Rajasthan, once the land of kings and princes, is a State as rugged as the camel and as colorful the myriad of the rainbow. Jaipur, the capital, is a well planned city with buildings of pink sandstone. It was founded in 1727 by the astronomer-king, Sawai Jai Singh II, 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 . Amber, the old capital is a fairly tale journey into the past . Jaipur ,with its historical past ,revives legends of the ancient Rsjputs. The dresses of the women and the turbans of the men add colors to this fascinating city.

CITY PALACE
In centre of old Jaipur is the City Palace, built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in 1729.Later rulers have made additional since then .The palaces is have closed as it still serves as the residence of the erstwhile royal family .

One of the latest additions is the Mubarak Mahal, built by Sawai Madho Singh II in 1990 and today houses the Textiles & Costumes Museum. The building itself looks as if made of marble “lace” and the displays are some of the best examples of the dressing style of Rajput women.

Another interesting collection is located the Pothikhana .Originally this was
the coronation hall. It is a huge room with an enormous Venetian glass chandelier, extensive ceiling decorations about 75 years old and large carpets from North –west Frontier Province,Afganistan and Persia, some dating back to 1600AD.Filled with interesting and beautiful artifacts, the museum is both a reproduction of the culture and a family album of the long line of maharajas who have rule in Jaipur .

Of particular interest are the lovely Rajput miniatures. One of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal ,another shows a battle ,and a third depicts the scenes of an Indian elopement to whisked his beloved away .There are about 2,000 such miniatures.

Other cases display fascinating and rare manuscript written in very fine and beautiful Persian ,Asiatic and Sanskrit .Sawai Jai Singh’s works on mathematics and astronomy can be found here also.
The doors through out the palace are worth noting .Some are huge brass ones, some of intricately carved wood or ivory .Among other enclosures are the Sharbata, a deep pink colored with designs in white .The marble –pillared Diwani-khas is located here .connected to its patio is the Diwani-Aam ,a large courtyard where festivals are still held .Franking the yard is the screened latticework, gallery from where ladies of the royal household would view the court’s proceedings .This is often referred to as the “Zenana” or the ladies’ wing of the palace where male entry ,save the Maharaja and the princes ,was banned.

Dominating the palace is the majestic Chandra Mahal, the towering seven-story which building started in 1728 by Sawai Jai Singh .He built the ground floor Chandra Mandir .For decorating the ceiling of the buildings, gold leaf was used and portraits of the ancestry fill of walls ,some dating to 958 AD when the court was at Amber Fort .Along the corridors of the Mahal are beautifully carved sandstone .

The armory or the Sillekhana is famous for its 2,000 weapons from the late 16th century onwards .Maharaja Man Singh’s sword weighs at least 5 kgs.

JANTAR MANTAR
Directly opposite the palace is Sawai Jai Singh’s fascinating astronomical observatory built in the early in 1700.Jai Singh’s obsession with astronomy inspired him to pored over ancient texts ,to cover the calculation of Enrchid and Ptolemy .He was among the first and very few Indian astronomer to stress on scientific observation of planetary and star movement which is what the Jantar Mantar was supposed to be –an observatory .The sun dial gives the local time, accurate to the minute.

The largest structure is 90 feet high and gives times in units of two seconds .The high steps were used both to read the time and forecast weather .Adjacent is a structure that looks like a twin-face clock but is really an equinox dial .Only one of the two circular faces is touched by sun rays at a given time –winter one side is lit while summer it is the other. The 12 zodiac signs have also been constructed which could help in ascertaining the position of the stars and planets .

A casual look a the structures, however ,reminds a visitors of avent-gonde garde structure and could well be described as surrealistic.Jai Singh ,who had introduced important changes in the Indian calendar and astrological tables ,went on to built five observations, in north India. But only two survive today- the one in Jaipur and another in Delhi.

HAWA MAHAL
Or the Palace of Winds is the best –known monument of Jaipur ,formed in picture postcards .It is really an elaborate façade for the palace complex. The five –tiered ,pink structure which has semi octagonal overhanging windows ,was actually the peering-point for Rajput women. They could see the outside world through its 593 stone screens. The name really comes from the intricate ventilation system which allowed the structure to remain “cool” even in summer.

