Jaipur Diaries - 2023
Why should you visit
Jaipur has lot of historical places which have made their way into our hearts. There are world famous and UNESCO protected sites and also things which have made names in the Guinness book of world records.
Third largest fort compound wall in the world – Amer Fort
World's largest container made of Silver – City Palace
World’s Largest Cannon on wheels, Jaivan – Jaigarh Fort
2,400 year-old Egyptian Mummy – Albert Hall Museum
Among the top ten haunted places in the world – Bhangarh
The first thing that we came across on the day we reached Jaipur was Albert Hall Museum. Museum's collection includes a wide range of artifacts, including sculptures, paintings, musical instruments, and weapons. Hence, the people who are interested in seeing the utensils, musical instruments, paintings, the wardrobe, collection of armory and weapons, and artifacts related to the local Rajasthani culture must visit this place and keep at least two hours for the visit. For the rest, one hour is good enough to go through but do not miss the night view of the museum as it looks beautiful in lights.
The Albert Hall Museum was built in 1876 during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II as a part of his efforts to promote the arts and sciences in the region. The entry ticket is Rs 50 for Indians and Rs 20 for students when presented with a student ID card. There is also a car parking fee of Rs 50, in case of parking a vehicle.
The main attraction of the museum is Egyptian mummy which was brought into the museum. There is also an X-ray of the mummy done which is displayed to confirm that they mummy belongs to a lady.
Albert Hall Museum is a fascinating place to visit for anyone interested in the history and culture of the past.
The entrance to City Palace is just next to Hawa Mahal. The King continues to stay in this palace and there are areas which are marked as “private” for the privacy of the king. Lot of Bollywood movies have been shot here including Maharaja and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
It was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and has been the residence of the royal family of Jaipur ever since. The palace complex consists of several buildings, courtyards, gardens, and museums, and showcases a beautiful blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles. The ticket costs Rs 300 for Indians and Rs 150 for students with a student ID Card. The guide is a must to understand the palace in details, and though the official fee is Rs 400 for a family of four but can be bargained to Rs 200 – Rs 400 depending on the bargaining capacity.
The complex includes the Mubarak Mahal (Welcome Palace), which now houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, and the Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace), which is still the residence of the current Maharaja of Jaipur. The palace also features several courtyards, including the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) and the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience), which were used by the royal family for official functions. The Palace is also famous for two largest silver utensils which was used by the then king to carry Ganges water as he used to drink only Ganga water. These silver utensils have been the largest in the world made of silver, which makes this place a must visit.
There is also a restaurant for the convenience of visitors which offers both Indian and International cuisine, in addition to a café. Two hours can be kept to visit the Palace comfortably.
There are many Bollywood movies shot at Hawa Mehal, "Shudh Desi Romance" being one of them. It is located in the old city and next to the market with lots of opportunities to do local shopping. The entry ticket costs Rs 50 for Indians and Rs 20 for students.
It is also known as the "Palace of Winds" due to its unique design featuring numerous small windows that allow cool breezes to flow through the building. The palace was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and was designed by Lal Chand Usta in the form of the crown of the Hindu god Lord Krishna.
The place has five floors but does not have stairs. There is a slide walking on which one can reach the next floor. The multiple small windows, the colorful glass window panes, the fountain at the entrance, and the mighty wall catches attention. The royal ladies used to watch the ceremonies on the streets though the Hawa Mehal.
Do not miss the roadside view as it looks even more beautiful in the night from outside. It would comfortably take an hour to do justice in visiting this place.
Sheesh Mahal at Amer Fort Kesar Plantation designated area
Amber Fort, also known as Amer Fort, is a majestic palace located in Amer, around 15 kms from Jaipur. The fort is a popular tourist destination and is considered one of the most well-preserved examples of Rajput architecture.
There are two entrances to the fort. The first one which involves a good amount of step climbing. Visitors can also enjoy an elephant ride up to the fort entrance but is a bit over-priced. Similar rides can be taken at other places in the city at much nominal rates. There is another entrance from the back side which is much comfortable and vehicle drops just 100 meters before the entrance. The parking fee is Rs 50. The Fort ticket is Rs 100 for Indians and for students it is only Rs 20, if presented with a student ID card. The guide charges for a family of four is Rs 400 but can be bargained to Rs 200, and it is worth taking a guide as they can take some photographs at nice locations. There is a step-well just before the fort which is an interesting location. Many movies have been shot in similar step-wells in Rajasthan. Dhadak and Paheli are two of them.
The fort was built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh I, and is constructed with red sandstone and marble, and it is situated on a hilltop. The fort complex is divided into four main sections, the main attractions of the Amber Fort include the Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience), the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors), and the Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure). The border wall is the third longest in the world, after Great wall of China and Kumbhalgarh Fort.
Sheesh Mahal has an interesting story to it. The queen liked to watch stars but the king loved her to the extent that he did not want her to sleep outdoors. As a result, he had built this sheesh mehal where a single light will reflect is more than ten mirrors and the who roof will glow like stars.
Street vendors offer local artifacts such as necklace (Rs 100 onwards) and ear rings (Rs 30 onwards), and Kulfi (Rs 40 for any flavour – pista, malai, or badam kulfi). On the way back, there is Rajasthan cottage Emporium which has local print bedsheets, the Rajasthani popular comforter with just 100 gms of cotton but quite warm, local made artificial jewellery, marble statues, and a traditional restaurant with option of both local as well as regular cuisine.
Do ensure to spare at least around three – four hours to enjoy the fort visit comfortably.
