Things to see and do in Jaipur, rajasthan, india
Jaipur is the capital of India’s Royal Rajasthan state. It evokes the royal family that once ruled the region in 1727. When the city was founded it was called the Old City, or now it is called “Pink City” for its trademark building color. Jaipur is an absolute dream, an explosion of color, So many textures put together and a feast for the senses. At the center of its stately street grid (notable in India) stands the opulent, colonnaded City Palace complex. With gardens, courtyards and museums, part of it is still a royal residence. Jaipur was founded in 1727 by the Rajput ruler Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amer, after whom the city is named. It was one of the earliest planned cities of modern India, designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. During the British Colonial period, the city served as the capital of Jaipur State.
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After independence in 1947, Jaipur was made capital of the newly-formed state of Rajasthan. Jaipur is a major and a popular tourist destination in India and forms a part of the west Golden Triangle tourist circuit along with Delhi and Agra (240 km, 149 mi). In the 2008 Conde Nast Traveller Readers Choice Survey, Jaipur was ranked the 7th best place to visit in Asia. According to TripAdvisor's 2015 Traveller's Choice Awards for Destination, Jaipur ranked 1st among the Indian destinations for the year. It also serves as a gateway to other tourist destinations in Rajasthan such as Jodhpur (348 km, 216 mi), Jaisalmer (571 km, 355 mi), Udaipur (421 km, 262 mi), Kota (252 km, 156 mi) and Mount Abu (520 km, 323 mi). Jaipur is located 616 km from Shimla. On 6 July 2019, UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Jaipur the ‘Pink City of India’ among its World Heritage Sites.The city is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Amber Fort and Jantar Mantar.
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PLAN YOUR STAY IN JAIPUR
There are many ways to experience Jaipur when it comes to accommodations. A popular option is to stay at one of the many luxury hotels, Havelis and be treated like a Royal. Jaipur and Rajsthan as a whole is known for top class hospitality, as per tradition they see guests as god and treat them like royal family. Many luxury hotels were former royal palaces or royal havelis ( Mansions of royal families) These beautiful royal resorts include Samode Haveli, Amanbagh, and Rambagh Palace. They are all worth visiting even if not staying the night to enjoy the architecture and grandeur. As you explore the city you will be mesmerized by all the sounds, smells, chaos, textures, people. As someone who grew up in India I assure you there is never a dull moment and you never feel alone, India has a way of making you feel loved and wanted and special.
Jaipur Indian
The architecture of the city was planned according to the Indian Vastu shastra by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya in 1727. There are three gates facing east, west, and north. The eastern gate is called Suraj pol (sun gate), the western gate is called Chand pol (moon gate) and the northern gate faces the ancestral capital of Amer. The architecture of the city is unusual among pre-modern Indian cities in the regularity of its streets, and the division of the city into six sectors by broad streets 34 m (111 ft) wide.
The urban quarters are further divided by networks of gridded streets. Five-quarters wrap around the east, south, and west sides of a central palace quarter, with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace quarter encloses the Hawa Mahal palace complex, formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort, which was the residence of the King Sawai Jai Singh II, crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city.
Some of the most instagramed spots in Jaipur are Hawa Mahal and Chand Baori.
Visitor attractions include the Albert Hall Museum, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, City Palace, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Birla Mandir, Galtaji, Govind Dev Ji Temple, Garh Ganesh Temple, Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple, Sanghiji Jain temple and the Jaipur Zoo. The Jantar Mantar observatory and Amer Fort are one of the World Heritage Sites. Hawa Mahal is a five-storey pyramidal shaped monument with 953 windows that rises 15 metres (50 ft) from its high base. Sisodiya Rani Bagh and Kanak Vrindavan are the major parks in Jaipur. Raj Mandir is a notable cinema hall in Jaipur.
MUST SEE ATTRACTIONS IN JAIPUR INDIA
#Amer Fort: Amer Fort is located on a hill just a few miles from Jaipur. Built in 1592, the palace is located in the state's former capital. It's best known for its combination of both Hindu and Muslim architecture. Take your time to roam through the stunning courtyards and take in the views of Jaipur below.