AMBER PALACE & FORT
North west of Jaipur town , the road to the fabulous Amber fort, the construction of which was started by Maharaja Man Singh ,Akbar’s most successful General, in early 17th century. Before the city palace was constructed Amber used to be seat of power till Singh built the city of Jaipur .The fort is surrounded by fortified battlements and straddles two sepia –lined tundra ranges in the Aravalli Hills overlooking the Maota Lake .Higher still ,the summit is crowned by a craggy fortress bastion, and the surrounding hills are latticed by sprawling crenellated walls.

Steeps steps lead to the main entrance gate beyond which is Kali temple, a marble pillared structured with solid silver doors .The multi-pillared
Diwan-i-Aam nearby leads to Jai Singh’s magnificient ceremonial Ganesh Pol – an ornamental masterpiece of intricate inlaid warrior mosaic fresco, and scalloped stucco work .It leads into a charming garden courtyard flanked by royal apartments with elaborate frescoes ,staines glass windows, plaster relief, and mirror studded alcoves .The main attractions are the fountain –cooled Sukh Niwas, the glittering ,mirror studded Sheesh Mahal and Jai Mandir,the palace of Jai Singh with glass and precious stones studded in a shining surface of powdered marble ,egg shells and crushed pearls. Behind the garden lies the elaborately latticed zenana, where each of Jai Singh’s wives had a separate suite.

On the way back from Amber visit Gaitor, the cremation grounds for the Kachchwaha dynasty, to see the white marble chhatris.Jai Singh II’s the most magnificient supported by marble pillars and covered in ornamental friezes up the ride is the Nahargarh Fort built by Jai Singh II.

JAIGARH FORT
Reroute to Nahargarh.The Kachchewaha dynasty used the Fort as its treasury and protecting it are the world’s biggest cannon on wheels. It dates to 1720AD and was built by Jai SinghII .The gain itself has a 20 feet long barrel and the wheels have a 9-feel diameter. A single shot needed 100 kg of gun powder.

NAWAB SAHEB KI HAVELI
Situated in Tripolia Bazaar, this is an 18th century building where the Bengali architect of Jaipur, Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, lived .Later it was occupied by the Prime Minister of Jaipur state ,Sir Fayaz Ali Khan .The rooftop terrace offers a complete view of Jaipur.

MUSEUM
Central Museum, which is known as Albert Hall – after Prince Albert Edward, later king Edward ,it lies in the sprawling Ram Niwas Garden .The hall was built n 1887 for the reception of the Prince and has a blend of original and Oriental and Victorian architecture .It displays a rich collection of textiles, dresses ,wood carvings, pottery and ivory ware .The Hawa Mahal has a museum and an interesting visit is the Museum of Indolgy on Jawarhar Lal Nehru Road .The city Palace has a extensive museums also.

SISODIA PALACE
This 1774 palace,8 km from Jaipur ,is replete with galleries, gardens and bathing tanks .It’s halls flanked by the Verandahs. This place revered by the royal family because Jai Singh’s wife gave birth to a male heir at this place.

GARDENS & PARKS
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh is a terraced garden laid out in 1774 and surrounds the Sisodia Palace Vidhayadharji Ka Bagh was arranged in the memory of Jaipur’s architect. The Ram Niwas Gardens are the most famous and surrounds the Albert hall. The zoo’s special attraction are the crocodile.

Excursions

Ranthambore National ParkBharatpur Wildlife reserveSariska and Alwar Wild life Reserve

SHEKHAWATI
Midway between Delhi and Jaipur are the sands of Shekhawati .The towns of Jhunjhunu, Mandawa, Dundeod, Nawalgarh and Sikar are the largest concentration of frescoes anywhere .This is homeland of Marwari merchants, one of the India’s adventurous entrepreneurs who migrated to the cities of Mumbai and Kolkata and contribute substantially to the trade of these port cities. After the merchants made their fortunes, they returned to home to build fine havelis or renovate their ancestral homes. The walls were finished with murals whose subjects vary from gods and goddesses, British traders, Wright Brothers with their ‘Kitty Hawk’ –(a late addition) to the owner’s family dressed in silk and jewels.Practically,every house ,temple ,well and sarai(inn) is filled with frescoes on its inner and outer walls.

