Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and one of the most beautiful cities in India. Built in 1727, it owes its name to its founder Jai Singh II. It is also nicknamed the "pink city" because of the color of some of its monuments. Along with Agra and Delhi, it forms one of the three jewels of India that make up the "Golden Triangle". The city is exceptionally well-served, making it the ideal base for exploring Rajasthan, and the cities of Jodhpur and Udaipur, while also providing access to other major cities in northern India, such as Delhi and Agra. If you visit the city in March, be sure not to miss the celebrations for the Festival of Elephants, when the city adorns itself in countless shimmering colors.

Discovering the City of Jaipur and Its Surroundings

The city was built with geometric precision, with avenues intersecting perpendicularly. The ground floors of buildings often open onto street arcades. Merchants are always found behind these arcades. Every street is a bazaar where you will find all manner of handcrafted objects.

Visiting the City Palace

In Jaipur, you must visit the City Palace (or Chandra Mahal). It is an immense seven-story building. You will enter through the Lion Gate. The most luxurious sections house the current maharaja and his family, and this area is closed to the public. However, another section can be visited, containing a museum, audience halls, and magnificent courtyards adorned with sublime engravings. Don't miss the Diwan-i-Khas, a simple structure standing on a platform composed of two rows of marble columns supporting crenellated domes. You will see two silver jars filled with sacred water from the Ganges. The Diwan-i-Aam museum, which displays Rajasthani artwork and rare books, will help you better understand the history of this region of India.

The Palace of Winds (or Hawa Mahal), part of the City Palace, was built in 1799 by Sawai Prapap Singh. Its pink sandstone façade makes it unique in the world, and it gleams throughout the city. It is a zenana palace (harem) intended for the women of the court. Small windows adorn the building, allowing the ladies to see outside without being seen. Of great delicacy, it is the most refined monument in Jaipur, with 61 loggias constructed over five stories of the façade, above which beautifully sculpted niches form a harmonious ensemble. The monument is called the Palace of Winds because of the breeze that constantly circulated within the building.

The two other monuments not to be missed are the Astronomy Observatory (or Jantar Mantar) and the Albert Hall. If you visit the Jantar Mantar very early in the morning when there are not yet too many visitors, the atmosphere is strange, unreal. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture this moment with its imaginative colors.

Discovering Amber Fort

However, the most beautiful monument to visit is located about ten kilometers from Jaipur: Amber Fort. The lake surrounding it is the preferred habitat of elephants who love to bathe there. You will advance along a winding road encircled by walls until you reach the Gate of Ganesh, entirely covered with frescoes. Once you pass through the Gate of Ganesh, you will enter the palace, where each room is sumptuous, with oriental stained glass illuminating the spaces. The breathtaking view over the lake and its artificial island greatly enhances the magic of the visit. On the island, flowers grow in sculpted compartments of geometric shapes.

The Jaigarh Fortress

Leaving Amber Palace, you will proceed to the village on the opposite side of the lake and visit the Shiromani Temple, a true masterpiece. On your return to Jaipur, you will admire the old summer palace (not open to visitors) of Jal Mahal, situated in the middle of a lake. The palace wall extends for several kilometers to the Jaigarh Fortress and the Tiger Fort.

Discovering Gaitor and Its "Chhatris"

Four kilometers from Jaipur lies Gaitor, where you will discover the funerary monuments, the "chhatris", of the Maharajas of Jaipur. It is a place of commemoration of cremations, situated in the middle of a rocky valley, verdant in summer. The white marble monuments that compose the cenotaphs make it a remarkable site.

Bringing Back Souvenirs from Jaipur

If you wish to bring back some souvenirs, Jaipur is renowned for the cutting of gemstones: rubies, sapphires, emeralds, tourmalines, topazes... Regardless of your budget, you will have the opportunity to purchase a magnificent piece of jewelry typical of Indian craftsmanship. On M.I. Road, you will find the majority of jewelers.

Other shops specializing in silver jewelry design sell magnificent pieces at very reasonable prices. Beyond jewelry, Jaipur is recognized for its blue pottery. You will find pots, vases, ashtrays, glasses... in vibrant colors harmoniously blending yellow and blue tones.

Many shops also sell splendid carpets from Kashmir. If you purchase a silk carpet, it will cost you much more than a wool carpet. In fact, the value depends on fineness, the number of knots, the pattern, the material used, and so on. Inquire about carpet prices before traveling to India, so you can negotiate as fairly as possible.

Other forms of craftsmanship can delight you, such as marble sculptures, bracelets... By accessing the other side of Tripolia Bazar, you will venture into the covered alleyways where a fabric market is held. You can take an original photograph there, as the mixture of colors forms a superb ensemble.

How to Get Around?

Thanks to an excellent highway system, you will have easy access to major neighboring cities such as Delhi, Agra, and Jodhpur. Although located hundreds of kilometers apart, starting from Jaipur you can visit India's greatest tourist sites, such as the famous Taj Mahal.

Jaipur's geographic location makes it a top-choice destination for travelers. The "pink city" reveals its most majestic attractions, its soft colors blending perfectly with the arid environment in which it evolves. Jaipur is a romantic city that will show you another face of India.

The India Travel Tip

By heading directly to the city of Sanganer, about ten kilometers from Jaipur, you can purchase many handcrafted items at lower cost by visiting pottery workshops. By visiting the cotton paper workshop, you can also acquire beautiful notebooks, journals, agendas, stationery...