This city, painted in shades of pink promises unique architecture, rich tradition, mouth-watering Rajasthani food, and a royal past. Jaipur is like a goldmine of must-visit attractions like Hawa Mahal, city palace, Amber Fort, jantar mantar, and many more.
While exploring the marvels of Jaipur, one can’t help but wonder: jaane kya dikh jaaye? So let’s dive into the beauty of ‘the pink city’.
History of Jaipur
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh founded Jaipur City in 1727. Earlier he was the ruler of Amber but due to an increasing population and shortage of water, he decided to shift his capital from Amber to a new location named Jaipur. He started to plan the construction of Jaipur according to Indian architecture called Vastu Shastra.
The chief architect of the city was Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. He made the city layout with wide markets, and broad streets with great attention to detail featuring Rajasthan‘s culture. In 1876, the buildings of Jaipur were painted pink to welcome Prince Albert.
The people of Jaipur painted the city pink as a symbol of warmth and welcome. They have maintained the tradition even today. Jaipur became the center of trade in handicrafts, gemstones, and textiles very quickly.
Jaipur officially became part of Rajasthan after India gained independence in 1947. Above all, Jaipur is known well for its tradition, culture, tourism, cuisines, history, and modern luxuries globally.
Top 10 attractions of Jaipur
- City palace
- Hawa Mahal
- Jantar Mantar
- Albert haul museum
- Nahargarh fort
- Amer fort
- Jaigarh fort
- Birla Mandir
- Chokhi Dhani
- Jal Mahal
City Palace – Legacy of the Maharajas
One of the top tourist attractions in Jaipur is the City Palace. Maharaja Sawai Singh built this historical palace between 1729 to 1732. The palace is built with an amazing combination of Rajput, Mughal, and European architecture. Moreover, it was once the seat of Maharaja. The grand palace has many beautifully structured gardens, courtyards, and buildings.
Inside the city palace, Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal are also built. One can view the breathtaking surroundings and pink buildings from here. The palace has a stunning collection of royal costumes, weapons, and artworks inside the museums of the city palace.
The city palace stands in the heart of old Jaipur city. In addition, it remains a symbol of the rich heritage and legacy of the city. The history, art, and structure of the palace are a major attraction for tourists.
Hawa Mahal – Jaipur’s Historic Landmark
Hawa Mahal famously known as the “ palace of winds “ has one of the best architecture in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built this palace in 1799. Hawa Mahal is considered to be very unique as it has many small windows and balconies that seem like a honeycomb.
It is colored red-pink as in Rajput tradition. The main purpose of this mahal was to allow women to look down the streets during festivals or in general through these small windows without being seen. It was due to a very strict purdah system.
The palace has approximately 953 small windows called jharokhas which keep the palace cool during summers. The palace also has many rooms, a courtyard, and a museum representing the history of Jaipur’s palace and royal families. Moreover, the front exterior of the palace is more famous and exciting due to its unique design for tourists.
Jantar Mantar – Journey to Ancient Astronomy of Jaipur
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh built Jantar Mantar in the 18th century. It is a special observatory of planets and stars by huge stone structures. It also helped to predict eclipses and measure time and celestial movements.
One can explore the world’s largest astronomical instruments like a sundial known as Samrat Yantra. Other instruments like jai prakash yantra measure the position of stars and ram yantra measure the position of planets.
Jantar Mantar is also a UNESCO world heritage site. It has become one of the most popular tourist attractions as the place combines art and science perfectly. In conclusion, visitors interested in science, architecture, and innovation must include Jantar Mantar on their trip to Jaipur.
Albert haul museum – Where Arts meets History
Albert Haul Museum is the oldest museum in Rajasthan. It is situated at Ram Niwas Garden of Jaipur. Initially, in 1876 it was built to be a concert haul. The museum’s structure is similar to the Victoria and Albert haul museum of London, which is why the museum’s name is also the same. It is a government central museum.
There are amazing historic artwork collections like weapons, pottery, and textile, paintings of Rajasthan. The architecture of the museum is indo-saracenic style. Moreover, there is also an Egyptian mummy which attracts a lot of history lovers.
There are almost 16 art galleries in the museum. There is also a beautiful garden outside the museum which adds extra beauty. The beginning of the museum started when Albert Edward visited India in 1876. Today, it is one of the best tourist spots in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Nahargarh Fort – Jaipur’s Hilltop Jewel
The founder of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Singh built this fort in 1734. It is located on the Aravali hills near Jaipur city. Well, the story behind the name of nahargarh fort is quite interesting. It is believed that the fort’s name is behind Nahar Singh Bhoomia, whose spirit used to haunt workers during the fort’s construction.
The fort was originally constructed to be a retreat for the women of royal families. The special quarter for women was called ‘Zenana’. And for royal men, there was another quarter called ‘Mardana Mahal’.
A visit to Nahargarh Fort will always be memorable as it is a land full of natural beauty and a lot of history. The structure, strong walls, and architecture of the fort are amazing. After that, it is also a great spot for photography. So, it is a must-visit destination.
Amer Fort – Heritage of Jaipur’s Kings
Raja Man Singh 1 built the Amer fort also known as the amber fort in 1592. It is located on the top of the hill near Jaipur city of Rajasthan. It was also the main quarter of royal Rajput rulers. Moreover, the palace surrounds Maota Lake and hills, making a perfect background. Visitors can also explore Sheesh Mahal ( made of many small mirrors) as it is one of the highlights of the fort.
In addition, the fort is built with Mughal and Indian architectural designs. The fort looks very stunning as it is made from red-pink and yellow sandstones.
Amer Fort is one of the best tourist destinations in Jaipur. In other words, the fort’s architecture, history, and beauty are worth a visit.
