Jaipur the Pink City. Review on Jaipur

One of the world?s most beautiful women Maharani (Queen) Gyatri Devi lives and belongs to Jaipur. She lives in a palace called Moti Doongri. It is a privately owned hill top fort shaped like a Scottish castle. On the foot of hill is the sparkling white marble Lakshmi Narayan Temple also known as Birla Mandir.

Rajasthan as I wrote earlier is the land of the Kings is the home of the Rajputs, a group of warriors who ruled this part of India for centuries. The capital city of this state is also known as the Pink city because of the pink paint applied to the buildings in its walled city. In Rajput culture pink was traditionally a colour associated with hospitality.

The city got its name from the great warrior and astronomer Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 17 th Century. The city is well built in grids with straight and wide roads, streets and lanes and uniform rows in main bazaars (markets).

Jaipur is barely 262 kms from Delhi and is well connected by road, rail and air. A big fleet of Volvo buses runs between Delhi and Jaipur from Bikaner house, Delhi and costs around 435 INR i.e. 10 $ one way. These luxury buses are very comfortable and take 5 hrs .

There are other cheaper buses from Delhi and one can get it from ISBT or Dhaula Kuan (near International & Domesic airport and also near to Delhi Cantt. Railway station) .

There are tens of trains running between Delhi and Jaipur and the first popular one starts at 6.00 am called Shatabdi express. Jaipur is also well connected to other parts of the country by a good network of air, rail and road connection. There are daily regular flights from Delhi and Mumbai by Indian Air Lines, Jet and Sahara. It has also been developed as an International airport and there are direct flights to and fro from Dubai (UAE).

The principal monuments of Jaipur are all concentrated in the centrally situated palace called City Palace.

City Palace-It is a seven story high Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace). The former Maharaja (King) and his family still live in this palace. There is a public museum, which has an extensive collection of rare manuscripts, Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures , Mughal Carpets, Costumes and textiles, arms and weapons and many more. There is also a pair of giant silver pot, which was used to carry water of sacred river Ganges to England when one of the former rulers went abroad.

Jantar Mantar- Just out side the gateway of the City palace is Jantar Mantar. This is the largest of five observatories founded by Sawai Jai Singh to observe the movements of Sun,Moon,planets and the stars.

Hawa Mahal- It was provided for adequate vantage position behind stone carved Jali screens to the palace women for watching the royal processions passing through the bazaar below.

Govind Dev Ji Temple- This is the most famous and popular temple in the Pink City attracting devotees from all over the country. It is the temple of Lord Krishna installed originally in Vrindavan reinstalled here by Sawai Jai Singh II .

Ram Niwas Bagh- To provide open space and greenery to the citizens this large garden with a Zoo, an aviary, a museum and several sports grounds were built by another ruler of Jaipur.

Rajmandir-It is not a temple but extremely well built cinema and a major tourist attraction. It is always full despite its immense size.

Amer Palace- It is situated about 10 kms from Jaipur on Jaipur Delhi road. Amer was once the ancient capital city of Jaipur State. It is a huge fortress-palace built by Raja Man Singh and Sawai Jai Singh. It is a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside and over looking a lake, which reflects its terraces and ramparts.

Besides these some other attractions in Jaipur which has a historical importance like Royal Cenotaphs , Jaigarh fort, Nahar Garh fort , Samod ( Rajput haveli) and so on which I shall write later on.

Jaipur is a shopper?s paradise. It is famous for Precious and semi precious stones , ornaments , jewellery etc. that can be bought in Jauhari Bazaar. But to see the celebrated mina Kari , kundan workers , gem cutters and ornaments makers one has to go to Gopal ji ka rasta, Haldiyon ka rasta etc..

It is also famous for Bandhej ( tie & dye) and block printing textiles and there shops are in Jauhari Bazaar and Badi Chaupar. Chappals and Jutis ( leather footwear) lac bangles are available near Hawa Mahal area. Famous Jaipur quilts weighing only a few hundred grammes are also available near hawa mahal area. Blue potteries , durries, carpets , brasswares are all famous here.

Jaipur has a wide variety of accommodations from five star deluxe hotels to budget hotels.Rambagh palace hotel, Jai Mahal Palace hotel, Welcomgroup Rajputana Sheraton, Rajmahal Palace, Mansingh Hotel, Hotel Clarks Amer, Hotel Jaipur Palace, Holiday Inn on Amer road, newly built Gold Coast Palace Hotel and Le Meridien on Delhi high way are some of them.

There are other hotels converted from traditional havelis such as Narain Niwas palace hotel , Samode Haveli, Mandawa House etc.

Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation (RTDC) offers half day and full day bus tour operations of Jaipur and Amer.

It is not because I have been to Jaipur but I am living here for more than 10 years hence it is a compilation of my every day observations. See you soon in Jaipur.