Palace on Wheels Journey: Day 3, Jaipur – The Pink City

Jaipur Excursion, Palace on Wheels
The guest on board are welcomed into Jaipur in a traditional royal style

The first halt of the Palace on Wheels is Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. Also known as ‘Pink city’ Jaipur is renowned for its colorful culture, handicrafts and tourist hotspots. Major tourist attractions of Jaipur are the Hawa Mahal Palace, the Amber Fort, the Jantar Mantar astronomical instruments and the palace hotels. Jaipur also provides you a great opportunity for shopping. You can Shop for Jaipur’s famous jewellery, handicrafts, carpets, blue pottery and textiles.

Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and a foremost tourist destination in India. Known as the pink city of the country, Jaipur is popular for its Rajputana heritage and culture. Being located amidst the semi-desert lands and being dotted with royal forts and palaces add constant beauty to the overall ambience of Jaipur!

History
The history of Jaipur can be traced back to the early part of the 17th century when Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II founded it. Naturally, the architectural heritage of the monuments and structures housed in the city that date pack to the era speak volumes of the artistic talents of the people. Being the first planned city of India, Jaipur has forever enjoyed the limelight.

Climate
Owing to its proximity to the semi desert lands, Jaipur enjoys an arid climate throughout the year. It experiences summer between April and July that are characterized by heat and humidity. The mild winter months can be recognized as November to February. Summer temperatures range between 25 degrees to 43 degrees and winter temperatures range between 15 and 20 degree Celsius. A brief monsoon season is also experienced in Jaipur between end of July and September.

Attractions
There are a number of medieval tourist attractions housed within Jaipur that guests fondly frequent. Guests aboard the Palace on Wheels can comfortably visit the below mentioned architectural wonders such as:

Attractions in Jaipur :

Hawa Mahal – Commonly known as the palace of winds, Hawa Mahal stands tall in the heart of the city that was once the chambers for the ladies of the royal family. The five storey structure exhibits impeccable lattice work and in the morning, the sun rays falling directly on the structure make the sight all the more ethereal. Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharana Sawai Pratap Singh.

Amber Fort – Located just about 11 km from the city centre, Jaipur, Amer fort is a gloomy structure standing atop a small hillock. This medieval fort is located on the borders of the Maota Lake and displays a fine blend of Hindu and Mughal architectural styles.

Amber Fort Jaipur Excursion
Amber Fort sightseeing is one of the highlights of the Palace on Wheels itinerary in Jaipur

Jantar Mantar- Almost a face for Jaipur, Jantar Mantar is the royal observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh in the early part of the 17th century. One of the best preserved of all astronomical observatories in the country (there are five in India), the Jaipur Jantar Mantar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

City Palace – Another prominent attraction housed within Jaipur, City Palace is a palace complex that envelops within its bosom the spectacular Chandra Mahal and the Mubarak Mahal, apart from other structures. Rajput, Mughal and Gothic styles of architectural styles define the beauty of the City Palace. While here, do not miss to feast on the charm of the Diwan – Aam, Diwan – Khaas, Maharani Palace, Baggi Khana and the Govind ji temple.

Highlights

Other than the above mentioned heritage sites, guests in Jaipur can also take delight in celebrating the colorful festivals and fairs that are observed here. The Gangaur festival, the Teej festival, and even the kite festival that is celebrated in the month of January are a few of the most popular ones to mention here.