Suchanaonline-

Sightseeing in Jaipur:Visitors to Jaipur are spoilt for choice since there is so much to see. Not only are the city's forts, palaces, gardens and temples spectacular, each proves a rewarding experience in itself because they can keep you absorbed for long hours at a stretch.

Amber :The Kachchawahas ruled from Amber, 11 km from Jaipur, for seven centuries. With a history so old, it is not unexpected that there is a lot of the past that can be traced in its archaeological history. While many of the very early structures have either disappeared or been ruined, those dating from the 16th century on are in a remarkable state of preservation. Amber as it exists now is the handiwork of three of the kingdom's rulers that include Man Singh, and Jai Singh I and II. Approached from a step ramp, visitors ride up on elephant back, entering through the grand Singh Pol gateway and continuing to Jaleb Chowk, the courtyard where they disembark form the pachyderm. From here, they are faced with two flights of steps, one leading to the Shila Mata complex with its enshrined image of the goddess, and the other to the main palace complex.Within the complex, Ganesh Pol, an imposing gateway painted with images of the elephant-headed god, Ganesh, takes pride of place, Also a part of the complex are the Diwan-i-Am or hall of public audience with its spectacular display of pillars. The typical merging of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles is captured in the Sukh Niwas and Jas Mandir apartments, and the Charbagh garden with its perfectly proportioned landscaping. A highlight is the pierced screen windows which offer views from points of vantage, as well as the shimmering mirrors encrusting the walls of the Sheesh Mahal. Seeral other gardens and pavilions within the sprawling spread of the ramparts offer enough scope for investigating medieval lifestyles at leisure.Beyond the ramparts, the old city, once the abode of the aristocracy, has a wounderfully medieval flavour, though it has few buildings of majestic proportion that are still extant. However a walk through the rambling lanes will reap rich rewards for the curious. Besides a large number of temples, there are also stepwells, memorials and townhouses. There is a lot more to Amber than its splendid fort. Set in a picturesque location, Amber is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh, it sprawls on the hillside. Its construction was started by Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by his descendant Jai Singh I.

City Palace:As may be expected, the City Palace complex lies at the heart of the city. Getting in is simpler than it once was. Though the erstwhile maharaja and his family and close friends use the triple-arched Tripolia Gate to enter their section of the palace, mot visitors are ushered in through Atish Pol which is located close to the royal stables. Cross from here to Chandni Chowk or Moonlit Square, and then on to Ginda Ki Deorhi or Rhinoceros Gate. At the heart of the complex is the seven-tiered Chandra Mahal where the erstwhile royal family is still in residence, though only a small part of the apartments are occupied. However, it is only the buildings around Chandra Mahal that are open to the public, and these also form part of a museum which includes everything from grand outfits (including one with 18 kilos of golden thread woven into it) to swords and two silver urns that are believed to be the largest silver objects in the world. These are housed in the Mubarak Mahal and the Diwan-i-Am respectively. Through Singh Pol or Lion Gate, visitors can approach the Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Am, where the maharaja's private and public courts would be held. The architecture seems to consist of a number of arched, pillared halls, while courtyards with painted doorways are a prominent feature.In the heart of the city is situated the City Palace, a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The City Palace is marked by projecting balconies, arches on slender pillars, and ornate entrances. There is a huge paved courtyard flanked by apartments from three sides. The place is now a museum except for one section where the erstwhile royal family still lives. The palace cum museum is constructed in the fortified campus style and covers more than half of the old city. Timings - 9.30 am. to 4.45 pm. Entry fee - Rs.35/- for Indians and 110/-for Foreigners.

Gaitore:Located off the Jaipur-Amber road, Gaitore is the final resting place for the maharajas of Jaipur. Set in a narrow valley, the cenotaphs of the former rulers consist of the somewhat typical chhatri or umbrella-shaped memorials. Of special mention is Jai Singh II's chhatri because of the carvings that have been used to embellish it.

Galta Ji:A popular site with pilgrims, Galta Ji's hilly location is full of surprising spires and peaks. Some of the temples here are quite old, and a sun temple is perched atop the highest point of the hill.The temples of galta is 100m above Jaipur to the east, a 2.5 km. climb from Suarj Pol. This is the plaxe where the great sage Galav is supposed to have lived and performed his penance. Here the water flowing through the mouth of a carved stone cow, the Gaumukh fills seven tanks. This water is believed to be sacred and have curative powers. The water is claimed to be several elephants deep. In the temples are the images of Vishnu, Brahama, Garlo Rishi, Shankaracharya, Parvathi and Ganesh and note-worthy among them is the temple of the Sun God. The small temple of the Sun god, built by Diwan Kriparam on top of the highest peak, is visible form all parts of the city.

