Places to Visit in Jaipur
1. Amber Fort and Palace
In 16th century, a fort was built by a trusted general of Akbar, Maan Singh. Later, Maan started to rule the area surrounding the fort which was called as the Amer state. The fort is now called as the Amer fort and the city is called as Jaipur. Amer fort or Amber fort is located a little away from the main city of Jaipur. It is an important tourist destination in this city.
Itinerary Inside Amer fort
No matter which mode of transportation you choose, you would enter the fort through the Sun Gate, Suraj Pol. You would initially enter into the main courtyard named Jaleb Chowk. The ticket office for entrance ticket and others will be located in the courtyard. Some road routes would take you Moon Gate, Chand Pol which is located right opposite to the Sun Gate. You can also hire audio guide or a guide in the ticket counter.From the gate, you would find a stairway that would take you to the main palace. There is a small stairway in right which would lead you to the temple of Siladevi. Visit the temple first before you visit the main palace. The silver doors of the temple are famous for the raised relief works.The main stairway would take you to the Hall of public audience. From the hall, you can find the apartments of kings. Beyond that, you would find Ganesh gate. Going through the gate, you would enter the Hall of victory which is famous for the multi-mirrored ceilings, marble relief and others. Opposite to the hall, you will find the Hall of Pleasure, Sukh Niwas. You can also catch a stunning view of the Maota Lake from the Hall of Victory or Jai Mandir. In the fourth courtyard, you would find the queens’ apartments which includes the famous Mirror Palace.
Things to do in Amer Fort
Elephant ride around the fort is a very important activity. The elephant ride ends by afternoon. So, plan ahead.
You can also opt for four-wheel drive tour to and fro which includes one hour waiting time. It costs around 300 rupees.
Light show at night
Watching the illuminated fort from the bottom of the hill in the evening
Visit to the museum and garden inside the fort
Panoramic view from Char garden. You can view the whole city from here.
Classical dance program that happens in the evening in Sukh Mahal. Tickets will be available in the ticket counter.
Enjoying a meal at Surabhi restaurant inside the fort which serves various cuisines
Enjoying puppet shows and traditional songs. These are available during dinner time.
Turban museum is free to enter in the fort. You can find a large collection of turbans here.
Apart from Siladevi temple, you can find a lot of temples in the palace along with old havelies.
Timing
Opening Hours: 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. during the day, and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at night. Note that elephant rides are only possible in the mornings until 11.30 a.m. Be sure to be there early to get one, Or Book it online to avoid waiting, Long queue and Sold out as demand is high.
Location
North of Jaipur. Frequent buses depart from the Hawa Mahal to Amber Fort. Taxis are also available.
Entrance Fee and Charges
Foreigner – INR 550 per person
Foreign Students – INR 100 per person
Indians – INR 25 per person
Indian Students – INR 10 rupees per person
Light Show in English – INR 200 per person
Light Show in Hindi – INR 100 per person
Elephant Ride – INR 3500 Single Per Person With Elephant Ride, Elephant Painting, Elephant Feed And Photography with Elephant
Architectural Beauty of the Amber
Amer fort was built with red sandstone and white sandstone. The fort still stands as a grand example of ancient Indian architecture. It is known for its blend of Rajput and Hindu style of architecture and mixture of Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. The carvings on the ceiling and the walls are extraordinary features of this fort. There are many paintings of ancient hunting styles, portrait of important Rajput rulers and others. There are a series of gates in the fort and each one has a unique structure and architectural element to enjoy.You can find many buildings inside the fort including Diwan-e-Aam, SukhMandir, Sheesh Mahal and others.
2. Hall of Public Audience
Diwan-e-Aam or Hall of public audience is a large hall that stands from the support of two rows of pillars. Each pillar is ornamented. The hall is open on three sides. The king used to sit in the hall and listen to the queries of common men. This hall is famous for its mosaic glass works. Kings also used to meet important ministers and guests in this hall.
3. Sukh Mandir
SukhNiwaas or SukhMandir is a hall made with sandalwood and ivory. It is located right opposite to the Hall of public audience. There is a small channel that runs through it that carries cold water. This is an ancient method of keeping the place cool. Though the term ‘Mandir’ is used in the name, this is not a temple. It is a hall where kings and queens relax. The name can be translated as residence of pleasure.
