Welcome to Jaipur
This famous city is the capital of Rajasthan and has earned universal
renown as the " Pink City ", and pink it is, with beautiful
constructed palaces, havelis and forts. Tall, rugged men with handle-bar
whiskers sport bright pink turbans. Jaipur which means the city of
victory was built exactly 273 years back and is 262 km by road from
Delhi ( Capital of India ). A strong wall encircles the old city and
even today has a suggestion of formidable strength, its function of
protecting all within is obvious.
The plains of Rajasthan of which Jaipur is the capital once
thundered and echoed with clash of swords and the drums of wars.Built in
1727 by Sawai Jai Singh-II, Jaipur was the first planned city of its
time ( the earlier planned city in northern India having been built near
Taxila sometime in the 2nd century BC ).
Jaipur district is situated in the east of Rajasthan state. In the North
of it Sikar, Mahendragarh district (State Haryana), In the South Tonk,
In the East Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and In the West Nagaur, Ajmer
district situated. East and North area of Jaipur district is sarrounded
by Arawali hills. There are 13 Sub-divisions in district are Jaipur,
Amber, Bassi, Chaksu, Chomu, Jamwa Ramgarh, Mozmabad, Phagi, Phulera,
Kotputli, Sanganer, Shahpura, Viratnagar. Jaipur is the capital of
Rajasthan and has earned universal renown as the " Pink City ", and pink
it is, with beautiful constructed palaces, havelis and forts. Tall,
rugged men with handle-bar whiskers sport bright pink turbans. Jaipur
which means the city of victory was built exactly 273 years back and is
262 km by road from Delhi ( Capital of India ). A strong wall encircles
the old city and even today has a suggestion of formidable strength, its
function of protecting all within is obvious.
he plains of Rajasthan of which Jaipur is the capital once thundered and
echoed with clash of swords and the drums of wars.Built in 1727 by
Sawai Jai Singh-II, Jaipur was the first planned city of its time ( the
earlier planned city in northern India having been built near Taxila
sometime in the 2nd century BC ).
Jaipur was planned by Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, a Bengali architect, in a
grid system with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes and
uniform rows of shops on either side of the main bazaars, all arranged
in nine rectangular city sectors (chokris). The city itself is an
attractive creation worthy of universal admiration.
There is a feast in store for tourists. Attractive monuments where one
can breathe the fragrance of history. Comfortable and luxurious hotels,
once the proud of kings, parks, gardens, and excursions of nearby places
of interest, make Jaipur a tourist's paradise.
General Information
Area: | 11117.8 sq.km. |
Altitude: | 431 metres |
Climate: | 45 max. 25 min. ( summer ) |
22 max. 05 min. ( winter ) | |
Languages: | English, Hindi, Rajasthani |
What to see
The City Palace | Jantar Mantar | Hawa Mahal | Govind Devji Temple | ||
Isar Lat | Ram Niwas Bagh | B.M.Birla Planetarium | Galtaji | ||
Laxmi Narayan Temple | Amer Fort | Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh | Jaigarh Fort | ||
Nahargarh Fort | Shakambhari Mata Tample, Sambhar | Abhaneri | Bairath | ||
Samod |
Geographical Conditions
Geographical area of Jaipur district is 11117.8 Sqr.Km. Total number of
villages is 2380. It is situated in the east of Rajasthan state. In the
North of it Sikar, Mahendragarh district (State Haryana), In the South
Tonk, In the East Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and In the West Nagaur,
Ajmer district situated. East and North area of Jaipur district is
sarrounded by Arawali hills.
The important rainy rivers are Ban Ganga and Sabi. To provide drinking
water to old city there is Ramgarh dam on Ban Ganga river. There is a
single natural lake named Sambhar lake, the water of which is salty and
is the largest source of good quality salt in India. Copper, Dolomite,
Iron,White Marval, Glass, Silicon are the minarals of Jaipur District.
Height of it is 122 to 183 m. from see level. Ground water level of
Jaipur district is 14 m. currently. Total length of district from East
to West is 180 Km. and total width from North to South is 110 Km.
Area: | 11117.8 sq.km. |
Altitude: | 431 metres |
Temperature: | 45 max. 25 min. ( summer ) |
22 max. 05 min. ( winter ) | |
Languages: | English, Hindi, Rajasthani |
Population Status (as per 2011 Census)
Total Population: | 66,63,971 | ||
Urban: | 34,99,204 | ||
Rural: | 31,64,767 | ||
Male: | 34,90,787 | ||
Female: | 31,73,184 |
Jaipur Tourist Places
Jal Mahal
City Palace:
The City Palace is a historic landmark. The carved arches are supported
by grey-white marble columns studded with floral motifs in gold and
coloured stones. Two elephants carved in marble guard the entrance,
where retainers whose families have served generations of rulers are at
hand to serve as guides.
