|
Jaipur - The Pink City!
The city that once was the capital of the royalty of the county,
is now the capital of the princely state of Rajasthan. Located
260 kms from the capital of the country, New Delhi, this city
is full of colour and grandeur. The ancient testimonials in
the form of mind blowing monuments such as Hawa Mahal, Amer
Fort, City Palace, Albert Hall are amongst the best in the
county. The city also popularly known as the Pink City is
also very popular for shopping amongst the tourists and locals.
Hawa Mahal
The huge confection is a trompe l'oeil in masonry, for it
tends to deceive the eye. In truth, the Hawa Mahal is all
façade, an elaborate palace exterior complete with nine hundred
and fifty three windows and niches of inconceivable delicacy.
However behind this facade are no buildings, for it is a maze
of corridors and resting points. The royal women of the zenana
used to peep out and see the city, or watched processions
passing down below. The clever façade also trapped the breeze,
earning it the name "Palace of Winds".
The City Palace
The spectacular City Palace is the residence of the former
ruling family of Jaipur. It occupies the center of the city,
covering one-seventh of its area and surrounded by a high
wall - the Sarahad. The architecture combines elements of
Rajput beauty with Mughal spaciousness and English linear
planning. The Jaipur royal family resides in what is known
as the Peacock Courtyard, although this is no longer open
to the public.
Amer Fort
Amer, "The Fortress Palace" was one of the most
important of all Rajput cities. It was the ancient capital
of the Kacchwaha Rajputs from the 12th century until the foundation
of Jaipur in the early 18th century. The seventeenth century
fort complex at Amer occupies a steep hillside, overlooking
the strategic pass that gave entry to the kingdom of the Kacchwaha
Maharajas from the Mughal territories to the north.
Albert Hall Museum
It is erected in the middle of Ram Niwas Garden of Jaipur.
It was built in 1876 to mark the visit of Prince of Wales
to the city. The building is made of sandstone and marble
in Indo-saracenic style. It contains a fine collection of
sculptures, paintings, decorative art objects, natural history
specimens, an Egyptian mummy and a celebrated Persian Garden
Carpet.
Jantar Mantar
Literally "instruments for measuring the harmony of the
heavens", the Jantar Mantar Observatory was built between
1728-1734. Not content with brass, Jai Singh II wanted things
on a grand scale and chose stone with a marble facing on the
important planes. Each of the instruments serves a particular
function and each gives an accurate reading. It is said that
Indian kings viewed themselves as “Universal Emperors
wielding the wheel”, an emblem that represented the universe.
This meant that the correct time had to be fixed for each
event. Astrologers were hired to regulate actions within the
palace and, by extenuation, within the entire kingdom.
Other Places of Interest includes:
>> Nahargarh Fort & Jaigarh Fort
>> Jalmahal Lake & Ramgarh Lake
|
|