4. Sheesh Mahal
Sheesh Mahal or the Mirror Palace is the most beautiful part of this fort. This palace has been shown in many local movies. The walls and the ceilings in this palace are carved with beautiful flowers and other paintings made with glass. A queen of the fort used to love sleeping under the stars. It is said that ancient custom of the land did not allow women to sleep in open air. King called upon the finest architects in the region to solve the problem. Thus, the mirror palace was built. It is said that if two candles are lit in the palace, it would look like thousands of stars glittering in the ceiling.
5. Kesar Kyaari
Mughal Gardens have a beauty that cannot be tallied by simple gardens that you see around the country. This part is located on Maota Lake. This garden is located in front of the fort. The garden is formed in a star shape. It is said that saffron flowers were planted in the garden. Now, climatic conditions do not allow saffron plant to thrive in Jaipur. You can find beautiful flowering plants in the garden now.
6. Light Show
The light show takes place every evening. The show focuses on the history of Jaipur and the fort. It shows ancient anecdotes of the place, sovereigns and others. The show runs for 50 minutes and is run in both Hindi and English.Explore the architectural beauty of Amer Fort with this special itinerary of 4 Days Delhi Agra Jaipur Tour. This itinerary is specially designed to explore the historical city with beautiful Taj.
7. City Palace :
Jaipur is the first planed city of medieval India. The city is divided into nine blocks and the royal palace is situated at the center of the city. The capital was shifted from Amer to Jaipur in the 1700s.Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh was a great thinker he along with architects Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and Shilpa Shastra made the walls of the city of Jaipur which is built on the principles of Indian science of architecture, Vastu.
Historic Significance of City Palace
The palace was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. As most structures in Jaipur this palace also reflects the fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture.The City Palace complex is spread over a large area occupying one seventh of the old city of Jaipur. It has a sequence of gardens, buildings and courtyards, temple and museum to give it a grand view that reflects its historical importance and magnificent royal grace. Its outer boundary was built by Raja Jai Singh and other structures by his successors to add charm to it. It also served as a residence for former Maharaja of Jaipur.
Reaching the City Palace
The City Palace is located in the middle of the old city wall of Jaipur. There is ample transport to the palace. You can either take a cab for local site-seeing or take rickshaws if you want to experience the Indian way of travel.
City Palace Entry and Timings
The City Palace is open from 9 30 in the morning. The entire palace will take around one and half to two hours to visit. They provide a composite ticket which gives you entry to the museum and the Jaigarh Fort.The city palace reserves the most beautiful section for only a select few. The Chandra Mahal is a four story building behind the area accessible to general public. The entrance fee to this area is INR 2500 but definitely worth a visit.It is advisable to take either a guide or an audio guide as the palace is very rich in its history. The audio guides are available for INR 200 and can be taken from the main gate.
Best Time to Visit the City Palace, Jaipur
The best time to visit Jaipur is between October and March when it is relatively cooler. The city palace has many sections that are open and hence it is best to visit this place before it gets too sunny.
Most Significant Aspect of City Palace
The city palace as a whole is marvelous. It is a paradise for art and history lovers. There is also a section dedicated for the artisans of Jaipur where you can purchase souvenirs. They have traditional paintings made from organic colors and wooden replicas of the monuments. It is the perfect way to take a memory back home.You will have the perfect trip to Jaipur with Gautam and Gautam Group, Jaipur Team. Also you can customize your itineraries according to your interest and requirements.
Visitor Information
Famous for : Monument Fort / Fortress History & Culture
Entrance Fee: INR 500 for Foreign Tourists and INR 190 for Indians
Visiting Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Visit Duration: Around 2 hour
Hawa Mahal -
Palace of Wind :
Hawa Mahal is also known by the name of "Palace of Winds" is one of the most famous places to visit in Jaipur. It was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. Its unique five-stories outside is also equivalent to the honeycomb of the beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas that are decorated with elaborate latticework. It was built for the wife of the king. so that they can have the glimpse of the everyday life of the city. The lattice work on the small windows of the Hawa Mahal was done so that they queens could not be spotted from outside but can see everything clearly from behind it.
History of Hawa Mahal
It is blended with the different colors of the Rajputana architecture. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh was a great devotee of Lord Krishna due to which he decided to build Hawa Mahal in the form of crown of Lord Krishna and built is in the shape of honeycomb. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built the structure in 1799 which was designed by Lal Chand Ustad. The front portion of the building is like a honeycomb web of a beehive which is built with a number of small windows. The lattice work done in the Hawa Mahal was done initially for the Royal ladies so that they can see the daily life of the city from those small holes.
