Jaipur Travel Guide: Uncover the Best Tourist Attractions and Must-Visit Places in India's Pink City - జైపూర్ ట్రావెల్ గైడ్

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is famous as the Pink City due to its pink-colored buildings. It is known for its forts, palaces, and heritage structures. Along with Delhi and Agra, Jaipur forms the popular Golden Triangle circuit. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh of the Kachwaha dynasty founded the city in 1727 and made it the capital, shifting it from Amber. Jaipur is one of the first planned cities in India, with wide streets and boulevards. It has preserved its traditions and heritage while embracing progress, making it a popular destination for tourists worldwide.

Amber Fort and Palace

Amber Fort and Palace

Amber Fort in Jaipur is a remarkable structure that includes a palace and overlooks an artificial lake. It showcases the immense power and support commanded by the Rajput kings. The architectural style is a fusion of Hindu and Islamic elements and can be traced back to Raja Man Singh. Originally, it was named after the town of Amber, the previous capital of the Kachwaha dynasty, before it was moved to Jaipur. One must not miss the Sheesh Mahal inside the fort, adorned with numerous mirror tiles on the walls and ceiling, creating a dazzling sight.

City Palace and Hawa Mahal

City Palace and Hawa Mahal

The remarkable structure, located in the city center, showcases a captivating blend of traditional Rajput and Mughal architecture. It consists of various captivating components, including courtyards, gardens, and buildings. The Chandra Mahal serves as the current Jaipur Maharaja's residence, while the Mubarak Mahal houses a textile museum. Notable features include the Diwan-e-Khas, which holds two record-breaking silver vessels, and the Diwan-e-Aam, where public meetings were held. Another highlight is the Hawa Mahal, an extension of the women's chamber, featuring five stories and an astonishing 950 windows. This palace is designed to promote airflow, keeping it cool during the hot summer months while allowing the ladies to observe the city life discreetly.

Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort

Perched on the hills above Amber Palace, Jaigarh Fort not only showcases its own magnificence but also provides breathtaking vistas of the Aravalli hill range, Amber Palace, and Jaipur city. This impressive fort boasts underground water tanks, a medieval cannon foundry, and a remarkable collection of medieval cannons. Among them, the Jaivana stands out as the world's largest cannon on wheels. Originally known as the Amber Fort, it was renamed Jaigarh during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh when the new fort and palace were constructed.

Nahargarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort, located in Jaipur, offers breathtaking panoramic views of Man Sagar Lake and the city. Though relatively small, it holds great significance. Inside the fort, visitors can explore the exquisite Madhavendra Bhavan palace. The name "Nahargarh" translates to "Home of Tigers," reflecting the fort's historical importance as a defensive structure alongside other forts, forming a protective wall for the city. With its stunning vistas and rich history, Nahargarh Fort is a must-visit destination in Jaipur.


Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar

Among Jaipur's many monuments, none is as captivating as Jantar Mantar, located near the City Palace. Its name evokes a sense of magic, yet its purpose is rooted in science, making it ahead of its time. Constructed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh between 1727 and 1734, Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory, one of five built by the king. It features 14 instruments designed to measure time, predict eclipses, track stars, determine planetary positions, establish celestial altitudes, and more. Jantar Mantar is a remarkable testament to the scientific advancements of its era.

Other places

Jaipur offers a plethora of attractions for visitors to explore, depending on the duration of their stay. Among the must-see places are Birla Mandir, a magnificent white marble temple dedicated to Lord Lakshminarayan. Jalmahal, a stunning Rajput-style palace situated in the middle of Man Sagar lake. Galtaji, an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site featuring temples, tanks, and religious sites. Albert Hall Museum, the main museum in Jaipur. Additionally, Sanganer, Bagru, Chaksu, Ramgarh, Samode, and other places showcase the rich cultural heritage of the region. Chowki Dhani, located 20 km south of Jaipur, is a popular Rajasthani village re-creation that should not be missed.


Fairs and festivals

With the color of the desert, the rich tradition and heritage of Rajasthan and the Long history of its people, it is inevitable that people celebrate a host of festivals, both religious and cultural.

Festivals celebrated throughout the country, like Holi, Dussehra, Diwali, Janmashtami, Id and Christmas, takes on added colour in Rajasthan. But the city celebrates some unusual and interesting fairs & festivals as well. These include Elephant festival, Teej, Kite festival and Gangaur festival. Holi gets extra flavor and color with the Elephant Festival in which elephants are bedecked in colorful attire and adorned with lots of festoons and ornaments, making them look regal and majestic.

Kite Festival is celebrated on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, when the skies above Jaipur are populated by kites of all colors, sizes and shapes. It marks the turning of the breeze and is celebrated by both men and women of all ages taking part in flying kites.

In contrast, Gangaur and Teej are essentially celebrated by women. Gangaur which falls about a fortnight after Holi is mainly the worship of Gauri, one of the many manifestations of Parvati.

Teej is also a festival worshipping Parvati, but this is later in the year and swings are set up and decorated with flowers, while women fast, sing devotional songs and seek blessings for the welfare of the family.


Cuisine

Considering that the people of Rajasthan share a martial background, and have had to bear the hostile desert, it is inevitable that their cuisine has evolved in a manner suited to these two conditions. The focus was always on preparing food that could last several days, and so there is a predominance of lentils and breads baked over fire, along with fresh vegetables.