#The City Palace: Jaipur's City Palace was the ceremonial and administrative seat for the Maharaja of Jaipur from 1727 to 1949. Don't miss Pritam Niwas Chowk, an inner courtyard with four doors dedicated to the four seasons. They are simply spectacular. Another must-see is Chhavi Niwas, a rooftop room drenched in blue and white.
#Hawa Mahal: The Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of Winds, is probably the most iconic landmark in Jaipur, immediately recognizable from its jaw dropping facade of pink sandstone and 953 latticed windows. It was built as an extension of the City Palace in 1799 so that the royal women could discreetly observe Jaipur's street life through any of its many windows.
#Jantar Mantar: Before or after visiting the City Palace, you must visit Jantar Mantar. It's a collection of nineteen astronomical instruments built by the Maratha Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, the founding father of Jaipur. I recommend you go through this area with a guide who can explain how all the instruments work. It's all just so fascinating!
#Galta Ji: Also known as the Monkey Temple, Galta Ji is an ancient Hindu temple and pilgrimage site. It consists of a series of temples built into a narrow crevice in the ring of hills that surround Jaipur. If you come, come during golden hour, when the monkeys come out and play.
#Chand Baori: Chand baori or stepwell is a feast for eyes, an architectural marvel and a must for your instagram photo. Find more details below...
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Hawa Mahal, Jaipur India
Hawa Mahal (English translation: "The Palace of Winds" or "The Palace of Breeze") is a palace in Jaipur, India. Made with the red and pink sandstone, the palace sits on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the Zenana, or women's chambers. The structure was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, who was the founder of Jaipur. He was so inspired by the unique structure of Khetri Mahal that he built this grand and historical palace. It was designed by Lal Chand Ustad. Its unique five floors exterior is akin to the honeycomb of a beehive with its 953 small windows called Jharokhas decorated with intricate latticework. The original intent of the lattice design was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life and festivals celebrated in the street below without being seen, since they had to obey the strict rules of "purdah", which forbade them from appearing in public without face coverings. This architectural feature also allowed cool air from the Venturi effect to pass through, thus making the whole area more pleasant during the high temperatures in summer. Many people see the Hawa Mahal from the street view and think it is the front of the palace, but in reality it is the back of that structure. In 2006, renovation works on the Mahal were undertaken, after a gap of 50 years, to give a facelift to the monument at an estimated cost of Rs 4.568 million. The corporate sector lent a hand to preserve the historical monuments of Jaipur and the Unit Trust of India has adopted Hawa Mahal to maintain it. The palace is an extended part of a huge complex. The stone-carved screens, small casements, and arched roofs are some of the features of this popular tourist spot. The monument also has delicately modeled hanging cornices.
ARTISANS OF JAIPUR
Jaipur is famous for its heritage craftsmen and artisanal products including hand dyed textile, block printed fabrics, Jaipur rugs, hand carved wooden block and color crafts. Jaipur has a rich history of handicraft made by artisans. Jaipur brings to mind textiles, jewelry, saris, rugs all skillfully crafted by artisans who's craft has been passed down from generation after generation.
One of my most memorable moment was visiting a Block Printing Studio, an artisan block-printing workshop in a small village, just about an hour outside of Jaipur. It was very exciting to see the whole process of making a hand printed fabric from washing the fabric to seeing it freshly dyed and drying out in the fields. We even got a chance to try block-printing for ourselves, and take samples home.
Jaipur is also famous for its jewelry and gems. Any emerald in the world that you see has been cut and polished in Jaipur. Also rubies, garnets and diamonds (Uncut diamonds). Visit Johari bazar where all the famous jewelers (even to the royal family) are located. All diamonds supplied to Kay jewelers and department stores in the US and Europe are sourced in Johari bazar. Visit the jewelers next time you visit Jaipur, India.
