Jaipur
Hotels
 Jaipur,
also known as the Pink City of India, was founded by
Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743) and is the capital
of Rajasthan. Jaipur is surrounded by hills and dotted
with forts, and is one of the links to the famed
Golden Triangle of North India along with Delhi and
Agra. Jaipur also serves as the most convenient entry
point to Rajasthan, India's most colorful and vibrant
state.
An extremely well planned city, Jaipur was designed by
an engineer and scholar Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, in
accordance with ancient Hindu treatise on
architecture, the Shilpa Shasta (Vastu).
It was planned in a grid system with wide straight
avenues, roads, streets and lanes and uniform rows of
shops on either side of the main roads. Jaipur remains
the only place where the nine sectors that sub-divide
the city symbolize the nine divisions of the universe.
Jaipur is surrounded by a wall having seven gates and
was built for protection from invading armies and wild
animals that lurked just outside in the jungles that
surrounded the city.
The Old City, also known as the Pink City, is a
wonderful place to wander around. The whole city was
painted pink by Maharaja Man Singh II when Prince of
Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876.
Today, every home within the city is obliged by law to
maintain this facade. Houses with pink latticed
windows line the streets, and look almost magical at
sunset.
Jaipur's regal heritage is evident in its architecture
and culture. Beautifully laid out gardens and parks,
attractive monuments and marvellous heritage hotels,
once the residence of Maharajas are testaments to the
Rajasthan of yesteryears.
The arts and crafts of the state are amazing. You'll
find elaborately fashioned jewellery, the multi-coloured
'bandhini' fabrics, richly decorated handlooms, and
other trinkets at the colourful bazaars of Jaipur.
These bazaars are a lot of fun not just what's
available, but also for the cheerful people in their
traditional costumes..
For the first-time visitor, it is an intriguing and
unforgettable experience.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Air: Jaipur is connected by Indian Airlines and
Jet Airways flights with Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur and
Mumbai.
Road: Very well connected to Delhi (265 kms)
and Agra (250 kms), Jaipur also serves as a convenient
gateway to the rest of Rajasthan.
Rail: Jaipur is served by many super fast and
express trains linking it with Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur,
Ranthambhore as well as Mumbai.
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