Jaipur

Resembling Krishna’s crown, Hawa Mahal is an elaborate monument in Jaipur. Standing right in the middle of the old market of Jaipur, the structure made of red and pink sandstone keeps the name of the Pink City very proudly.Lal Chand Ustad has put a lot of effort in designing the back of the palace to blend in the city, which is now also confused as the front by people. Also known as ‘The Palace of Winds’, the Hawa Mahal is a part of the City Palace. There is no entrance from the main road to the mahal, so you have to seek for the gate which let you enter. Inside are five floors designed very carefully.There are 953 ‘jharokhas’ made to allow the winds to pass into the palace and keep it fresh and breezy in sweltering summers.Being surrounded by the traditional market of Jaipur, you will find all the authentic pieces of souvenirs related to the culture and the history of Jaipur. Hence, you can club shopping while visiting the palace. Make sure to spend your entire evening shopping traditional souvenirs and then wait for dusk to draw upon only to see the colourfully lit Hawa Mahal standing amidst the bustling market.History of Hawa Mahal Jaipur - Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh who was the grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The story of the birth of the palace started when Pratap visited Jhunjhunu and saw Khetri Mahal.Maharaj was impressed by the unique design of the Khetri Mahal, and that was when he decided to create a better version of it. Lal Chand Ustad designed this palace and ended up making one of the best monuments history has ever created.The primary purpose for creating this palace was to give royal women a separate place. From Hawa Mahal, they could enjoy the everyday lives and celebrations of the festival through the windows without being seen as they weren’t allowed to go out in public without a veil. The Hawa Mahal was a part of the main City Palace, and the royal family used to come here to escape the scorching heat as this palace was always cold and breezy due to the windows it has.From then on, it has been preserved to keep the glory and grace alive for the generations to come.Architecture of Hawa Mahal Jaipur - Hawa Mahal is an excellent example of Hindu Rajput architecture finely blended with Islamic Mughal architecture giving it the face it is famous for. It is made with red and pink sandstone along with white marble inside the palace. The look of the palace observed from the street looks extremely beautiful, and people mistake it with the entrance of the palace. Actually, it is the backside of the palace as it is an extended part of the main City Palace. It has five floors adorned with 953 jharokhas and latticework.The technology of Venturi effect is utilised well to make the air coming inside the palace cool. This effect always helped the Hawa Mahal stay serene and pleasant, so royal women never had a problem staying here in hot temperatures.At several times, the entire royal family used to get together here and escape the summers together.This honeycomb-like monument is a proud heritage left by the bygone era, which is an integral part of the history as well as architecture.

Standing tall overlooking the city of Jaipur, Nahargarh Fort is a monumental edifice built by Sawai Madho Singh in the eighteenth century. The fort is situated on Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) and Nahargarh means “abode of tigers”. Nahargarh fort along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort once formed a strong defense around the city of Jaipur. However, Nahargarh fort was also used as a summer retreat by the Jaipur kings considering that there are several palaces, temples and landscaped gardens within its complex. There is an extended wall at Nahargarh Fort which connects it to Jaigarh Fort.The Madhavendra Palace is the hotspot attraction at the fort which has an opulent suite for the king and nine suites for his concubines. The Madhavendra palace looks spellbindingly magnificent and the walls of the suites are intricately designed with delicate fresco paintings.Within the fort lies the famous Nahargarh Biological Park and a zoo that gives tourists a sneak peek into the wilderness of the regions like Asiatic lions and Bengal tigers. Another huge attraction is the Sculpture Park that has astounding pieces of sculpture on display at the Madhavendra Palace. The fort complex even has two restaurants that offer breathtaking views of the city below and serves zesty Indian cuisine.History of Nahargarh Fort Nahargarh Fort was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in the year 1734. Interestingly, the fort was never attacked during the entire history. But, historical events in the eighteenth century like the signing of treaties with Maratha forces happened at the fort.The fort also has another intriguing history attached to it. During the construction of the fort, something things strange used to happen every single day; whatever was built during the day used to collapse at night. The King believed that the construction work was hindered by the restless spirit of Rathore prince, Nahar Singh Bhomia. So, based on the advice of astrologers, the king decided to build a temple devoted to him and also name the fort on his name to honor him. After doing so, the construction works of the fort went unhindered.The architecture of Nahargarh FortThe imposing Nahargarh Fort has been built in the Indo-European style of architecture and is decked