Jaipur is the lovingly so-called Pink City. It is the color associated with hospitality in Rajput culture. This beautiful city along with Agra and Delhi forms what is more popularly known as the “Golden Triangle” of the Indian tourist circuit. Built in 1727 AD by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur displays remarkable harmony and architectural splendor. The essence of the Pink City continues to exist in its fairytale palaces, rugged fortresses perched atop barren hills, and broad avenues that run through the entire city. The only planned city from its time, Jaipur is encircled by a formidable wall. Generally, this is the city where any tourist begins his journey into the state.

For the first time visitor, Jaipur is certainly a feast for the eyes—the streets are jam packed with cars, rickshaws, bicycles, motorcycles, and vegetable carts. You will notice that even the symbols of modern architecture such as Raj Mandir Cinema, Birla Temple, Rajvilas hotel, and the Birla Auditorium possess Jaipur’s age-old touch of regality and class.

There is a timeless appeal to Jaipur’s colorful bazaars where one can shop for Rajasthani handlooms, exclusive footwear, and other trinkets. The city is also home to beautiful gardens and parks, attractive monuments, and marvelous heritage hotels that were once the residence of Maharajas. There is an unmistakable charm to the place with its ambling camels, cheerful faces, and multi-colored costumes that make your trip to the pink city particularly enchanting.

The City Palace

Located in the heart of the old city is the former royal residence built with an architectural blend of Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The carved arches are supported by grey-white marble columns ornate with floral motifs in gold and colored stones. Two splendid carved marble elephants guard the entrance. The retainers whose families have served the past rulers serve as guides to the palace.

Inside the palace museum you will find excellent collections of Rajasthani costumes and armory of Mughals and Rajputs. It also has an art gallery with a collection of miniature paintings, carpets, royal paraphernalia, and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, Latin, and Sanskrit, acquired by Sawai Jai Singh II in his pursuit to study astronomy in detail.

Jantar Mantar

This is a stone observatory and one of the largest of Jai Singh’s five remarkable observatories. It has complex instruments whose setting and shapes are scientifically designed and represent the high points of medieval Indian astronomy. The most striking of these are the “Ram Yantras” used for gauging altitudes.

Govind Devji Temple

One of the most popular temples of Jaipur, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is located in the central pavilion of the Jai Niwas Garden to the north of Chandra Mahal. The image of the patron deity, Govind Devji, originally installed in a temple of Vrindavan, was reinstalled at this location by Sawai Jai Singh II as his family deity.

Hawa Mahal

Built in 1799 AD, the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds is a major Rajput landmark. This five storey building along the main street of the old city is a pink colored splendor with semi-octagonal, delicately honey combed sandstone windows. This magnificent monument was originally constructed with the aim of enabling the ladies of the royal household to enjoy the everyday life and royal processions on the streets of the city.

This is the highest tower dominating the western skyline of the Tripolia Bazaar in Jaipur. It was built by Sawai Ishwari Singh in 1749 A.D to commemorate a grand victory.

Sisodia Rani Garden

Built for the Sisodia princess, Maharaja Jai Singh’s second wife, these terraced gardens have fountains, water channels, and painted pavilions and suites.

BM Birla Planetarium

This modern planetarium is spread over almost ten acres and includes a science museum, a library, an information processing center, several research divisions, an auditorium, etc. It also offers audio-visual education and entertainment facilities with its computerized projection system.

Galtaji

An ancient pilgrimage center located amidst low lying hills. It is surrounded with temples, pavilions, and holy kunds (natural springs and reservoirs) along with lush green landscape. It is a delightful place that also includes a small temple dedicated to the Sun god, built by Diwan Kriparam, on the top of the highest peak, which can also be spotted from anywhere in the city.

Old City

Also once known as Amer, that was once a settlement of nobles, craftsmen, and the common folks. Almost in ruins now, it is reminiscent of a rich past with the beautifully carved and planned Jagat Shiromani Temple, another Krishna temple associated with Meerabai, an ancient temple of Narsinghji, and a magnificent step-well known as Panna Mian ka Kund.

Jaigarh

One of the few military structures of medieval India that has retained its ancient splendor with palaces, gardens, reservoirs, a granary, an armory, a well planned cannon foundry, temples, a tall tower, and a giant mounted cannon—the Jai Ban. The wide parkotas (walls), watch tower, and the gateways of Jaigarh dominate the western skyline.

Amer

This is the former capital of the Kachhwaha rulers of the old state of Dhundhar. It retained this stature for seven centuries before Jaipur came into existence. Barely anything has survived of the early structures.

Amer Palace and Shila Mata Temple

The destination for grand palaces, halls, pavilions, gardens, and temples built under the reigns of Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh, and Sawai Jai Singh over a period of two centuries. This magnificent palace complex emerges dramatically from the placid waters of the Maotha Lake and can only be approached by way of a steep path. Tourists often make use of an elephant ride to reach the Singh Pol and the Jalebi Chowk. Next, a couple of flights of stairs rise from one end of the chowk—one leads to the Shila Mata Temple and the other to the palace complex.

In the complex you will find a beautiful pillared hall -Diwan-e-Aam, a tiny garden in Charbagh style, Sukh Niwas, Jas Mandir, all reflecting a combination of the Mughal and Rajput style of architecture with intricately carved screens, delicate mirror and stucco work, and painted and carved dadoes.

Ram Niwas Bagh

A lush and spacious garden consisting of a zoo, an aviary, a greenhouse, a herbarium, a museum, and a popular sports ground. Built by Sawai Ram Singh II in the 1868 AD as a famine relief project, it later went on to include the Albert Hall, which is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture and was designed by Sir Swinton Jacob. Albert Hall houses an exquisite collection of sculptures, Persian carpets, paintings, decorative wares, natural history specimen, and an Egyptian mummy.

Jain Temple

Located on Agra road, this exquisite Jain temple has some of the most beautiful 19th century paintings in Jaipur style adorning its walls.

Moti Doongri and Laxmi Narayan Temple

Moti Doongri is a privately owned, Scottish style castle situated on a hilltop. The Ganesh Temple at the foot of the hill and the marvelous Laxmi Narayan Temple made from white marble are also worth a visit.

Statue Circle

A life size, exquisitely carved white marble statue of Sawai Jai Singh takes the pride of in the center of a traffic roundabout. It has been strategically placed at a location whereby all passersby can view pay homage to the founder of Jaipur.

The Kanak Vrindavan Complex

A fine complex including beautiful temples and gardens. Located on Jaipur-Delhi highway, it has been recently renovated to its former glory. Also nearby, to the west of this road, lies the royal crematorium at Gaitore with some spectacular cenotaphs of the rulers of Jaipur.

Laid out during the 18^th and 19^th century and located along Agra road are these beautifully landscaped gardens that dot the narrow gorge in the south-eastern corner of the walled city.