Govind Dev Ji Temple:A part of the City Palace complex, this Krishna temple is highly revered by the erstwhile royal family. The image brought from Vrindaban is housed within the sanctum of this spireless temple.

Hawa Mahal:Located to one side, but a part of the City Palace complex. Hawa Mahal is best viewed from the street outside. If it were not for the bustling bazaar all around, it would have been easy to mistake it for a film set, so exquisitely is it proportioned, and so incongruous is its delicacy. Hawa Mahal consists of five tiers of corridors on the inside, with pierced screen windows that overlook the street below. It is believed the women of the royal zenana would sit concealed behind these screens to see life in the city beyond the walls of the palace.About Hawa Mahal: The city of Jaipur reflects a clever amalgamation of the Rajput and Mughal styles, which has given this city a unique character. Being close to Delhi and Agra, and the fact that its rulers were powerful members of the Mughal durbar (court), ensured that its rulers kept the special Mughal touches of filigreeing marble and sandstone alive. If one were to select the most outstanding of all buildings in the walled city, or the most unusual, then the Hawa Mahal would easily stand out. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, this remarkable structure adjoins the outside of the City Palace wall. Sawai Pratap Singh was a great devotee of Lord Krishna and he dedicated this mahal to the Lord, its intricate exterior wall looks like a mukut (crown), which adorns Lord Krishna's head. It overlooks one of the main street and lies sandwiched between more prosaic buildings. This five-story, pyramid-shaped structure is made up of small casements, each with tiny windows and arched roofs with hanging cornices, exquisitely modeled and carved. Its fa�ade makes Hawa Mahal look more like a screen than a palace. Its top three stories are just a single room thick but at the base are two courtyards. It is a fifty-foot high thin shield, less than a foot in thickness, but has over 900 niches and a mass of semi-octagonal bays, carved sandstone grills, finials and domes, which give this palace its unique fa�ade. There is no definite record as to why Hawa Mahal was built, only conjecture. It certainly was not meant for residential purposes. That becomes clear if one were to view this unusual structure from the rear side. he Hawa Mahal, the "Palace of the winds" was designed as a window to the outside world for these zenana women who led cloistered lives in the closed courtyards and apartments behind it. The 953-latticed windows built tier built upon tier in a fragile lace- like effect offered a perfect view of the road below while concealing the women from the people outside. The alcove design with carved screen balconies meant the windows caught even the smallest breeze. The zenana women could pass their day sitting here, hidden by the screened windows, watching the world go by and have a view of royal parades and other ceremonials from their airy little perches. It is a fantastic structure in an odd pyramid shape and it may seem more like a whimsical folly of the king but in fact there was a medieval tradition of building palaces where the zenana women could sit and enjoy fine weather.Entry fee - Rs. 2/-

Jaigarh:Made famous because of the myths of buried treasure, Jaigarh was defended by the Mina tribesmen in the Kachchawaha army who once ruled from this hilly perch. Though the ancestry of the fort is ancient this military structure was renovated in the 16th and 17th centuries, and had a cannon foundry on its premises. It is one of the three hilltop forts that stand sentinel over Jaipur.Jaigarh Fort stands as a guard for the Amber palaces. The wall of the Fort are spread over three kilometres and have two massive gates-the Awani Darwaza in the east and Doongar Darwaza in the south. Jaigarh had a foundry inside were some of the best cannons in India were cast and many were used by the Kachwaha kings when they led Mughal armies on expeditions. Among the armoury displayed here is the world's largest cannon that was made at this foundry. Jaivan has an ornamented twenty-foot long barrel wheels that are nine and a half feet in diameter and weighs a massive fifty tons. Made in 1720 it was never used in war and only test fired once and it is said the cannon ball travelled a distance of thirty eight kilometres and the roar of the cannon made many houses collapse in Jaipur. In Jaigarh there are more barracks than residential palaces. A temple Kal Bhairav with a an idol in the form of Lord Shiva in black metal and a garden in Mughal style and an open Baradari, a garden pavilion called Aram Mandir are some of the attraction in the simple and unadorned interiors of Jaipur. Jaigarh has a cleverly designed system of water collection. Large tanks and reservoirs were used to hold every available drop of rainwater, with pipes and channels running to it from hills. The highest point a Jaigarh is the seven storeyed Diya Burj, the turret of lamps from where one gets a panoramic view of Jaipur and its environment.The buildings in the fort have dramatic names, like the open piralled hall called Subhat Niwas and Khilawat Niwas that were used as an audience hall.Timings - 9:00 am. to 5.00 pm. Entry fee - Rs. 15/-