up with scalloped archways, domed ceilings, and sprawling gardens. The tall exterior walls of the fort run for several kilometres and the main entrance of the fort, Padi Gate stands as a testimony to the magnificent architecture. The most prominent structure within the Nahargarh Fort is Madhavendra Bhawan aka Madhavendra Palace. This two-story palace was built by King Sawai Madho Singh for himself and his nine queens. The palace features one majestic suite for the king himself and nine identical suites for his nine wives. The suites are lavish with bedrooms, lobby, kitchen, and a store. An open-air corridor connects all the suites. Interestingly, the suites are built in such a way that the king can visit one of his nine wives without the knowledge of the other eight wives. Another amazing structure is the Diwan-i-Aam, which is a sprawling hall where the king addressed the grievances of his subjects. There are also two temples within Nahargarh Fort - one for the deity of Jaipur rulers and another one for Rathore prince, Nahar Singh Bhomia.

Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is an astronomical observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh II. Besides this one in Jaipur, India owns 4 more Jantar Mantar across different states. Featuring the world’s largest sundials, the astronomical observatory of Jaipur marks its prominence amongst UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar comprises of some astounding stone structures which once were used for locating the exact positions of the celestial bodies in space. There are around 19 instruments carved out from stone and brass. As it aids in calculating the local time, this massive structure attracts geographers, architects, and historians. Even time has failed before the brilliance of this engineering marvel. The observatory still holds its significance in the same manner as it did a thousand years ago. The main motive behind the existence of this structure was to gather and study information related to the universe, time and space. The instruments present refers here to those used in the Egyptian study of Ptolemaic astronomy. The observatory is known to work on the principles laid down by the classical celestial coordinates. They are a horizon-zenith local system, ecliptic system, and finally the equatorial system. These three systems aid the researchers and geographers to track the position of the heavenly bodies. Here at the Jantar Mantar Jaipur, you get to witness a hybrid mixture of different astronomical and architectural instruments. The 19 geometric devices present here to contribute towards understanding local time, ascertaining the declination of planetary systems, predicting eclipses, and tracking orbital stars. Besides, it also aids in the determination of celestial altitudes. The entire observatory covers a land stretch of 18700 metres.Samrat Yantra, Ram Yantra, Jai Prakash Yantra, Narivalya yantra, Karnti yantra, Raj yantra, Unnsynhsmsa yantra, Chakra yantra, Disha yantra, Dakshina yantra, and Rasayas yantra are some of the instruments found here.  History of Jantar Mantar Jaipur - Sawai Jai Singh II was a renowned scholar of his time. Once a while, Emperor Muhammad Shah assigned him a task to confirm and rectify the currently available data on the position and movement of celestial bodies. Sawai Jai Singh was desperate to refine the tables of ancient Islamic zij to determine the exact time. In short, he aimed to create a well-defined calendar. He was keen on making accurate astrological predictions for the benefit of mankind. To bring his dream to reality, he decided that he would construct Jantar Mantar in the year 1718. For the same, he set out on a mission to extensively study the cosmological principles as laid down by the philosophical findings of Hindu, Islamic, European, and Persian civilization. In this way, five different astronomical observatories were constructed across various states in India. The largest amongst all was built in Jaipur in between the period 1727 to 1733. After that, it underwent frequent renovations with the lapse of time. The available instruments have a broad range of cosmological applications. In the year 2010, this astronomical observatory got featured in the list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. The architecture of Jantar Mantar Jaipur –The astronomical observatory of Jaipur – Jantar Mantar, is a collection of both astronomical and architectural instruments. In all, you may find around 19 major geometrical devices here. Each one of them has got its own specific application. These devices are used to measure time; ascertain the declination of the planets and the planetary system; prediction of the eclipses; determination of the celestial altitudes, and tracking of the orbital stars. Sheltering so many instruments, the entire observatory extends to a land stretch of 18700 metres. Interestingly, some of the instruments available here are amongst the largest in their own species. The instruments of this astronomical observatory were carved out purely from stone and marble as they have got a tremendous potential to withstand climatic changes. Some of them were designed by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II himself. A few of these instruments were carved out from copper and still are recognised for their undeniable accuracy. In terms of its dimensions, the Jantar Mantar at Jaipur is the largest of all its counterparts present elsewhere in India. 

