Jaipur, graciously dubbed as the “Pink City” is a majestic tourist destination of India. </b>It is the capital city of Rajasthan, which is popularly known as the land of raja-maharajas. Planned according to the Hindu Architectural principles called Vaastu, the city looks like a sea of pink structures. Majority of the houses and establishments here are painted in pink, signifying Rajput hospitality and royal romance. Its cultural heritage is best seen in in its <b>palaces, forts, monuments, fairs and festivals and handicrafts. The city also has incredible heritage hotels, which were once the abodes of the erstwhile kings.
A trip to Rajasthan is incomplete without a visit to Jaipur, which is famous for its architectural wonders such as :
The City Palace
Built by combining the traditional Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, the City Palace is a seven-storied establishment boasting of arresting palaces, museum, courtyards, temple and gardens.
Jantar Mantar
The architectural brilliance of this structure attracts almost every tourist coming to Jaipur. It is an astronomical observatory built in stone by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1716 to measure movement of the stars and planets, time, altitude and other astronomical events.
Amber Fort
Mesmerizing to the hilt, this huge fort is a main attraction of Jaipur. Built in 1592, it has an astonishing architecture. The fort can be reached by a drive or on elephant's back. Done to perfection, the interiors of the fort are traditionally decorated. The fort overlooks the Maotha Lake.
Nahargarh For
Offering a bird's eye view of Jaipur city, the fort was built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. There is an interesting legend attached to the fort. Madhavendra Bhawan is the striking feature of the fort. It is a majestic apartment that was constructed by the king for his nine queens.
Shopping in Jaipur
Jaipur is a great place for shopping. Its colourful bazaars offer a variety of amazing handicrafts such as semi-precious stones, miniature paintings, Kota doria saris, tie and dye fabric, blue pottery, silver jewellery, Jaipuri quilts, wood crafts, leather crafts and metalware.