One of the most popular and favorite dishes is the trio of dal baati churma. The baati is like a bread made with coarse and unleavened dough with a variety of stuffings. The churma is a sweet dish made with crushed rotis, ghee and jaggery. But apart from these, dried lentils, beans from indigenous plants like sangri, ker etc. are liberally used. Gram flour or besan is a major ingredient, because of its staying capacity, and is used to make dishes like gatta ki sabzi and pakodi. On the other hand, powdered lentils are used for mangodi, papad, while bajra and corn are used all over the state for preparations of rabdi, khichdi and rotis. Various chutneys are made from locally available spices like turmeric, coriander, mint and garlic. While these are dishes that are common throughout the state, like every other state, each region is distinguished by its popular sweet - Mawa Kachori from Jodhpur, Malpuas from Pushkar, Rasogullasfrom Bikanerand Ghevar from Jaipur.

Shopping

In a city as colorful as Jaipur, it is indeed a pleasure to shop. There are vibrant colors everywhere and plenty of markets all over the city. Among the things to shop for here are handicrafts, antiques, jewellery, gems, pottery, carpets, textiles, metalwork and leatherware. And the best place to shop, even if you are not a shopper, are Kishanpol Bazaar, Haldiyon Ka Rasta, Mahiharon Ka Rasta, M.I. Road, Jauhari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar which are main shopping places.

Fabric and carpets: There's no better place in the country to shop for fabrics, especially the exquisitely hand embroidered ones, and hand woven carpets. These are best bought at Tripolia Bazaar, Kishanpol bazaar, Bapu or Nehru Bazaar. Not to be missed the famous Jaipur 'rajai' or stuffed quilts which are warm and soft, especially the ones with the velvet finish.

Handicrafts: Jaipur is known as the crafts capital of the country, because its handicrafts are distinctive and exclusive. From the times of the kings, craftsmen and artisans were given royal patronage and hence the traditional forms are visible even today. These could be anything from stone to metal, from wood to papier mache.

Camel leather: Jaipur is famous for its leather craft industry, especially artifacts made of camel leather. They are particularly beautiful here because they are embellished with embroidery and other kinds of ornamentation. Things to look out for include Jutis, Mojaris (slippers). Bags and Sandals. Shoes and Purses made in Jaipur catch the due attention of the tourists.

Jewellery and Gems: Owing to the predominant royal heritage, Rajasthan is famous for its traditional jewellery. And in Rajasthan, Jaipur is always the centre of activity. For centuries, Jaipur has flourished with skilled artisans who have worked with precious stones and jewellery to create exclusive designs and splendid jewellery. Artisans work both in silver and gold and it is a good idea to buy traditional stuff from here.

General Information
District Area: Jaipur City (Municipal limits 64.75 sq. Km. Pink City 9.8 sq.km)
Altitude: 431 metres above sea level
Climate: Summer- Max. 45.0°C / Min. 25.8°C, Winter- Max. 22.0°C/ Min. 5°C
Best Season: Sept to March
Languages: English, Hindi & Rajasthani

For accommodation facility and any other information visit: www. rajasthantourism.gov. in


Conversational Phrases

At the Airport	Hawai adde pe
Where is the exit?	Bahar jaane ka rasta?
How far is the hotel?	Hotel kitni dur hai?
What is the rent?	Kiraya kya hai?
Please call Taxi	Ek taxi bulao
Places worth visiting	Dekhne layak jagah kya hai?
Want city guide map	Shahar ka naksha chahiye
Show me the way	Mujhe rasta dikhaiye
Please do booking	Booking kar dijeye
Which is the main shopping center?	Yahan ka mashhur bazaar kaun sa hai?
I want to send an e-mail	Main ek e-mail bhejna chahta hu
It is hot/ cold day	Aaj garmi/sardi hai

How to reach
Air: Jaipur airport, located on the outskirts of town, is connected with daily flights from most other metros in the country. It also has a handful of international connections, but these are sporadic at best.

Rail: Jaipur is connected by train to cities across the country, including long distance trains to cities as far away as Kolkata, Lucknow, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kozhikode and Kochi. There are a number of daily trains to Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and cities in Rajasthan. Jaipur has three main stations Jaipur Junction (main station where almost all trains stop), Durgapur and Gandhinagar.

Bus: There are buses to Delhi from Jaipur every 30 minutes. There are also a variety of bus options starting from the ordinary to super deluxe Volvo buses. Jaipur is connected to most other cities in Rajasthan and other cities such as Ahmedabad by bus as well.

Local transport: Autorickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis form the major part of the local transport in Jaipur. While cycle rickshaws are fascinating, they take an enormous amount of time. They are best suited for a look-see, but autos are better if you want to get from one place to the other quickly. Pre-paid autos are also available in some places. Taxis are also a good option for comfort as well as if the numbers are bigger. However, in some of the older parts of the city and in the bazaars, there's nothing better to give you a feel of the place than walking.


Also See:

Tourist Attractions in Agra - India: The Complete Guide of Agra Visiting Places and Foreign Tourists Information

Maharaja Express - India's Most Luxury Train

Jaipur City Tourist Map