Landmarks
The Rajasthani Maharaja didn’t scrimp on luxury palaces for their royal households – and today their legacy lives on in the stunning architecture which remains. Central Jaipur dazzles with two majestic palaces, lording over the city. Inside, they protect artifacts and treasures collected over centuries.
The iconic centrepiece of Jaipur, the Hawa Mahal palace is a vision in rose-hued sandstone. Its dizzying façade is an intricate screen with almost 1,000 windows. It was designed so that the royal women could look out onto a world they were fiercely shielded from. Climb all 5 stories for fantastic views across the city.
Hawa Mahal Road, Jaipur 302002.
City Palace
This flamboyant and richly-decorated palace in central Jaipur was once the centre of rule. It’s a lavish complex with peaceful courtyards and gardens to explore. Today, the palace buildings contain carefully-curated museums and galleries, showing off gilded costumes, deadly weapons, and illuminated holy scriptures.
Jalebi Chowk, Jaipur 3023002.
Temples
From the gleaming and modern to the ancient and crumbling, Jaipur is certainly not short on places of religious devotion. The colorful, ornate Hindi influence is the most prominent, but in the harmonious, Indian spirit of religious tolerance, the deities and prophets of a rainbow of faiths are represented. Birla Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Fashioned in blinding white marble, this most contemporary of Jaipur temples was built by a prominent businessman, on a piece of land bought for a single rupee. He’s certainly added value to the place – this is a three-domed, palatial structure, presided over by Vishnu and Lakshmi and decorated with pictorial tales from Hindu mythology.
Tilak Nagar, Jaipur 302004
Gardens
As a city surrounded by desert, Jaipur is something of an oasis, generously endowed with beautiful gardens which add splashes of refreshing green to the dusty pink. These tranquil, revitalising spaces provide sanctuaries from the chaos of the city streets, set against mountain backdrops or floating on lakes.
Located in the lush Kanak Vrindavan valley, these gardens are encircled by forts, including the majestic Amber Fort, visible from the gardens. Among perfumed flower-beds and lotus-strewn ponds, there are intricate, yellow-hued pavilions, with elegant arches framing the view. As a place to relax after sightseeing, it’s sublime.
Kanak Ghati, Jaipur 302002
Museums
With a wealth of treasures ranging from prehistoric religious artefacts to the opulent trappings of 18th century royal life, Jaipur is blessed with some extraordinary museums. These include small, private collections as well as palatial buildings packed with diverse exhibits.
There are few buildings which can put London’s Albert Hall in the shade, but Jaipur’s Albert Hall Museum manages it. Multi-tiered, intricately decorated, and adorned with domes, it’s worth visiting just for the architecture, particularly when it’s illuminated at night. Inside this vast palace is a rich collection of Jaipur’s heritage, from an armoury to musical instruments.
Ramniwas Bag, Jaipur 302004.