JHUNJHUNU
While the town is scattered with havelis, there are a few temples, chhatris and wells .Among the outstanding havelis are Tibiewala (1883) with frescoes accountants setting workers’ bills, carpenters at work, trains, soldiers and an European with his dog. Nurudin Farooqi’s havelis is rare for the lack of figure frescoes and the entire havelis is filled with floral and decorative designs. Sir Bihariji temple (1776) has scenes from the Ramayana and Khetri Mahal (1760) has elegant pillars.

MANDAWA
There are 10 havelis here, but looming over all of them is an 18th century fort turned hotel with its own murals and museums.Among the
havelis is the Saraf house (1870) with erotic, a women giving birth, a train and a well scene.Sneh Ram Ladia (1906) has murals depicting a man being bathed before his wedding and another listening to the gramophone .Gulab Rai Ladia (1870 building ,1890 paintings) is best for painting for elephants ,camels and blue tinted erotica.At Nand Lal Murmuria (1935) murals depicts the owner visit to Venice as well as portraying Gandhi, Nehru, and King George.Bausidhar Newatia (1910) features cars, an aeroplane, a bicycle and a boy making a phone call. Paintings celebrating a well-dig can be found on haulal ka well (1850). Also check out the Southwalia Gate and thakurji temple.

DUNLOD
The best murals here can be found at the Dunlod fort, Which has now been converted into a hotel. Around town, the havelis of the Goenkas are interesting. Nearby, to the east of the town gate, is the satyanarayana Temple.

NAWALGARH
Frescos in various stages of deterioration can be found in many buildings around town .The best preserved in Anandi Lal Poddar Haveli (1920) which has now been converted to a school .In the forecourt are paintings that shows, among other things, trains and cars, a Gangaur festival and men playing checkers.

SIKAR
Here there are more temples than havelis.There is a clock tower and step well with paintings as well as. The Deen Dayal Biyani havelis (1990) is decorated in blue and white. Another blue and white painting is at Mahal(1845), in the “Chini” room, so-named because the design resembles Chinese porcelain .

SAMODE
A detour of 42 km from Jaipur is Samode, where there is an enchanting 18th century palace built by Jai Singh II’s finance minister. His descendants have turned into a quaint hotel .Surrounded by barriers scrubland and crowned by embattlements of an old fort up on a ridge, it has exquisite interiors, fine murals, gilded and painted surface, inlaid stones and mirrors as beautiful as the Sheesh Mahal at Amber.

TONK
About 100 km from Jaipur is the erstwhile Museum state of Tonk.See the ancient royal mansion which is famous for its paintings of pure gold made, on glass. With mirrors reflecting the gold on glass .With mirrors
reflecting the gold and blue inlays and the paintings .It looks quite out of the world. Nearby is the museum of Arabic and Persian manuscripts and calligraphy .In ton, consider picking up colourful woolen carpets that go quite cheap.

GALTA
A pilgrimage centure where Saint Gaita undertook penance, it is 4 km from Jaipur.At the crest of the complex is the Sun Temple built by Rao-Kripa Ram during the region of Jai Singh II.A spring spews out of the month of a stone –carved cow.

SANGANER
Sanganer is a famous for its sarees and other fabrics, which are colourful handprints on cotton.This out-sized village is 16 km from Jaipur and has the ruins of a 15th century Jain temple,the Krishna Kalyanji Temple and a Kirti Stambha, a commemorative pillar in white marble.

ALWAR
A small town,150 km from Jaipur, that has a spectaculars palace by the bank of a lake .It also has a museum and one especially displays royal armory.

RAMGARH LAKE
A picnic spot 33 km from Jaipur .the Lake was formed by damming the Banganga River and today supplies water to the city of Jaipur.

DEEG
He capital of the Jat rulers of the region, Deeg is celebrated for its palaces. The Monsoon Palace, in particulars is well known for simulative effects and sounds of torrential rains.

Standard Sightseeing Tours:

Half Day City Tour
Visit Maharaja’s City Palace and the Obresvatory.Drive past Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds and through the rose pink residential and business areas of Jaipur.

Half Day Amber Fort with Elephant Ride
Half day excursion to Amber Fort, the ancient capital of the state until 1728. Visit the Jagmandir or the Hall of Victory glittering with mirror, Jai Mahal and Temple of Kali. Ascend on Elephant back, the hill, on which the Fort is situated.

Half Day Sanganer
Half day excursion to Sanganer, known for its Jain Temples and carvings, besides being famous for its hand made paper and block printed fabrics.