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Pink City, Jaipur Overview
Jaipur, situated in the state of Rajasthan, is a major tourist place attracting visitors from every corner of the world. Bounded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II on 18 Nov 1727, the pink city comprises a rich culture, history and massive natural beauty. Jaipur was ruled by many Rajput rulers. For example- Sawai Pratap Singh (From 1764 till 1803), Sawai Ram Singh II (from 1835 till 1880), Madho Singh II ( From 1861 till 1922) and Sawai Man Singh II ( From 1911 till 1970). They were among the major rulers who kept the legacy of the city alive. As per 2011 census, the population of the city is 3,046,189 and literacy rate is 76.44%. The population comprises Hindus, Jains, Muslim, and others.
Do you know originally Amber the capital city of Maharaja Jai Singh’s kingdom? But, Maharaja felt the need to shift the capital city to Jaipur for the safety reasons as Mughal king Bahadur Shah Zafar (24 October 1775 – 7 November 1862) was expected to attack after the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Jaipur City was built because of Maharaja’s keen interest in protecting his Amber against the attack of overseas powers. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II took the advice of the chief architect and planner of Jaipur- Vidyadhar Bhattacharya to design the Pink city.
Jaipur is a major part of the Golden Triangle tourist circuit and serves as a gateway to other popular tourist places in Rajasthan like Jaisalmer, Udaipur, and Jodhpur. The city is popular for steady purpose as well. The pink city is very peaceful and several Indian families prefer to send their kids to Jaipur for higher education. At this time Jaipur has 55+ Management colleges, 80+ engineering colleges, 20+ Pharmacy colleges, 6+ dental colleges, and 3 medical colleges.
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History of Pink City
Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727 AD. The construction of the city begun in the year 1727 and it took about 4 years to complete the major palaces, squares, and roads. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh who ruled from 1699-1744 was a Kachwaha Rajput. Jaipur city designed by a skilled architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya as per “Hindu architecture”. The city is full of renowned forts, lovely temples, and enchanting palaces. The pink city was divided into 9-blocks, two consist the state palaces and buildings while the remaining 7 allotted to the public. With seven strong gates, vast fortification walls were made along.
The directions of each market and street are East to West and North to South. The Eastern and the Western Gates are called Suraj and the Chand pole respectively. Only three gates facing East, West, and North including Zorawar Singh gate (Also known as the Northern gate) which faces toward the inherited capital of Amber and many gates face south. At present, most of the parts of the Jaipur city are being reconstructed to make way for metro and other infrastructure, but the beauty and essence of the City remain intact through its culture and art.
Every year on Jaipur Foundation Day, the rich culture and heritage of Rajasthan State are celebrated with pomp and show. There are a variety of cultural programs in the form of music, dance and other ceremonies. What charmed tourists and travelers are the culture, traditions, architecture, art, textiles, and jewellery of Jaipur.
Important Structures in the Pink City
Jaipur, founded in 1727 by Maharaj Jai Singh II, is one of most favorite tourist destinations of India for a wide range of reasons. For example- The rich history of Jaipur and the bits and pieces of this history in the form of Jaipur forts, monuments, places, and historical sites are an awe-inspiring factor for the popularity of Jaipur City. Have a look some of the top tourist attractions in Jaipur:-
- City Palace
Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, City Palaceis a blend of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture. This captivating place is surrounded by roomy courtyards, temples and beautiful gardens. It boasts of nine remarkable structures: 1) the Govind Dev Ji temple, 2) the Maharani Palace, 3) Diwan-E-Aam, 4) the BagghiKhana, 5) Pritam Niwas Chowk, 6) Diwan-E-Khas, 7) the Chandra Mahal,8) Mubarak Mahal and 9) the Entrance Gates. There are many buildings in the complex such as an appealing arms & weapons museum. Entry Fee: Rs 75 for Indian Nationals while Rs 300 for Foreigners
- Hawa Mahal
Completed in the year 1799, this prominent structure constructed with pink and red sandstone. The Palace of the Winds was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh for royal ladies to view the streets of Johari Bazaar. Watch this palace luminously lit up at night or you can visit during the daytime to find its chambers illuminated with many different colors. Entry Fee: Rs 50 for Indian Nationals while Rs 200 for Foreigners.
3. Jantar Mantar
One of the most popular and most visited monuments of Jaipur, Jantar Mantar is the name given to five wonderful structures built in Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura, and New Delhi. The Jantar Mantar is one of 5 such structures and all these five structures built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1727-33. The ‘Jantar Mantar’ term is derived from the Sanskrit terms ‘Yantra’ meaning ‘instruments’ and ‘Mantra’ meaning ‘formula’. The term ‘Yantra’ was replaced with ‘Jantar’ means ‘magical’.
4. Albert Hall Museum
This oldest museum of the state was opened in 1887 to the public, The Albert Hall is situated in Ram Niwas Garden just outside the city wall opposite New Pole or New gate and has the feature of having its foundation stone laid down by King Edward II. Albert Hall, The building is a brilliant example of Indo-Saracenic architecture and was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. Entry Fee: Rs 40 for Indian Nationals and Rs 200 for Foreigners
- Amber Fort
Built by Raja Man Singh in 1592, Amer Fort is located in Amer, which is a part of Jaipur. The Fort is prominent for its Hindu characteristics in terms of design and architecture, very much resembles a grand temple. This is one of many historical monuments in the pink city and was considered as the stronghold of the great Rajput Maharajas. So, this iconic attraction of Jaipur should be on your itinerary.
- Jaigarh Fort
An impressive structure lies on the top of the ‘Cheel ka Teela’ hills; Jaigarh Fort was designed by Vidhyadhar who was a professional architect. It reflects the wealthy past of the city and is named after Sawai Jai Singh II who built it. This fort is sought out for its imposing architectural qualities and provides picturesque views of the Aravalli Range. You can explore Lalit Mandir, Laxmi Vilas, Aram Mandir and Vilas Mandir here. Entry Fee: Rs 35 for Indian Nationals and Rs 85 for Foreigners
7. Nahargarh Fort
Built-in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Nahargarh Fort is located in the Aravalli Hills (one of the oldest mountain ranges of the world). It provides you a wonderful view of the picturesque surroundings and is renowned for its extended wall which connects it to the Jaigarh Fort. Nahargarh means ‘abode of tigers’, was initially named Sudarshangarh Fort and was given a new name, Nahargarh later.
Gates of Pink City
Entry gates of the Jaipur city are hard to miss. The gates are named Suraj Pol, Chand Pol, Ajmeri Gate, Ghat Gate, New Gate, Sanganeri Gate, and Dhruv Pol. These gates marked the outer periphery of the pink city as laid out by Sawai Jai Singh II. At present time, these gates are just symbolic; part of the city’s history and a key element of Jaipur’s rich architectural legacy. Take a detailed look here:
- Chand Pol: Located along the east-west axis of the Jaipur city, Chand Pol translating to ‘Moon Gate’. It has a 25 feet spire that rises from the structure.
- Suraj Pol: Translates to Sun Gate, Suraj pol forms the gateway to the popular sun temple built by Sawai Jai Singh and towards Galta Ji further.
- Ajmeri Gate: Also known as Kishanpole because Ajmeri Gate opened up on the road leading to the town of Ajmer.
- New Gate: 2nd gate of the southern rampart, New Gate was earlier a secretive gateway but later it increased in size by the Sawai Ram Singh II.
- Sanganeri Gate: Located in the southern Ramparts of the Pink city, Sanganeri Gate is also called Shiv Pol due to the royal Shiv Mandir is situated close by.
- Ghat Gate: Also known as the Ram Pol, this is the way towards the Ramganj Bazar and Ramchandra Ji Chowkri.
- Dhruv Pol: The Northernmost Gate of the Jaipur city, Dhruv Pol is called the Zorawar Singh Darwaza.
Some of the other smaller but popular gates include Samrat Pol, Ganesh Pol Ganga Pol, Chanpori Pol, Char Darwaza, Tripolia and Naqqarwala, which are situated inside the city.
Best Time To Visit Pink City
November and February months are the best to visit Jaipur. During these months, the weather is pleasant and allows you to explore the place and its tourists’ attractions without the scorching heat of the sun. The worst time to visit the city is Monsoons (start in July and ends in September).
Shopping At Pink City
An important activity here in Jaipur is shopping. The bazaar near City Palace is well-known for souvenir shopping and you can buy handicrafts, ethnic wears, antiques,etc., from here much more here. Bapu Bazaar is famous for exquisite textiles, perfumes, handicrafts, products made from camel skin and traditional Rajasthani footwear known as ‘mojaris’. Apart from this, you can buy glittering jewelry pieces from Johari Bazaar. In addition to this, Kishan Pol Bazaar is famous for its expansive textile and tie-dye cloth bandhani while Tripolia Bazaar is for household items such as domestic kitchen utensils, products made of iron, trinkets, and textiles.
Tips For Visiting Pink City
If you are planning to visit this beautiful city in summers, ensure to carry lots of water, sunscreen lotion, and sunglasses.
How to Reach Pink City
About 250 km away from Delhi while 225 km from Agra; the pink city of India is well connected to all major cities through air, roadways, and rail. You can easily find cabs, taxis, and buses to and from Jaipur. You can find many taxi rental options from cities like Agra and Delhi.