City Palace is situated right in the middle of Old Jaipur which covers one-seventh of that area. The construction of the palace dates back to 1732, but it still looks fresh and crisp as it always would have been. The entire palace is divided into distinct parts which includes courtyards, gardens, palaces and more. A portion of the palace has also been turned into a museum where you can witness all the antiques and belongings of the royal family.This beautiful palace represents the rich culture Jaipur still holds on to. You will find a perfect blend of the Rajputana with Mughal and European style of architecture. The vast property represents the grandeur and heritage of the royal families of the bygone era. The walls are beautifully sculpted and decorated with mirrors and hand paintings. You will also witness how detailed the carvings are done on the roofs of the palaceThe entire palace becomes a window which gives you the privilege to peek into the stories of the past and the true sense of the authentic culture adopted by Jaipur.You can buy some souvenirs from the market just outside the palace to take a part of the richness of the local culture along with you and cherish the journey from present to 1732 and so on.History of City Palace - Jaipur is considered to be the first-ever city from medieval times, which was planned well. The City Palace is the one-seventh part of the entire old Jaipur. The idea of constructing this beautiful palace erupted in the mind of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. He called the Bengali architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob to design the Jaipur city. They infused Mughal and European style of architecture with the traditional Rajputi architecture. The construction began in the year 1729 and lasted till 1732. The entire palace has small palaces, well-maintained gardens, beautifully carved courtyards, open terraces and more.Further Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar were added in the premises along with the outer walls of the palace. The complete structure represented the rich culture and heritage of the ancient state. Though this palace was completed, the process of making it more beautiful lasted until the early 20th century. It is still preserved carefully along with all the belongings inside the palace put on display.Architecture of City Palace - The City Palace is a marvellous blend of Rajputi, Mughal and European style of architecture. The design of the property follows the ‘Vastu Shastra’ which is said to be facilitating the art of living and the atmosphere inside the house. The entire palace is structured in ‘Grid Style’ having four gates to enter and exit, namely ‘Tripolia Gate’, ‘Udai Pol’, ‘Virendra Pol’, and ‘Jaleb Chowk’. It also consists of various palaces, gardens, courtyards, temples, terraces, balconies and patios which are beautified by latticework, jali work, carved marbles and inlaid ornamentations. The walls reflect the authentic Mughal style which features distinct murals, mirrors and latticework. A unique feature found in Pritam Niwas Chowk is that it has four gates, which depicts all the four seasons. First one is Mor Gate which portrays Autumn Season, then it is Leheriya Gate which represents spring season followed by Rose gate drawing winters and Lotus gate painting a picture of the summer season. All this makes the entire palace a remarkable structure left behind by history.

