The
City Palace
In the heart of the old city is a former royal armory 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 houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani
costumes and armory of Mughals and Rajputs including swords of
different shapes and sizes with chased handles, some of them inlaid
with enamel and embellished with jewels and encased in magnificent
scabbards.
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.
Hawa
Mahal
Built in 1799 A.D. the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds is a major
Rajput landmark. This five storied building along the main street
of the old city is in pink splendor with semi octagonal and delicately
honey combed sandstone windows.
The monument was originally conceived with the aim of enabling
ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and royal
processions of the city.
Govind
Devji Temple
The most popular temple of Jaipur dedicated to Lord Krishna. It
is located in the central pavilion of the Jai Niwas Garden to
the north of Chandra Mahal. The image of the patron deity-Govind
Devji,originally installed in a temple of Vrindavan, was reinstalled
here by Sawai Jai Singh II as his family deity.
Swargasuli
(Isar Lat)
The highest tower dominating the skyline of the western side of
the Tripolia Bazaar. It was built by Sawai Ishwari Singh in 1749
A.D. to commemorate a grand victory.
Ram Niwas Bagh
A lush spacious garden with a zoo, a greenhouse, a
herbarium
, 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 Saracenic 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.
Recently, the Rabindra Manch with an auditorium, a modern art
gallery and an open air theatre, has been added to promote cultural
events.
Dolls Museum (Time 12.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.)
Pretty dolls from various countries are on display in the compound
of the school for deaf and dumb children,near the Police Memorial.
BM Birla Planetarium (Time 12.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.)
The Planetarium offers unique audio-visual education and entertainment
with its modern computerized projection system. For school groups
concessions are available. Closed on last Wednesday of every month.
Galtaji
An ancient pilgrimage centre, lying beyond the gardens amidst
low hills.Temples, pavilions and holy kunds (natural spring) along
with lush landscape make it a delightful spot. 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.
Jain Temple
The exquisite jain temple on the Agra road has some of the most
beautiful 19th century paintings in Jaipur style on its walls.
Moti
Doongari and Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Moti Doongari is a privately owned hilltop fort built like a scottish
castle. The Ganesh Temple at the foot of the hill and the marvellous
Lakshmi Narayan Temple built in marbles a few years back,are also
noteworthy.
Statue Circle
The full-length exquisitely carve statue of Swai Jai Singh in
white marble in the centre of the circle was erected under the
newly planned scheme area to pay homage to the founder of Jaipur.
The
Kanak Vrindavan
Complex of fine temples and gardens has been recently renovated
to their pristine perfection. To the west of this road is the
royal crematorium at Gaitore in a narrow valley with some spectacular
cenotaphs of all the Jaipur rulers except Swai Ishwari Singh who
was cremated outside the Jai Niwas Garden. Most imposing is the
‘chhattri’ of Sawai Jai Singh II with the intricate
carvings and a graceful shape.
Ghat ki Guni
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the royals and the nobles laid
out summer gardens at Ghati ki guni, a valley at beginning of
the Jaipur-Agra road which traps the breezes and wafts it through
pleasantly.
Sisodia
Rani Garden
has tiered multilevel gardens with fountains, water channel and
painted pavilions and suites of living rooms.
Amongst others, Vidhyadhar-ka-Bagh is the best preserved one,
with shady trees, flowing water, an open pavilion. It was built
by the planner of the city,Vidhyadhar.
Amer
Former capital of the Kachhwaha rulers of the old state of Dhundhar
for seven centuries. Very little of the early structures survive
now.
Amer
Palace and Shila Mata Temple
A beautiful complex of palaces, halls,pavilions,gardens and temples
built by Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh
over a period of about two centuries still stand in magnificent
state. The palace complex emerges dramatically from the placid
waters of the Maotha Lake and is approachable only through a steep
path. Tourists often ride on the elephant back to the Singh Pol
and Jaleb Chowk. Two flights of stairs rise from on end of the
chowk, one leading to the Shila Mata Temple and other to the palace
complex. The image of the patron of goddess,worshipped by thousands
of devotees, was brought from Jessore in East Bengal (now in Bangladesh)
by Raja Man Singh, to be installed here.
A spectacular pillared hall -Diwan-e-Aam and a double storied
painted gateway. Ganesh Pole dominate the from courtyard, An elegant
tiny garden in Charbagh style beyond the corridors, has Sukh Niwas
to its right and Jas Mandir to its left. The latter combines the
Mughal and Rajput architecture seen in its beautiful interior
with intricately carved Jali screens, delicate mirror and stucco
work and painted and carved dadoes. The well proportioned Mohan
Bari or Kesar Kyari in the centre of the Maotha Lake and the Dilaram
Bagh at its north end provides a spectacular view of the palaces
above.
Old
City
Once a settlement of nobles,craftsmen and common folks, the city
of Amer is now in ruins. The remanents of its rich past are the
beautifully carved and planned Jagat Shiromani Temple, a Krishna
temple associated with Meerabai, an ancient temple of Narsinghji
and a magnificent step-well,Panna Mian-ka-kund.
Jaigarh
One of the few military structures of medieval India, retaining
its ancient splendour in palaces,gardens , reservoirs, a granary,
an armoury, a well planned cannon foundary, several temples, a
tall tower and a giant mounted cannon-the Jai Ban,one of the largest
in the country are preserved here. The extensive parkotas (wallls),
watch tower and gateways of Jaigarh dominate the western skyline.
Nahargarh
A sentinerl to the Pink City is Nahargarh Fort, situtated beyond
the hills of Jaigarh. Although much of it is in ruins, the lvoerly
building added by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II
provides interest to the fort.