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Jaipur - The Pink
City!
The city that once was the capital of the royalty
of the county, is now the capital of the princely
state of Rajasthan. Located 260 km. from the capital
of the country, New Delhi, this city is full of
colour and grandeur. The ancient testimonials
in the form of mind blowing monuments such as
Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort, City Palace, Albert Hall
are amongst the best in the county. The city also
popularly known as the Pink City is also very
popular for shopping amongst the tourists and
locals.
Hawa Mahal
The huge confection is a trompe l'oeil in masonry,
for it tends to deceive the eye. In truth, the
Hawa Mahal is all façade, an elaborate palace
exterior complete with nine hundred and fifty
three windows and niches of inconceivable delicacy.
However behind this facade are no buildings, for
it is a maze of corridors and resting points.
The royal women of the zenana used to peep out
and see the city, or watched processions passing
down below. The clever façade also trapped the
breeze, earning it the name "Palace of Winds".
The City Palace
The spectacular City Palace is the residence of
the former ruling family of Jaipur. It occupies
the center of the city, covering one-seventh of
its area and surrounded by a high wall - the Sarahad.
The architecture combines elements of Rajput beauty
with Mughal spaciousness and English linear planning.
The Jaipur royal family resides in what is known
as the Peacock Courtyard, although this is no
longer open to the public.
Amer Fort
Amer, "The Fortress Palace" was one
of the most important of all Rajput cities. It
was the ancient capital of the Kacchwaha Rajputs
from the 12th century until the foundation of
Jaipur in the early 18th century. The seventeenth
century fort complex at Amer occupies a steep
hillside, overlooking the strategic pass that
gave entry to the kingdom of the Kacchwaha Maharajas
from the Mughal territories to the north.
Albert Hall Museum
It is erected in the middle of Ram Niwas Garden
of Jaipur. It was built in 1876 to mark the visit
of Prince of Wales to the city. The building is
made of sandstone and marble in Indo-saracenic
style. It contains a fine collection of sculptures,
paintings, decorative art objects, natural history
specimens, an Egyptian mummy and a celebrated
Persian Garden Carpet.
Jantar Mantar
Literally "instruments for measuring the
harmony of the heavens", the Jantar Mantar
Observatory was built between 1728-1734. Not content
with brass, Jai Singh II wanted things on a grand
scale and chose stone with a marble facing on
the important planes. Each of the instruments
serves a particular function and each gives an
accurate reading. It is said that Indian kings
viewed themselves as Universal Emperors
wielding the wheel, an emblem that represented
the universe. This meant that the correct time
had to be fixed for each event. Astrologers were
hired to regulate actions within the palace and,
by extenuation, within the entire kingdom.
Other Places of Interest includes:
>> Nahargarh Fort & Jaigarh Fort
>> Jalmahal Lake & Ramgarh Lake
Distance Chart from Jaipur
| >>
Agra - 232 Km. |
>>
Panaji, Goa - 1725 Km. |
| >>
Mumbai - 1202 Km. |
>>
New Delhi - 258 Km. |
| >>
Bangalore - 1985 Km. |
>>
Hyderabad - 1443 Km. |
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