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Jaipur, the
vibrant capital city of Rajasthan, is situated at an altitude of
431 meters above sea level. It covers an area of 64.75 square
km. Jaipur is popularly known as the "Pink city" as some of the
buildings in the old city are in pink color. This city sits on
dry lake bed in an arid landscape, surrounded by the Aravallis
and protected by the Nahargarh Fort. The city is a visitor's
delight. Hindi, Rajasthani, Marwari and English are the common
languages which are spoken in Jaipur. In Summers, the
temperature is around 45 degree Celsius and in winters it is
around 7 degree Celsius. So the best time to visit Jaipur is
from November to March.
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| History
of Jaipur |
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The
royal city of Jaipur owes its name, foundations and careful
planning to the great warrior and astronomer, Maharaja Sawai Jai
Singh II. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of the Kachchwaha clan of
Rajputs ruled the city from the year 1699 to 1744. The ancient
capital of Rajasthan was Amber but in 1727 the foundations were
laid and from Amber the capital was shifted to Jaipur. In this
land, towering forts were built to protect the capital from the
enemy and battles were fought by the great rulers. |
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Tourist
Attraction in Jaipur
The
main tourist attractions in Jaipur are Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar,
Amber Fort, City Palace, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Jaigarh Fort,
Nahargarh Fort, Albert Hall and Raj Mandir (Movie Theatre). The
City Palace is the formal residence of the royal family, built
in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. In the
museum of the city palace we visit the private collection of the
Jaipur Maharajas. Jantar Mantar is an observatory of outsized
astronomical instruments, the largest of Jai Singh's five
remarkable observatories. Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) was
built in 1799 AD. It contains 953 small casements with each
having its own balcony. The windows enabled cool air to
circulate and the ladies to watch processions below without
being seen. Laxmi Narayan Temple is the Hindu temple of God
Vishnu and goddess Laxmi. This temple was built by the Birlas of
white marble. |
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How
to get here |
By
Air:
Jaipur
is well connected to major metropolitan cities of
India like Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata and Madras. It is
also well connected to other cities of Rajasthan as
well through regular flights of Indian airlines, Jet
Airways and Sahara Airlines.
By
Rail:
Jaipur
is connected by rail with important trains on its
principal networks. The main pride of Jaipur is Palace
on Wheels, the Royal Train. This special luxury train
starts from Delhi and takes a round trip of Rajasthan.
By
Road:
Jaipur
is connected by all the major destinations of India
and Rajasthan. Deluxe and air conditioned buses are
operated by the Rajasthan Roadways and private
operators between Jaipur, Delhi and other cities of
Rajasthan and rest of India. |
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Map
of Jaipur |
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Jaipur Tour
3 Days / 2 Nights
Jaipur
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Day 1:
Jaipur
In the morning arrive at the Jaipur
airport or Jaipur railway station. Upon arrival, you will be met by an
Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel. Jaipur is the
capital of Rajasthan and famous for its handicrafts and precious and
semiprecious stones. In the afternoon we visit the City
Palace which is still the formal residence of the royal family, built
in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. In the museum of the
city palace we visit the private collection of the Jaipur Maharajas. We
continue to Jantar
Mantar, a stone observatory, the largest of Jai Singh's five
remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments reveals us the secrets
of medieval Indian astronomy. |
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Day 2: Jaipur
After having breakfast we
drive to Amber
which is about 11 km from Jaipur. Amber was the ancient capital of
Kachhawaha dynasty for 6 centuries before it was moved to newly created
Jaipur. We will ascend to the Palace Fortress on the back of an Elephant.
Enroute to Amber we visit the Hawa
Mahal (Palace of the Winds), built in 1799 AD, it contains 953 small
casements with each having its own balcony. The windows enabled cool air
to circulate and the ladies to watch processions below without being seen.
In the afternoon we have a walk through the colourful Bazaar of Jaipur and
visit a factory to see the famous block printing work being done since
centuries in Jaipur. In the evening we drive through the new city of
Jaipur and visit “Laxmi Narayan Mandir”, a Hindu temple made out of
white marble. We might have an opportunity here to observe a prayer
ceremony. Today we have dinner with a presentation of Indian music and
dance. |
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Day 3: Jaipur
After having
breakfast drive to airport or railway station for the onwards journey. |
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Inclusions:
Standard
Rooms on twin sharing basis.
Breakfast in the Hotel.
One
Dinner will be with a presentation of Indian music and
dance in Jaipur.
Elephant ride in Amber (Jaipur).
Driver allowances.
Toll Tax and Parking.
Hotel Transfer at all places.
Vehicle Insurance included.
Petrol/Gas cost included.
All Transfers and departures by Indo Vacations
representative.
