JAIPUR – or the Pink `City

Amazing Heritage of Culture and Crafts

Jaipur, or the Pink `City as it is also known was one of the earliest planned cities in the state of Rajasthan. Established in 1727, the inspiration for it came from Maharaja Swai Jai Singh II of the Kachwaha clan of the Rajput’s, whose rule had long been established from the old capital of Amer.

Jai Singh wanted his new capital to be the epitome of architectural beauty, idyllic symmetry and utmost convenience for its inhabitants. Its auspicious beginnings are rooted in the old Vedic tenets of architecture as revealed by the ancient Hindu Vastu Shashtra. The maharaja drew upon the expertise and spiritual knowledge of the Bengali architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, to get his dream city together. The new capital as Jai Singh envisioned it should be a bustling nucleus for commerce and culture supported by artisans, businessmen, traders and cultural aficionados.

There are several ways of exploring this vibrant city as a visitor. You can choose what suits your time and needs when you are in Jaipur, but be assured that your travels around town will always be rewarding.

When Jaipur Wakes Up

Smart travellers who want to have an immersive experience of the city should sign up for an early morning cycling tour and explore the walled city of Jaipur as it wakes up. This is probably the best time to go if you want an uncrowded experience. From riding through streets when the tea stalls are already open to cater to itinerant labourers and the graveyard shift workers from offices; when the newspaper boys are doing their morning rounds in the residential areas; the flower sellers arriving in the old temples for the ornamentation of the deities— there are photo ops galore to grab for immortal memories.

Old Town Temptations

The walled city, which marks the blandishments of the Old Quarter, offers a riot of colours, scents and visually pleasing vignettes of eras gone by. You can take a rickshaw ride with the Pink City Rickshaw riders, an all-women initiative which is quite popular with guests. The agenda of this thrilling tour is to provide a new aspirational employment opportunity to 200 women from low-income households in Jaipur. The lady riders, empowered local women, take you to all the important touchpoints in Old Jaipur. It’s the perfect way for the responsible traveller to unravel the mystique of the medieval walled city as the tours are custom-designed and conducted in eco-friendly, battery-powered rickshaws driven by well-trained, enthusiastic women. 

Unmissable spots to explore on a walking tour is the iconic 5-storied Hawa Mahal near the Badi Choupad roundabout, which dates back to 1799. Built as a summer retreat by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, for his Maharani Jaiwanta Bai and her ladies, this Palace of Winds is a symphony in terracotta with its honeycomb of 953 minuscule jharokhas or latticed windows. The ladies, protected from the public gaze would hang out watching the action in the bustling bazaar scene below from this viewing gallery. Each floor of the edifice features many carved ornamental details in the pillars, canopies and arches Entry to the Hawa Mahal is located at the back, just across from one of the gates of the grand City Palace.

A Maze of Bazaars

When Maharaja Swai Jai Singh was planning his new capital, he wanted to create a neat grid where the lines of commerce and civic structures, were well-defined. One of the most important aspects of this was to set aside a dedicated space for traders and artisans, with the intent of making it a flourishing commercial and cultural centre. 

When wandering through the bazaars of the Old City few know that shopping here is so convenient because there are dedicated streets for jewellers, cloth merchants, stone carvers, utensil makers, leather craftsmen, spice merchants, etc, spread across its commercial area. You can unleash the shopper in you with gay abandon as you explore the delights of Badi Chaupar, Chotti Chaupar, Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar and Tripolia Bazaar—all a veritable treasure trove which offers wares from all over the state and beyond.

Some of the buys you can consider are Sanganer hand–block fabric and Bagru printed textiles, miniature paintings, phad paintings, pichwai paintings, handmade dhurries and namdahs, embroidered jootis, leather pouches and bags, ‘Blue’ pottery, minakari jewellery, Thewa jewellery, lac bangles etc.

Museum Trawl

The City Palace is really where you should begin digging for significant openings on Jaipur’s history and heritage.  The palace still serves as a private royal residence, but by moving around from display to display in the museum area the visitor gets a deeper understanding of the world of the generations of Kachwaha rulers. 

You should make a point of visiting the Albert Hall Museum located in the cool environs of the Ram Nivas Garden. The foundation stone was laid during the visit of the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, for whom the city was also painted a pastel pink as a sign of welcome.  The ‘pink’ of the city remains and so does the Albert Hall which now houses a wonderful collection of weaponry, Rajasthani art and textiles, sculptures, jewellery, carpets, pottery and even an Egyptian mummy.

Other museums worth exploring are the Museum of Gems & Jewellery, Amrapali Museum, Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, Museum of Legacies and the Doll Museum.

Culture Hubs

What makes Albert Hall such a great spot for culture buffs is that it also hosts many cultural events, workshops, lectures and exhibitions. You might like to explore the Jawahar Kala Kendra which also offers a calendar full of cultural events including workshops, dance and music recitals, theatre shows and, art exhibitions.

Fort Tales

Amer Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort formed a formidable line of defence for Jaipur’s rulers.

A tour of the famous Amer Fort is de rigueur for any visitor travelling around Jaipur. The 10km drive from the outskirts of the city to this hilltop fortification is quite pleasant. A UNESCO-acclaimed World Heritage Site today Amer Fort, overlooking the placid Maota Lake, has a dominating presence in the Aravalli Range.

Dating back to 967 this fortified structure presided over by a chieftain of the Meena community, served as a base for fresh construction in 1592 by Raja Man Singh of the Kachwaha Rajputs for which it became their capital. It was Maharaja Swai Jai Singh II who shifted the clan’s capital to Jaipur, the new city he established.

Amer’s Jaleb Chowk, a massive, richly ornate courtyard, teems with visitors from all over the world. Ganesh Pol, the elaborate gateway is a great insta hub. From the Diwan-i-Aam, Hall of Public Audiences, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the lake and Amer’s verdant surrounds. But it’s the Diwan-i-Khas, the Hall of Private Audiences which is the cynosure of all eyes. It’s where you find scores of visitors standing awestruck at the jaw-dropping splendour of this Sheesh Mahal or Palace of Mirrors.

Other spots to explore here are the Sukh Nivas and Zenana Mahal with its beautiful baradari.  On a clear, unpolluted day from the ‘Great Wall of Amer’ catch those unparalleled views of Jaipur, the surrounding Aravallis and even snatches of the desert landscape

Stopping by for the nightly Sound and Light Show is a memorable must-do. You should try and take a walking tour of the water heritage of Amer and its surrounds. It’s a truly unique cultural experience as it puts the spotlight on water conservation practised in Rajasthan for centuries. Places to explore are Panna Meena Kund in Amer and the Nahargarh Fort Baori.

This 18th-century Jaigarh Fort served as the armoury for Jaipur’s royalty. This is ably illustrated by the massive Jaivana Cannon on wheels which has survived the march of time. The foundry in the fort, where it was built, is said to be one of the oldest in India.

Nahargarh Fort’s big attractions are the Nahargarh Biological Park and Zoo, the Madhavendra Palace, and ancient temples. Look for the lovely murals illustrating the corridors and arches.

ACCOMMODATION

The city has a vast selection of stay options, from 5-star hotels to guesthouses to match all budgets

ACCESS

Air: Jaipur’s Sanganer Airport offers air links to all major metros and cities.  

Rail: Jaipur Railway Station is well connected to major metros and cities.

Road: Jaipur’s Sindhi Camp Bus Stand is served by RSRTC’s vast stable of AC and Non-AC buses for connectivity in and around the state.