A Scent Of Royalty in "The Pink City"-Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a popular tourist destination in India and forms a part of the west Golden Triangle tourist circuit along with Delhi and Agra.

A city of deserts, royalty, craft and culture, Jaipur and its people thrive in their vibrant and inspiring surroundings. The people adore traditional attires that reflect their free spirits and past. Swirling skirts, colorful turbans, Jaipur is perhaps one of the only cities in the Indian subcontinent that reflects the blend of Indian culture and the contemporary world and offers a wide range of experiences one can have.

Places to visit:

1. Amer Fort 

The fort is a pearl on the crown of Jaipur. The magnificent Amer Fort is an extensive palace complex that has been built with pale yellow and pink sandstone and with white marble. The fort is divided into four main sections that are graced with their own courtyards. It is most famous for its elephant rides and the sound and light show.

2. Nahargarh Fort 

Located along the Aravalli hills this 700ft tall fort is one of the largest forts in India. The word Nahargarh means ‘abode of tigers’. Legend says that the fort was named as Nahargarh after the spirit of a Rathore, Prince Nahar Singh Bhomia. The fort is quite popular for offering surreal views of the surrounding.

3. Virasat Heritage

I'm a big-time foodie so I tried the royal taste of Rajasthan at Virasat Heritage. It is an ethnic concept village nearby Jaipur offering and puppet shows, wonderful art and indulging in delicious authentic Rajasthani cuisine.

4. Jal Mahal 

The “Water Palace”, Jal Mahal is a spectacular structure made of pink sandstone that seems to be floating on the lake’s surface. It is a five-storied structure built in the Rajput style of architecture, with influences of the Mughal architectural style. While four of its stories remain underwater, only the top story remains visible, giving you the impression that the palace is floating on the waters of the lake. It provides a charming view of the Man Sagar Lake and the surrounding Nahargarh hills.

5. Hawa Mahal- "The Palace of Winds"

Hawa Mahal ("The Palace of Winds" or "The Palace of Breeze") is a palace in Jaipur, India which is made with the red and pink sandstone. The palace sits on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur.
Its unique five floors exterior is akin to the honeycomb of a beehive with its 953 small windows called Jharokhas decorated with intricate latticework.

Hawa Mahal was built without foundation. Thus, it is the tallest building in the world without a foundation.  The five-story building managed to maintain upright because it is curved shaped. Just another masterpiece of Rajput and Mughal architecture.

The question arises that why was the Hawa Mahal built ?? The answer is quite interesting... 

Royal ladies were not to be seen by the public. The palace was built such that the ladies can watch festival celebrations and all other activities on the street without being seen. Also, the architectural feature allowed cool air from the Venturi effect to pass through, thus making the whole area more pleasant during the high temperatures in summer.

6. Albert's Hall Museum

Albert Hall Museum is the oldest museum of the state. The building was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob and was named after King Edward VII (Albert Edward),  who was Prince of Wales, in England. 

The museum has a rich collection of artifacts including paintings, jewelry, carpets, ivory, stone, metal sculptures, and works in crystal. The collection includes coins from the Gupta, Kushan, Delhi Sultanate, Mughal and British periods

An Egyptian mummy is the main attraction of this museum.

7. City Palace

Jaipur is the present-day capital of the state of Rajasthan, and the City Palace was the ceremonial and administrative seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The Palace was also the location of religious and cultural events, as well as a patron of arts, commerce, and industry.

There are two huge sterling silver vessels of 1.6 meters (5.2 ft) height and each with the capacity of 4000 liters and weighing 340 kilograms (750 lb), on display here. They were made from 14,000 melted silver coins without soldering. They hold the Guinness World Record as the world's largest sterling silver vessels. These vessels were specially commissioned by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II to carry the water of the Ganges to drink on his trip to England in 1901.

Best time to visit: 

Winter:

Winters are from October to March and are the best time to enjoy holidays in Jaipur city. The days are very pleasant but the nights are cold with less than 4°C. You can enjoy the sightseeing at the historic forts along with the Elephant Festival in March, Kite Festival and Jaipur Literature Fest in January.

Summer:

Summers are from April to June and are very hot and dry. During this time the average temperature is 44°C - 45°C Hot winds blows throughout the day making sightseeing next to impossible. The festival of Gangaur is celebrated during this time.

Monsoon:

Monsoons are from July to September but Jaipur receives low to medium rainfall. You can join the local festival of Teej if you are in the city in August.


A short clip to end my blog....