As you go footloose in the charming complex of the Amer fort made of pink and yellow sandstone, you will witness the regal finesse of Rajputanas. The majestic beauty resides in the pink city of Jaipur, bathing in charm atop the Cheel ka Teela(Hill of Eagles).The fort is a pearl on the crown of Jaipur. Over five thousand tourists visit the fort every day to bask in its royal splendour. The Amer fort has also been inducted into the UNESCO world heritage list along with five other forts of Rajasthan.The fort is famous for the exquisite Hindu elements peaking through its architecture. The palace features large parapets and several intricately designed gateways that give it a stately vibe. Rajput ruler Raja Man Singh built the fort in 1592.The fort is a famous historical monument and a reflection of Rajputana style architecture. It is most famous for its elephant rides and the sound and light show that draws the tourists in thousands every day. The fort is a fine example of the creativity and craftsmanship of the Rajput artists and architects. Amer Fort is one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan and says a lot about the state’s glorious past.

The museum built in the year 1876, lies within the Ram Niwas Garden, Jaipur, and the oldest one in the state of Rajasthan. It was first envisaged as a concert hall, bearing a resemblance to Victorian architecture and Albert Hall Museum, London. The museum boasts of a wide range of objet d'art collected from various parts of the world and displayed over 16 galleries. With sundown, Albert Hall Museum assumes a completely new look because the whole building glimmers with brilliant yellow lights, looking stunning and spectacular. The museum is the epitome of the rich history and culture of India. Bordered by verdant gardens, the museum is a sight to behold for travelers flocking to Jaipur from all over the world. The museum galleries feature numerous works of art and antique items including marble art, antique coins, Egyptian mummy, carpets, and pottery. Besides, you can also see varied paintings, portraits, woodwork, brassware, and sculptures on display. The museum also houses some of the best fineries, especially ceremonial dresses, worn by the royal family members. The museum is a must-visit for history buffs. The Indo-Saracenic style domes and elaborately engraved arches built of sandstone are sure to leave you awestruck.  Albert Hall also features an aviary, a greenhouse, as well as a zoo to delight tourists. History of Albert Hall Museum -The foundation of the museum was set when Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales visited Jaipur in the year 1876. There was no certainty as to how the museum would be used, and therefore, on the recommendation of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, a temporary museum was constructed in 1881. It then exhibited the works of art created by the local artisans. Swinton Jacob, an eminent architect of that time, completed the construction of Albert Hall in 1887. It was then that the artifacts from the temporary museum were moved to the newly built Albert Hall. By the year 1890, the museum stood complete with the Mayo Hospital within a public park, thus embodying the vision of the earlier Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh. His descendant Sawai Madho Singh realized the Maharaja’s dream, thus depicting a new Jaipur city progressing into the contemporary age.  The Architecture of Albert Hall Museum - Albert Hall Museum resembled the splendid Indo- Saracenic architecture, the hallways or corridors adorned with murals of diverse styles. It resembled the history and culture of the Egyptian, European, Greek, Babylonian, and Chinese civilizations. Albert Hall soon became the centre stage for teaching the history of different civilizations. The museum-inspired artisans to hone their artistic skills as well as preserve traditional art, architecture, and craft forms of India. When it comes to the architecture of the museum, the Egyptian mummy is a feast to travelers’ eyes as well as history aficionados. The architecture of Albert Hall is the fusion of elaborate Islamic architecture and Neo-gothic style. The unique architecture of the museum used by the British in India and implemented in most public and government buildings. The decorative and stylish components of this museum are one of the classic examples of architectural elegance and finesse of that period. If you have a penchant for design and architecture; you will love Albert Hall’s elaborate carvings as well as the distinctive ‘Chatri’ style towers that resemble impeccable artistry. Gallery of Albert Hall Museum - One of the striking features of Albert Hall Museum is