Tourist Attractions in Jaipur

Being an important and rich state, during the historical period Jaipur leaders have built many beautiful buildings and most of them are still in a very good condition. These architectural monuments of Jaipur include massive forts, beautiful palaces, temples, astronomical observatory etc. These monuments relate the tales of the glorious era of the Rajput rulers over this part of India. An ardent warrior & devoted lover of art, architecture and astronomy, the king of Jaipur Sawai Jai Singh II built the Pink City of Rajasthan, the first planned city of India, in 1727. Built on the basis of Shilp Shastra and Indian architectural tenets, Jaipur had been divided into nine parts, two blocks meant for administrative buildings & palaces, and the remaining seven blocks allotted to the public. Jaipur city, fabulously rich in architecture-both religious and secular; & secured by huge fortification with seven strong gates, was painted in welcoming pink during the visit of Prince of Wales in 1876.

There are many tourist attractions to visit in Jaipur. Built of red sandstone & white marble, Amber Fort Palace Complex, the ancient capital of the old state of Jaipur, is a prime tourist attraction. The complex houses famous buildings like Jai Mandir (hall of Glory), Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirror), Shila Devi Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali with huge silver lions and silver doors etc. Another major highlight of Jaipur is City Palace, located in the heart of the city. A part of the palace has been converted into a well-kept museum whereas rest of the building is utilized by the royal family of Jaipur. The palace, consisted of several courtyards, gardens and buildings, is entered from two gates, one on Jaleb Chowk side and another one on Tripolia Gate side. Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, one of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh II, is still in operation and measures the local time, eclipses etc. Known for massive masonry & complex metal instruments, it is the largest and best preserved observatory. Used by the royal women to watch processions & activities in the market, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is a five storied, pyramid-shaped pink façade with 953 small windows (jharokhas). A beautiful specimen of Indo- Saracenic architecture, Albert Hall, presently known as the Central Museum, showcases a rich collection of coins, carpets, paintings, textile, pottery, sculptures. Earlier the museum was called Albert Hall, named after Prince Albert Edward who inaugurated it in 1876 A.D. Jal Mahal, a beautiful and highly visited monument, is a five storied building with four floors under the water and the top floor above water. Built in 1799 AD & located amidst Man Sagar Lake, it served as a summer palace and used for the duck shooting parties for the royal family members and their guests. Served as a center of foundry, gun & canon production for the Rajputs, Jaigarh Fort houses a well-kept museum of weapons & Jaivana, the world’s largest canon on wheels. Its water harvesting system is worth watching. There is another historical castle in Jaipur – Nahargarh Fort , built in 1734 by Sawai Jai Singh. The fort, though, at present is not in good condition but its remnants indicate about its grandeur during glorious ancient days. From the ramparts of the fort, Jaipur looks immensely beautiful. Other tourist places to visit in Jaipur are Dolls Museum, Zoological Garden, Govind Dev Ji Temple, Birla Planetarium, Birla Temple , Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh , Gaitor , Galta Ji , Sagner, Manak Chowk or Sanganer-ki-Chopar, the most important square leading to bazaars etc.