All
Transfers and Sightseeing throughout the tour by an individual
air-conditioned
vehicle
(car/Jeep etc.) with driver (reliable, experienced and
English speaking - have
a look at
the references
on our website from all over the world).
Exclusions:
Any
Kind
of Personal Expenses such as Tips, Laundry, Telephone
Bills and Alcoholic
beverages.
Entrance/administrative
fees.
Camera
fees (still or movie).
Unspecified
meal etc.
International
or Domestic Flights.
We
always look forward for any changes in the
itinerary as wished by you for your individual
trip |
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Major
Tourist Attractions in Jaipur |
Jantar Mantar
- Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the most famous one among the
five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh and is located close
to the gate of the famous City Palace of Jaipur. Maharaja Sawai
Jai Singh II, the Rajput ruler of Amber and the founder of
Jaipur was a learned man and an astronomer who was deeply
interested in the working of the celestial bodies and so he
built the observatory known as Jantar Mantar. Jantar Mantar is
the biggest stone observatory in the world, which is still in a
running condition.
Sawai Jai Singh II was commissioned by Emperor Muhammad Shah, to
make corrections in the astronomical tables and to confirm the
data, already available on the planetary positions. Sawai Jai
Singh II took seven years to finish the task. He built the first
stone observatory in 1724 in Delhi. Maharaja Jai Singh II
constructed 5 observatory in west and central part of India
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between 1727 to
1734 and Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the largest of all. The
Jaipur observatory was built in 1728.The name 'Jantar
Mantar' is derived from Sanskrit word 'Yantra Mantra' which
means instruments and formulae. Later due to mispronunciation it
was changed to the known name. |
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Hawa Mahal - Jaipur, the pink city of Rajasthan is
surrounded by palaces and is well known for its breezy palace "Hawa
Mahal". Hawa Mahal also known as "the palace of winds" is the
signature building and one of the interesting monument in
Jaipur.
Hawa Mahal, a multi layered palace was built by Sawai Pratap
Singh who was the grand son of Sawai Jai Singh and son of Sawai
Madhoo Singh in 1799 AD. Mr. Lal Chand Usta was the architect of
the Hawa Mahal. Hawa Mahal is a sample of the perfection of the
architecture. |
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City
Palace -
The City Palace is located in Pink City, Jaipur and has an
imposing blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal
architecture. The vast palace complex occupies one seventh
of the walled city of Jaipur. The City Palace was
originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha
clan of Rajputs. Later several additions were made to the
palace complex by many of his successors. The City Palace
is the core of the royal residences in Jaipur.
The former Maharaja still resides in a part of it, but the
rest of the part serves as a museum. |
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Jaigarh
fort - Jaigarh Fort is situated at a distance of about 15 kms from
Jaipur. Jaigarh fort is also known as the Victory Fort. This fort
stands over a small hillock in the amidst of the thorn scrub hills
overlooking the Pink City, Jaipur. Jaigarh Fort was built in 1726 by
Sawai Jai Singh. It was the royal treasury for several years. The fort
is surrounded by huge battlements with inside walkways offering
stunning views on all sides. The Jaigarh fort was built to bolster up
the defense of Amer and this fort unlike most of the palaces and forts
of Jaipur is quite plain and simple. The Jaigarh Fort has more or less
same structure as of Amber Fort and provides some excellent view of
the Jaipur city and the Amber Fort.
Architecture
of jaigarh Fort
In the
Jaigarh Fort the tourist can get a glimpse of the heritage and history
of Rajasthan. The main gate, the Dungar Darwaza offers an amazing view
of the Jaipur city. The main highlight of the Jaigarh Fort is the
Jaivana, which is the world's largest cannon on wheels. It was built
in Jaigarh's foundry in the year 1720. Many people say that the cannon
was only used once and the ball fell some 35 kms away on a village.
But that's quite doubtful, since a closer inspection of the cannon
actually revealed that it has been fired at least a couple of times. |
The fort has a lot of wide water channels, which were a part of
rainwater harvesting system. There are three underground tanks
at the fort, the largest one of which could store 60,00,000
gallons of water. Many people believed that this tank contains
hidden treasure but unfortunately Indian Government searched for
it and did not find anything at all.
Inside the Jaigarh fort is the armoury and the museum. The
armory in the Jaigarh Fort has various swords, shields, guns,
muskets and even a 50 kg cannon ball. One can also see old
photographs of two of Jaipur's Maharajas, Sawai Bhawani Singh
and Major General Man Singh II, both of whom were senior
officers in the Indian Army. The museum has an awesome
collection of Rajput artifacts, photographs of Maharajas,
buildings and processions. |
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There are various other structures in the fort such as the open
halls. The most interesting one is the Shubhat
Niwas (the Meeting hall of Warriors), which holds various things of
the olden times.
