Jaipur
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Rajasthani language and Hindi are the two most commonly spoken languages in Jaipur. English is also spoken and understood by the educated citizens to a small degree.
History
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II initially used to rule the state from his capital at Amber, about 11 km from the city. However, the growing population and water scarcity prompted him to shift his capital to Jaipur. Being a science and mathematics enthusiast, Jai Singh was keen on making his capital the most scientific and organized of all Indian cities. He hired the services of a Bengali scholar named Vidyadhar Chakravarty who helped him design and plan the architecture of the city, after a through consultation of books on Indian astronomy and works of Euclid and Ptolemy.It took nearly four years to complete the process of construction and the city planning closely followed the rules of the Vastu Shastra


What to Expect


The Amber Fort also known as the ‘Amer Fort’, is a beautiful fort town only 11 km from the city, which used to serve as the previous capital of the province. Built by Raja Man Singh I, this fort is the epitome of Rajput architecture. Dedicated to Amba, the mother goddess, the fort is divided into four parts, each having its own courtyards and gates. One has to enter from the Sun Gate known as Suraj Pole, passing through the Jaleb Chowk

On leaving the palace, one enters the Amer Village which is a heritage town with many palaces, mosques, and temples.

Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal, made of pink and red sandstone, is another architectural wonder of Jaipur city, built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. It comprises of a beautifully honeycombed, pyramidal structure of five stories which rises up to a height of 15 meter.Jaigarh Fort
The Jaigarh Fort which lies just opposite the Amer Fort was constructed by Jai Singh II and used to be one of the most important cannon foundries of the world. Made of red sandstone it houses halls and courtrooms with screened windows and the watch tower built on high ground provides an excellent vista of the surrounding area.Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar was also built by Jai Singh II when he was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor to revise the astronomical tables and calendar. An astronomical observatory, it houses a number of huge bizarre sculptures which is seen and understood best when traveled with a guide.
Jaipur City Palace
The splendid Jaipur City Palace comprises of an enormous complex of palaces, gardens, and courtyards and is a blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture.Nahargarh Fort
The Nahargarh Fort which lies atop the Arravalli Hills was popularized by the famous Bollywood movie, ‘Rang de Basanti’, and offers a splendid view of the city at sunset.Albert Hall Museum
One can also see an amazing collection of portraits, costumes, and other artifacts of local rulers in the Albert Hall Museum which was modeled on London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
Festivals
The famous festivals that are held in Jaipur are the Makar Sankrant festival, Teej; Sitla Mata Fair, Chaksu Fair; Gangaur, Elephant Festival and the Donkey Fair.For people who are fond of literature, the unique ‘Jaipur Literature Festival’ is one of the most happening thing since 2006 in Jaipur, which has been initiated by the historic novelist, William Dalrymple, and is presently considered as the "Greatest Literary Show on Earth".
The festival is held every year in the month of January in the Diggi Palace Hotel at Jaipur.
Accommodations
Budget
$ 30 USDAnuraag Villa
$ 15 USDRawla Mrignayani Palace
$ 20 USDHotel Kalyan, Jaipur
$ 10 USDChitra Katha Hotel
$ 19 USDKrishna Palace
$ 14 USDHotel Ramsingh Palace
Comfortable
$ 14 USDRajputana Guest House
$ 44 USDHotel Vimal Heritage
$ 27 USDHotel Arya Niwas
$ 86 USDShahpura House
$ 25 USDHotel H R Palace
$ 58 USDSuryaa Villa - A Classic Heritage Hotel
$ 63 USDUmaid Bhawan - A Heritage Style Boutique Hotel
$ 63 USDUmaid Mahal - A Heritage Style Boutique Hotel
$ 222 USDRoyal Heritage Haveli
$ 41 USDLeisure Inn Grand Chanakya
$ 66 USDKhandela Haveli - a Boutique Heritage Hotel
$ 81 USDFour Points By Sheraton Jaipur City Square Hotel
Splurge
$ 3,496 USDRambagh Palace Hotel
$ 106 USDTrident Jaipur Hotel
$ 210 USDJai Mahal Palace Hotel
$ 88 USDCountry Inn & Suites By Carlson Jaipur
$ 220 USDJaipur Marriott Hotel
$ 93 USDFortune Select Metropolitan - Jaipur
How to get there
One of the most visited tourist spot among all other Indian cites, Jaipur is well-connected to all other major cities of India like Mumbai, Kolkata; Delhi, Ahmedabad; Bangalore, Agra and others by railways. The Jaipur International Airport, only 10 km away from the city connects Jaipur to all major Indian cities by flight. However, the international flights no longer operate from here so anyone traveling to Jaipur from abroad must make a stopover at New Delhi.Similar Places Nearby
Visitors to Jaipur must visit the city of Agra, which can be reached in 5 hours by train from Jaipur. A historic city which houses the famous Taj Mahal, and the splendid medieval buildings of Agra Fort and the Fatehpur Sikri, Agra is another popular tourist destination in India.Do you see any omissions, errors or want to add information to this page? Sign up.
Author: SubhasishMitra. Last updated: Jan 13, 2015