City Palace: Partially occupied by the erstwhile royal family, the City Palace is a simple, yet striking structure defined by courtyards, gateways, mahals and gardens. You would enter the palace through the Atish Pol and move to Mubarak Mahal, which was once a guest house, and now a textile museum. It has on display a wide array of the Maharaja’s costumes, paintings, armours, weapons, elephant saddles and rare manuscripts. The Sileh Khana is located adjacent to the Mubarak Mahal and was once part of the gunijankhana or department of music and dance – today it houses an armoury. Move on through the beautiful marble door into the 2nd courtyard, which houses the Diwan-i-Khas, with intricately carved pillars and arches and flaunting a shade of pink and white. Used for special occasions only, the highlight here are two huge silver water containers which Sawai Madho Singh II filed with Ganga water and carried on his trip abroad – he mistrusted the waters of the west! The Diwan-I-Am or the Hall of Public Audience was used by the king to address public issues and hold public ceremonies. The hall is indeed huge and defined by painted walls, beautiful chandeliers and carved marble pillars. Its highlight features are the miniature paintings, bright durries and carpets and ancient manuscripts. Walk through the Pritam Niwas Chowk, a courtyard where dance performances were held. The Chandra Mahal is the oldest part of the palace and is inhabited by the royal family. Also visit the Govind Devji Temple, located between Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal, dedicated to Lord Krishna. Prayers and aartis are offered to the God and his consort seven times in a day, and each prayer session reveals the idols in different clothing.
Open from: 9.30 am-4.45 pm
Jantar Mantar: A structure of remarkable wonder, this Observatory was built by Sawai Jai Singh II and houses a complex collection of astronomical instruments. This is the largest and the best preserved among the other five built across the country. In fact, so precise was the construction, that you can still observe the time and behaviour of the sun, moon and planets.
Open from: 9.00 am-4.30 pm
Albert Hall & Museum: Also called the Central Government Museum, this museum displays a fine collection of crystals, ivory, woodcarvings, jewellery, textiles, pot¬tery, sculptures and paint¬ings. The gar¬den houses a green¬house and a herbarium.
Open from: 10.00 am-4.30 pm
Hawa Mahal: Undoubtedly the city’s signature landmark, this red-and-pink sandstone five-storey structure was built to let the royal ladies watch the activities in the bazaars without being seen themselves. Shaped like a crown, the building has over 953 octagonal windows with fine screens, which let the breeze pass through and thus rendered it its name. However, belying all expectations, the building is much smaller inside and the upper floors are accessible only by ramps.
Open from: 9.00 am-4.30 pm
Amber Fort: This was the capital of the Kachhwaha Rajputs and the towering fort is located on a hillock overlooking the Maota Lake. Initially a palace complex, the fort is accessible on foot or by an elephant ride. Particularly interesting within the fort complex is the sandstone Diwan-i-Am, the huge gateway Ganesh Pol, Sukh Niwas, Jai Mahal and Jas Mandir. Also take a tour of the magnificent Sheesh Mahal or Hall of Mirrors, which could be lit by a single candle, because of the tiny intricate mirrors! Close to the entrance is the Shila Devi Temple dedicated to the patron goddess of Jaipur. Also located close to this fort is Jaigarh Fort, which was once the royal treasury. Worth watching here is the Jai Vana, a huge cannon on wheels.
Open from: Amber Fort - 8.00 am-6.00 pm
Jaigarh Fort – 9.00 am-4.30 pm
Jal Mahal: This palace is located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake and was built by Madho Singh I to shoot ducks.
Havelis: The havelis in Jaipur are one of its most integral parts and are defined by broad arches, balconies with stained glass windows and painted inner chambers. One of the most famous havelis is the Nattani ki Haveli, known for its seven distinctive courtyards. Similar to this, Nawab Saheb ki Haveli offers spectacular views of the city. Equally fascinating is the Rajputana Haveli, which has intricately carved screened windows.
Gaitore: Located close to Amber, this complex is known for the chhatris built for Jaipur’s rulers. Particularly noteworthy is the cenotaph built for Sawai Jai Singh – it has carved pillars and stone panels on the domes.
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