Jaipur, popularly known as Pinkcity, was built in 1727 AD by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and designed by the brilliant young Bengali architect Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya. Designed in accordance with Shilp Shastra - an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture - Jaipur follows a grid system. The wide straight bazaars, raastaas (streets), galis (lanes), mohallas and uniform rows of shops on either side of main bazaars are arranged in nine rectangular city sectors called chaukris. Encircled by a formidable wall, Jaipur was the only planned city of its time.

The palace lies in the heart of the city and occupies the whole central grid. The fortified wall has seven gates and was built for protection from invading armies and animals that lived in jungles which surrounded the wall that time. Today, ofcourse, the city has spread beyond the walls and there is hardly any jungle left even in the vicinity of the walled city.

Jaipur was color washed pink to create an impression of red sandstone buildings of mughal cities. The current color which is more red than pink was painted in 1876, during the visit of Prince of Wales. The city is best explored on foot and only the adventurous visitor willing to go into the rastaas and galis (inner lanes) can feel the spirit of the city. There's an amazing appeal to Jaipur's colorful bazaars, beautifully laid out gardens, parks & the monuments.

Places of interest are located mainly in the walled city. There are famous mohallas, rectangular blocks, each designed in conformity with a particular trade or craft. Johari Bazar, Tripoliya Bazar, Chandpole Bazar, Kishanpole Bazar, Ramganj Bazar, Bari Chaupar, Chhoti Chaupar, Ajmeri Gate, New Gate, Sanganeri Gate, Ghat Gate, Bapu Bazar, Nehru Bazar, Indira Bazar and their lanes like Khazane Walon Ka Rasta, Maniharon Ka Rasta, Gopal ji Ka Rasta, Ghee Walon Ka Rasta, Haldiyon Ka Rasta are some of the main areas in the walled city. Each of these lanes is like an open museum, a treasure house of traditional crafts and arts. Markets outside the walled city include M.I. Road, Jayanti Market, Sansar Chandra Road, Station Road, Raja Park and a number of colony markets.

Jaipur cannot be explained. It is a city with a timeless quality to it, a city where the ancient and the modern coexist in complete harmony.


Amber Fort
Amber is the romantic Rajasthan fort palace maharaja Man singh - I Started its construction in 1592 and was completed by
Maharaja Jai Singh-I , Painted scenes of war and hunting adorn the walls with precious mirrors and stones set in to the plasters.In the foreground is the maota lake with breathtaking reflections of the magnificent Amber Fort Palace.Its rugged
forbidding exterior belies and inner paradise where a beautiful fusion of Mughal and Hindu styles finds its ultimate refinements

The city palace
Is the citadel of the Kachchawah Rajput rulers of Jaipur. It occupies one seventh of the walled city of Jaipur and is wonderful blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Largely Sawai Jai Singh had constructed the walls of the Palace. Constructions and additions to the palace continued till twentieth century. The museum houses an extensive collection of rare manuscripts, Mughal and Rajasthani miniatures, Mughal carpets, costumes and textiles, arms and weapons, objects of art and royal paraphernalia. The pair of giant silver Gangajalis displayed in the open Sarvatobhadra, building were fabricated in the court workshops for Sawai Madho Singh ji to carry holy water of Ganges to England. These are mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest silver objects in the world.

Hawa Mahal A Pandora's box of wonders, the enchanting Hawa Mahal is a five storeys palace, with a profusion of windows and stone screens,curvilinear roofs, domes and spires, built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in1799.It is located
at Sireh Deori Bazar.

Jal Mahal: It was the Lake Palace of the Maharajas of Jaipur where they spent their summer months to have respite
from scorching heat.

JaigarhFort
Is an impregnable and un-approachable fort. The fort was cleverly built to give its archers an advantage over their targets. It is said that Raja Man Singh has buried huge treasures in this bastion. The fort also houses the Jai Ban, the largest cannon in Asia, which is supposed to have been test fired only once.

Nahargarh Fort
Also located on the rugged Aravali Hills, Nahargarh meaning abode of the tigers, was built by Jai Singh to bolster the defence of Amber. The fort has uniquely a cluster of 12 suits for queens and at the head is a suit for the Jai Singh himself. It was named Nahargarh after Nahar Singh a prince whose spirit would destroy the construction and not allow it to progress further. So by a tantrik prayer the spirit agreed to leave on one condition that the fort be named after him.

Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh:
Has beautiful gardens, fountains, pools & some magnificent pieces of sculpture.

