|
JAIPUR
 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.
Hawa Mahal
This 'Palace of the Wind' (Hawa Mahal) is a part of the city
palace. This is the most famous building in Jaipur. It is
build for the ladies of the harem by Sawai Pratap Singh. The
monument was originally conceived with the aim of enabling
ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and
royal processions of the city.
The City Palace
The citadel of the Kachchawah Rajput rulers of Jaipur. The
palace houses a museum with a superb collection of costumes
and armoury of Rajputs & Mughals. The vast complex occupies
one seventh of the walled city of Jaipur and is wonderful
blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture.
Jal Mahal
A picturesque palace encircled by the Man Sagar lake. The
palace was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 A.D for royal
duck shooting parties. As the winter arrives, a large number
of migratory birds comes from far of places to the lake. The
red sandstone palace is located 6.5 kms from Jaipur on the
road to Amber. A causeway from the main land, leads to the
palace.
Jaigarh Fort
Built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1726, this is one of the few
military structures of medieval India. Situated north of
Jaipur, on a cliff and surrounded by huge battlements with
inside walkways, the fort houses the 'Jai Ban' the largest
cannon in Asia, supposed to have been test fired only once.
This fort of Victory has a museum which displays a
collection of weapons and cannons used by the Rajput rulers.
There are fine views of the Amber fort.
|
