Top Tourist Attractions in Jaipur
Rajasthan‘s capital, Jaipur, is located in India. It pays homage to the royal dynasty that formerly governed the region and established what is now known as the Old City, or “Pink City,” because of its distinctive architectural hue. The magnificent, colonnaded City Palace complex lies in the middle of its majestic street grid (notable in India). Part of it is still a royal palace, with gardens, courtyards, and museums.
On November 18, 1727, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II built Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. From 1699 until 1743, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II governed Jaipur as a Kachwaha Rajput. His previous capital was Amber, which is 11 kilometres from Jaipur. The king felt compelled to relocate the capital city as the population grew. Water shortage in the Amber region was also a factor in the decision to relocate the capital.
Best Places to Visit in Jaipur
- City Palace
- Jantar Mantar
- Hawa Mahal
- Albert Hall
- Jal Mahal
- Amber Fort
- B M Birla Planetarium
- Galtaji
- Laxmi Narayan Temple – Birla Mandir
- Nahargarh Fort
- Sargasuli
- Govind Devji Temple
- Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
- Jaigarh Fort
- Gaitore
- Moti Doongri
- Vidyadharji ka Bagh
- Hathi Gaon(Elephant Village)
- Abhaneri
- Bagru
- Ramgarh Lake
- Samode Palace
- Lord Hanuman Temple
- Bairath
- Sambhar
City Palace
City Palace, one of the city’s historic landmarks, is located in the city’s heart and is composed of grey-white marble stone. It was built between 1729 and 1732 A.D. by Maharaj Sawai Jai Singh II. The king built the palace’s exterior walls, and his successors continued to add to it until the twentieth century. The City Palace complex contains the Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal palaces. There are two marble elephants guarding the path at the palace’s entrance. The museum at Chandra Mahal has a rare collection of Rajasthani costumes, Mughal armoury, and Rajput weapons and swords of all shapes and sizes. The museum also has an art exhibit with a collection of paintings, royal goods, carpets, and astronomical works written in Persian, Latin, and Sanskrit by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.
Jantar Mantar
One of Jai Singh’s five eye-catching observatories is JantarMantar. Its baffling equipment, built with stone and marble and with settings and shapes that are precisely and logically specified, explain mediaeval Indian astronomy. The Ram Yantras used for height measurement are one-of-a-kind. This is the largest of Sawai Jai Singh II’s five observatories in India. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Major Yantras or instruments found here include: ‘Dhruva’, Small ‘Samrat’, ‘Narivalya’, The Observer’s Seat, ‘Raj’, ‘Unnathamsa’, Small ‘Kranti’, ‘Disha’, ‘Dakshina’, Large ‘Samrat’, ‘Rashivalayas’, ‘Jai Prakash’, Small
Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal, popularly known as the ‘Palace of Winds,’ was erected in 1799 A.D. by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. The palace was designed by Ustad Lal Chand. The palace was modelled after Lord Krishna’s crown. The palace contains 953 tiny windows called as ‘Jharokhas.’ The monarch built this palace to allow the royal women to overlook the streets of the city and witness day-to-day life without being observed by anyone else.
Albert Hall
Albert Hall, located in Jaipur, is Rajasthan’s oldest museum. The Museum is located inside Ram NiwasBagh, directly across from the New Gate. Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob designed it, Maharaja Ram Singh built it, and was opened to the public in 1887. The museum is the best example of Indo-Saracen architecture in the world. Maharaja Ram Singh desired that the location serve as a Town Hall. However, his successor, Raja Madho Singh II, chose to make it into a museum and included the hall as part of Ram Niwas Bagh. Albert Hall is often referred to as the “Government Central Museum.”
Jal Mahal
One of the most popular tourist attractions JalMahal, popularly known as the ‘Water Palace,’ is a palace in the centre of Man Sagar Lake. In the 18th century, Maharaja Jai Singh II refurbished the palace and used it as a hunting lodge. The palace can be visited by hiring a boat from the coast. On the first floor of Jal Mahal, there are wonderfully designed passageways. There is also a “Chameli Bagh” in the palace. Hills, historic forts, and temples can be seen all around the lake.