Hawa Mahal Architecture
Hawa Mahal is a famous Rajputana architecture and the most famous tourist attraction of Jaipur.The palace is constructed in a five-story pyramidal shaped monument that rises to a height of 50 feet. The front portion of the building is like a honeycomb web of a beehive which is built with a number of small windows. Each porthole has miniature windows and has carved sandstone grills, finials, and domes. It is a veritable mass of semi-octagonal bays, which gives the monument its single frontage. The Hawa Mahal was built on another purpose of keeping the Queens and other royal women in “purdah” but still, they can see the external activities.
The craftsmanship of the fort of a fusion of Hindu Rajput architecture and the Islamic Mughal architecture; the Rajput style of architecture can be seen in the domed canopies, channeled pillars, lotus and floral patterns, and the Islamic style is evident in its stone tile latticework work and curves which are as renowned for its similarity with the Panch Mahal which is known as the palace of winds of Fatehpur Sikri.
An archaeological museum is also housed in this courtyard. Almost every season of every morning people from around the world, go to see the magnificent Hawa Mahal in Jaipur. The tourists prefer to watch it in the beauty of the morning sunlight.
Hawa Mahal Visitor Information
The entry to the Hawa Mahal from the city palace side is through a grand door of the fort. It opens into a large courtyard, which has double storied buildings on three sides, with the Hawa Mahal enclosing it on the east side.
Hawa Mahal Entry Fees : Rs 10 (Indians) Rs 50 (Foreigners)
Hawa Mahal Timings : 9.00-16.30
How To Reach Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal is one of the most important landmarks of the Jaipur city. So once you reach the city, there will be no problem reaching Hawa Mahal.
By Road :
Jaipur City is well connected via Road to another part of the Rajasthan and neighbouring cities. There are number of buses which connects Jaipur to other cities of Rajasthan and India.
By Rail :
Jaipur Railway Station is one of the important station in Northern India and is connected to about every major cities of India and Rajasthan.
By Air :
Jaipur International Airport is the nearest airport of the city about 13 km away from the main city center.
Jantar Mantar :
The Jantar Manta Jaipur has been regarded is a World Heritage site by UNESCO. As it can be interpreted from its name “Jantar (Instrument) Mantar (Formula)” is an ancient scientific instrument which was used in many scientific calculations such as tracking stars' location as the earth orbits around the sun, measuring time, predicting eclipses, ascertaining the declination of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides.
Even today, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is used for various astronomical purposes. UNESCO has inscribed this place on the World Heritage List as "an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period".
History of Jantar Mantar Jaipur
Built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1728, Jantar Mantar is a collection of Stone-Made, huge scientific instruments. Sawai jai Singh was very fond of Astromony. He was a scholar and have studied works of various Hindu, Europeans astronomers. He was a great follower of the work of Ulugh Beg, and Uzbek astronomer. In 1724 A.D. Sawai Jai Singh built alarge observatory in Delhi using large instruments made up of Brass. In his view, such instruments could provide more exact and precise reading than smaller ones of brass. After that he built them in Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura and Varanasi.
The observatory in Jaipur was built in 1734 A.D. and is the largest amongst the one’s he built. Sawai Jai Singh himself used to take astronomical readings in this observatory situated near his palace, now popularly known as “The City Palace”.
Instruments at Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar of Jaipur id the largest amongst the five other built in India and comprises of 19 instruments that can predict eclipses, time, tracking of the stars and much more.
Chakra Yantra : This instrument can tell the time at different parts of the world.
Dakshin Bhitti Yantra : It measures meridian, altitude and zenith distances of celestial bodies.
Digamsha Yantra : It is used to calculate the time of sunrise and sunset. Also azimuth of the sun.
Disha Yantra
Dhruva Darshak Pattika : It is used to located the pole star.
Jai Prakash Yantra : It is used to measures altitudes, azimuths, hour angles and declinations.
Kapali Yantra : It measures coordinates of celestial bodies in azimuth and equatorial systems.
Kanali Yantra
Kranti Vritta Yantra : It measures longitude and latitude of celestial bodies.
Laghu Samrat Yantra : It is used to measure time.
Misra Yantra
Nadi Valaya Yantra
Palbha Yantra
Rama Yantra : It is used to measures azimuth and altitudes of celestial bodies.
