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Introduction
 Jaipur
the capital city of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan is one
of the most vibrant and colourful cities of India. Famous for its
colourful culture, forts, palaces, and lakes the city basks in the
glory of a rich and eventful past. Jaipur is a planned city which
is made all the more attractive by the pink wash that most
buildings are periodically given. Besides, it remains the only
city in the world that symbolises the nine divisions of the
universe, through nine rectangular sectors. It is for these
reasons that Jaipur has been included on the popular tourist
"Golden Triangle" of Delhi-Jaipur-Agra.
Jaipur, (City of Victory) was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Jai
Singh II, a Kachhwaha Rajput, who ruled from 1699-1744. Being a
brainchild of the maharaja, he took special interest in the
designing planning and execution works of Jaipur. The city has
been divided into nine blocks of which two are kept for the City
Palace Complex and other state buildings, whereas the other seven
blocks were earmarked for the public. The city was encircled by
the city wall, which opened at seven gates or darwazas. In 1728
maharaja jai Singh II built the remarkable observatory, which is
still one of Jaipur's main attractions.
The old city of Jaipur has neat and broadly laid-out avenues; all
painted pink that gives a magical glow to the city, especially in
the evenings. Jaipur therefore is blessed with the opulence of
cultural and architectural beauty that surpasses most other
regions of India. All of this can be easily seen in the various
sites of historical and aesthetic significance that dot the city.
Amongst the most striking monuments in Jaipur, is the famous Hawa
Mahal. As against the popular belief, it is not really a palace.
It is a sandstone screen from behind which the ladies of the court
could watch the proceedings on the road below without being seen.
 In
the heart of the city is situated the City Palace, a blend of
Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The place is now a museum
except for one section where the erstwhile royal family still
lives. The city palace has an exclusive part devoted to the arms
and ammunitions used by the royal family in the past.
This besides, Jaipur is home to the Jantar Mantar, one of the five
observatories constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh, and the exclusive
Central Museum.
Not all the history books in the world can recreate the past as
vividly as a visit to the hilltop forts of Nahargarh, Jaigarh, and
Amber. For each of them embodies royal traditions of splendour and
military one-upmanship.
Nahargarh Fort built by Jai Singh II in 1734, near Jaipur provides
magnificent view down to the Man Sagar Lake. In the midst of this
lake is a palatial duck blind, which was used for shooting parties
by the erstwhile royal family.
Named after Jai Singh II, the Jaigarh Fort is perched on a cliff
and is surrounded by huge battlements with inside walkways
offering stunning views on all sides.
Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthan fort-palace. Built in 1592
by Man Singh its walls depict painted scenes of hunting with
precious stones and mirrors set into the plaster. In the
foreground is the Maota Lake with breathtaking reflections of the
magnificent Amber Fort-Palace.
 The
other places of interest are Jaipur Museum, Albert Museum, Birla
Mandir Planetarium, Sisodia Rani Park, Lakshmi Narain Temple,
Kanak Vrindavan, the Raj Mahal Palace and Rambagh Palace (now a
Luxury hotel).
These beside, there are quite a few important tourist destinations
around Jaipur which gives the tourist more than one reason to
visit this city. One such location is Gaitor. Located 15 km from
Jaipur it is the place where chhatris of Jaipur's rulers stand
amidst reverential silence. Twenty carved pillars support its
elegant dome, which is a dazzling structure in white marble.
At a distance of 40 kilometres from Jaipur, is located Sanganer, a
place known for its textile block printing, papermaking and Jaipur
blue pottery, besides several temples and an old palace.
Tonk, situated 100 kilometres from Jaipur, is an old town dating
to the middle of the 17th century. The new town, which resurrects
a forgotten era, is a colourful medley of painted mosques,
mansions and colonial buildings. The Sunehri Kothi (or Golden
Mansion) is of special mention because of its mirror work.
Other important tourist places around Jaipur are Ramgarh,
Abhaneri, Balaji, and Karauli.
The people of Jaipur like any other part of Rajasthan are known
for their colourful attires. Though the patches of modernity are
clearly visible in Jaipur, the city is still the commercial centre
for most rural regions of Rajasthan. The streets and market places
of Jaipur still witnesses scenes of turbaned Rajasthani men,
moving around with their women, who are dressed in swirling skirts
and flashing Meenakari (enamel) jewellery that bring to life all
the colours of the desert.
Jaipur is also famous for semi-precious stones and the best place to buy
them is off Johari Bazaar. Miniatures, handicrafts, clothes,
jewellery of silver and lac are other items to be bought in Jaipur.
The cultural prosperity of Rajasthan is evident in its local
festivals some of which attract international attention. Jaipur
also witnesses some of these; the most important being the
Elephant Festival gets underway in the month of Phalgun (March) on
the eve of Holi, the festival of colours. It is famous for its
procession of elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. The
sight of mighty jumbos striding majestically is a treat to watch.
Other interesting events at the festival include, a polo match,
the Elephant race, the tug-of-war between an elephant and nineteen
men.
Gangaur festival is a unique festival held annually in honour of
goddess Gauri, few days after Holi Primarily a festival for women,
married women pray for their husbands and unmarried girls pray for
getting a good husband. Festive processions are taken out, women
draw water from wells, pick flowers, and chant hymns to the
goddess Parvati.
Teej is a major event in Jaipur. The festival is celebrated during
the months of July/August and dedicated to goddess Parvati. The
festival celebrates the beginning of the monsoon.
Being the capital city of Rajasthan and an international tourist
destination Jaipur is well connected to major parts of India by
road, rail and air.
Jaipur airport, also known as Sanganer Airport, is directly
connected to Delhi, Bombay, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ahmedabad. The
Pink City Express, Chetak Express and few other Jaipur-Delhi
trains leave from the Old Delhi Railway Station in Delhi. However,
if one has money and leisure, there is no better option than the
Palace-on-Wheels, which leaves Delhi every Saturday.
Besides, Jaipur is well connected by road to various parts of
India. Delhi-Jaipur national highway is one of the finest roads in
India. A normal journey takes about five hours. There are also
good bus services from Delhi and other important north Indian
cities to Jaipur.
Jaipur therefore firmly holds its position on the world tourist
map. A status, which has been bestowed on it due to its vibrant
lifestyle, colourful people and a history that is full of stories,
reflecting the bravery of those who occupied this region in the
past.
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