The palace interior houses a Museum containing select collection
of various types of Rajasthani dresses, a fascinating armoury of Mughal
and Rajput weapons; swords of all shapes and sizes, with chased
handles, some of them inlaid, enamelled, encrusted with jewels and
encased in bold and magnificent scabbards.
It also has an art gallery with a fine collection of paintings,
carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic,
Persian, Latin and Sanskrit, acquired by Sawai Jai Singh-II for his
study of planets and their movements.
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Jantar Mantar:
Jantar mantar is one of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories.
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 Ram Yantras used for gauging
altitudes are unique in their isolation. this is the largest of the five
observatories founded by Sawai Jai Singh-II in various parts of the
country. It has been listed in UNESCO world heritage sites
Major Yantras or instruments that you can watch moving clockwise are: Small 'Samrat', 'Dhruva', 'Narivalya', The Observer's Seat, Small 'Kranti', 'Raj' 'Unnathamsa', 'Disha', 'Dakshina', Large 'Samrat', 'Rashivalayas', 'Jai Prakash', Small 'Ram', Large 'Ram Yantra', 'Diganta', Large 'Kranti' |
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Hawa Mahal:
Built by the poet king Sawai Pratap Singh, the Hawa Mahal is the most
strikingly designed monument in Jaipur. What is seen from the Sireh
Deorhi Bazaar is the multiniched five storey high backside of the
complex ( see it in photo gallery ). It was conceived to provide
adequate vantage position behind delicate stone carved jali screens to
the palace women for watching the royal processions passing through the
bazaar below.
Hawa Mahal |
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Albert Hall:
It is situated in the beautiful garden of Jaipur city, Ram Niwas Bagh.
It was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh in the year 1886 under
the drought relief work of Rs 4 Lacs.
The design of the building was done by Sir Swinton Jaicob. Presently the hall is used for museum purpose. |
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Jal Mahal: A
tiny palace romantically located in the middle of a small lake, this
was supposed to be a hunting lodge for the royal family. It can only be
viewed from the banks of the lake.
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Amer Fort: For seven long centuries before Jaipur was built, Amer served as the capital as Kachhwaha rulers of the old state of Dhundhar.
Amer Fort is the complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples, which were built by Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh over a period of about two centuries. The palace complex rising from the placid waters of the Mootha lake is approached through a steep path, now often traversed by tourists on elephant-back, to Singh palace and Jaleb Chowk. Two flights of stairs rise from one end to the chowk, one leading to the elegant temple of Shila Mata and other to the palace complex. The image of the Mother Goddess worshipped with reverence by thousands of devotees every day was brought from Jessore in East Bengal ( now in Bangladesh ) by raja Man Singh and installed here. Amer fort |
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The front
courtyard of the palace complex is dominated by the spectacular pillared
hall of the Diwan-e-Aam and the double storeyed painted gateway Ganesh
Pole. Beyond the corridors and galleries on the either side of a small
elegant Charbagh style garden are Sukh Niwas to its right and Jas Mandir
to its left. The Jas Mandir in the upper floor combines the finest
elements od mughal architecture and interior decoration in a Rajput
setting with intricately carved jali screens, delicate mirror and stucco
works and painted and carved dadodes. The older and simpler structures
at the far end were built by Raja Man Singh in the later year of the
16th century.
The well proportioned Mohan Bari or Kesar Kyari in the centre of the Mootha lake and the Dilaram Bagh at its north end provide a spectacular view from the palaces above. |
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Galtaji: Beyond
the gardens amidst the low hills guarding the city lies the old pilgrim
centre of Galtaji. Temples, pavilions and holy kunds ( natural springs
and reservoirs ) do the serene green landscape. The small temple of the
Sun God, built by Diwan Kriparam on the top of the highest peak, is
visible from all parts of the city.
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Laxmi Narayan Temple:
In the southern horizon is a privately owned hilltop fort of Moti
Doongari shaped like a scotish castle. At the foot of the hill, Laxmi
Narayan Temple, beautifully built in sparking white marble, is located.
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Nahargarh Fort:
Beyond the hills of Jaigarh stand the Fort of Nahargarh like a watchful
sentinel guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful city. Much of the
original structures are now in ruins, but the lovely building added by
sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II still survive.
