Jaipur is known as the Pink City for the colour of the plaster used to cover the walls of many of the temples, forts, palaces and buildings in the old section of the city. There are definitely a handful of star attractions that make a visit to the capital of Rajastan well worth the trip.
The centrally located City Palace is where the greatest concentration of amazing historic structures are located. This is where most visitors spend the majority of their time, wandering the expansive complex that houses museums, palaces, homes and other interesting sights. The highlight is the much-photographed Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Wind. Besides this and the impressive medieval observatory called Jantar Mantar, the other great sites lie outside the city a few kilometres away, including as Ajmer Fort and Samode Palace.
Don’t miss out on exploring the many bazaars of Jaipur, which are clustered in the old city. Here you can really see local life at its most vibrant. To the south of the old city runs Mizra Ismail (MI) road, the main thoroughfare in Jaipur. Most of the modern shops, banks and other facilities lie along this road, which makes up the new part of Jaipur. There’s plenty to do in this corner of Rajastan, but don’t feel that you need to stay in the city the whole time. Hire a driver for the day and head out towards the Thar Desert, where India seems to take on a whole new face.
Although the state of Jaipur has been around since the 12th century, it wasn’t until 1727 that the city began to take its current form. Widely regarded as the first city in India to be deliberately and logically planned before construction, Jaipur was built in eight years using an ancient architectural principle known as Shilpa Shastra. Protected by high, perfectly straight walls, the city was divided into nine sections reflecting the nine divisions of the universe as laid out in the Hindu horoscope.
Each of these nine districts was named after, and inhabited by the caste that lived there and the speciality of their trade. This concept was revolutionary at the time in India, and became a model for many of the country’s future urban areas. As the Mughal Empire dissolved into chaos in the 18th century, Jaipur found itself involved in conflict after conflict. Internal power struggles and wars with other Rajput states didn’t dampen the wealthy of Jaipur from building more beautiful palaces and temples.
In 1803, a treaty was signed between the British governor and the local Maharaja, lasting all the way until independence from Britain. Jaipur was always well-governed and economically prosperous. It also repeatedly came to the aid of the British whenever an uprising or other trouble arose in India. Jaipur assisted in the Revolt of 1857 against the rebellious Sepoys, and later helped to secure the Agra-Ajmer highway as Indian bandits harassed resident Europeans.
The ruler of Jaipur acceded the city to the newly formed nation of India in 1948, shortly after independence. At this point, Jaipur was named the capital of Rajastan, and has continued that role up to modern times. Apart from administrative duties, Jaipur has also emerged into one of India’s most popular tourist destinations thanks to its impressive historical structures and proximity to a number of interesting Indian landscapes.
Due to its proximity to the Thar Desert, Jaipur enjoys a dry, hot climate with three distinct seasons. Summer runs from March through June, when daily temperatures frequently peak out at 45˚C. Although it’s dry during the summer, the extreme temperatures make sightseeing rather uncomfortable. April is still bearable, but by May and June even the locals are hiding out indoors.
The annual monsoon comes next. From July until September, heavy rains fall almost daily, rinsing the dust off of the long dry season, but also bringing travel chaos when flooding and severe thunderstorms disrupt the transport system. Despite the rain, the monsoon season can be a pleasant time for a visit, as the scenery gets as green as it’s going to get considering Jaipur is in a desert environment.
The peak tourist season in Jaipur runs from September through March, when the temperatures cool off significantly and the days are sunny and bright. Night-time during the winter can be extremely cold, with temperatures dropping to 5˚C, so bring something warm to wear after dark. A persistent fog also appears just about every evening during the winter, adding a mysterious ambience to the Pink City. Things get quite busy during the winter, so make sure you book your hotel well in advance.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Trident Hilton in Jaipur. The luxury was a stong contrast to the poverty in India, but much needed at the time. Especially the staff were excellent, professional an...
