Western Rajasthan itself forms a convenient circuit, in the heart of the Thar desert which has shaped its history, lifestyles and architecture.Jaipur’s architectural planning may have been ancient, but its execution was definitely modern. Best represented by the City Palace complex, it brought together all that was excellent in Rajput and Mughal architecture, creating a new tradition that found wide currency over much of north India. As in the Mughal tradition, the durbar or court areas became much more open, characterised by a series of arched pavilions held on delicately crafted pillars. Gardens were no longer planned within the internal courtyards only, but were added to the external vistas, and water, a basic feature of Mughal palaces and gardens, was utilised in a similar fashion, in canals and fountains.
Attractions:
City Palace: one of the major tourist attraction fascinated by marvelous architecture of Mughal and Rajput and European style of architecture is a official residence of Maharaja of Jaipur and Royal family resides in Chandra Mahal. Since 1959, The palace is opened to the General public and International visitor’s as a museum. One of the historic architectural heritage of Jaipur city is City Palace which gives a holistic experience to the International and domestic tourist. City Palace is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways.
Jantar Mantar:consists of fourteen geometric devices which can measure time, predict eclipse, track stars with the location of earth orbiting around the sun, decline of planets and determining the celestial altitudes. All the instruments in general are large structures attributing the specific prediction. Declared as the national monument in 1948, every instrument has its own uniqueness built by the stones and marbles carrying an astronomical scale. The unique characteristics of each instrument individually share a place of pride in the book of the pink city. Samrat Yantra also known as sundial, the largest of the entire instruments is plotted to predict the time of the day. With the perfect angle towards the latitude of jaipur, one can easily focus and predict the time.
Hawa Mahal: is the five storey palace which is located in heart and soul of the pinkcity which was established in the year 1799 under the rule of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. The architecture of the building is so build that it concrete the shape of a pyramid with total of 953 windows uniquely carved in the Rajasthani pattern and designs. Lal Chand ustad, the architect of Hawa Mahal was told to build this palace in order to enable the queens and other women from royal families to enjoy the view of nature by the windows which serves the purpose of freezing winds inside the palace.
The Amer Fort: was built by ‘Raja Shri Maan Singh JI Saheb’ (Maan Singh I) (December 21, 1550 – July 6, 1614) in 16th century. Man Singh, one of the first war chiefs or the trusted general of the Emperor Akbar. Akbar included him among the ‘Navaratnas’, or the 9 (nava) gems (ratna) of the royal court. Man Singh began the construction of a fortress-palace of white and red sandstone i.e. Amer Fort in 1592. He was the Kacchwaha (Rajput) of King of Amber, a state later known as Jaipur. Nearby he ordered to set a small temple devoted to ‘Sheela Mata’, his patron goddess.
The Jaigarh Fort: is a magnificent construction that was construction in the first half of 18th century. Amer is the conurbation in which both Jaigarh and Amer fort are positioned. This city was under the control of the Kachawahas as early as 10th century. For the whole duration of Mughal Empire, the Jaigarh Fort was the Kingdom’s chief mortar foundry. The fort was also used as storage throttlehold to store bullets and other weapons needed for combats. When consecutive combats happened in the Mughal reign in the year 1658, the mortar settlement at the Jaigarh fort was secluded until the shield, Dara Shikoh, was conquered and killed by Aurangzeb (his own brother). Shortly, the Jaigarh fort was given back to Jai Singh II who was recognized to possess the great ‘Jaivana Cannon’. In the past, Jaigarh Fort in Rajasthan served as the hub of weaponry manufacture for the brave Rajputs of Rajasthan.
The Sisodia Rani Garden :The garden was built with respect to the Mughal architecture imbibed from the theme of unending and immortal lovers in the history of India, i.e. Radha-Krishna. The garden is themed on the lovers Radha- Krishna who are the symbol of eternal and undying lovers in Hindu Mythology. It is said that Lord Krishna enchants the whole world, but Goddess Radha enchants even the Lord Krishna. The Sisodia Rani Garden is filled with the fragrance of extensive and stupendous denotation of love and affection by the medium of the beautiful murals depicting scenes form the life of lord Radha-Krishna. The pavilions are painted the image of Radha-Krishna which is a treat to each and every visitor who appreciate and comprehend the love story of great Radha-Krishna. The garden is furnished with the images of exotic scenes of the great lovers Radha-Krishna which symbolizes the divine appearance in every visitor’s heart.
Jal Mahal: (meaning "Water Palace") is a palace located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city, the capital of the state of Rajasthan, India. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber. he Jal Mahal palace has got an eye-popping makeover. Traditional boat-makers from Vrindavan have crafted the Rajput style wooden boats. A gentle splashing of oars on the clear lake waters takes you to Jal Mahal. You move past decorated hallways and chambers on the first floor to climb all the way up to the fragrant Chameli Bagh. Across the lake, you can view the Aravalli hills, dotted with temples and ancient forts, and on the other side, bustling Jaipur. The most remarkable change is in the lake itself. The drains were diverted, two million tonnes of toxic silt were dredged from the bottom, increasing its depth by over a metre, a water treatment system was developed, local vegetation and fish reintroduced, the surrounding wetlands regenerated and five nesting islands created to attract migratory birds.
Albert Hall Museum (Central Museum): is a museum in Jaipur city in Rajasthan state of India. It is the oldest museum of the state and functions as the State museum of Rajasthan. The building is situated in Ram Niwas Garden outside the city wall opposite New gate and is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The building was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob and was opened as public museum in 1887. It is also called the Government Central Museum. Maharaja Ram Singh initially wanted this building to be a town hall, but his successor, Madho Singh II, decided it should be a museum for the art of Jaipur and included as part of the new Ram Nivas Garden. The museum has a rich collection of art facts like paintings, carpets, ivory, stone, metal sculptures, colourful crystal works etc.
