The Rose Pink City founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743), is the capital of Rajasthan. It is a major attraction for the first-time visitor. Jaipur is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls. Houses with latticed windows line the streets with their rose pink colour, lending enchantment to the scene, which is almost magical at sunset.

The Old City (Known as the Pink City) is a great place to wander around. The whole city was painted in Pink colour by Maharaja Man Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876 AD. Today, every home within the city is obliged by law to maintain its facade. It is a very well planned city laid out in a grid pattern and was designed by a young Bengali engineer and scholar by the name "Vidyadhar Bhattacharya".

Jaipur was and remains the only city in the world, symbolising the nine divisions of the universe, through nine rectangular sectors sub-dividing it. Jaipur is a royal city & this is its most noticeable aspect, small buildings & festivals testify it.

Jaipur & its surroundings are rather like an endless museum. The city also offers an endless variety of crafts. Jewellers here still fashion the beautiful enamel-on-gold pendants, studded on the reverse with precious stones or pearls & turquoise that one sees in miniature paintings. Jaipur's lacquer bangles are famous all over the world. This is a city to be visited.

Tourist Attractions in Jaipur

Amer Palace
The image of the Amber Fort is beautifully reflected in the lake below. Within the Amer Fort lies the famous Jai Mandir (Temple) with its world renowned Sheesh Mahal, a hall full of Mirrors.

The walls and the ceiling of the Mahal are covered with a beautiful array of mirrors, which reflect any streak of light, so as to illuminate the entire room. Located 9 Kms north west of Jaipur, the Amber Fort was once the Capital of the Minas.

City Palace
The City Palace is an architectural marvel that presents a perfect blend of Rajasthani and Mughal art and architecture. The City Palace has projecting balconies, arches and the entrances. The palace covers one-seventh of the area in Jaipur. The City Palace also has a museum with an exclusive collection of Rajasthani costumes, miniature paintings, carpets and royal paraphernalia.

Hawa Mahal
Jaipur's signature building, the Hawa Mahal, a multi layered palace, was built by Sawai Pratap Singh (grand son of Sawai Jai Singh and son of Sawai Madhoo Singh) in 1799 AD and Mr. Lal Chand Usta was the architect. Famous for it's beehive like structure, the Hawa Mahal is an interplay of red and pink sand stone, carefully and painstakingly outlined with white borders and motifs. The palaces and forts of yesteryears, which were witness to the royal processions and splendours are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyle of the people of the "Pink City" Jaipur.

Jai Garh
The fort marks the victory and was built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1726. Perched high on a cliff, it is surrounded by huge battlements with inside walkways. Jaivan, the world's largest canon on wheel is also found here. It provides a panoramic view of Jaipur city and the Amber Fort.

Nahargarh Fort
Beyond the hills of Jaigarh, stands the fort of Nahargarh like a watchful sentinel guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful capital. Much of the original structures are now in ruins, but the lovely buildings added by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II in the 19th century are preserved in a good condition. Some of the rooms provide the most spectacular view of the city below.

Govind Devji Temple
This temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is located in the central courtyard of Jai Niwas Garden in the north of Chandra Mahal. Sawai Jai Singh II reinstalled the image of Govind Devji that originally belonged to the temple of Vrindavan.

Jantar Mantar
Sawai Jai Singh who also built the five observatories in India built the largest stone observatory in the world, Jantar Mantar. Its complex instruments are excellent for predicting the figures related to the Indian astronomy.

Albert Hall
Designed in the Indo Sarcenic style of architecture by Sir Swinton Jacob, the Albert Hall presents an exquisite collection of decorative wares, sculptures, paintings, natural history specimen and Egyptian mummy and the celebrated Persian carpet.

Shopping in Jaipur
A major gem and jewellery centre, Jaipur is famous for Kundan work (enamel work on gold). Also there are woollen carpets, cotton rugs, marble statuary, enamelled wares, brass ware, hand-block printed Sanganeri and Bagru Cotton fabrics, exotic blue pottery made from crushed quartz, leather footwear and more.