Amber Fort
Previously known as “Amber,” this location served as the capital of the Kachwaha Rajputs. Raja Man Singh, Raja Jai Singh, and Sawai Jai Singh erected the fort’s palaces, gardens, halls, and temples. There is a steep path to the fort. It is a popular tourist destination where visitors can hire elephants to ride to the top of the fort. In the grounds of the Amer fort, there is a Shila Mata temple. Raja Man Singh brought the Shila Mata Idol from Jessore in East Bengal (now Bangladesh). The palace contains a pillared hall known as the ‘Deewan-e-Aam’ and the ‘Ganesh Pole.’ As we proceed deeper inside, we come across a garden known as ‘SukhNiwas’ and ‘Jas Mandir.’ Jas Mandir is an excellent example of a fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture. The earlier structures were created in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh.
B M Birla Planetarium
The planetarium, which is outfitted with the most recent mechanised projection framework, provides out-of-the-box audio-visual instructive entertainment. A science museum is also included. The planetarium routinely organises sky-shows to dispel heavenly misconceptions, communicate basic astronomical concepts, and train professionals to appreciate the beauty of the night sky. The topics include cosmic secrets, the evolution of Earth, and the exploration of Mars and other planets. Following the sky shows, interactive seminars are held.
The planetarium organises the ‘Amateur Astronomers Association’s’ events, which include astrophotography, telescope fabrication, and sky-watching sessions.
Galtaji
Galtaji, about 10 kilometres from Jaipur, is a Hindu pilgrimage site in the village of Khaniya-Balaji. A variety of temples can be seen in and around Galtaji, which is located in the hills that encircle Jaipur. A natural spring flows from the top of the hill, flooding a series of Holy Ponds (Kunds) where pilgrims take holy baths. The breathtaking view of Jaipur city may be seen from the hilltop temple. Galtaji is claimed to have been named after a Saint named “Galav” who used to live here and practise meditation and “Tapasya.”
Laxmi Narayan Temple Birla Mandir
The Laxmi Narayan temple, commonly known as the ‘Birla temple,’ is located at the base of Moti Doongri’s hill. It is a white marble temple that is another tourist attraction in the city.
Nahargarh Fort
The Nahargarh fort is located beyond the Jaigarh fort’s hills. Nahargarh is thought to have been Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II’s royal home. Nahargarh is located on the outskirts of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the pink city of Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. The view of the city from the fort is spectacular. Open from 10:00 a.m., not 8:00 a.m. Nahargarh, along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort, originally constituted a formidable defence ring for the city. The fort was initially called as Sudarshangarh, but it was later renamed Nahargarh, which means “abode of tigers.” The majority of the fort is now in ruins, while the buildings built by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II remain.
Sargasuli
Sargasuli is often referred to as ‘IsarLat.’ It is a tower that Maharaja Ishwari Singh built to commemorate one of his triumphs. In the fight, Maharaja Sawai Ishwari Singh beat Madhosingh. The battle erupted as a result of internal feuds between Maharaja Sawai Ishwari Singh and Madhosingh. The tower was created as a victory symbol. Because it is located in the middle of the city, you can see the entire city from this tower. Jaipur is a symbiotic mix of culture, education, and religion. Sargasuli, Jaipur’s tallest structure, is located on the western side of Tripolia Bazaar.
Govind Devji Temple
The temple of Lord Krishna is located in the heart of the huge Jai Niwas Garden, to the north of the Chandra Mahal. Because there are no towers to support the top of the temple, it is a building of great interest to tourists. Sawai Jai Singh-II reinstalled the idol of Govind Devji, which was originally installed at a temple in Vrindavan, as his family god.
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
A few gardens were established by the Kings in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries along the road to Agra through a thin gauge in the southern eastern corner of the walled city. The most famous and largest is the garden created by Sawai Jai Singh II for his Sisodia queen. It consists of multilayer layered gardens with fountains and painted pavilions.
