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Archive for the ‘Jaipur’ Category

Conceived and built by the great and mighty king, Sawai Raja Jai Singh, the name of the city ‘Jaipur’ has dual emphasis. ‘Jai’ means victory and and is also the first name of its maker. Today, the city is a major tourist attraction in India because of its magnificent forts, grandiose palaces, vivacious temples, multihued bazaars, pulsating streets and its renowned pink color to which the city owes its oft-used name ‘The Pink City’. This famous pink color symbolizes ‘welcome’ and was adopted during the times of the ruler Ram Singh II when he received the Prince of Wales in 1876. The color was chosen after several experiments to cut down the intense glare from the reflection of the blazing rays of the sun. Today, every home within the old city is obliged by law to maintain this uniqueness of the city. Throughout the old city you can see the traditional, marvelous, pink-colored houses with latticed windows lending charm to a scene which is almost miraculous at sunset.

CLIMATE
Jaipur has hot and humid summers and chilly winters. The maximum temperature in summer (from April to July) is around 45ºC. In winters (from October to March), days are sunny and pleasant days but during nights, temperature can be as low as around 5ºC. Foggy evenings are also part of the winters here.

HOW TO REACH

By Air: Jaipur has daily flights to and from Delhi and Mumbai. It is also well connected with Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ahmedabad, Aurangabad and Calcutta. The airport is not more than 20 km from the city centre.

By Train: You can find a train to Jaipur from all the major cities of India. From Delhi, you can catch Shatabdi Express, Intercity Express, The Pink City Express and Chetak Express. Super Fast Express links Jaipur with Mumbai. The specialty trains like ‘Palace On Wheels’ (operational all the year round and has a 8-day trip) and ‘The Royal Orient’ (operational only from September to April) are, of course, the best options from Delhi.

By Road: Jaipur being the capital of Rajasthan, one can find frequent deluxe buses that include luxurious air-conditioned buses too, from Delhi, Agra, and all cities of Rajasthan to Jaipur. Sindhi Camp, the central bus terminal is situated in the heart of the city.

WHERE TO EAT
Jaipur has a range of multi-cuisine restaurants in its deluxe hotels that offer an assorted mixture of Indian, Asian and European cuisines and varied, yet, elegant environments. The Mirza Ismail Road (M. I. Road) has a number of eateries that serve good food in clean surroundings. If you are feel-the-real-thing types, you may try the Station Road with its many ‘dhabas’ or small roadside restaurants.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Elephant Festival is held in March or April every year on the auspicious occasion of Holi, the festival of colors. As the name suggests, dozens of elephants parade at the Chaugan stadium. The best-attired elephant is given a prize. Elephant Polo and cultural songs & dances are featured events in this festival.

Gangaur Festival takes place in March/April near Holi. It is celebrated in the honor of Goddess Gauri and is celebrated mainly by the women and girls. It is associated with marital happiness and conjugal bliss. The womenfolk enthusiastically perform several rituals associated with the event and a colorful procession of the Goddess is carried out in the city, which is a big tourist attraction.

Teej Festival is celebrated in July/August to welcome the monsoon season, which is so much awaited in the desert capital. A huge procession is carried out in the main streets in the honor of Goddess Teej, which includes elephants, camels, horses, chariots, palanquins, band players, acrobats and folk artists. Temporary jhoolas (swings) are erected for youngsters to enjoy. Effervescence, jubilation and myriad hues, which are characteristic of the state of Rajasthan, can all be seen here.

Jaipur Festival is a fairly recent event that takes place in the month of November where myriad of programs, competitions and felicitations are organized meant to revive old customs and traditions of princely Jaipur. It closes on, November the 18th, which is deemed as ‘the birthday’ of Jaipur.

Kite Festival is a three-day festival held on the eve of Makar Sankranti that falls on 14th January every year when the skies are of multi-colored skies vying with each other all-day long. The featured events are Fighter Kite Competition and Display Flying, where the participants compete with each other for the coveted prizes. On the final day, the Maharaja of Jodhpur gives a farewell dinner and distributes prizes at Umaid Bhawan Palace, the royal residence.

Rajasthan’s beautiful Pink City Jaipur, was the stronghold of a clan of rulers whose three hill forts and series of palaces in the city are important attractions. Known as the Pink City because of the colour of the stone used exclusively in the walled city, Jaipur’s bazaars sell embroidered leather shoes,
blue pottery, tie and dye scarves and other exotic wares. Western Rajasthan itself forms a convenient circuit, in the heart of the Thar desert which has shaped its history, lifestyles and architecture.

Founded in AD 1727 by Sawai Jaisingh II, Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as the Pink City with broad avenues and spacious gardens. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is steeped in history and culture. Here the past
comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces, blushed pink, where once lived the maharajas. The bustling bazaars of Jaipur, famous for Rajasthani jewellery, fabric and shoes, possess a timeless quality and are surely a treasure-trove for the shoppers. This fascinating city with its romantic charm takes you to an epoch of royalty and tradition.

Jaipur has been laid according to the conventional nine-grid pattern that astrologers believe to be lucky, and which has been recommended in the ancient Indian treatise on architecture. Each grid consists of a square, and these have been planned so that, at the heart of the city is the City Palace. Spread around it, in rows, are public buildings, the residences of noblemen, the living and trading quarters of merchants and artisans. Straight, wide roads run through the city, while a high, crenellated wall that forms its defense is pierced with seven gateways that serve as entry points. Today, these walls may be more difficult to spot since the city has grown far beyond its original plan, but they are still there, proof that though Jaipur saw no great siege, it was more than adequately prepared for it.

Amer Fort

It Is at a 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 Niws 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 Palace is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art and architecture. In the heart of the old city, the City Palace occupies a large area.

It is divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings. Jai Singh built the outer wall but other additions were made much later, some right up to the start of this century. The former Maharaja still lives in part of the palace. The City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area of the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal is a multi layered palace, which was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It is famous for it’s beehive like structure, the Mahal is an interplay of red and pink sand stone, carefully and painstakingly outlined with white borders and motifs. The palaces and forts of yesteryears, which were witness to the royal processions and splendours are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyle of the people of the “Pink City”.

It is Categorised under the Golden Triangle, and being visited by millions of domestic and foreign tourists, the city of Jaipur is a place of high tourist interest. The Pink City, as commonly known, has all sorts of amenities for domestic and foreign tourists.

The only 5 Star ethnic village resort in India

Chokhi Dhani

In the magical land of Rajasthan where the heat shimmers like phantom water, stands Chokhi Dhani, an ethnic village resort with a blend of rustic environment and modern amenities making it an important destination in Pink City.

Location :Located at Jaipur Tank Highway

Ramgarh Lodge

Ramgarh Lodge is located 35 km from Jaipur and set amidst lush gardens, this bucolic lodge overlooks the serenely beautiful Ramgarh Lake. As the former hunting lodge of the Maharaja of Jaipur, this lodge exudes a rustic, earthy charm and an air of history.

Accommodation :

Standard Rooms

Well equipped with guest amenities including cable television, direct dialing facility, and individually controlled air conditioning units. Rooms also overlook beautifully landscaped gardens and mountains.

Superior Rooms

Spacious accommodations with amenities, including all of the above plus a dressing area and a choice of views of landscaped gardens, serene lake waters or shrub-covered mountains.

Deluxe Rooms

Includes all of the above guest amenities plus three spacious rooms with an attached balcony; perfect for those seeking the ultimate in luxury as personal guests of the Maharaja of Jaipur would stay in these rooms.