Jaipur – Best places to visit

Jaipur is the state capital of Rajasthan, India. It reminds the royal families and their heritages and not to forget the old part of the city, popularly known as the Pink City due to the characteristic colour of the buildings. It is also the largest and the densest city of Rajasthan. Jaipur was founded by Jai Singh II in 1727. The Pink City is also a world heritage site.

Places to visit

Jaipur itself is a major tourist attraction. It has numerous places to visit, namely Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, City Palace, Birla Mandir, Galtaji, Govind Dev Ji Temple are some of the prominent tourist spots in Jaipur.

Hawa Mahal

The Hawa Mahal which stands as “The palace of Breeze” in English is located in the city center region of Jaipur. It is a five-storied building which consists of 935 small windows known as Jharokhas decorated with complex latticework. Established in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, inspired by the unique structure of Khetri Mahal, its main motive was to allow the ladies to look below the street and observe everyday life and festivals, without being seen, this is because the royal ladies had to follow the Purdah system. It is a major tourist attraction due to its five-storied pyramidal structure, akin to the honeycomb of a beehive, made with red and pink sandstone. The mahal extends from city palace to the Zenana, or women’s chamber.

Being centrally located Hawa Mahal is easily accessible to tourists. It opens every day from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Tourists generally spent an hour inside. The ticket price is Rs. 50 per head for Indian citizens.

Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal, which translates to “Water Palace”, is situated in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur. The palace was renovated by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the 18th century. This red sandstone structure itself is quite fascinating, seems to float on water. The architecture is mainly of Rajput styles and a bit of Bengali touch is also seen on carefully observing the hoods. It is a five-storied structure with 4 stories underwater when the lake is full. Its main attraction is its location and the view from the eastern side of the Man Sagar Lake with the Nahargarh hills in the backdrop.

Visitors are not allowed to enter the palace, but boats are available to have a look around the structure. Visiting hours are between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets for boat ride cost Rs. 10 for Indians and Rs. 50 for foreigners.

Amer Fort

Amer Fort or Amber Fort is located at a town Amer, about 11 km from Jaipur. This is also a red sandstone building, built under the influence of Mughal architecture.

Tourists take 2 to 3 hours to visit. Amer fort opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm daily. Tickets cost Rs 100 for Indians and Rs. 550 for foreigners.

Jantar Mantar

The Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory created by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1734. Jantar Mantar is a place that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The tickets are for Rs. 50 for Indians and Rs. 200 for foreigners.

Nahargarh Fort

Located at the edge of the Aravalli hills, Nahargarh Fort along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort used to provide a strong defence to the city of Jaipur. It is famous for the view of the Pink City from its extensions over the surrounding hills. It takes about 2-3 hours for visiting and opens from 10:00 am and closes at 5:30 pm. Tickets are sold at Rs. 50 for Indians and Rs. 200 for foreigners.

How to travel without money

Galta Ji

Galtaji is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage about 10 km from Jaipur. The site is constructed between the narrow crevices of the surrounding hills. A natural spring occurs at the hilltop and flows down while filling the pools at different stories of the structure. A view of the city and its surroundings can be observed from the highest reservoir. It is a place for religious persons, devotees, and photographers. Visiting time is from 5 am to 9 pm.

Govind Dev Ji Temple

Govind Dev Ji Temple is a Vaishnava temple in Jaipur, near City Palace. Its story dates back to almost 500 years ago and is a place of grave concern for Krishna devotees. The deity was brought by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II from Vrindaban. Popular legends are that the deity in this temple is exactly like Krishna’s form during his incarnation on Earth. The temple is open throughout the day and arati times are from 4:30 am to 12:30 pm and 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

Things to do

Jaipur might not be a good place for breathtaking and adventurous activities but it has a lot of other attractions. Here are some:

Lohagarh Fort Resort: It is a resort of exotic fineness and royal ambiance.

Nahargarh Fort: Get a glimpse of Indian and European architecture.

Chokhi Dhani: Famous for its folk dances.

Rajasthani Cuisine: The local flavors are indeed the taste of kings.

Ranthambore National Park: The perfect place for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Safaris are also available.

Hot Air Ballooning: Yes, Jaipur provides this opportunity to hover over the city and flow a thrill in your veins.

Birla Mandir: The mesmerizing white marble temple.

Jaipur Wax museum: Situated in Nahargarh Fort, contains statues of famous personalities from various fields of art, literature, sports and more.

City Palace: It is a museum to gain knowledge about the royals. And so many other things to do.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Jaipur is in the winter. Being situated in Rajasthan it undoubtedly experiences extreme weather in Summers. The summers are very hot and dry and monsoons are also sort of dry due to low rainfall. Winter is the most pleasant time to visit.

How to reach

The nearest airport is Sanganer Airport which is 10 km away from the main city. It has both domestic and international Terminus. Regular flights are operated from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai. Taxi or cabs are available from outside the airport. Jaipur has its railhead, the Jaipur Railway Station which is connected to almost all the major Indian cities. The Palace on Wheels, the famous luxury train, also goes through Jaipur.

This beautiful city has a lot to offer for tourists. Not only palaces and royal structures, but one can taste the authentic Rajasthani culture, collect traditional handlooms and famous Rajasthani artifacts. Have a visit here and in a few days Pink City would get established in your heart.

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