City Palace
In the heart of the old city, is the former royal residence built in a blend of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles, with carved arches that are supported by beautiful grey-white ornate marble columns with rich floral motifs in gold and colored stones. Two marble carved elephants look regal at the entrance. Your guides here will take you around with especial feeling, as they are retainers whose families have served generations of rulers, and still feel a deep sense of loyalty to the present royal family of Jaipur..
The palace houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes and armory of the Mughals and Rajputs, including swords of different shapes and sizes with chased handles, some of them inlaid with enamel and embellished with jewels and encased in magnificent scabbards.
The Rajputs were known for their artistry in painting, and the palace has an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin and Sanskrit, acquired by Sawai Jai Singh II .
Jantar Mantar
This is a stone observatory, which is the largest of Jai Singh’s five remarkable observatories. Its complex instruments with scientifically designed shapes and settings, represent the high points of medieval Indian astronomy. The most striking of these are the ‘ Ram Yantras’ used for gauging altitudes.
Hawa Mahal
Built in 1799 A.D. the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds is a major landmark in the old city, and its intriguing architecture makes a striking photo point for any tourist. History mentions the days of ‘purdah’, when royal ladies had their own living quarters, and were not supposed to mingle with males in public. The Hava Mahal is a five storey building along the main street of the old city, with semioctagonal and delicately honey combed sandstone windows, that give it an unusual design. It was conceived with the idea of enabling ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and royal processions of the city, behind the exclusivity of their own domain.
Amer Palace and the Shila Mata Temple
This beautiful complex of palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens and temples has a lot to offer by way of sightseeing. It was built over a period of two centuries, by three Rajput kings, Raja Man Singh,Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh and the complex is still very well preserved. and emerges dramatically from the placid waters of the Maotha Lake. It is approachable only through a steep path, and you can enjoy an elephant ride to go up to the main area, known as Jaleb Chowk. Two flights of stairs rise from on end of the chowk, one leading to the Shila Mata Temple and other to the palace complex. The image of the patron goddess of this temple is worshipped by thousands of devotees, and was brought from Jessore in East Bengal (now in Bangladesh) by Raja Man Singh, to be installed here.
A spectacular pillared hall , the ‘Diwan-e-Aam’ and a double storeyed painted gateway., ‘Ganesh Pole’ are located in the courtyard. The precincts have a Mughal style small garden, with two more buildings, the ‘Sukh Niwas’on the right, and ‘ Jas Mandir’ to the left of the central corridor. Here you will find a beautiful combination of Mughal and Rajput architecture with magnificent interiors, with intricately carved Jali screens, delicate mirror and stucco work .The well proportioned ‘Mohan Bari’ or ‘Kesar Kyari’ in the centre of the Maotha Lake and the Dilaram Bagh at its north end provides a spectacular view of the palaces above.
Jaigarh Fort
This is a must-see spot, as it is one of the few military structures of medieval India. It has retained its ancient splendor in palaces, gardens , reservoirs, a granary, an armoury, a well planned cannon foundary, several temples, a tall tower and has a giant mounted cannon-the Jai Ban, which is one of the largest in the country. The extensive walls, watch tower and gateways of Jaigarh dominate the western skyline.
Nahargarh
Although it is much in ruins, this fort stands sentinel to the Pink City , looking splendid in far off isolation, beyond the hills of Jaigarh.
Swargasuli (Isar Lat)
This is the highest tower dominating the skyline of the western side of the Tripolia Bazaar. It was built by Sawai Ishwari Singh in 1749 A.D. to commemorate a grand victory. |
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