Jaipur is color washed pink-the color associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. Built in 1727 A.D. by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh JI, Jaipur displays a remarkable harmony and architectural splendor. The ancient heart of the Pink City still beats in its fairy-tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and broad avenues that dot the entire city. The only planned city of its time, Jaipur is encircled by a formidable wall.
A young Bengali architect, Vidyadhar Bhattacharya formalised the city’s plans in a grid system. The wide straight avenues. Roads, streets, lanes and uniform rows of shops on either side of main bazaars were arranged in nine rectangular city sectors (Chokris), in accordance with the principles of town planning set down in the ‘Shilpa Shastra’- and epochal treatise on the Hindu architecture.
There is a timeless appeal to Jaipur’s colorful bazaars where one can shop for Rajasthani handlooms and trinkets. Beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments and marvelous heritage hotels, once the residence of Maharaja’s are worth admiration. Not to mention the ambling camels and cheerful people in multi-hued costumes that make your trip to the pink city a memorable one.
The City Palace
In the heart of the old city is former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The carved arches are supported by grey-white marble columns ornate with floral motifs in gold and colored stones. Two carved elephants in marble guard the entrance. The retainers whose families have served generations of rulers serve as guides.
The palace also has an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic,Persian,Latin and Sanskrit, acquired by Sawai Jai Singh II to study astronomy in detail.
Jantar Mantar:
A stone observatory. Largest of Jai Singh’s five remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments,whose setting and shapes are scientifically designed, represent the high points of medieval Indian astronomy.The most striking of these are the Ram Yantras used for gauging altitudes.
Ram Niwas Bagh:
A lush spacious garden with a zoo, an aviary, a greenhouse, a herbarlum , a museum and popular sport ground. It was built by Sawai Ram Singh II in the 1868 A.D. as a famine relief project. The Albert Hall-fine example of Indo Sarcenic style of architecture designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, was opened later with an exquisite collection of sculptures, paintings, decorative wares, natural history specimen, and Egyptian mummy and the celebrated Persian carpet.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area :Jaipur City (Municipal limits 64.75 sq. km. ,Pink City 9.8 sq. km.)
Altitude : 431 metres
Climate : Mean Max. Mean Min.
Summer : 45.0 degree C 25.8 degree C
Winter : 22.0 degree C 8.3 degree C
Best Season : Spetember- March
Clothing : Summer light tropical
Winter: light woollen
Languages : English, Hindi, Rajasthani.
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