Visitor's note about Jaipur
I would love to return back to Jaipur again and again. Though before arriving here, I knew that it will be a fascinating place but it surpassed all my imaginations. The glory of its magnificent forts and palaces and the heart-warming hospitality of its people made my stay a memorable experience. Here in Jaipur, I had the first experience of the magnificence of Rajputana heritage. Thanks Jaipur, I will remember you forever!



Factfile
Location: Rajasthan
Best time to visit: November-February
Must visit attraction: Amber Palace
Excursions:

A word about Jaipur
Surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls, Jaipur is a place with a glorious past and an unmatched cultural heritage. The Old Jaipur City (Known as the Pink City) is a great place to wander around. Jaipur is a very planned city with various tourist attractions. It also offers a variety of exquisitely handcrafted items, fabrics and ornaments.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN JAIPUR

Amber Palace in Jaipur
The very first morning we drove to the Amber Place, which was located on the outskirts of the city. The Amber palace was located on a high hill and there were jeeps and elephants to take one to the palace. I opted to reach there on an elephant back and what an experience it was! Within the Fort there was a famous Jai Mandir (Temple) with its world renowned Sheesh Mahal, a hall full of Mirrors. The walls and the ceiling of the Mahal were covered with a beautiful array of mirrors that added to its attraction.

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur
The moment I saw this architectural wonder for the first time, I was surprised by the intricate details of this multi-layered palace's architecture. The Mahal was an interplay of red and pink sand stone, carefully and painstakingly outlined with white borders and motifs. I was amazed to learn that windows in the palace were used by the Maharanis to watch royal procession during the days of yore.

Jantar Mantar in Jaipur
Jaipur is amazing and take my words for it. And if you want to have a first hand experience, visit the magnificent observatory- Jantar Mantar. It was located at the entrance to the city palace of Jaipur. Exploring various 'yantras' used to calculate the movement of sun and moon was a great experience.

Jaipur City Palace
Jantar Mantar took more than the estimated time and after that we finally entered into the City Palace, another example of the excellence of architecture. The palace exhibited an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art and architecture. Inside the palace there were several palatial structures including Mubarak Mahal, Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal.