Whenever I heard the word Jaipur, I felt like something “Royal and Victorious.” After my research and knowledge, I found I was right. Jaipur is exactly what it sounds like. It is a cultural and heritage place where royalty seemed to be present in everything, be it buildings, monuments, forts, and sites, during the 17th and 18th centuries. First, it was established by King Jai Singh in the 17th century, and that’s how the city got its name Jaipur. Further, it was established as the capital of the Kachwaha rulers by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II in 1727. There was a monorchial rule. During the 18th century, Jaipur came under British rule and kings retained internal autonomy.
In 1876, Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II decided to give a grand welcome for the visit of the British royal, and pink was chosen because it is traditionally associated with hospitality and warmth in Indian culture. Hence, this city got another name “Pink City’. The monarchial rule was removed from effect in 1949 after India gained freedom in 1947. Since then it has been the capital city of the state of Rajasthan. I stayed in the city for 3-4 and explored a lot. In this article I am going to share experiences like the places you could visit on your trip, things you could do, and how to make your Jaipur trip smooth.
Places to visit in Jaipur
The Pick City offers a blend of historical, rich cultural, and vibrant vibes all the time. Here is the list to follow:
- Historical Forts- There are 3 major forts Nahargarh, Amber, and Jaigarh. Nahargarh offers a breathtaking sunset view, whereas Jaigarh provides massive cannons, including the Jaivana Cannon, and panoramic views of the city. Further, at Amber Fort, you could see the Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors).
- Palaces and Royal Residences- Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, and the city palace are quite popular for their creativity and historical and royal touch. Hawa Mahal was built as a five-story pink sandstone structure with 953 small windows, designed for royal women to observe street festivities. Jal Mahal is situated in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, it is also called the floating Mahal. It is ideal for photography. If I talk about City Palace used to be the residence of Royal families.
- Cultural and Scientific Wonders- You could visit the Jantar Mantar ( A UNESCO Heritage site). This astronomical observatory features impressive instruments for celestial studies. Apart from this, one can visit the Albert Hall Museum to see art and crafts.
- Religious Sites- Govind Dev and Birla temple are quite famous. For spirituality, one can visit here.
- Markets and Bazaars- Johari, Tripolia and Bapu marktes are most visited in Jaipur. Johari Market is famous for its traditional jewelry, Bapu Market is famous for textiles and Tripolia can be visited for brassware and bangles trade.
- Entertainment and Experiences- Chokhi Dhani, where you can experience traditional Rajasthani food, folk dance, and camel rides. Where Amber Fort and many places offer light and sound shows in the evening.
- Offbeat attractions- Panna Meena ka Kund and Anokhi Museum can be your Offbeat list for the Jaipur trip. Panna Meena is a beautifully symmetrical stepwell near Amber Fort. To experience the art of block printing, a traditional craft of Jaipur, you can visit the Anokhi Museum.
Lists are still endless however these are some major and must-visit places.
How to visit Jaipur?
Visiting Jaipur is quite easy because of its perfect transport connectivity by Air, Road, and Rail. Pink City is connected through all Major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, and international destinations etc. Jaipur International Airport is around 14 km from the city. One can visit here by Air from these Major cities. In addition to this, the Railway is also connected to all the cities hence book a ticket from the IRCTC website for the Indian railway and come to Pick City. People also use buses or self-transportation from Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Shimla etc because Pink City is connected through the National Highways of India.
Where should I stay in Jaipur?
Pink City is quite famous for its tourist image hence luxury hotels, Royal Villas, and stays are available. From luxurious to budget-friendly stays, all the options are available here. Be it Hilton, ITC chain, or Royal hotels, you will get N number of options. Booking.com and many 3rd party websites are there to book a reservation. For Budget travelers, a hostel is also available near all premium sites in Jaipur.
When should I visit Jaipur?
As per my experience, October to March is the best time duration to visit Pink City. Since it is close to the desert so summer season could be a tough experience for you. I have been to Jaipur in winter and summer both seasons but I felt the winter season is quite good because of the vibe and views. You can easily visit anywhere without any unfavorable challenges.
What should I buy from Jaipur?
Jaipur is a rich cultured place. Everywhere you will find something which will make you buy and keep it for historical reference. There are many things you can buy for self-use and souvenirs like jewelry and gems, textile fabrics, Mujaris ( traditional footwear), blue pottery, handicrafts, spices and teas, Rajasthani Attires, Rajsthani Kathputli ( Puppets), paintings and arts, etc. These are some top famous stuff you can buy from Jaipur because of their unique creativity and design though the lists are endless.
How many days trip is enough for Jaipur?
If you wish to look at an overview of the historical and rich cultural city, you can stay there for 2-3 days. On the first day, you can engage in local culture and tradition. 2nd day could be your Monuments and historical places where you can go shopping in the popular local markets on the last day of your trip. However, if you have decided to go into an in-depth history exploration of the city, you need 7-10 days. Overall it depends on the Individual’s preference. There are so many things to cover in Jaipur.
Why Jaipur is known as “Pink City’?
As I gave a reference at the beginning of my article. In 1876, the King of Wales (later King Edward VII visited Jaipur and Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II ordered him to paint all the buildings of the city with pink color and warmly welcomed to King of Wales. Since then this regulation has continued and all the buildings have been painted in pink color. Hence this city is called Pink City.
A trip to Jaipur, the vibrant Pink City of India, is nothing short of a journey through time. Steeped in history, culture, and architectural brilliance, Jaipur offers a unique blend of royal heritage and modern charm. If you love diving into deep history, culture, and royalty, you must visit the place.