The desert city of Jaipur is rich in history, architecture, and mythology. The area is home to the Rajput warrior clans noted for their bravery and durability, and it is the capital of Rajasthan state in India’s northwest. The city encapsulates all of India’s unusual aspects in a single panorama, from magnificent palaces and unusual architecture to rustic people and bustling bazaars, along with camels and elephants for good measure. Here are the top-rated attractions and places to visit in Jaipur.
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Top-Rated Attractions and Places to Visit in Jaipur
Elefantastic
Elefantastic is Jaipur’s first elephant farm, located about 5 kilometers from the Amber Fort. Guests can feed, wash, decorate, and ride the elephants here, as well as learn about the elephant language. Around 24 of the gorgeous creatures live on the farm, and visitors can learn all about their lives and environments. The home-cooked lunch or dinner in the resident’s home on site completes the experience. Elefantastic’s position on the outskirts of the city also makes it a great place to get away from the nonstop rush and bustle of Jaipur center.
City Palace
For nearly three centuries, City Palace has stood in the center of Jaipur’s Old City, shortly after Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II decided to relocate his court from Amber. The fairy-tale-like palace, which is still the residence of Jaipur’s modern-day royal family and is more opulent and lovely than you may expect, is protected by towering guard walls.
City Palace is a large complex of buildings built around a succession of landscaped garden courtyards overlooking Jaipur and Lake Palace, and it’s more than a sand-colored regal dwelling. The property as a whole is a superb example of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.
The Chandra Mahal, an attractive structure with curving eaves and domed roofing, is currently home to the current inhabitants. Each of the seven stories is written in a unique style. The main level is included in the admission charge, but to walk upstairs, you’ll need to organize a private tour.
The Ivory Fort and Amber Palace
Take an elephant ride to the Amber Fort, where the Amber Palace is located (Sheesh Mahal). The palace, which is covered in marble and is also known as the Ivory Fort, is steeped in history. Inside the fort, which commands a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside, a guide will be able to show you through the different structures, mini-museums, and lakefront gardens. The fort’s Sheesh Mahal (‘Hall of Mirrors’) was formerly the royal family’s palace and is now the setting for countless Hindi films.
Jaigarh Fort
Sawan Jai Singh II erected the Jaigarh Fort as a protector for the city of Jaipur and the Amber Fort. Built to safeguard the royal palace and fort of Amer, the two are linked via centuries-old underground corridors. Despite decades of hard weather, the fort holds ‘Jaivana,’ the world’s largest cannon on wheels, and is completely intact. It also includes multiple palaces, an armory, and gardens, as well as the distinction of never having been conquered by invaders.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar may appear to be nothing more than a collection of larger-than-life abstract sculptures at first glance. But this isn’t an art gallery; it’s a unique collection of astronomy instruments begun nearly 300 years ago by Rajput monarch Jai Singh II to survey the heavens.
Each of the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s 20 or more monuments has a particular role. The gigantic sun dial at the observatory, known as Samrat Yantra, is particularly impressive. It generates a massive shadow that precisely counts time down to two seconds at a height of 27 meters.
The intricate Jai Prakash similarly uses the shadow of a metal plate suspended over a sunken bowl-like structure to chart the passage of time. Other instruments at the observatory are capable of tracking stars and even forecasting eclipses.
Hawa Mahal
If you have any preconceived views about how Jaipur’s buildings should look, they most likely stem from the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Breeze). From the salmon-pink, honeycombed front, meant to imitate the Hindu god Krishna’s crown, to the geometric accents and rows of tiny windows, it has all of the distinguishing architectural traits that show in postcards of the city.
The structure was constructed in 1799 to allow royal women to observe events on the street without being observed by the general population. Its 953 windows let in a lot of natural light, making it an excellent summer mansion.