How to reach Jaigarh Fort
Jaigarh Fort can be reached either by motorable road leading to
Nahargarh Fort or on foot from Amber Fort. |
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Amber
Fort - Amber was the ancient capital of Kachhawaha dynasty for 6
centuries before it was moved to newly created Jaipur. Amber is
situated about 11 km from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. While
many of the early structures have either disappeared or ruined, but
those belonging to 16th century onwards are present in a remarkable
state in the fort. The existence of Amber Fort belongs to various
rulers like Raja Man Singh and Raja Jai Singh I and II. The
Amber fort also displays unmistakable Mughal influences. Amber
Fort is a classic fusion of Mughal and Hindu architecture, built in
red sandstone and white marble. |
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History and
Architecture of Amber Fort
The history of Amber Fort was concerned with various Rajput
kingdoms, and had at various times faced the armies of the
sultans of Gujarat, the Marathas, and the Mughals. No wonder its
architecture, like that of other Rajput palaces, consists of
narrow passages and staircases that can be defended by a single
swordsman, ridged ramps to allow the cavalry to move within the
fortifications, high walls that cannot be easily scaled, and
windows at only the highest levels. While the exterior is
forbidding, the interiors are lavished with decoration since the
kings and especially the women, spent almost all their time
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Amber Fort is approached through the grand Singh Pol (Lion Gate)
towards the Jaleb Chowk. From here, there are two flights of steps,
one leads to the Shila Mata Temple, and the other to the main palace
complex. You can reach the palace on foot or by elephant ride or by
any vehicle. From the top of the
fort, a spectacular view of the gorge and the land surrounding hills
can be seen. There are sprawling complex of courtyards, halls,
palaces and apartments separated by several gates.
The palace complex has various courtyards,
gateways, gardens, halls, stairways,
pillared pavilions, temples, palaces
and apartments separated by several gates. Some of the famous
architectural marvels in the complex are the Diwan-E-Khas, the Sheesh
Mahal, the Jai Mandir with exquisite mirror work, the Diwan-E-Aam, the
Sukh Niwas, the Shila Mata Temple, Kali temple and the Kesar Kyari, a
well laid out garden. The Ganesh Pol, an imposing gateway painted with
images of the god Ganesh is the pride of the palace. The
painted façade of the gate with its arcades shows a rich harmony of
Hindu and Mughal styles. Also a part of the complex is the
Diwan-E-Aam or hall of the public audience with its spectacular
display of pillars. The typical merging of Rajput and Mughal
architectural styles is captured in the Sukh Nivas and Jas Mandir
apartments, and the Charbagh garden with its perfectly proportioned
landscaping. Several other gardens and pavilions within the fort offer
enough scope for investigating medieval lifestyles at leisure. Inside
the fort are the Zenana or the women apartments and frescoes with
Krishna Leela scenes. These are private chambers from where the royal
women could watch the proceedings of the royal court in privacy. |
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Various Attractions inside the fort
Dil-E-Aaram and Diwan-E-Aam
The Amber fort is
entered through the Dil-e-Aaram Garden, laid out in the
traditional Mughal style. An imposing flight of stairs leads to
the Diwan-E-Aam or Hall of Public Audience, which has latticed
galleries and double row of columns each having a capital in the
shape of elephants on the top.
Kali Temple
To the right are the
steps that lead to the small Kali Temple. Maharaja Man Singh was
a great devotee of goddess Kali and he worshipped the goddess
for victory during battles. The Kali temple has huge doors made
of silver. The image of Goddess Kali was brought by Raja Man
Singh from Jessore in East Bengal, which is now known as
Bangladesh.
Jai Mandir, Diwan-E-Khas and Sheesh Mahal |
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The Jai Mandir or the Hall of
Victory has a glittering ceiling with mirror pieces on stucco
and elegant inlaid panels. The Diwan-E-Khas or the hall of
private audience is similar in ornamentation to Jai Mandir. The
Sheesh Mahal, hall of Mirrors is known for the craftsmanship in
mirrors. Thousands of mirror pieces adorn the walls and the
ceiling and any streak of light if pass through sparkle and
illuminates the entire room. In this palace, a single lamp is
replicated in thousands of glittering mirrors.
Sukh Niwas
In front of the Jai
Mandir is the Sukh Niwas or the hall of pleasure with a door
made of sandalwood, inlaid with ivory and a channel running
through, which formerly carried cool water acting as an air
cooler. |
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Museums
in Jaipur |
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Albert Hall
Museum:
Albert Hall Museum is located in the centre of the sprawling Ram
Niwas Bagh. This is the oldest museum in the state of Rajasthan.
It was built in 1876 when King Edward VII visited India. Albert
Hall museum was opened to public in 1896.
