Entry

Pink City Of Rajasthan.

Apr 4th, 2008 03:00
kumar gaurav, http://www.rajasthantravelguide.co.in/

Jaipur - The Pinkcity of Rajasthan the capital city of the northern
Indian state of Rajasthan is one of the most vibrant and colorful cities
of India. Famous for its colorful culture, forts, palaces, and lakes the
city basks in the glory of a rich and eventful past.
The picturesque capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a well planned city with
buildings of pink sand stone. It was founded in 1727 A.D. by the
astronomer King Sawai Jai Singh - II and built according to
shilpashastra. The ancient Hindu treatise on architecture and sculpture.
It is a walled city with seven gates. paved roads and the city itself
divided into seven rectangular blocks. Amer, the old capital is a fairy
tale journey into the past. Jaipur - with its historical past, revives
legend of the ancient Rajputs. the dresses of the women and the turbans
of the men add colour to this fantasy city.
There is a timeless appeal to Jaipur’s colorful bazaars where one can
shop for Rajasthani handlooms and trinkets. Beautifully laid out gardens
and parks, attractive monuments and marvelous heritage hotels, once the
residence of Maharaja’s are worth admiration. Not to mention the ambling
camels and cheerful people in multi-hued costumes that make your trip to
the pink city a memorable one.
PRIME SITES
The City Palace : 
In the heart of the old city is former royal residence built in a blend
of the Rajasthani and Mughal styles. The carved arches are supported by
grey-white marble columns ornate with floral motifs in gold and colored
stones. Two carved elephants in marble guard the entrance. The retainers
whose families have served generations of rulers serve as guides. The
palace houses a museum with a superb collection of Rajasthani costumes
and armory of 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 palace
also 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 to
study astronomy in detail.
Jantar Mantar : 
A stone observatory. Largest of Jai Singh’s five remarkable
observatories. Its complex instruments,whose setting and shapes are
scientifically designed, 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 Rajput
landmark. This five storey building along the main street of the old
city is in pink splendor with semioctagonal and delicately honey combed
sandstone windows. The monument was originally conceived with the aim of
enabling ladies of the royal household to watch the everyday life and
royal processions of the city.
Govind Devji Temple : 
The most popular spireless temple of Jaipur dedicated to Lord Krishna.
It 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
here by Sawai Jai Singh II as his family deity.
Ram Niwas Bagh : 
A lush spacious garden with a zoo, an aviary, a greenhouse, a herbarlum
, a museum and popular sport ground. It was built by Sawai Ram Singh II
in the 1868 A.D. as a famine relief project. The Albert Hall-fine
example of Indo Sarcenic style of architecture designed by Sir Swinton
Jacob, was opened later with an exquisite collection of sculptures,
paintings, decorative wares, natural history specimen, and Egyptian
mummy and the celebrated Persian carpet. Recently, the Rabindra Manch
with an auditorium, a modern art gallery and an open air theatre, has
been added to promote cultural events.
Dolls Museum : 
Pretty dolls from various countries are on display in the compound of
the school for deaf and dumb children, near the Police Memorial.
BM Birla Planetarium : 
The Planetarium offers unique audio-visual education and entertainment
with its modern computerized projection system. For school groups
concessions are available. Closed on last Wednesday of every month.
Moti Doongari :
Moti Doongari is a privately owned hilltop fort built like a scottish
castle. The Ganesh Temple at the foot of the hill
Statue Circle : 
The full-length exquisitely carve statue of Swai Jai Singh in white
marble in the centre of the circle was erected under the newly planned
scheme area to pay homage to the founder of Jaipur. OTHERS: Beautiful
memorials to the queens,Maharani-ki-chattri are near the Ramgarh road
crossing on the Amber Raod. The Island Palace,Jal Mahal built by Sawai
Jai SinghI, is a fascinating spot at the centre of the Man Sagar Lake.
The Kanak Vrindavan : 
Complex of fine temples and gardens has been recently renovated to their
pristine perfection. To the west of this road is the royal crematorium