Vidyadharji Ka Bagh:
Built by Sawai Jai singh -II it has been named after vidyadhar the chief architect of jaipur city. fountains, pools, and terraced
gardens provide a feast to the eyes

Government Central Museum: This is the oldest museum in the state. The buiding, designed by Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob is located in the centre of the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, built in 1876 AD. When King Edward VII visited India as the Prince of Wales, it was opened to public in 1886.

Dolls Museum
Located near police Memorial, it display exquisite dolls from various countries in all their finery.

Albert Hall Museum
The beautiful Indo - sarcenic structure of the Albert designed by Sir Swinton Jacob was opened in 1887 A.D. as a public museum. It contains a fine collection of sculptures, paintings,metalware, ivory carving, pottery ,decorative art objects, natural history specimens, an Egyptian mummy and a celebrated Persian Garden Carpet.

Galta :
(11-km) Beyond the gardens amidst the low hill guarding the city lies the old pilgrim centre of Galtaji. Temples, pavilions and holy 'kunds' (natural springs and reservoirs) dot the serene green landscape. The small temple of the Sun god, built by Diwan Kriparam on top of the highest peak, is visible form all parts of the city.

Govind deo ji ka Mandir
The presiding deity of Jaipur is Govindeoji, Lord Krishna, who came from Vrindavan, before the city of Jaipur was built. The temple is located between the Chandra Mahal and the Badal Mahal, so that the rulers of the state could view the temple from their residences. The temple attracts large number of devotees specially on the Janamashtmi, the day of Lord Krishna’s birth.

Ramgarh Lake:
(32-km north-east) A huge artificial lake created by constructing a high dam amidst tree covered hills. While the temple of Jamwa Mata and the ruins of the old fort are some of its antiquities, its beautiful landscape makes it an idyllic picnic spot.

Sanganer
(16-km): Located on the Tonk Road. This small town is entered through the ruins of tw 'Tripolias' or triple-gateways. The town has a ruined palace and a group of Jain temples with fine carvings. Entry to the temples is restricted. The town is an important centre for craft, industry and produces some of the finest hand printed textiles from units of block and screen printers. This textile is popular all over the country and abroad. On the Ajmer Road, the ground level fort is still in good shape. It is noted for its hand printed handloom industry using simple techniques.

Samode
(40-km north-west): The beautiful Samode Palace, has been rebuilt and renovated and provides a fine example of the Rajput haveli architecture. It is an ideal spot for outings.

Gaitore
To the west of the road to Amber in a valley is the royal cremation ground of Gaitore. The cenotaphs of all Jaipur rulers, with the exception of Sawai Ishwari Singh who was cremated outside the Jai Niwas Garden were built at this place. The cenotaph of Sawai Jai Singh ji stands out for its delicate carvings and beautiful shape.

Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar, one of the five observatories (the others being in Delhi, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura ), built in 1718 by Sawai Jai Singh- II avid astronomer, to study the movements of stars. This one is the largest and the best preserved observatory. It has a collection of complex astronomical instruments chiseled out of stone, most of which continue to provide fairly accurate information to this day. Constructed with stone and marble, its complex instruments whose settings and shapes are precisely and scientifically designed represent the high -points of Medieval Indian astronomy. The observatory contains a large number of structures called 'yantras' to determine position of stars andthe stellar movements. The two Ram yantras used for gauging altitudes are unique.

Gangaur :( March- April ) dedicated to the goddess Gauri, consord of lord Shiva and the simbol of conjugal bliss, Gangaur
is the most important festival in Jaipur.Women and girls in their finery go out the to the gardens to the collect the flowers and
water from the wells singing all the while in praise of the goddess, Unmarried girls pray for good husband while married woman pray for the long life of their husband.Gauri is taken out in a palanquin accompanied by caparisoned elephants , camels, horses,dances musicians,shehnai-music, nagarwalas,band and chariots,

Teej :(July - August )
The festival welcoming the advent of the monsoons finds the women of Rajasthan in their colourful best.it is the sacred to goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva She is said to bestow marital bliss( suhag ) on the ladies who worship her

Elephant Festival: ( March - April )
The Elephant Festiva at jaipur coincides with holi . at the begning of any Hindu cermony the elephant- god Ganesh Or Ganpati is worshipped . the festival is marked by an elephant procession, elephant polo, elephant race and thecolourful fun packed elephant Holi.



The pink city is one of the finest centres in the entire region for beautiful prints - specially on cotton febrics and has perhaps indias largest centre of semi- precious/precious gems and stones. Tie-and -dye fabrics and sarees; sanganer prints. Brocades marble statuettes; Ivory carving; stone- set and semi precious jewellery; enamel work There is no end to what
jaipur offers to shoppers.