Rashi Valaya Yantra : It measure ecliptic coordinates of stars, planets and all 12 constellation systems.
Shastansh Yantra : It measure the zenith distance, declination, and the diameter of the Sun
Unnatasha Yantra : This instrument allows measurement of the altitude of celestial bodies.
Vrihat Samrat Yantra
Yantra Raj Yantra
Interesting Facts of Jaipur Jantar Mantar
Although all the instruments are huge in size, but their size is considered as directly proportional to their accuracy.
All the instruments are mostly made of local stones and marbles only.
The instrument that was used to plot the time of the day is as tall as 90 Meters and known as Samrat yantra.
How to Reach Jantar Mantar in Jaipur
The city of Jaipur is well connected via Air, Bus, Train transport services to almost all the major cities in India.
Once you reach the city of Jaipur, you can opt for Taxis, Local Buses, Rickshaws to reach to the Jantar Mantar.
Jantar Mantar Sound & Light Show
This sound & light show is a tribute to the ingenuity of Raja Sawai Jai Singh II, who engaged himself with such scientifically oriented adventures, even in politically turbulent times. The episodes narrate the making of Jantar Mantar and the need felt by Raja Jai Singh to shift the Kachwaha capital from Amber to the new capital city of Jaipur. The episodes also include stories about important astronomical instruments through graphical imagery, scintillating light effects and evocative music.
Show Timings
Time English Hindi
Oct – Feb 6:30pm 7:30pm
Mar – Apr 7:00pm 8:00pm
May – Sep 7:30pm 8:30pm
Show Duration: 45 minutes
Jantar Mantar Jaipur Visitor Information
Jantar Mantar Timings : The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is open for general public only from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM every day.
Janatar Mantar Jaipur Entry Fees : Entry fee is Rs. 40 for Indians and Rs. 200 for foreigners. Still and moving cameras incur an additional fee.
Guided Tours : You can also enjoy guided tour inside the place at just Rs. 200, which lasts from 40 to 60 minutes.
Nahargarh Fort :
Before Jaipur was made the capital of Rajasthan, the majestic city of Amer stood tall as the capital of the Rajput. The city was bustling with activity and markets in the 1600s. Nahargarh fort along with Amer Fort and Jaigharh Fort had formed the defense to the then capital. Nahargarh is located along the Aravalli hills overlooking a beautiful lake. There is a food court and a restaurant at the top of the fort with an excellent view, Padao. The fort now also is home to the Jaipur wax museum and glass palaceNahargarh Fort, also known as Tiger Fort, is perched high on the rugged Aravali Hills overlooking Jaipur city. The fort was built 1734 to help defend the city. It found fame in 2006, after many scenes from the movie Rang De Basanti were filmed there. Nahargarh Fort offers spectacular views, which are best seen at sunset. It also makes a great place for a picnic as there's a cafe on the premises, which serves beer and snacks until 10 p.m. The fort looks particularly attractive at night when it's lit up.
Historic Significance of Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh mean ‘abode of tigers’. Legend says that the fort was named as Nahargarh after the spirt of a Rathore, Nahar Singh. When the construction of the fort started strange phenomenon occurred.Every morning the workers would find the previous day’s work destroyed. This is when the then Maharaja, Jai Singh discovered the land was haunted. They constructed a shrine in which the spirit could reside and named the fort Nahargarh.
Reaching the Fort
Nahargarh Fort is located around 6 KM outside the city of Jaipur. The best way to reach the destination is to hire a cab. Even autos go till the fort entrance. There are shuttles also available from the foot of the hill.
Nahargarh Fort Entry and Timings
Nahargarh fort is open from 10 00 AM in the morning to 5 30 PM in the evening. The entry fee for overseas tourists is INR 200 and students are INR 25.
The wax museum and Sheesh Mahal are situated near the entrance of fort. The entrance fee for each is INR 350.
Best Time to Visit the Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur
The best time to visit Jaipur is during winter when the weather is pleasant. And Nahargarh is best visited during the day. The fort forms a perfect location to spend an entire day. You can also couple it with the other two forts nearby, Amer and Jaigharh. It is advisable to first visit Nahargarh fort. You can spend the morning there and have lunch there. There after you can move to Jaigarh which is only a KM from Nahargarh.