Chand Baori
Chand Baori is a collection of thousands of exquisitely carved stone water storage wells, hundreds of stone steps fill this exquisite medieval stepwell. IN 1864, THE FAMOUS FRENCH world traveler Louis Rousselet described “[a] vast sheet of water, covered with lotuses in flower, amid which thousands of aquatic birds are sporting” at the shores of which bathers washed, surrounded by jungle greenery. He was not describing a lakeside scene or one of India’s famous riverside ghats, but an ancient well, as big as a large pond. In the northern Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, the problem of water is a profound one. At the edge of the Thar desert, the area sees torrential seasonal monsoons, and then watches the water disappear almost immediately.
With summers routinely over 100 degrees, and silty soil that would not hold water in ponds, a practical solution was needed for locals and travelers along the local trade routes. In the first century, the slippery shores of the major rivers were tamed by the construction of ghats, long, shallow sets of stairs and landings. The same approach was applied to the construction of a new kind of well.The earliest stepwells most likely date to about 550, but the most famous were built in medieval times. It is estimated that over 3,000 stepwells were built in the two northern states. Although many have fallen into disrepair, were silted in at some point in antiquity, or were filled in with trash in the modern era, hundreds of wells still exist. In New Delhi alone, there are more than 30. Chand Baori in Abhaneri, near Jaipur, Rajasthan, is among the largest, if not the largest, of the stepwells. It is also perhaps the most visually spectacular: Chand Baori is a deep four-sided structure with an immense temple on one face. Some 3,500 Escher-esqe terraced steps march down the other three sides 13 stories to a depth of 100 feet. The construction dates to the 10th century, and is dedicated to Harshat Mata, goddess of joy and happiness.
Two common types are a step pond, with a large open top and graduated sides meeting at a relatively shallow depth. The stepwell type usually incorporates a narrow shaft, protected from direct sunlight by a full or partial roof, ending in a deeper, rounded well-end. Temples and resting areas with beautiful carvings are built into many of the wells. In their prime, many of them were painted in bright colors of lime-based paint, and now traces of ancient colors cling to dark corners. The use and conditions of stepwells began to decline in the years of the British Raj, who were horrified by the unsanitary conditions of these drinking water bathing spots. They began to install pumps and pipes, and eventually outlawed the use of stepwells in some places.
FESTIVAL OF COLORS HOLI
Holi, also known as the Indian festival of colors, is a popular ancient Hindu festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is celebrated predominantly in India, but has also spread to other areas of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent. Have you been on a color run, that is holi just imagine the whole country on a "Color Run". The colorful imagery is so vividly beautiful that it has grown in popularity world over.
Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring", the "festival of colours", or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the victory of good over evil. It signifies the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. Old feuds are forgotten and forgiven and friendship is celebrated with rubbing color on each other.The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon day), in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. The first evening is known as Holika Dahan (burning of demon holika) or Chhoti Holi and the following day as Holi, Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi, or Phagwah.
DECORATED CAMELS
Giving maximalism meaning are the gorgeous over the top decorated camels in Jaipur, India. Find intricate patterns shaved on there skin with the most colorful accessories which these camels seem to enjoy a lot. A must see and a visual treat for anyone.
Print and collection
Inspired by the spirit of Jaipur, the architecture, the festivals, the folklore, all the MAGIC discover the bespoke print pattern on exquisite silks and beautiful one of a kind dresses created from it. Wear these dresses to your vacations, Indian wedding, destination wedding and more.
about the writer
Sandhya Garg is a Project Runway designer. She studied and specialized in women's fashion at London College of Fashion, UK and has worked at Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Liberty London, Alice Temperley to name a few.
She has her own successful resort dresses, special occasion dresses, wedding guest looks, swim coverups label. While on Project Runway Season 13, she won 2 challenges and was fortunate to show her collection at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. The brand has been featured in Marie Claire US, Ftv.com, Elle Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Vogue online to name a few.
She designs limited edition high end printed spring dresses and swim coverups. Beautiful prints are inspired from around the world to be worn during travel, resort stay or cruise holidays.