its galleries displaying works of art, treasures, and antiques belonging to the nineteenth century. The popular galleries are: 1. Clay Art GalleryIt houses beautiful, delicate clay models of nineteenth-century displaying sociological themes, different yogic postures, and art of craft making. You will find a clay model depicting judicial execution of that time, a plaster-cast clay model of a female leg painted with geometrical designs in red, a saint in a yogic posture, and many more. 2. Carpet GalleryVisit this gallery to feast your eyes. The Persian Garden Carpet is the superlative example of stunning Persian carpets around the world.Bought during the times of Mirza Raja Jai Singh I, the rare carpet represents a scene from a Persian garden. The work of art has four parts and numerous sub-sections. Each part has varied colors that make the carpet look stunning. Birds, fish, turtles, and other Chinese animals are depicted on this carpet. The gallery also houses circular carpets as well as doormats representing flowery and Mughal patterns.  3. Jewelry GalleryYou can see most of the low-cost jewelry worn by the peasants of that time. Most of the ornaments were made of brass and silver. The popular items of jewelry include rings, anklets, bracelets, necklaces, and hairpins. 4. Coin Gallery If you have a passion for coins, you must visit this gallery. Take a tour of this place to see a huge variety of coins of the British and Mughal age. You will love the punch-marked coins, which are ancient in history. You can see numerous coins of the times of Jahangir, Akbar, Aurangzeb, and Shah Jahan. These coins were discovered from different parts of Rajasthan. They were collected and preserved in the museum gallery. 5. Musical Instruments Gallery You will find ancient Indian musical instruments in this gallery of Albert Hall. The popular instruments include Dhap, Shehnai, Masak Baja, Karana, Rabab, and Pungi Ravan Hatha to name a few. 6. Marble Art Gallery You can see some of the best exhibits of the nineteenth-century sculptures designed by the artisans of Jaipur in the Marble Art Gallery of Albert Hall. The popular works of art include Dasa Avatar and Mahisasur Mardini, Nav Grahas and Ganesh, Shiv Pariwar, Jain Tirthankars, Vaishnav and Brahma Parivar. 7. Pottery Gallery Albert Hall houses some of the finest pottery collections of the nineteenth century, representing diverse range, intricacy, and vitality of the craft tradition of India. The gallery houses a range of flower vases. The most prominent one is the white quartz clay vase showing the king and queen on either side with cobalt blue and copper designs. You will also love to see the Kagazi (water bottle) doubled-handled surahi featuring a triangular design on the rim. 8. Arms and Armour Gallery The gallery houses Mughal, Rajput, Afghan, Arab, Turkish hilts, swords, helmets, tiger knives, spears, clubs, and shields, in silver and gold. The popular collections include Arabian dagger, Qama or knife, Goad, gun powder horn, tiger claws, Gauntlet, and more. 

Jaigarh Fort is a monumental fort located on the Aravalli Ranges of Rajasthan, towering at an impressive height of 500m above sea level. The fort was constructed in 1726 by the famous Raja Jai Singh II as a means to fortify the Amer Fort. In fact, you can see an unobstructed view of Amer Fort and its complex from the Jaigarh Fort and also witness a breath-taking view of the green hills and lakes that surround the fort. It is one of the most distinctive historical monuments in the Jaipur area and has many unique features that make it unique. The largest canon in the world, which is called the Jaivana Cannon, can be found inside the premises. The canon was built inside the Jaigarh Fort itself and is said to have participated in many famous Rajput battles and wars. Other attractions inside the fort include the Vilas Mandir, the Aram Mandir, Laxmi Vilas and the Lalit Mandir. A unique feature of the fort is the lattice-work windows from where you can observe the expanse of the surrounding landscape and the large Persian garden which has four distinct parts. The original purpose of the Jaigarh Fort was to store arms, ammunition, armours and supplies for the Amer Fort in case of war.It is now a significant historical monument itself, with visitors travelling from far and wide to get an insight into the rich culture and history of the Rajputs of Amer. The monument is approximately 3 kilometres long and stands at a width of 1 kilometre. History of Jaigarh Fort:The area that is home to the Jaigarh Fort and the Amer Fort was initially ruled by the Meenas, and it is believed that the Jaigarh Fort was built by them along with the Amer Fort. The Meenas originally built