Jal Mahal:Jal Mahal was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 A.D. in the midst of the Man Sagar lake as a pleasure spot. The lake was formed by construcing a dam between the two hills by Sawai Man Singh I. During the winter months one can see a large number of migratory birds at the lake. A tiny palace romantically located in the middle of a small lake, this was supposed to be a hunting lodge for the royal family. It can only be viewed from the banks of the lake.

Jain Temple:One of few examples of Jain architecture in Jaipur, located on the Agra Road, it has 19th century frescos that are exquisite.

Jantar Mantar:A stone observatory, part of the City Palace complex, Jantar Mantar is one of several other astronomical observatories created by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (others are in Delhi, Banaras & Ujjain). These concrete masonry instruments were used to measure everything from altitude to time, and map the movement of the planets and the stars. Jai Singh II had a passion for astronomy and used astronomical inventions from different cultures in the creation of these observatories, the largest of which is in Jaipur.Jaipur's Jantar Mantar is the most famous of five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh in India. Jai Singh was a great admirer of progresses and research made in the fields of science and technology, but he was passionate about astronomy. There is a very interesting story behind the construction of this observatory, considered as the largest stone observatory in the world. Sawai Jai Singh sent his emissaries to all parts of the world before commencing the construction of this observatory. The emissaries returned with many manuals on astronomy containing cutting-edge technological information. One of these manuals was a copy of La Hire's "Tables". The king ordered the observatory to be built according to the details contained in this manual. When the construction ended, for the astonishment of the king and others, the observatory was 20 seconds more accurate than the one mentioned in "Table. Only observatory out of five built by the king in running condition, Jantar Mantar is located near the gate of City Palace, Jaipur Near the city Palace is the royal observatory, built in 1728 by Maharaja Jai Singh who had a passion for astronomy. Jantar Mantar means 'instrument of calculation'. At the first glance, Jantar Mantar appears to be a collection of sculptures. Each construction has a specific purpose of measuring the positions of the stars, altitude, azimuth and eclipses. The Brihat Samrat Yantra sundial aids in the calculation of local and meridian pass time, the Yantra Raj is made of two large disks suspended from wooden beams which determine the positions of constellations. Laghu Samrat Yantra, Dhruva Darshak Yantra, Narivalaya Yantra, Unnatansha Yantra, Rashi Yantras, Dakhinovrith Bhitti Yantra, Kapali, Ram, Jai Prakash, Dignsha are the other Yantras measuring and calculating positions of various celestial bodies. Timings - 9 am. to 4.30 pm.daily Entry fee - Rs. 4/-

Lakshmi Narayan Temple:A new temple, built entirely of marble, this is a showcase of the continuing skill of the mason and the sculptor.Situated in the south of Jaipur, Laxmi Narayan Temple is one of the many such temples built by wealthy Birla family in India, thus it is also known as Birla Mandir. The temple is a great reminder of the secular traditions India has shown over the centuries. The temple has been constructed in white marble and has three domes, each portraying the different approaches to religion. The temple is situated at the foot of Moti Doongri Fort, converted as a small palace by Ram Singh II for his wife Gayatri Devi.

Moti Doongri:A small palace, this is a replica of a Scottish castle, and perches on a hilltop. Once occupied by Maharaja Madho Singh's son who was confined here, it was also for a while home to Maharani Gayatri Devi.

Nahargarh:The third of the hilltop forts that guard Jaipur, and in a state of majestic ruin, it has some lovely gardens and pavilions added after the capital had shifted to Jaipur. The members of the royal family often used it for summer excursions and picnics. Nahargarh or the Tiger fort is the first of the three forts built by the kings of Jaipur. Built mainly in 1734 by Jai Singh II, it lies 6 km north west of city Palace and provides some stunning views of Jaipur down below to the Man Sagar Lake. The imposing fort harbors many legends and three kings have added their stamp at different times to the structures within the fort. In the midst of this lake, is a palatial duck blind, which was used for shooting parties by the erstwhile royal family. A royal retreat for the Maharanis, it was also used as a personal treasury for many years.