at Gaitore in a narrow valley with some spectacular cenotaphs of all the
Jaipur rulers except Swai Ishwari Singh who was cremated outside the Jai
Niwas Garden. Most imposing is the ‘chattri’ of Sawai Jai Singh II with
the intricate carvings and a graceful shape.
Ghat ki Guni : 
Beautifully landscaped gardens, laid out in the 18th and 19th century by
king and courtiers dot the narrow gorge in the south eastern corner of
the walled city, along the road to Agra. Sisodia Rani Garden has tiered
multilevel gardens with fountains, water channel and painted pavilions
and suites of living rooms. Amongst others, Vidhyadhar-ka-Bagh is the
best preserved one, with shady trees, flowing water, an open pavilion.
It was built by the planner of the city,Vidhyadhar.
Amer Palace and Shila Mata Temple : 
A beautiful complex of palaces, halls,pavilions,gardens and temples
built by Raja Man Singh,Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh over a
period of about two centuries still stand in magnificent state. The
palace complex emerges dramatically from the placid waters of the Maotha
Lake and is approachable only through a steep path. Tourists often ride
on the elephant bak to the Singh pol and th 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 of
goddess,worshipped by thousands of deovtees, was brought from Jessore in
East Bengal (now in Bangladesh) by Raja Man Singh, to be installed here.
A spectacular pillared hall -Diwan-e-Aam and a double storeyed painted
gateway. Ganesh Pole dominate the from courtyard, An elegant tiny garden
in Charbagh style beyond th corridors, has Sukh Niws to its right and
Jas Mandir to its justify. The latter combines the Mughal and Rajput
architecture seen in its beautiful interior with intricately carved Jali
screens,delicate mirror and stucco work and painted and carved dadoes.
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.
Old City : 
Once a settlement of nobles,craftsmen and common folks, the city of Amer
is now in ruins. The remanants of its rich past are the beautifully
carved and planned Jagat Shiromani Temple, a Krishna temple associated
with Meerabai, an ancient temple of Narsinghji and a magnificent
step-well,Panna Mian-ka-kund.
Jaigarh : 
One of the few military structures of medieval India, retaining its
ancient splendour in palaces,gardens , reservoirs, a granary, an
armoury, a well planned cannon foundary, several temples, a tall tower
and a giant mounted cannon-the Jai Ban,one of the largest in the country
are preserved here. The extensive parkotas (wallls), watch tower and
gateways of Jaigarh dominate the western skyline.
Nahargarh : 
A sentinerl to the Pink City is Nahargarh Fort, situtated beyond the
hills of Jaigarh. Although much of it is in ruins, the lvoerly building
added by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II provides interest
to the fort.
EXCURSIONS
Sanganer : Located on the Tonk road,. In addition to its ruined palaces,
Sanganer has exquisitely carved Jain temples. The town is entered
through the ruins of two tripolias (Triple gateways) The town is an
important centre for crafts industry and produces some of the finest
hand printed textiles from units of block and screen printers. This
textile is popular all over the country and abroad.
Bagru : On the Ajmer Raod, the ground level fort is still in good shape.
It is noted for its hand printed handloom industry using simple
techniques. The designs of these handloom are less complicated and are
in earth hues.
Ramgarh Lake : A huge artificial lake created by constructing a high
bund amidst tree covered hills. White the temple of Jamwa Mata and the
ruins of the old fort are some of its antiquities, its beautiful
landscape,especially during monsoons,makes it an idyllic picnic spot.
Samod : The beautiful Samode Palace, has been rebuilt and renovated and
provides a fine example of the Rajput haveli architecture and is an
ideal spot for outings.
Bairath : An important historical place with the excavated remains of a
circular Buddhist temple-unique in Rajasthan and the earliest known
temple in India. Bairath also has relics of the Mauryan,Mughal and
Rajput periods. A mint constructed by Akbar, a beautiful Mughal garden
and a remarkable monument with painted chhatris and walls built by
Jahangir are other attractions.
Jaisinghpura Khor : One of the settlement of the Meena tribe, it has a
formidable fort, a jain temple and a step-well amid lush surroundings.
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