Most Significant Aspect of Nahargarh Fort
The abode of tigers has an amazing view. Earlier it was a lonely place with magnificent structures and a few places to eat. But now the fort is bustling with noise due to the recent opening of the glass palace and wax museum.The wax museum has many well-known personalities including the likes of Amitabh Bachchan. The museum along with the life like replica of many national heroes also has detailed backdrops and well-designed sets.The Sheesh Mahal was designed to honor the Mughal and Rajput architecture. The significance of this glass palace is that the entire room is made from hand cut glass. Sheesh Mahal in other parts of Rajasthan does not have a glass floor. This is what makes this a unique place to visit. Gautam and Gautam Group India, offers you the perfect trip to Jaipur, along with its major attraction gives you a wonderful experience that you will remember lifetime. You can make your itineraries customized according to your interest and requirements.
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Jaigarh fort :
Located on the Hill of Eagles, Jaigarh fort was built in 1726 AD by Sawan Jai Singh II. Jaigarh Fort is located at a height of 500 feet above sea level and offers panoramic views of the surrounding. It houses the world's largest cannon on the wheels called 'Jaivana Cannon'. There are various other attractions within the fort like Laxmi Vilas, Lalit Mandir, Aram Mandir and the Vilas Mandir.Jaigarh Fort is made-up of sandstones and is spread over an area of 3 km. Made with the purpose of protecting Amer Fort, Jaigarh fort is considered as the strongest monument of Jaipur. Also known by the name of 'Victory Fort', this place was considered as a storehouse of all the war amours, cannons, arms and ammunitions. There is a Persian style garden within the complex of the fort which is divided into 4 parts. The best part about the fort is its windows which are made of lattices. These windows allow a complete view of the exteriors, but nothing can be observed from the outside.Also known as the ‘Victory Fort’, the Jaiarh Fort is located atop a hill and offers a breathtaking view. In fact, tourists who visit the fort without any prior knowledge are often caught astonished by the beauty of the location. A hard-core fortresses and military structures of medieval India, the fort is very well-preserved adding to the delight of the tourists. Hence, the Jaigarh Fort has a great historical significance.
Tourist attractions in Jaigarh Fort
There are many Jaipur Tourist attractions. Located 15 kilometer from the city of Jaipur, the Jaigarh fort has lots of things to visit like temples,palaces, beautiful granary, a tall tower and a giant canon named Jaivan. Among these various attractions, the Jaivan is most popular among the tourists as people hardly want to miss witnessing the canon, believed to be the largest in the world. Various features of the fort like the Dungar Darwaza, the main gate or the collection of coins and puppets inside the fort are enough to lure tourists. The vast range of exhibits of the fort takes almost two hours to cover. The fort also has photographs which Sawai Bhawani Singh and Major General Man Singh II. It also has a number of loopholes for guns and boiling oil. They were very efficient system of rainwater harvesting. You should also visit the Shubhat Niwas or the Meeting Hall of Warriors. This hall contains a number of weather-beaten sedan chairs and drums.
Markets and Shopping
Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan is a treasure trove for shoppers. There are shopping places in Jaipur which offer varieties of products and souvenirs. Jaipur is one of the most important centers in the world for cutting and polishing precious and semi-precious stone, diamonds. Jewellery, exotic blue pottery, the batik painting, block printed textiles of Sanganer and Bagru, tie & dye fabrics, Mojari- (the local shoe), sandalwood carving items, beautiful stone carvings etc. are the most famous things for shopping in Jaipur. There is an endless list of shopping in Jaipur but the jewellery and blue pottery of Jaipur are world famous. Jaipur fabrics are also widely known and attract many tourists to its markets.There are many markets in Jaipur city, which have their own specialities. Buy a particular item from the particular market would help you for a worth shopping in the Pink City. You can buy the beautifully decorated blue pottery to carry back home your beautiful memories of Jaipur.
Top Destination for Shopping in Jaipur
Johari Bazar –
It is one of the oldest places for shopping in Jaipur and is the best place to buy the world famous Jaipur Jewelleries. This market is highly populated with many silversmith shops. You can also buy traditional tie and dye fabrics and textiles here.
Open: All 7 days open; Timings-11 am to 10 pm
Tripolia Bazar and Chaura Rasta– This place are better suited to buy some utensils, ironware, and trinkets. You can also look for some good quality textiles here. You can see artisans working if you step into the side lanes of the market.
Open: 7 days open; Timings-11 am to 7 pm
Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar–
Bapu bazar are one of the best places to visit in Jaipur for shopping. Here you can purchase textiles, local perfumes and shoes made of camel skin. While Nehru Bazar in Jaipur is famous for its traditional Joothis which ae quite famous in India.
