Jaipur: The Pink City

Jaipur, popularly known as The Pink City, is a city in Western India and the capital of Rajasthan. It is a royal city that evokes the royal family that once ruled the region. It was named as the Pink City due to the trademark pink color of almost all the buildings in the Jaipur city. It was founded in 1727 by the Rajput ruler Jai Singh II and was named after him. Part of the city is still a royal residence, surrounded by gardens, palaces, courtyards, and museums. It is the tenth largest urban agglomeration and the tenth most populous city in India with a population of more than 30 Lakh people.

The city has a large historical significance and all the historical monuments like the Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Amber Fort, and Jal Mahal are a standing proof. Due to the historical significance, the city is a great destination for tourists coming from all over India and also from foreign countries. It is a major hub for the surrounding smaller cities and the people usually visit Jaipur to enjoy a taste of modern lifestyle. Jaipur has a range of places to hang out with friends, mainly the range of rapidly growing wonderful cafes and restaurants, and the famous World Trade Park, which is the second largest shopping mall in India by size.

Jaipur is one of the earliest planned cities of modern India and was designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. It is a major tourist destination and also a part of the western Golden Triangle tourist circuit. Also, the city is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely the Jantar Mantar and the Amer Fort. The Jaipur International Airport acts as a gateway to Rajasthan and to other famous tourist destinations located nearby like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, and Mount Abu.

Famous Places

Jaipur has an endless number of tourist places including but not limited to the Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Jantar Mantar, City Palace, Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Birla Mandir, Jaigarh Fort, Galta Ji, and the Govind Dev Ji Temple. In 2008, it was ranked as the 7th best place to visit in Asia. The Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre is known to be the biggest exhibition center in Rajasthan.

The Hawa Mahal

The Hawa Mahal is a red and pink sandstone palace located in Jaipur. It was opened in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and has a Mughal architecture style. It has a unique exterior with five floors similar to a honeycomb, with 953 small windows, known as jharokhas, which are adorned with intricate lattice work. Tourists generally like to visit the Hawa Mahal and look out of the windows. The most interesting fact about the Hawa Mahal is that what people consider to be its front side, looking from the street, is actually the back side of the monument. It is a fact still unknown to many people, including Jaipurites.

Jantar Mantar

The Jantar Mantar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Jaipur. It is a famous 18th-century park and a site that holds a collection of 19 architectural astronomical instruments, which were built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II. It is a very fascinating observatory and it is home to the world's largest stone sundial.