the fort as the home of the King and the royal family, who resided there, apart from their residency in the Amer Fort. After the Meenas were overthrown by the Kachwahas, they made certain changes in the structure of the fort. During the rule of the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, the fort came under the charge of Raja Jai Singh II who made significant changes to the structure and utility of the fort, and because of his contributions, the fort came to be named Jaigarh- after Jai Singh. Throughout the reign of the Mughals, including that of the great emperor Akbar, Jaigarh Fort was used as a place to keep the treasure, loot, arms, ammunition and other supplies for the Rajputs. An interesting feature about the fort is that despite seeing several rules and coming under siege many times, no one truly ever managed to capture the fort, which is why it earned the name- Victory Fort. Architecture of Jaigarh Fort:Jaigarh Fort is a massive sandstone structure that is built in Indo-Persian style, complete with cyclopean walls that have been held together with lime mortar. The structure consists of a square garden that is surrounded by ramparts which lead to the upper levels of the fort. There is also a central watchtower from where one can get a clear, unobstructed view of the stunning landscape on all sides. One of the most interesting features about the architecture of the fort is the lattice windows, which are so intricately designed that one can get a clear view of the outdoors from inside, but no one from outside can see the interiors through these windows. The main entrance of the Jaigarh Fort is called the Dungar Darwaza. There are two ancient temples within the premises of the fort including the Ram Harihar Temple that was built in the 10th century and the Kal Bhairav Temple that has existed since the 12th century. Guests can walk through courtrooms, restrooms, assembly halls and much more, which are a testimony to the brilliant architecture and construction techniques of the Rajputs. There are fortified gates throughout the fort that offer incredible views of the Aravalli ranges and Sagar Lake located in the vicinity of the fort. 

Known originally as Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Birla Mandir is located at the base of Moti Dungri Temple, Jaipur. The temple is a popular pilgrimage site among the Hindu devotees. Made of sparkling white marble, the structure looks incredibly marvelous. Lush green gardens surround the temple on the sides and give the structure a truly dreamy touch. Birla Mandir has a total of three domes, each one representing a different perspective of religion. The temple features stunning carvings and drawings all around its body. The walls of the structure are adorned with mythological quotes and holy charms from the Hindu holy book of Geeta. In addition, various mythological events and happenings are also carved on the shrine’s interior walls. The temple’s architectural beauty is totally admirable and appreciable. The most important part of Birla Mandir is the beautiful monolithic figurine of Lakshmi Narayan. The temple also houses an idol of Shri Ganesha, which is equally stunning and appreciable. You will also find pictures and sculptures of various other Gods and Goddesses, which strike a religious charm in the air inside the temple. The temple even shelters the pictures of legendary personalities, such as Zarathustra, Jesus Christ, Gautam Buddha, Confucius, and Socrates. Birla Mandir is also home to a beautiful museum that stores and exhibits all the ancestral assets of the respected Birla family.All these elements combine to make Birla Mandir a perfect destination for spiritual seekers of every religion. The temple gets a lot of visitors all through the year and the crowd becomes even bigger during important festivals.History of Birla Mandir Jaipur -In accordance with the popular historical belief, Birla Mandir at Jaipur in Rajasthan is built on the land that was handed over to the country’s reputed Birla family by the respected Maharaja of that time in exchange for just INR 1. The construction of the temple began back in the year 1977 by the B.M. Industrial Foundation. The structure was developed over a total time period of around eight years and the construction work finally ended in the year 1985. In reference to historical facts, Mahatma Gandhi was invited to inaugurate Birla Mandir. However, Gandhi stated that he would only accept the invitation if the temple would be open to devotees of all the castes of society. The temple’s consecration ceremony finally happened on February 22, 1985. Since then, Birla Temple is open for visitors irrespective of the caste and creed they belong to.