The Pink City-Jaipur

Jaipur popularly known as The Pink City of India is a treat to the eyes of the travellers. To experience Rajasthan, one has to visit Jaipur which is the capital of the state. Jaipur was founded by Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amer.

During the rule of Sawai Ram Singh I, the city was painted pink giving Jaipur a distinctive appearance and the epithet Pink city.

There are a lot of tourist attractions in Jaipur. Palaces, museums, gardens, heritage buildings must visit. And yes, Rajasthani cuisine is a must try. Dal Bati Churma (no Rajasthani food is complete without Dal Bati Churma),Masala-Chhach, Gatte ka Pulao, Churma Ladoo, Badam ka Halwa are some famous exclusive Rajasthani dishes one should go for while in Jaipur.

The worth visiting forts in Jaipur are Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort and the Jaigarh Fort. Amer Fort was built on remnants by Raja Man Singh of Amer. Nahargarh Fort stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the city of Jaipur, you can go for a light and sound show there in the evening. Jaigarh Fort is situated on the promontory called the Cheel ka Teela of the Aravalli range; it overlooks the Amer Fort.

Apart from forts the world famous structure of Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal, which was built in 1799AD by Maharaja Pratap Singh. The palace is a five-storey construction meant for the ladies of the royal families to observe the way of the commoners. The key highlight is the meticulous latticework on the palace windows. Due to the way the palace was constructed, and given its numerous windows, there were massive gushes of wind blowing through it, giving it the name of Hawa (air) Mahal (palace). Price of ticket to visit Hawa Mahal for Indian tourist is Rs. 50, for foreign tourist is Rs. 200. Children below 7 year are free.

Another spectacular attraction of Jaipur is the Jantar Mantar monument in Jaipur. It features the world's largest stone sundial, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is located near City Palace and Hawa Mahal within the pink city.

The Jal Mahal is a stunning spectacle in Jaipur that you cannot miss. It is a majestic palace that stands tall right in the very centre of the Man Sagar Lake. The actual palace is off-limits for tourists but you can nevertheless enjoy the beautiful location by taking strolls along the pathways around the mahal. An evening stroll here is a wonderful experience.

Apart from Palaces and Forts one can also visit Birla Mandir Jaipur. It is a Hindu temple and is part of one of the several Birla mandirs located all around the country. The grand temple is located on an elevated ground at the base of Moti Dungari hill in Rajasthan.

A nice garden to visit in Jaipur is the Kanak Vrindavan garden. The garden was built around 280 years ago by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. It is built in a valley surrounded by Aravali hills and is located on the way to the Amer Fort at the bottom of the Nahargarh hill. The place is approx 8 km north of the Jaipur city.

A worth visit museum of Jaipur is the Albert Hall Museum, one among the the oldest and most visited museums of Jaipur. This museum was built in the year 1868 and has a wide array of intriguing exhibits. The well-known Albert Hall was built in the year 1868 by Sawaj Ram Singh 11 and is built along the lines of the famous Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

While in Jaipur, try for a metro ride. Here the metro train is of 4 coaches only (as of December 2018). One can have a nice view of the city while travelling in metro.

Jaipur has much to offer visitors everything from pageants and festivals to extraordinarily clad people, a wealth of handicrafts, a royal legacy of palaces, and sightseeing that will occupy their time. All of Jaipur is an architectural gem, and no scheduled sight seeing can even hope to do justice to this rare city.

Experience Rajasthan, visit Jaipur!