Jaigarh Fort
The Jaigarh fort is situated on the Aravali Hills’ ‘Cheel ka Teela’ cape. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II built the fort in 1726 A.D. It was constructed with the intention of protecting Amer Fort from enemy attacks and is also known as ‘Victory Fort.’ The length of Jaigarh fort from north to south is around 3 km, while its breadth is approximately 1 km. It is one among Medieval India’s few military constructions. It contains royal mansions, gardens, open and protected water reservoirs, a silo, an arsenal, an all around arranged gun foundry, a few temples, a tall tower, and the nation’s largest monster mounted cannon – Jai Ban.
Gaitore
Gaitore, located off the Jaipur-Amber road, is the final resting place for the Maharajas of Jaipur. The cenotaphs of previous monarchs are located in a valley and are made up of Chhatri, or umbrella-shaped commemorations. Jai Singh’s Chhatri is the most unique because of the carvings that have been used to embellish it.
Moti Doongri
It is thought to be a duplicate of a Scottish castle and is located on a hilltop. This location is thought to have been Maharani Gayatri Devi’s former house. It is also stated that Maharaja Madho Singh’s son formerly occupied this location.
Vidyadharji ka Bagh
Ghat ki Guni is the location of Vidyadhar Ji ka Bagh. This gorgeous garden, one of Jaipur’s best-preserved, is attractively planned and was erected in honour of Jaipur’s top architect, Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. The Vidyadhar Garden has a lot to offer, aside from the clear waters, quiet lakes, flower beds, and well-kept gardens. The garden, which is nestled in the lap of a beautiful valley in Jaipur, provides a panoramic view of the city and is the pride of Jaipur’s heavy legacy and culture. The garden was strategically designed in accordance with the ancient ‘Shilpa Shasthra’ rules and is located near the Sisodia gardens.
With its magnificent, sylvan lakes, terraced lawns, fountains, and the towering pavilions that hold Lord Krishna’s murals and paintings, the garden is the perfect blend of current Hindu and Mughal traditions. The Vidyadhar Garden, managed by the Government of Rajasthan, is a sprawling expanse of regal grandeur and stunning beauty. Currently, the space is used for private gatherings.
Hathi Gaon(Elephant Village)
Hathi Gaon sits at the base of the Amber Palace Hills. The palace was created for the king’s elephants and their mahouts. The concept included initially arranging the environment to produce a succession of water bodies to gather rain runoff, which is the most important resource in Rajasthan’s dry climate. The concept behind the site planning was to create a structure and system that would help renew the landscape in a decade to resemble the tropical areas that elephants live in naturally.
Excursions:
Abhaneri
The location is said to have gotten its name from the Goddess Harshat Mata, who is the goddess of brightness who distributes ‘Abha’ everywhere. ‘Abha’ literally means ‘brightness and joy.’ Abhaneri is a village in Jaipur district, 95 kilometres from the main city on the Jaipur-Agra route. This village is home to a Harshat Mata temple. Raja Chand constructed this village in the 9th century, which was known as ‘AbhaNagri’ at the time. According to certain mythologists, Raja Bhoja, the king of the Gurjar Kingdom, founded the settlement. Archaeologists believe the site was erected around the 10th century because it has sculptures and architecture from that time period. Abhaneri also contains a ‘Chand Baori,’ which is a large pond located beside the Harshat Mata Temple.
Bagru
Bagru, located 35 kilometres from Jaipur on the Jaipur-Ajmer route, is well-known for its block printing on cotton fabrics. Bagru Prints is a well-known term for this type of art. This region’s people are Chippa, and they have been performing block printing for about 350 years. Block printing is done with wooden blocks. The design to be printed on the fabric is first carved on the block, and then it is imprinted on the fabric with different colours.
Ramgarh Lake
32 kilometres to the north-east. It is well-known for its massive artificial lake, which was constructed by building a high bund amidst tree-covered hills, and where residents flock in great numbers for picnics during the rainy season. The temple of Jamwa Mata and the ruins of the mediaeval fort are still reminders of its illustrious past.
Samode Palace:
40 kilometres to the north-west. The original palace, which has been refurbished and reconstructed, is one of the most beautifully decorated and painted specimens of Rajput haveli architecture. It is an excellent location for a day trip. Samode Palace is located 40 kilometres from Jaipur city, nestled in the Aravalli Hills. The palace is notable for its unusual combination of Rajput and Mughal architecture. In addition, the palace contains some of the best frescoes and mirror-work in the state. This 500-year-old palace still preserves the essence of the country’s rich and illustrious heritage. The palace has appeared in several Bollywood and Hollywood films.