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Sargasuli:
Also known as Isar Lat, this tower was erected in the mid-18th century
by Maharaja Ishwari Singh to commemorate a battle victory. Ironically,
Ishwari Singh was ostracized for his love of a common girl, and he is
the only Kachchawaha maharaja who has not been commemorated at
Gaitore.The tower dominating the skyline on the western side of Tripolia
Bazaar is the highest structure in Jaipur.
Govind Devji Temple: In the
central pavilion of the sprawling Jai Niwas Garden to the north of the
Chandra Mahal is the spire less temple of Lord Krishna. the image in the
form of Govind Devji, originally installed in a temple of Vrindavan,
was reinstalled here by Sawai Jai Singh-II as his family deity. this is
the most famous and popular temple in Pink City attracting devotees from
all over the country.
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh: Along the
road to Agra through a narrow garge in the southern eastern corner of
the walled city, several landscaped gardens were constructed by the
Kings and important courtiers in the 18th and 19th centuries. The
largest and the most famous ia a garden built by sawai jai Singh II for
his Sisodia queen-the Sisodai Rani Ka Bagh. It consists of tiered
multilevel gardens with fountains, watercourses and painted pavillions.
Jaigarh Fort: The western skyline
is dominated by the extensive parkotas (walls), watch-towers and
gateways of jaigarh. It is one of the few military structures of the
mediaeval India preserved almost intact containing palaces, gardens,
open and covered reservoirs, a granary, an armoury, a well-planned
cannon foundry, several temples, a tall tower and a giant mounted
cannon-the Jai Ban - the largest in the country.
Gaitore: Located off the
Jaipur-Amber road, Gaitore is the final resting place for the maharajas
of Jaipur. Set in a narrow valley, the cenotaphs of the former rulers
consist of the somewhat typical chhatri or umbrella-shaped memorials. Of
special mention is Jai Singh IT's chhatri because of the carvings that
have been used to embellish it.
Moti Doongri: A small palace, this
is a replica of a Scottish castle, and perches on a hilltop. Once
occupied by Maharaja Madho Singh's son who was confined here, it was
also for a while home to Maharani Gayatri Devi.
Ram Niwas Bagh: A garden planned
by Maharaja Ram Singh in the 19th century as a famine relief project,
this extensive park consists of a zoo, aviary, herbarium museum and
sports complex. An added attraction is Albert Hall, designed by Sir
Swinton Jacob, a British architect who created palaces for many of the
rulers of Rajasthan, and whose experiments with Indo Saracenic
architecture combined elements of English and north- Indian
architecture. Albert Hall is a museum and houses many curiosities.
Vidyadharji ka Bagh: The
exquisite, tiered garden laid for the private pleasure of the architect
of the city, it has delicated pavilions bordered by water channels, and a
larger pavilion overlooking the whole complex. Located at Ghat Ki Guni,
it is now let out for private picnics.
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Excursions: |
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Sanganer
12 km on Tonk Road. It has beautiful Jain temples and important craft industries besides the ruined palaces, broken city walls, triple gateway and a neglected Mughal garden. Large and small units of block and screen printers produce some of the finest hand printed textile in the country. Bagru 35 km south west on Ajmer road. The ground level fort is still in good shape. Its attraction is hand printed cloth industry. The designs are simpler here, the techniques less complicated and the colours of more earthly shades. Ramgarh Lake 32 km north-east. It is famous for its huge artificial lake created by constructing a high bund amidst tree covered hills where the citizens throng in a large number for picnic during the rainy season. The temple of Jamwa Mata and the ruins of the old fort still reminds of its hoary antiquity. Samod 40 km north-west. The old palace renovated and rebuilt provides the most gorgeously decorated and painted examples of Rajput haveli architecture. It provides an ideal spot for outing. Bairath 86 km on the Shahpura-Alwar road. It contains the relics and structures of Mauranyas, Mugahl and Rajput periods. The excavated remains of a circular Buddhist temple, unique in Rajasthan and the earliest structural temple in India, make it an important historical place. Akabar the great, constructed a mint and his son Jahangir a beautiful Mughal garden and a remarkable monument with painted chatris and walls. Abhaneri 128 km north-east off the Agra road near Bandikui. It is famous for the temple of Harshad Mata built in 7th-8th century and the stepped Chanda Baodi. Two Jain temples were built at a later period. Sambhar 94 km west. It is famous for the country's largest inland salt lake. It is also known for holy Devayani tank, beautiful Shakambhari Devi temple, the palace and the nearby Naliasar. Sambhar lake is also famous for the illusion of water ( mirage ) during noon times. |
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