Jaigarh Fort – The Guardian of Royalty
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh built Jaigarh Fort in the 18th century. It is located near Aravali Hills across the Amber Fort. the main reason to build this fort was to protect the amber fort and the Jaipur city. The fort has stunning architecture and many attractive designs including massive gates, palaces, and watchtowers.
Another highlight of the fort is the world’s largest cannon on wheels called the Jaivana cannon. The fort has an amazing history of never being conquered, so it is famously known as the “Fort of Victory”.
The Jaigarh Fort is the best spot for people who love to take pictures as amazing views surround the fort. The fort is a glimpse of Rajasthan’s rich heritage. Apart from its historical significance, the fort is full of stories of Rajput kings and legends. Hence, the Jaigarh Fort is a must-visit destination in Jaipur.
Birla Mandir – Divine Beauty of Jaipur
Birla mandir of Jaipur is one of the most beautiful Birla temples in India. The Birla family built the temple in 1988. People also refer to this temple as the Laxmi Narayan temple. The beautiful temple is made up of white marble, making the environment peaceful.
The temple was built when the king of Jaipur gave the land to the Birla family in exchange for just rupees one as a token. The structure and architecture of the temple are designed according to ancient Hindu as well as modern styles. Moreover, many carvings and teachings of gods and goddesses are carved on the temple’s walls.
Many people come to offer their prayers and admire the beauty of the temple as the atmosphere here is very positive and full of hope. In conclusion, must add Birla temple on your trip to Jaipur.
Chokhi Dhani – Rajasthan’s Wonderland
Chokhi Dhani is a luxury heritage resort that gives you the feel of Rajasthan’s rural culture. It is specially designed to give visitors a small tour of Rajasthan, Visitors can enjoy camel, elephant, and bullock rides, puppet shows, magic shows, fortune tellers, folk dances, and songs.
The village resort has many huts made from mud with beautiful decorations. The place is full of entertainment. Moreover, the best part of Chokhi Dhani is a typical village setup where visitors can enjoy delicious Rajasthani foods. For instance, there are a lot of food options like gatte ki sabzi, daal baati churma , daal pakode , maal pua, and many more and make your own Rajasthani thaali.
The resort has attracted many local and international visitors since its construction in 1989. In conclusion, Chokhi Dhani is a perfect place for a fun outing. So, just add this amazing heritage resort to know the culture of Rajasthan amusingly.
Jal Mahal – Jaipur’s Floating Palace
Jal Mahal, also called ‘Water Palace’ is a stunning architecture built in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. This amazing marvel of Jaipur is made with a combination of Mughal and Rajput styles. however, the contract of Jal Mahal was given to Maharaja Madho Singh in the 1750s.
The water palace floats on the lake which makes an amazing view. One of the interesting facts about the palace is that only one story of the palace is visible as the other 4 stories are under the water. Moreover, visitors cannot enter the palace but can enjoy the view of Jal Mahal by boating on the lake.
During sunrise or sunset, the view becomes even more beautiful. Jal Mahal is a perfect location for people who love photography as the whole place is full of beautiful views. One can also enjoy birdwatching and boating. Hence, add Jal Mahal to your must-visiting spot in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Discover your dream stay in Jaipur
If you want to experience the beauty of Jaipur with a comfortable place to stay, there are a lot of options. From 5 stars to affordable hotels, everything for you is available.
Some of the royal places to stay in Jaipur are Rambagh Palace, the Oberoi Jasvillas, the Leela Palace Jaipur, etc. In other words, these hotels and resorts will give you an unforgettable experience with the best comfort and luxury.
Some of the affordable yet comfortable places to stay in Jaipur are Nahargarh Haveli, Umaid Mahal, Hotel Pearl Palace, Zostel Jaipur, etc. These hotels are budget-friendly with good services,
How to reach Jaipur
One can reach Jaipur city of Rajasthan very easily by air, road, and train.
- By Air – Jaipur International Airport ( JIA) operates both international and national flights. It is around 13 km from the center of the city. One can catch direct flights from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata.
- By Road – one can reach Jaipur by road by bus, own vehicles, or cabs. The city has good connections with state and national highways.
- By Train- Jaipur’s railway station has excellent connections with almost every city in India. One can reach Jaipur by trains like Shatabdi Express, Jaipur Superfast Express, and Rajdhani Express.
In addition, one can use auto-rickshaws, or cabs through Ola or Uber to explore the city.
Few fun facts about Jaipur
- Jaipur got the nickname ‘ the pink city ‘ from the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert. The city was painted pink for his welcome when he visited Jaipur for the first time in 1876.
- Jaipur still has a Maharaja! Yes, the name of the Maharaja of Jaipur is Padmanabh Singh. At the age of 13, he got his crown. Moreover, he is also a polo player.
- Jaipur has the most expensive stay in the world. The Raj Mahal Palace Hotel costs around $ 50000 per night. The hotel has literally every luxury in the world.
- Jaipur has a real Egyptian mummy. Albert Haul Museum has a mummy of a teenage girl named Tutu. it is 2300 years old. Moreover, Jaipur has one mummy out of a total of 6 mummies in India
- Jaipur has a monkey temple, named Galtaji monkey temple. Visitors see a lot of monkeys in the temple, some monkeys even try to swim in the pools.
- Jaipur is a home of emeralds and gemstone manufacturing. From ancient times, emeralds and gemstones have been used in king’s attires and crowns. Even today, they are manufactured and traded around the world.
So, when are you visiting Jaipur to fall in love with the charm of Rajasthan’s rich heritage, culture, and beauty? I hope soon.
For more information, visit jaanekyadikhjaaye.com