Jaipur is one of the most opulent tourist destinations in India. This colorful city is always bristling with energy which is so overwhelming that the city itself finds a spot on the bucket list of gregarious travel lovers.
Kesariya balam re aao nee, padhaaro mhare des
“Kesariya balam re aao nee, padhaaro mhare des” which means welcome to my homeland – This is the melodious anthem that beats in the hearts of the locals who believe in the over-arching Indian tradition of “Atithi devobhav” which is a humble way of saying “we welcome our guests as a divine form”
The ‘Pink city’ of Rajasthan has so much more than just pink on its color palette. It is a city that stands tall in the history for its stories of valor. The forts still strong and timeless with their elegance and flawless architecture.
The palaces, forts, princely ambience, food served in ‘thalis’, colorful markets, celebrations, festivities, cultural galore drench this city in a rich extravagance.
Every little shop, every nook and cranny is a perfect combination of color and traditional beauty. The city is a live folklore talking of its erstwhile traditions and royal past.
Places to visit in Jaipur
Amer fort
This fort is located high on a hill and was built by Raja Man Singh and is known for its artistic style elements, cobbled paths and arched gates. It overlooks Maota lake. It is the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur and is extremely popular with children owing to its royal elephant rides.
Hawa Mahal
Known as the Breeze Palace of Jaipur, this temple was built in 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh. Those were the times when the Purdah system was strictly followed. The construction of Hawa Mahal allowed the royal ladies to watch royal processions on the street while still following the norms of purdah. Hawa Mahal is a five story palace built in the form of Krishna’s crown.
City Palace
City Palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in 1727. It has a Mughal Architectural style with a European influence. This palace was the location of the religious and cultural events in Jaipur.
Nahargarh Fort
The seat of Nahargarh Fort stands on the threshold of the Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan. Nahargarh means ‘abode of tigers’ referring to the fearless brave Rajputana warriors. However a popular myth is that the fort was named after some “ Nahar Singh Bhomia” whose spirit haunted the fort and a temple was built within the fort to appease his restless soul.
Jantar Mantar
This is a world heritage site. The huge sundial is a scientific masterpiece. It is impressive to see how much was known about the heavenly bodies and the universe in the first half of the 18th century. It is mesmerizing to see the kind of calculations that could be carried out and how exactly this could be done.