Samode Palace is regarded as one of India’s most gorgeous and romantic heritage hotels. The palace hotel is noted for its quiet and opulent atmosphere. The hotel is also well-known for its contemporary hospitality, accommodations, services, cuisine, and amenities. Guests can participate in activities such as elephant polo, camel safari, horse safari, and jeep safari.
Lord Hanuman Temple :
One of the well-known temples is the Lord Hanuman Temple in Samode. Locals frequently refer to the temple as Samode ke Veer Hnauman Ji. The temple’s main deity is Lord Hanumana, who is well-known among the locals.
Bairath
Bairath is a tiny town located 86 kilometres from Jaipur on the Shahpura-Alwar highway. The area is well-known for its historical structures and buildings constructed during the reigns of the Mughals, Mauryans, and Rajputs.
Bairath was the site of the first temple in India, the Buddha Temple. King Akbar established a mint here, and his son Jahangir created a beautiful Mughal garden. Bairath also has a historical landmark dating back to the Mughal era.
Sambhar
Sambhar is one of the district’s most prominent tourist spots. It is approximately 94 kilometres from the main metropolis. Many kings have ruled over the area in the past, including Rajputs, Sindhias, Marathas, and Mughals. It is well-known for its high-quality salt and is regarded as one of the best rejuvenation locations for travellers. Shakambhari Devi shrine, Sambhar Palace, Devayani Pond, and the little settlement of Naliasar are all located here.
The well-known Sambhar Lake is also a part of this location, which is the primary supply of salt for the state and the country. The emperors of Jaipur and Jodhpur leased it to the British in 1870, and after independence, it passed directly to the State government. The lake is currently maintained by ‘Sambhar Salts Limited,’ a joint venture between Hindustan Salts and the Government of Rajasthan.
Best Time to Visit Jaipur
Jaipur has a pleasant climate, although the months of October to March are ideal for visiting the pink city.
How to Reach Jaipur
Air
The primary air gateway to Jaipur is Jaipur International Airport, which is located in the satellite town of Sanganer, 11 kilometres from the city centre. Direct flights are available to major Indian cities like as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Udaipur, Jodhpur, and Aurangabad, as well as international flights to Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Muscat. The upgrade of the Jaipur airport has resulted in better connectivity and a broader range of services for air travellers, promoting international tourism and the region’s economic development.
Railways
Jaipur is well linked to New Delhi and the rest of India’s major cities. There are several trains that run between Delhi and Jaipur and other towns in Rajasthan. The most well-known train, Palace on Wheels, is mostly utilised by visitors. Shatabdi Express, Jaipur-Delhi double decker, and Pink City Express, both from Delhi, are other notable trains.
Roads
All of the major cities in the state of Rajasthan are well connected to Jaipur. National Highway No. 8 connects Delhi and Mumbai through Jaipur and Udaipur, whereas National Highway No. 12 connects Delhi and Mumbai via Jaipur and Udaipur. National Highway No 11 connects Jaipur and Jabalpur through Kota, Jhalawar, and Bhopal. Via Jaipur, Agra-Bikaner. Rajasthan, New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are all served by RSRTC buses. Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur form part of India’s Golden Travel Circuit.
Local-Transport
Taxis and automobiles are the most handy modes of transportation both inside the city and to nearby areas. You may also seek for bike rickshaws to go around the city, which are readily accessible and considerably less expensive than other means of transportation. City buses are operated by Jaipur City Transport Services Limited (JCTSL), an RSRTC under JNNURM. Vaishali Nagar, Vidhyadhar Nagar, and Sanganer are the three main bus stations. Private taxis, such as Metro, Meru, Ola, and others, are also available.
Jaipur-Metro
The Jaipur Metro is a fast transit rail project in the works. It will allow inhabitants of the city to commute more quickly. Phase 1A of the Jaipur Metro has begun, linking Mansarover and Chandpole.