One of the most elegant, evocative and exotic cities of India is Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan, once the land of the maharajas.
Even today, Jaipur preserves traces of the royal family that ruled this area and founded it, building majestic pink buildings, which earned it the name of "pink city" of Rajasthan. A city of the desert and city of palaces, Jaipur is truly an unmissable stop on a trip to India.
Together with Delhi and Agra, the city of the famous Taj Mahal, it is part of the Golden Triangle, the classic itinerary of those who start to discover India for the first time. Are you ready to explore Jaipur? Here are the attractions that you should put on your list.
Jaipur's top attractions
Amber Fort
Amber Fort is located in Amer, a small town about 11 km from Jaipur, and definitely worth a visit during your stay. This majestic UNESCO heritage rises on Cheel ka Teela hill on Lake Maota. If Amer was founded by the Meena tribe, the palace was the residence of the Rajput family of Rajasthan. It consists of four floors, each with a garden and is adorned with Hindu artistic elements. An underground passage connects the building to the nearby fort of Jaigarh, which served as a shelter to the Rajput family in case of enemy attacks.
Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal, also known as the Palace of the Winds, is located in Jaipur and was built in 1799 by maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by Lal Chand Ustad. It was used to house the women of the royal family, who could thus observe the life and activities of the street below without being seen from its windows. The Hawa Mahal, in red sandstone like many of Jaipur's palaces, presents the shape of the crown of Krishna, a Hindu god, with a five-story façade interspersed with 953 Jharokha, small portholes. Overall, the facade makes it similar to a large beehive. The shape of the windows allowed a flow of fresh air that mitigated the summer heat for the noble women who looked out.
Jaipur City Palace
Jaipur City Palace is a complex of buildings in the north-eastern part of Jaipur, including the Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal palaces as well as other monuments and gardens. The palace was built between 1729 and 1739 by the will of the ruler of Amer, Sawai Jai Singh II, with subsequent modifications and additions. In the past, it was the residence of the maharaja of Jaipur. Today, the Chandra Mahal houses a museum, but part of it still serves as a royal residence. The current layout of the City Palace complex is due to the architects Vidyadar Bhattacharyar and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, who combined the Shilpa Shastra styles of Indian architecture with rajput, moghul and European styles.
Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is an architectural complex that acts as an astronomical observatory, commissioned by maharaja Jai Singh II between 1727 and 1734. The maharaja commissioned a total of five similar structures, the observatory of Jaipur is the largest of all.
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