Traditional Rajasthani Thali
Ganesh Temple and Birla Mandir
Ganesh Temple Birla Mandir
The temple is situated on a small hill, known as Moti Dungri and just next to Birla temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom and prosperity, and is one of the most popular and revered temples in Jaipur. The idol is real-life and gives positive vibes to its visitors. It opens at 4 am in the morning and closes by 10 pm in the night. The temple complex has a special place allocated for doing worship for new vehicles.
Birla Mandir, also known as the Lakshmi Narayan Temple, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The complex has gardens, fountains, and statues, making it a peaceful and serene place to visit. The temple is made of marble and can be located from a distance due to its white marble colour. There are a lot of street vendors just next to the complex, which also makes it a good hangout place for tourists.
The entry to both these temples is free of charge. There is Rs 3 charge for keeping shoes in Birla temple, while in Ganesh temple it is free of charge.
If there is time while in Jaipur, please ensure to visit both Birla temple and Ganesh temple which should not take more than one hour together.
Gulab Ji Chai is a popular tea stall in Jaipur. It starts from 4 am in the morning. The crowd at this tea stall is maddening. The tea costs a mere Rs 25. It also serves ban samosas, kachoris, and sandwiches, which are perfect to pair with the tea. The stall is unexpectedly small, but still quite popular as you can see people going to the stall right from the main road. They have also opened a regular restaurant out of the earnings from their popularity, which is located next to the stall.
It is a must-visit place at least once to feel the ambiance and how popular this stall is, especially for all the tea lovers.
The fort was built in the early 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, and it was primarily used as a military stronghold to protect the Amer Fort and the surrounding areas.
Fort can be entered before 5 pm on any day. The entry ticket costs Rs 150 per person for Indians and Rs 20 for students. The car can go inside the Fort towards the top where the cannon is kept. This massive cannon, known as Jaivana, is considered to be the world's largest wheeled cannon. The cannon was used to defend the fort during battles and has a range of up to 35 km. The most amazing part of this fort is that one can walk next to the walls of the fort which gives stunning views of the city. The lake palace can also be clearly seen from this fort, which is a delight to the eyes. At least two hours are needed to fully enjoy the place as this is far lesser crowded when compared with both Amber and Nahargarh fort. I, personally, enjoyed this fort more than the other two as it gave me time to go around, enjoy the walk next to the wall of the fort, seeing mesmerizing views of the city, view of the lake palace, and even see tourists climbing uphill to visit the palace.
Jantar Mantar
Most popular Instrument - Outdoor Sun Dial
Just a few hundred meters away from Hawa Mehal is Jantar Mantar. It is the largest outdoor astronomical observatory and was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the early 18th century. The observatory features a collection of unique and complex instruments that were designed to measure time, predict eclipses, and track the movement of stars and planets.
Visitors can explore the various instruments on display and learn about their significance in the field of astronomy. Some of the most notable instruments include the Samrat Yantra (a sundial), the Jai Prakash Yantra (a device for measuring the positions of celestial objects), and the Ram Yantra (an instrument for determining the altitude and azimuth of celestial bodies). It is worth mentioning that the sun dial is the most accurate one with a possible error of less than two seconds. It is best to hire a guide which may charge anywhere between Rs 300 – Rs 400, to understand how the instruments work in real life. There is also a book seller at the exit gate selling books which include the importance of each of the instruments in the observatory.
There is a puppet show, a small café shop, and also a souvenir shop inside the place to keep the visitors engaged. If one is interested in astronomy or history, Jantar Mantar is definitely worth visiting.
The city seems to be slow, but it was unique to see the huge crowd rushing towards Radhe Karishna temple at 4 am in the morning. This could be sensed from 500 metres before the temple complex. The aarti continued till 5;30 am before the temple was closed. This was nothing less than what can be seen in Mathura Vrindavan and the temple vibrations were positive and devotees charged. In case there is time and one loves to visit religious places, this is a must visit place for the Krishna devotees to see the charge in the environment.
The sunset view is a must-do from Nahargarh Fort, if you are in Jaipur. The approach road to the fort is also quite adventurous. The entry ticket costs Rs 50 per person for Indians and Rs 20 for students. There is also a sunrise point, which is free of charge. The vehicle can even enter the fort to ensure that there is minimal walking required inside the fort.
The fort was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II as a part of the city's defense system. The palace has several interconnected suites, which are adorned with beautiful murals and intricate decorations. The fort is open till 9;30 pm and there is option to do dinner, along with a mesmerizing view of the city glowing with lights, while enjoying the food.
The Fort also has a wax museum to lure visitors, which comes with an additional ticket of Rs 500. A couple of hours from 6 pm till late evening can be spent in the fort to justify the visit.
Mimi, Royal Orchid Hotel
The hotel is a great place specially to visit over the weekends for dinner. They have live music, and the artists can also play songs on demand. The food is simply amazing, and they have both Indian as well as international cuisine. It is a must-dinner place after getting tired from the whole day of doing sight-seeing. The prices might sound a bit on the higher side but the ambience, quality, and quantity of food makes up for the higher pricing.
There are few other places which we could not cover due to time constraint:
· Galta Ji Temple – this is a slight climb uphill for say 1 km and one can visit the famous sun temple as well where the entire city view is visible
· Nahargarh Abhyaran – famous for zoo, safari, and elephant ride
· Bhangarh – This is cursed and is in the top 10 haunted places in the world. It needs to be visited before 5 pm and no one is allowed to visit or stay after sunset for safety reasons.
Chowkhi Dhani - Traditional village set up with local stalls, magician, camel ride, and authentic rajasthani food.
Sisodiya Garden and Vidhyadhar Garden - Bollywood movie "beta" has been shot here with Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dikshit. I was not able to cover these gardens due to shortage of time.
I hope that this blog motivates you to take out some time from your buzy schedule and visit Jaipur for a memorable holiday experience with family and friends. Keep travelling, stay happy!!!
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