Jaipur

Historic sites

Rajasthan

21°C / Haze

History
Places to visit
How to reach

A city encapsulated in heritage & palaces. Yes, Jaipur is an iconic example of elegance and valor. This royal city has always been a hub of interchange of ideas on architecture and town development since medieval times. Situated at the edge of Thar, this beautiful city is bordered by the Aravalli hills. Entering the city makes you realize how everything in this city of Rajput Royals is quite like a story of an epic novel.

Historic facades, tales of the battles, and the legendary forts and palaces contribute to making Rajasthan one of the most colorful and eclectic states to explore. The peace and quiet of the city, and the friendly vibes from the rustic village blokes, the phenomenal architecture has an amazing effect on the weary traveler. There are gardens filled with lush greens, streets filled with delicious food, and the bylanes offer a perfect place for shopping for handicrafts & jewelry.

History, religion, tourism, culture to traditions, the Pink City of India has so much to offer, all you need is an open heart. From exploring the history of the city to taste the ethnic cuisine, it is an epic joyride.

Best Time to Visit Jaipur

From October through February - the winter months are the best time to visit the city. During this time, the overall temperature is quite pleasant and is ideal for sightseeing.

History of Jaipur

Founded in 1727 by Jai Singh II, it is also the largest city of Rajasthan. What’s more interesting is that the city also derives its name from him. It was also one of the first cities to have a proper township design and a full-fledged development map. The responsibility to fabricate the design was completed by a man named Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. Furthermore, it took about 4 years to complete the palaces, major roads, and square blocks of the city. It is even said that the city was also built strictly following the principles of Vastu-Shastra.

Then sometime in 1876, when the Prince of Wales had made his visit to Jaipur, the whole city was painted pink for welcoming him and it was after that event that the name of the city came to be known as the Pink City. Known for its immense legacy the walled city of Jaipur was declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India in July 2019.

Major Attractions in and Around Jaipur

1. Hawa Mahal

The signature building of Jaipur, the Hawa Mahal stands at the intersection of the main road in Jaipur. Built in 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh, the facade is a beautiful collage of red and pink sandstones. Designed by architect Lal Chand Ustad, it boasts 953 small windows or Jharokhas. These Jharokhas were traditionally built for royal women for enjoying the bustling city life from quaint windows. Hawa Mahal is one of the must-visit historical places in Jaipur.

2. City Palace

Until 1949, City Palace was the ceremonial seat of Maharaja of Jaipur. The yellow and white complex was once the royal seat of Maharaja Jai Singh II. With its historical ambiance and a collection of courtyards, pavilions, gardens, and temples on its premises its grandness is quite arresting. Some of the most prominent structures to explore here are Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, City Palace Museum.

3. Amer Fort

One of the most amazing historical getaways to travel to, the Amber or Amer Fort is 11km away from Jaipur. The fort was built with a great artistic mindset. The large ramparts of the fort like Diwan-e-aam - hall for public gatherings and the elegant Sukh Niwas boasts of an artificial cooling effect-Typically created by the winds blowing over a water cascade.

4. Albert Hall Museum

One of the oldest museums in Jaipur, there are a great variety of antiques and other collectibles like carpets, paintings, stones, and metal sculptures, etc. Located in Ram Niwas Garden this place is also known as the government central museum. It was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. Named after King Albert Edward VII here you will also be finding coins consisting of the Gupta, Mughal, and Kushan periods.

5. Jantar Mantar

You can consider traveling to Jantar Mantar which is more or less a collection of architectural astronomical instruments. It was built by Rajput King Sawai Jai Singh II. This place is known for Ptolemaic positional astronomy, a science that was shared by many civilizations back in the day.

6. World Trade Park

Visit and explore World Trade Park in Jaipur-a 350 crore project, it took about 2 years to reach its final phase of completion. Inaugurated by Shahrukh Khan the main highlight of this building is the display system in which 24 projectors amazingly create a single image on its very ceiling. It has been also accoladed with awards like “Mall Of The Year” and “Best Architect By BCI India.”

How to Reach Jaipur

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as a 'pink city' as the buildings reflect the beautiful pink and peach color which is a uniqueness in itself. This royal city houses several royal palaces, gardens, and forts which have exceptionally stunning architecture and jaw-dropping views of the city to amaze you. It is 278 km from Delhi, 1181 km from Mumbai, and 190 km from Bangalore.

By Air

If you prefer to fly to Jaipur then Jaipur International Sanganer Airport (JAI) is located at a distance of almost 10 km from the city, this airport entertains local flights from all the main cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc. whereas international tourists can avail of the connecting flights from respective airports.

Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Jaipur

By Train

If your wish is to travel by train, Jaipur has a railway junction that connects it with various near and far cities. The tickets are available online and offline, where bookings can be done according to your preferences as the trains run almost all day at different timings.

By Road

If the journey needs to be adventurous by taking a road trip to Jaipur, you can find a good network of roads connecting it with major Indian cities. NH 8, NH 11, and NH 12 are some of those national highways that connect the town of Jaipur with other cities. From New Delhi, via road Jaipur is just 235 km away whereas from the city of the Taj Mahal, Agra you need to cover only 220 km. The amazing views of the highways by crossing through other cities of Rajasthan will make your road trip even more exciting.