Open: 7 days open; Timings- 11 am onwards
Mirza Ismial Road (MI. Road)–
You can buy a variety of goods ranging from jewellery and brass work to textiles, to blue pottery, to woodwork, etc. here and is widely popular among the tourists.
Open: 7 days open; Timings- 11 am onwards
Ramganj Bazar–
For buying beautifully decorated shoes or jutis, made of camel skin, you can visit Ramganj Bazar. For its reasonable price this market is widely known.
Kishanpol Bazar–
Kishanpol Bazar is widely known for tie & dye textiles. It is the best shopping destination in Jaipur for textiles and that too at reseaonable rates. You can also find wonderful wooden sculptures and souvenirs at this Jaipur shopping place.
Open: 7 days open; Timings- 11 am onwards
Maniharon Ka Rasta (Tripolia Bazar)–
For buying lac bangles and other decorative items you can visit the Tripolia Bazar. You can also go for Bandini tie and dye fabrics with rich embroideries which are available here. Other things you can buy here are designer carpets, brass ware and other traditional wares.
Open: 7 days open; Timings-11 am to 7 pm
Khajano Ka Rasta–
Marvel carvings of Khajano Ka Rasta is widely popular in Jaipur.
Sanganer Village-
For buying block printing, hand-made paper and blue pottery, Sanganer village, located few kilometers away from the center of the Jaipur city.
Some of the Famous Shops in Jaipur
Kripal Kumbh–
The Kripal Kumbh is a showroom, named after a renowned potter and painter Late Mr. Kripal Singh, and is one the best place to buy Blue pottery.
Anokhi-
This well known shop of Jaipur city is worth visiting. Buy handicrafts here is also worth shopping.
Himalaya–
This shop near the panch Batti is a trust worthy herbal products shop from about 70 years.
Gem Palace-
The Gem Palace is amongst the most reputable places to shop for jewelry in Jaipur.
Hot Pink–
Hot Pink is a superb place for buying a unique range of colorful and contemporary Indian housewares and fashion.
Things To buy In Jaipur
Bags, Home furnishing, Home décor stuff, Silverware, Trousseau packing, Gifts, Handicrafts, Gemstones, Jewelry (Silver/ Gold/ Colored gemstones), Marble products, Traditional block print garments and textiles, Blue pottery, Rajais (quilts),Trinkets, Lak ki chudi (Lacquerware bangles), Mojris (Traditional Rajashtani leather footware), Bandhani work (Traditional Rajasthani Tie & Dye), Miniature paintings, Kundan meena (enamel) jewelry, Marble sculptures etc are some of the things to buy in Jaipur.
Monkey Temple :
Situated at about a distance of 10km from Jaipur in the city of Khania-Balaji, the Galtaji temple is a Hindu pilgrimage often visited by the people from all over the country.There are many temples in this site and one the special attractions of the place is a natural spring that flows downwards from the hill top. The water from this spring fills up many kunds or water tanks which are considered very sacred and the pilgrims visiting the temple take bathe in this pious water. The temple comprises of 7 holy water tanks or kunds out of which the Galta Kund is the most significant of all. The water of this kind is believed to be different from anywhere else which makes it even more fascinating for the visitors to watch.The temple is often called as the Monkey Temple as you will find many apes roaming about here within the complex. This famous temple of Jaipur is dedicated to Lord Hanuman who is also called the Sun God. This wonderful holy temple of the Hindus is made of pink sandstone and the temple appears more like a palace than a place of worship. As the temple is located on the Aravalli Hills, it offers a fantastic view of the city of Jaipur from the hilltop. The surrounding of the temple also creates a lovely landscape with green vegetations on all sides. You will also find small temples dedicated to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna being established within the complex. The walls of the temple are beautifully painted and decorated with curved pillars and rounded roofs. This holy shrine experiences a lot of crowd every year during the occasion of Makar Sakranti when a large number of devotees visit the temple to take dip in the holy waters of the kund.
HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE
The Galtaji temple was built in the 18th century by Diwan Rao Kriparam who worked as an attendant in the court of Sawai Jai Singh 2.
GETTING THERE
There are two routes by which the visitors can travel to this temple. The first one is quite easier by which you can hire a taxi or auto and directly reach the temple. The other option is to climb up to Galtaji from the western part of Jaipur. On this way the tourists get an amazing view of the Sun temple and the other attractions of Jaipur.
THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND
Capture some lovely moments with your family on a visit to the temple as the mystical location of the temple tempts for amazing photography. Apart from this, there is a close attraction to this temple named the Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh which is a wonderful palace often visited by the travelers.
OPENING/CLOSING TIMINGS AND DAYS
The Galtaji temple of Jaipur remains open from 5am to 9pm for the visitors on all days of the week.
ENTRY FEE
The temple charges no admission fee from the visitors but you can always donate some amount as per your wish while on a visit to this holy place.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The ideal time to visit the temple would be around dusk when the temple is adorned in golden light and several monkeys are seen playing in the compound of the temple. You also get a panoramic view of Jaipur at this time from the top of the hill. As per the month, mid-January would be a perfect time to plan holidays in Jaipur.
Government Central (Albert Hall) Museum :
Albert Hall Museum, also known as Government Central Museum is situated in Ram Niwas Garden, Jaipur. In this beautiful garden, there is also a zoo which adds to its attractiveness. Oldest among all the museums in the state, about 131 years, it comprises a unsurpassed and unique collection Rajasthan Miniature Paintings, Traditional Royal Costumes, Woodwork And Sculptures.Some says that it was intended as a town hall, but converted to the oldest museum of Jaipur. Being a gateway from where a series of heritage walks in this city, now it becomes a venue for most of the cultural Albert Hall Museum foundation started from the construction of Albert Hall . It was based on Victoria and founded by Albert in 1876. Its attractive designed is done by Colonel Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. It was opened in 1887 as a public museum.Also called as Royal Albert Museum, it has very precious articles from all over the world. It comprises of decorative art objects, pottery objects, paintings, sculptures, woodwork, natural history specimens, an Egyptian Mummy and the well known Persian Golden Carpet. Mehndi, body art and great Rajasthani motifs and designs are also on display in a separate section.
Albert Hall Museum Timing:
9.00 am to 5.00 pm & 7.00 to 10.00 pm
Albert Hall Museum Entry Fees
Category – I General entry ticket
Visitor / Student Price
Indian visitor Rs – 40 / – each
Indian student Rs – 20 /- each
Overseas visitor Rs – 300 /- each
Overseas student Rs – 150 /- each
Category – II Composite entry ticket -This ticket is valid for two days for visiting all or any of the following sites:-Amber Fort, Albert Hall, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar (Observatory), Nahargarh Fort, vidyadhar garden & Sisodia Rani garden
Visitor / Student Price
Indian visitor Rs – 300 / – each
Indian student Rs – 40 /- each
Overseas visitor Rs – 1000 /- each
Overseas student Rs – 200/- each
Albert Hall Museum Night Entry Ticket
Indian visitor Rs – 100 / – each
Indian student Rs – 100 /- each
Overseas visitor Rs – 100 /- each
Overseas student Rs – 100/- each
How to Reach Albert Hall Museum
By Air– Delhi and Mumbai are the two main gateway cities to Rajasthan from international destinations. There are regular flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai to Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan and also important destinations like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai operated by domestic carriers.
By Train– Daily super fast train connects Mumbai to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Kota. Delhi (the nearest rail head to Jaipur) is also directly connected to Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Kota, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. Shatabdi train operates from New Delhi station to Ajmer via Jaipur. Double decker train is also available between Jaipur and Delhi.
By Road– The Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) at Kashmiri Gate, New Delhi has almost a twenty – four hour bus service to Jaipur. Air-conditioned and Volvo bus service of state owned Rajasthan state Roadways Transport Corporation (RSRTC) to Jaipur is operational from the premises of Bikaner House, Pandara Road.
[Contact us to book your tours in Jaipur]
Want to book a tour? Call Us For booking on +91- 7060507245, +91- 9600017031, +91- 8894404523 Or +91-44-6531-5613, +91-5832-267070. In case if Phone no's are continuously engaged, You are requested to fill contact us form on our website and our executives will get back to you as soon as possible. You may also leave us a message on our +91- 8894404523 WhatsApp Number to receive packages. Once you will say Hi on our WhatsApp no. Our team will send you a small form immediately which need to be filled by you. After filling it up, Please send it back to us on same Whatsapp no. You will receive all the information with packages and pictures on Whatsapp itself. In case if you are facing any problem, Please feel free to get in touch with us. We are looking forward to welcome you and your Group.