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Jaipur,
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This famous city is the
capital of Rajasthan and has earned universal renown as the "Pink City",
and pink it is, with beautiful constructed palaces, havelis and forts.
Tall, rugged men with handle-bar whiskers sport bright pink turbans.
Jaipur which means the city of victory was built exactly 273 years back
and is 262 km by road from Delhi (Capital of India). A strong wall
encircles the old city and even today has a suggestion of formidable
strength, its function of protecting all within is obvious.
The plains of Rajasthan of which Jaipur is the capital once thundered and
echoed with clash of swords and the drums of wars. Built in 1727 by Sawai
Jai Singh-II, Jaipur was the first planned city of its time (the earlier
planned city in northern India having been built near Taxila sometime in
the 2nd century BC).
Jaipur was planned by Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, a Bengali architect, in a
grid system with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes and
uniform rows of shops on either side of the main bazaars, all arranged in
nine rectangular city sectors (chokris). The city itself is an attractive
creation worthy of universal admiration.
There is a feast in store for tourists. Attractive monuments where one can
breathe the fragrance of history. Comfortable and luxurious hotels, once
the proud of kings, parks, gardens, and excursions of nearby places of
interest, make Jaipur a tourist's paradise.
The picturesque capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is color washed pink-the
color associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. Built in 1727 A.D. by
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh JI, Jaipur displays a remarkable harmony and
architectural splendor. The ancient heart of the Pink City still beats in
its fairy-tale palaces, rugged fortresses perched on barren hills and
broad avenues that dot the entire city. The only planned city of its time,
Jaipur is encircled by a formidable wall.
A young Bengali architect, Vidyadhar Bhattacharya formalised the city’s
plans in a grid system. The wide straight avenues. Roads, streets, lanes
and uniform rows of shops on either side of main bazaars were arranged in
nine rectangular city sectors (Chokris), in accordance with the principles
of town planning set down in the ‘Shilpa Shastra’- and epochal treatise on
the Hindu architecture.
There is a timeless appeal to Jaipur’s colorful bazaars where one can shop
for Rajasthani handlooms and trinkets. Beautifully laid out gardens and
parks, attractive monuments and marvelous heritage hotels, once the
residence of Maharaja’s are worth admiration. Not to mention the ambling
camels and cheerful people in multi-hued costumes that make your trip to
the pink city a memorable one.
Amer
Fort
At a short distance of 11 kms . from Jaipur, the Amer Fort complex stands
amidst wooded hills overlooking the Delhi-Jaipur highway, with its
forbidding ramparts reflected in the still waters of the Maota Lake below.
One of the finest examples of Rajput architecture, it was the ancient
capital of the Kachhawah rulers. The original palace was built by Raja Man
Singh and additions were made later by Sawai Jai Singh.
Within the palace are the Diwan-e-Aam or the "Hall of Public Audience",
the Diwan-e-Khas or the "Hall of Private Audience" and the Sukh Niwas where
a cool breeze blows across channels of water for the purpose of
air-conditioning.
Here are the private chambers of the queens with windows having latticed
screens so that the ladies could watch the proceedings of the royal court
inprivacy. There is also the Jai Mandir or the "Temple of Vicotry", with
its famed Sheesh Mahal, the scintillating "Hall of Mirrors".
City Palace
The City Palce is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal
art and architecture. The City Palace complex houses several palatial structures.The first building in it is Mubarak Mahal, built by Maharaja
Madho Singh. It has a beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass
doors on either side of this gate. Beyond this gate lies the Diwan -e-Khas,
or the "Hall of Private Audience". The City Palace is a historic landmark.
The carved arches are supported by grey-white marble columns studded with
floral motifs in gold and coloured stones.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar mantar is one of Jai Singh's five remarkable observatories.
Constructed with stone and marble its complex instruments whose settings
and shapes are precisely and scientifically designed represent the high
points of Medieval Indian astronomy. The Ram Yantras used for gauging
altitudes are unique in their isolation. this is the largest of the five
observatories founded by Sawai Jai Singh-II in various parts of the
country.
Major Yantras or instruments that you can watch moving clockwise are:
Small 'Samrat', 'Dhruva', 'Narivalya', The Observer's Seat, Small 'Kranti',
'Raj', 'Unnathamsa', 'Disha', 'Dakshina', Large 'Samrat', 'Rashivalayas',
'Jai Prakash', Small 'Ram', Large 'Ram Yantra', 'Diganta', Large 'Kranti'.
Hawa Mahal
Built by the poet king Sawai Pratap Singh, the Hawa Mahal is the most
strikingly designed monument in Jaipur. What is seen from the Sireh Deorhi
Bazaar is the multi-niched five storey high backside of the complex (see
it in photo gallery). It was conceived to provide adequate vantage
position behind delicate stone carved jali screens to the palace women for
watching the royal processions passing through the bazaar below.
Jaigarh Fort
The western skyline is dominated by the extensive walls, watch towers and
gateways of the Jaigarh Fort.
It is one of the few military structures of medieval India preserved
almost intact, containing palaces, gardens open and covered reservoirs, a
granary, an armory, a well-planned cannon foundry, several temples, a
tall tower and a giant mounted cannon-the Jain Ban, the largest cannon in
the world.
Nahargarh Fort
Perched atop a pricturesque hill, the Nahargarh Fort offers a breathtaking
view of the city below. Initially built by Sawai Jain Singh in 1734 A.D.
It was enlarged and given its present shape by Sawai Madho Singh in1885
A.D. Decorative motifs in some of the rooms are delightful.
From the windows of the nine identical suites, one gets a magnificent view
of the city, complete witht he geometrical layout. From Amer there is a
road to Nahargarh, which passes through the hills. |
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