Jaipur is located on the deserts of Rajasthan and was once the capital of royalty. Today tie first planned city of India is the capital of Rajasthan. In fact, on taking a look at its structures, you can see the tastes of the Rajputs and royal family in the architecture of Jaipur.

Today Jaipur, the city painted in pink, is an important business center for the natives of Rajasthan. The ancient testimonials like Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort remind you of the history of Jaipur. The artistic temples and gardens are worth a visit here while you get an idea of the ethnicity of the city on looking at the various festivals of the city like elephant festival and Kite festival. All of this makes Jaipur a number one tourist destination of Rajasthan.

History of Jaipur

It was Maharaja Jai Singh II, a Kachwaha Rajput who founded the pink city of Jaipur in 1727. His capital was Amber, a city about 11 km from Jaipur. It was the increasing population and scarcity of water that made him shift his capital city to Jaipur. He had taken lots of interest in designing this city to make it the first planned city of India.

The location and climate of Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and found in the north of India. The Aravalli Hills separates Jaipur from the Thar Desert while protecting it. The city is 200.4 km large, and situated at an altitude of 431 m above sea level. It is well connected to major cities of India by rail, air and road.

Jaipur is hot, and dominated by three seasons. Summer is from mid March till June, monsoon is form July to September while winter is from October to March. It is not preferable to visit Jaipur in summer when the maximum temperature is 45 degrees and minimum, 22- 5 degrees Celsius.

You enjoy Jaipur the most in winter with its spectacular views. The evenings are beautiful when covered with jog. The food of Jaipur is served with butter and ghee, and is best eaten in winter.

Traveling to Jaipur

As Jaipur is accessible to the major cities of India, it is not difficult to reach this rail, road and air connected city. The wonderful networking of roads makes it easier for travel here. The railway station here provides wonderful services to passengers where Jaipur Railway station is the main station of Rajasthan.

If you intend to fly by air, you can use Jaipur airport at Sanganer, 13km from Jaipur. It is both a domestic and international airport connecting to foreign cities. Reaching Jaipur is not difficult; you have to choose your mode of travel according to your preference and budget

Jaipur Excursions

There are many excursions to tourist attractions you can take from Jaipur like the small town Abhaneri which is famous for its steep wells and the Harshad Mata temple. As Rajasthan is famous for its traditions and culture, you have to make a trip to Bagru to take a look at traditional block printing that has no modern adulterations to its processing.

If you are the adventurous type, you have to make a trip to the Ranthambore or Sariska National Park. You can also visit the Sambhar Lake to take a look at salt making. The Heritage Palace of Samode is also worth visiting.

Tourists from far and near wait to visit the Tonk Bairath where you find Persian and Arabian manuscripts. The Ramgarh Lake is a large, artificial lake while its hunting lodge and polo grounds are all destinations worth taking an excursion to.

Fairs & Festivals of Jaipur

Like most parts of India, Jaipur celebrates numerous festivals with gusto and zeal. Some special festivals of Jaipur are the Elephant festival, Kite festival, Teei festival and Gangaur festival.

During festival time, the city looks more vibrant where people enjoy their festivals while forgetting all tensions and worries. So if you want to learn more about the customs and traditions of Jaipur, festive season is the best time to visit the city.

Jaipur Monuments

A visit to Jaipur lets you take a look at the bygone era of Jaipur royalty. There are numerous forts and monuments in Jaipur to visit like Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort and Jaigarh Fort. The stunning City Palace is found at the heart of the city while the Hawa Mahal is a monument worth visiting. The Statue Circle is a favorite hang-out of Jaipur which celebrates the founder of the city.

The beautifully carved cenotaphs of the Gaitore are worth a visit when in Jaipur while the Jantar Mantar of Jaipur is still the astronomical dream of Raja Sawal Jai Singh, the king of Jaipur. The government of Rajasthan is working at preserving these monuments so that many more tourists can get to see it in the future.

Jaipur Nightlife

Nightlife is not as active like other global locations. The nightlife here comprises of quiet evenings where people listen to music, puppet shows and traditional dances. The Raj Mandir is a famous theater of India that offers night shows worth visiting. In addition to this, you can watch Kalbelia Dancers, Puppeteers and Bhopa-Bhopi at the Welcomgroup Rajputana Palace Sheraton every evening. You can also watch shows of classical Indian arts and plays at the Ravindra Manch and Jawahar Kala Kendra.

Jaipur Restaurants

Being a city of royalty that served rich food to Kings and queens, you find the best delicacies served to its residents and tourists. So on a visit to Jaipur, your taste buds get to taste a myriad of dishes in numerous restaurants, serving different types of cuisine.

Jaipur is famous for its Mawa Kachori, Dal Batti, Mirchi Bada, Rajasthani Subji, Ghewar and various types of chapattis. If you are not interested in trying out Rajasthani food, you can find restaurants serving Chinese, Thai, Intercontinental and Italian food. Of course, there are many outlets serving fast food like sandwiches, pizzas and Indian chat to satisfy your appetite too.

Shopping in Jaipur

Shopping is a must when in Jaipur with the many markets it offers. This is the best place to visit for handicrafts, jewelry, gems, pottery, textiles, leatherwear, antiques, metal works and carpets.

The markets you have to visit to buy the art and craft of Rajasthan are Haldiyon Ka Rasta, Jauhari Bazar, Bapu Bazar and Nehru Bazaar. There are so many things for you to buy here that a visit here is the only way to experience the pleasure of shopping in Jaipur.