Ram Niwas Bagh:A garden planned by Maharaja Ram Singh in the 19th century as a famine relief project, this extensive park consists of a zoo, aviary, herbarium museum and sports complex. An added attraction is Albert Hall, designed by Sir Swinton Jacob, a British architect who created palaces for may of the rulers of Rajasthan, and whose experiments with Indo-Saracenic architecture combined elements of English and north-Indian architecture. Albert Hall is a museum and houses many curiosities.

Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh:In the 18th and 19th centuries, the royals and the nobles laid out summer gardens at Ghat ki Guni, a valley at the beginning of the Jaipur-Agra road which traps the breezes and wafts it through pleasantly. Sisodia Rani ka Bagh was laid for one of the queens from the Lake City of Udaipur, to cure her of her homesickness. It consists of pavilions with water channels that run down in tiered gardens.

Statue Circle:A busy crossing, this has a life-size statue in marble of Maharaja Jai Singh II. It is a recent addition to the city's attractions.

Sargasuli:Also known as Isar Lat, this tower was erected in the mid 18th century by Maharaja Ishwari Singh to commemorate a battle victory. Ironically, Ishwari Singh was ostracised for his love of a common girl, and he is the only Kachchawaha Maharaja who has not been commemorated at Gaitore.

Vidyadhar Ji Ka Bagh:The exquisite, tiered garden laid for the private pleasure of the architect of the city, it has delicate pavilions bordered by water channels, and a larger pavilion overlooking the whole complex. Located at Ghat ki Guni, it is now let out for private picnics.

The Palaces of Jaipur:In Jaipur, you are never too far from its rich tapestry of history. Not only is the architecture a delightful medley of the ancient and the medieval, there are also stunning reminders throughout the city. The bustling bazaars of Badi Chaupar, for example, with their tiny shops, and their endless meandering lanes, recreate vignettes of life as it must have been centuries age. No wonder it's so exciting to just walk around, as traders pick up fistfuls of semiprecious stones and offer them to you for a few rupees, or as you watch a silversmith at work on a particularly ornate piece of jewellery.Not many visitors will have the opportunity to visit private homes where lifestyle encapsule the past and link it with the coming millennium with an elegance and grace that is rare outside this state. Fortunately, several of the palaces and townhouses of Jaipur have been converted into palace and heritage hotels, and these allow you a peep into the way the families of Rajputana once lived amid all this splendour.

Rambagh Palace:The sprawling residence of the governess of Maharaja Ram Singh, it became his favourite retreat and alter, a hunting lodge. Designed by British architects as a formal palace. Rambagh cam to embody princely chic when it was occupied by Maharaja Man Singh and Maharani Gayatri Devi. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style the sprawling palace embodies good taste and is one of the country's premier palace hotels.Once the garden retreat of the royal families, Rambagh Palace is now one of the leading heritage hotels of India. Run by the Indian Hotels (which owns the Taj group of Hotels), the palace has wide terraces, spacious corridors, and banquet rooms that are brushed by the fragrance of the lush gardens. Rooms give the impression of imperial legacy that the place has come to be associated as. Its Chinese room with red and gold tapestry and antique is unique. Equally interesting is the enclosed swimming pool located outside the palace, but inside the garden complex. The history of the hotel can be easily associated with the history of royalty in Rajasthan in the 19th and 20th century. The queen of Jaipur constructed it in 1835 for her favorite handmaiden. Later on as the need for a guesthouse and hunting lodge came, it was changed accordingly. In 1925, the Maharaja of Jaipur converted this place as his royal residence and many modifications were done at that time. In 1972, the palace was changed as a heritage hotel and it has seen many prominent guests including Lord Mountbatten, Prince Charles, and Omar Sharif. Ram Nivas Bagh is a flourishing green piece of Jaipur, laid out by the then Maharajah Ram Singh II in 1868, as a famine relief project to provide recreational area and greenery to the citizens. There is a splendid central museum, a small zoo, an aviary, a greenhouse, a herbarium, a museum and several sports grounds inside the Ram Nivas garden Ram Niwas Bagh also houses one of the oldest zoos in the country harbouring different species of birds and wild animals. Another corner of the garden is dotted with food stalls where one can savour the Indian fast foods. The beautiful Indo-Saracenic structure designed by Sir Swinton Jacob formerly called as Albert hall was opened in 1887 as a public museum inside this beautiful garden . It contains a fine collection of sculptures, paintings, decorative objects, natural history specimens, an Egyptian mummy and the celebrated Persian garden carpet. The majestic Albert hall Museum occupies pride of palace situated as it is in the middle of the garden. Ram Niwas Gardens are open all days except Friday, from 10AM to 4.30 PM. There is an entry fee for entrance.

