JAIPUR CITY GUIDE
jaipur
the `Pink City' as it is popularly known, is the bustling capital of Rajasthan.
`Pink city' because most of the buildings are pink in colour in the old city.
The city retains its old self, at the same time it is moving fast as a modern
city. You can see extreme contrast on the streets of Jaipur. On one side you
have cars, buses and motorbikes, on the other side you can see camel carts.
On one side there are traditionally dressed men and women in their turbans and
colorful long skirts and blouses. On the other hand you can see modernly dressed
Indians and foreign tourists having a bite in their favorite American
restaurants. There are new modern buildings existing along side with old
Palaces. You have posh showrooms, which give the best in artifacts and clothes
and you have vendors on the streets selling Rajasthani shoes or jewellery. The
city with such contrasts has almost everything to offer you in terms of royal
style, classic jewellery, lovely handmade and embroidered clothes which includes
dresses, dress materials and beautiful handicrafts.
The city was constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1643) to shift his
capital from Amber to a new place. He planned the city according to
shilpa-shastra, which is the ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. The city
was built with surrounding walls and rectangular blocks. But the city to which
he shifted is no longer spacious. The surroundings of the Palaces are now very
crowded. It is now all shops and hotels. But the buildings constructed by him
like the Jantar Mantar are still intact for people to see.
Old
City (Pink city)
It
was during the reign of Maharaja Ram Singh that the city was painted pink and
has been like that since then. The old city has a number of gates and is
partially encircled by walls. The major landmark in this town is Iswart Minar
Swarga Sal, near the Tripoli Gate, which over looks the city.
City Palace Complex
This palace is in the centre of the city and is divided into gardens, courtyards
and buildings. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh. Just in front of the
palace is the Mubarak Mahal / Welcome palace which was constructed by Maharaja
Sawai Madho Singh II as a reception to receive his guests. Other places of
interest include the Diwan-i-khas / hall of private audience and Diwan-i-am /
hall of public audience and the peacock gate. There is also the Maharaja Sawai
Singh II 's museum.
Hawa Mahal
This is a five storey building and is one of the major land marks of the
city. Hawa Mahal / palace of winds was constructed in 1799. It was primarily
constructed so that the ladies of the royal house hold can look at the market
down. It is an example of excellent Rajput artistry. You can climb to the top
now to have a look at the city below. It is a part of the City Palace.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is next to city Palace. Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is just one
of the observatories constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh, who had a passion for
astronomy. He used to send scholars abroad to study foreign observatories so
that he could construct the same. Jaipur observatory is the largest of the
observatories constructed by him. T
Central Museum
This Museum is in Albert hall in the Ram Nivas public gardens. They have
exhibits like tribal ware, yogis in various positions, decorative arts,
costumes and drawings.
The other attractions in the city include the Modern Art Gallery and the Juneja
Art Gallery. Museum of Indology has an excellent private collection of folk art
objects, paintings done on rice, manuscripts, ornaments, fossils, clocks and
currency notes etc. There is the famous Birla Narayan Mandir, Fort of Moti
Dungri. Rajasthan has a lot of festivals which are also an attraction of the
state.
Teej is one of the more famous festival. It is called festival of swings as
swings with floral decorations are erected during this time.