Jaipur, also known as the ‘Pink City’, is the capital city of Rajasthan and is known for its great culture and history. The city of Jaipur was founded in 1727 by the Rajput ruler Jai Singh II; it was part of the earliest planned cities of modern India. Jaipur City was a princely state during the British period and after Independence, it was made the capital of Rajasthan.
The city is famous among travellers because of the royal culture and the connection of the city with ancient India. The city of Jaipur is surrounded by hills, forts, Havelis and is just 6hrs away from Delhi (capital of India) by road. Travellers can also commute by flight, bus, or train.
Let's begin our virtual journey to the Beautiful City of Jaipur.
‘Padharo Mhare Desh’ (Visit our City)
Khamma Ghani Mitron (Hello friends), I am starting this journey by virtually taking you to Govind Dev Ji Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. The deity is visible from the centre of the city palace of Jaipur and was brought by Jai Singh II from the city of Vrindavan located in Uttar Pradesh. It was created by Bajranabh – The Great Grand Son of Lord Krishna some 5,000 years ago. The temple got its name in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the widest single span RCC flat roof. This means there are no pillars in between, obstructing the view of the devotees in Satsang hall.
Let's continue to the second place which tells quite a bit about the city’s history and its beautiful architecture. The place I’m talking about is called the Amber Fort located in Amber which is 11km away from Jaipur city. The Amber Fort was originally built by the Meenas (Rajasthani tribe) and later was ruled by Raja Man Singh I. The palace was the residence of the Rajput Maharajas. The fort is located high on a hill and the fort is mostly known for its artistic style elements influenced by the Mughal architecture, constructed of marble and red sandstone. The opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard. It consists of the Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of Public Audience), the Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace) and the Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is artificially created by winds that blow over a water cascade within the palace.
When you are travelling from Jaipur to Amber, you will find another architectural beauty called Jal Mahal (Palace in Water) towards your right. The place is the best photography spot as during sunset, the reflection of the Palace looks amazing in the water. The palace is not open for visitors but the view is enjoyable from a distance.
The next stop after Amber fort is the Jaigarh Fort which is located just some meters above the Amber fort. The Jaigarh fort was built by Jai Singh II in 1726 to protect the Amber fort and was named after him. The fort has a similar structural design as the Amber Fort and is also known as Victory Fort. The fort features a cannon named "Jaivana"(Jaivana Cannon), which was manufactured in the fort precincts and was then the world's largest cannon on wheels. Jaigarh Fort and Amber Fort are connected by underground tunnels and considered as one complex.
After this fort, you can visit the Nahargarh Fort. This fort is mainly visited in early evenings because it is at a great height and the sunset looks stunning from there. The palace was once the hunting residence of maharajas. The most attractive things to look here are the wax museum and modern art gallery inside the fort.
Other Monuments which are located in the heart of the city and can be visited with the use of any transport are –
City Palace
It was the main residence of the royal family and is famous for its design. There are different halls in the palace which are now redesigned as the museum where the clothes, accessories, arms and ammunition, etc of that time are kept for display.
Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II in 1734. It features the world's largest stone sundial and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye.
Hawa Mahal (Palace of Wind)
Its five-floor exterior is akin to honeycomb with its 953 small windows called Jharokhas decorated with intricate latticework made of red and pink sandstones. The reason of constructing the palace was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life and festivals celebrated on the street without being seen since they had to obey the strict rules of "purdah", which forbade them from appearing in public without face coverings. This architectural feature also allows wind from the Venturi effect to pass through, thus making the whole area more pleasant during the high temperatures in summer.
Jaipur shopping offers unique options from gemstones to artwork, handicrafts to costumes that make a beautiful experience for shopaholics.
The main markets of the city are Johari Bazar, Baapu Bazaar, Nehru Bazar and Indra Bazar. The tradition and culture are visible in everything you buy, from a mere cap to slippers and from purses to bags.
When we talk about culture, there’s something we definitely can’t afford to miss and that is – food!
The authentic food of Rajasthan is Dal Bati Churma, which is the combination of 3 different foods. Dal is the soup or curry with pulses, bati is the soft stuffed bread and churma is a mixture of wheat and sugar. It is basically a fusion of sweet and salty food and it is available in most of the restaurants.
Not too far behind the Dal Bati Churma are the famous Rajasthani Kachoris. These are the fried puffs available in both sweet and spicy versions. The sweet version is filled with dry fruits and yellow sugar water and the spicy version is filled with mashed potato, onion and spices. It is the most famous breakfast in the city and is even available at five in the morning. The most famous shops selling kachoris are Rawat Kachori and Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar.
Another famous thing to have is the refreshing drink of Jaipur called Sweet Lassi (Buttermilk). The version of lassi available in the city is so much different from the ones in other states of India. The oldest and famous shop is The Lassiwala on MI road.
I travelled to Jaipur this year in the month of February with a friend of mine for two days and one night. It was an incredible journey and a comfortable stay, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting historical monuments, capturing various moments and structures.
I feel extremely nostalgic as I pen down my journey for you all, and I hope you feel the urge of visiting this beautiful city someday by looking at the images I captured and reading this blog.
Stay tuned for more such blogs on different cities.
Happy Reading!!!
תגובות