Rajmahal Palace:A small palace, when compared with Rambagh, Rajmahal was established in 1729 for one of the Sisodia princesses so she could distance herself from the intrigues of the Kachchawaha zenana. It later became the Residency occupied by various British Residents. In that status, it also played host to visiting dignitaries from around the world whether Queen Elizabeth II or Jacqueling Kennedy as private guests of the Jaipur royals. It too is now run as a palace hotel.

Jai Mahal Palace:First developed in the mid 18th century and used as a residence for various British officials, Jai Mahal is Jaipur's first palace hotel, though it was considerably smaller before rooms were added to it in the 1980s. The new construction is in amazing harmony with the old structure and the garden that fronts it is a faithful recreation of Babur's first Mughal garden in Dholpur.

Samode:The Nathawat family of Samode served as prime ministers in Jaipur's court and their four-century-old fortified residence some 40 km from Jaipur is able to exhibit the good taste learned at the royal palaces in a more restrained space. The Durbar Hall at Samode Palace is one of the most beautifully painted chambers in Rajasthan. Close by is Samode Bagh, the garden pavilion with charming water channels and ancient trees. In Jaipur itself, the family built itself a townhouse, Samode Haveli, which typifies the style of architecture then in prevalence, including accessible public spaces and restricted private spaces, especially for the women of the family. The paintings at the Haveli are every bit as excellent as at the Palace, if a little less profuse. All three properties are hotels.

Bissau Palace:The Thakurs of Bissau were a bristling, prickly lot, and were often at daggers drawn with others feudal chiefs. While their fort in the shekhawati region was sold a few decades ago, the townhouse in Jaipur, called Bissau Palace, now functions as a hotel. Set in a garden, the rambling building has a quaint colonial air about it, somewhat ruined by the souvenir shops. The building inside recreates turn-of-the-century architecture combining English formality with the Rajput need for open courtyards and separate wing

Narain Niwas:A garden house set in a mango orchard and built by Thakur Narain Singh of Kanota into a personal residence, Narain Niwas is not particularly impressive as far as its architecture goes, though it has a restful ambiance characterised most obviously by the deep verandah where guests now lounge. Its fortified family home, at Kanota, a 40-minute drive from Jaipur has more definitive architecture and visitors can call ahead if they wish to visit or even stay there.

Albert Hall:It is situated in the beautiful Ram Niwas Garden. This beautifully designed Saracenic structure was designed by Sir Swinton Jacob. It was opened in 1887 as a public museum. It contains a rare collection of decorative art objects, paintings, sculptures, natural history specimens, an Egyptian Mummy and the well-known Persian Golden Carpet.Timings: 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Foreign Nationals: Entry fee is Rs. 30 , Indian Nationals: Entry fee Rs. 5, free on Monday and closed on Friday. Cameras and Video Cameras are not allowed.

Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh - Jaipur:The terraced Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh (the Garden of Sisodia Queen) is situated on the Jaipur-Agra road at a distance of 10 km from Jaipur. The garden is one of the many summer retreats built in 17th and 18th century by the royals of Jaipur. The garden was created by the queen of Jai Singh II, Sisodia Rani, as an escape from the court intrigues. It is a beautiful escape with landscaped gardens and murals of the life of Lord Krishna, decorating its interiors. Not far from here on the way to Galta are natural springs and temples of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, and Lord Hanuman.

Jagat Shiromani temple:The jagat Shiromani Mandir is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna built in the Hindu pattern following the Rajput style of architecture. There are idols of Lord Krishna as well as beautiful sculptures of Radha. The temple is popularly associated with the celebrated saint-poetess Mira Bai. There is an elegant marble gateway guarded by intricately carved stone elephants.

Birla Temple:It is large modern marble edifice near Moti Dungri fort. The wealthy industrialist Birla, who was born in Pilani, Rajasthan bought the land on which temple now stands from maharaja for the token of Rs. 1/-. Many deities of the Hindu pantheon are depicted inside the temple. On the outside walls great historical personages & religious figures are depicted including Scrotes, Zarathustra, Christ, Buddha & Confucians. The temple is on Jawaharlal Nehru marg.

Birla Auditorium:The state-of-the-art auditorium is a premier institution for promotion of science, technology and culture. It is one of the largest auditoriums in India