Modern
Art Gallery:
Modern art gallery is a small gallery in the first floor of the
Ravindra Manch Auditorium. This gallery shows a selection of
works by the well known modern artists of Rajasthan.
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Hawa Mahal Museum:
Just behind the beautiful Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) in the
adjoining Pratap Mandir is the Hawa Mahal Museum. This museum
was setup in the year 1973. This museum has the sculptural
heritage collected from Ganeshwar, Virat Nagar, Raid, Sambhar
and Nagar. |
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Maharaja Sawai Man
Singh II Museum:
Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum is located within the City
palace complex. This museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja
Sawai Man Singh II. It exhibits ancestral collections of the
successive rulers of Amber and Jaipur. |
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Excursions |
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Samode
Samode, a small
village is situated only about 42 kilometers north west of
Jaipur in Rajasthan. Samode is nestled in the foothills of the
Aravali range and is inhabited with about 8000 people. Samode
offers various attractions to the tourists like the old water
wells, chhatries, 400 year old gates, three forts, temples,
gardens and the Samode palace. Besides this, there is a great
diversity of local arts and crafts in Samode like miniature
paintings, lac, iron work, jewellery, leather, carpet weaving,
stone cutting etc. |
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History of
Samode
The Nathawats of Samode played an
important role in the durbar of Jaipur where they served as
prime ministers. Their thikana, which is located in a charming
village, in surrounded by fertile fields, while a ring of sharp
hills was the seat for their fortifications. The Samode Palace
was awarded by one of the Kachchwaha rulers of Amber to one of
his twelve sons four and a half centuries ago.
Tourist
Attractions in Samode
The major tourist
attraction in Samode is the Samode Palace. This palace was
originally built 400 years ago as a simple fortified Rajput
stronghold, then developed into an exquisite example of Rajput
and Mughal architecture with ornated and elaborate decoration
set in beautifully landscaped gardens. The Samode palace is
known for the high quality of its frescos, and particularly in
the use of indigo colours, and the richly painted Durbar Hall.
The main attraction of the Samode Palace is the incredible
Sheesh Mahal or the hall of mirrors and Sultan Mahal, decorated
in murals depicting ancient hunting and love scenes. Besides
this, the chattries, havelis, temples and 250 year old bawries
upon which the entire village once depended can only be found in
Samode. Samode is also known for the famous temple known as
Samode Ke Veer Hanuman Ji. This temple is perched on a hill top
with panoramic valley views.
Handicrafts
in Samode
The villagers of
the Samode are well known for its artistic production. It is the
home of various artists like the bangle and jewellery makers,
stone and paper painting artists, carpet weavers, potters, metal
workers, lac makers, gem cutters and traditional mojadi (jooti)
as well as bed and cushion cover makers. |
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Festival
of Jaipur |
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The Elephant festival
The Elephant festival is celebrated in Jaipur in the month of
March, on the day of Holi. The major attractions of this
festival is the elephant polo, elephant race, the tug of war
between elephants and men and women and various other cultural
programmes. The most colourful part of this festival is the Holi
played on the back of elephant. In this festival, the elephants,
camels, horses and folk dancers move in procession and take part
in various competitions. In this festival, the tourists can
watch the cultural programmes of music and dance and also play
the festival of colors. The sight of beautifully dressed
elephants moving majestically in a pageant is certainly a sight
to behold. The mahawats or owners decorate the bodies of the
elephants with bright colours, jhools and heavy jewellery. In
the end, the prizes are given to the most beautifully decorated
elephant. |
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Gangaur Festival, Jaipur (March / April)
The
Gangaur festival is a very significant festival of women in
Rajasthan. This festival is mainly celebrated in Jaipur, Udaipur
and Mandawa in March or April. This festival celebration goes on
for almost two weeks after Holi is over. This festival is
devoted to Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. During this
festival the young girls and women wore their traditional dress
of ‘Lehnga’ ‘Choli’ and ‘Odhni’, sing and dance and pray Issar
and Gangaur, manifestations of Shiva and Parvati, for grooms of
their choice while the married women pray for the well being of
their husbands. During this festival various activities take
place in a grand procession which marks the arrival of Lord
Shiva to take his bride home. |
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Teej Festival
(August)
Teej is an important festival of Rajasthan. Teej festival is
celebrated on the onset of the monsoon season in the month of
August. This festival is also dedicated to the worship of
goddess Parvati. The Teej festival is celebrated all over the
state, but, it is mainly celebrated in Jaipur, where the idol of
the goddess Parvati is taken out in colourful procession
accompanied by song and dance, for two days. The women and young
girls gather in large groups, dress up in colouful clothes and
spend time on swings decorated with flowers and enjoy the
festival by singing and dancing. |
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