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Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital and largest city of the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan. As of 2011, the city had a population of 3.1 million, making it the tenth most populous city in the country. Located 268 km (167 mi) from the national capital New Delhi, Jaipur is also known as the Pink City due to the predominant colour scheme of its buildings in the old city.

Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II, the Kachwaha Rajput ruler of Amer, after whom the city is named. It is one of the earliest planned cities of modern India, designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. During the British colonial period, the city served as the capital of the Jaipur State. After Indian independence in 1947, Jaipur was made the capital of the newly formed state of Rajasthan in 1949.

Jaipur is a popular tourist destination in India, a part of the Western Golden Triangle tourist circuit along with Delhi and Agra. The city serves as a gateway to other tourist destinations in Rajasthan such as Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Kota, Mount Abu and has two World Heritage Sites of Amer Fort and Jantar Mantar. On 6 July 2019, the city was named in the list of World Heritage Cities. It is also called the Paris of India. Its beauty led C.V. Raman to call it the "Island of Glory".

History

Jaipur was founded on 18 November 1727 by Jai Singh II, a Rajput chieftain of the Kachwaha dynasty, who ruled the region from 1699 to 1743. He planned to move his capital from Amer, 11 kilometres (7 mi) away, to Jaipur, keeping in mind the growing population and increasing water shortages. Jai Singh consulted several architects while planning the layout of Jaipur and laid out the city on the principles of Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra under the architectural guidance of Vidyadhar Bhattacharya.[18] Construction of the city began in 1726. During the rule of Sawai Ram Singh II, the city was painted pink to welcome Albert Edward, Prince of Wales in 1876. Many avenues are still painted pink, giving Jaipur a distinctive look and the nickname of the Pink City. In the 19th century, the city grew rapidly and had a population of 160,000 in 1900. Wide boulevards were paved and its main industries were metal and marble work, promoted by a school of art established in 1868. In August 1981, large areas of the city, including the airport, were flooded due to heavy rains caused by a cloudburst, resulting in eight deaths and much damage to the city's Dravavati River. On 6 July 2019, the city was added to the list of World Heritage Cities.

Culture and urban landscape

Tourism

Jaipur is a major tourist destination in India and is a part of the Golden Triangle. The 2008 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Survey ranked Jaipur as the seventh best place to visit in Asia. According to TripAdvisor's 2015 Traveler's Choice Awards, Jaipur ranked first among Indian destinations for the year. The Presidential Suite at the Raj Palace Hotel, which costs US$45,000 per night, was ranked second in CNN's list of the world's 15 most expensive hotel suites in 2012.[88] Jaipur was ranked eighth in the "Top 15 Cities in Asia". The Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) is Rajasthan's largest convention and exhibition centre. Tourist attractions include the Albert Hall Museum, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, City Palace, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Birla Mandir, Galtaji, Govind Dev Ji Temple, Garh Ganesh Temple, Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple, Sanghiji Jain Temple and Jaipur Zoo. The Jantar Mantar Observatory, a collection of 19 astronomical instruments, and the Amer Fort are World Heritage Sites. The Hawa Mahal is a five-storey pyramid-shaped monument with 953 windows that rises 15 metres (50 ft) from its high base. Sisodia Rani Bagh and Kanak Vrindavan are major parks in Jaipur.

Culture
Jaipur has many cultural sites such as the Jawahar Kala Kendra, founded by Charles Correa and Ravindra Manch. The Government Central Museum houses many arts and antiquities. There is a Government Museum in the Hawa Mahal and an art gallery in Viratnagar. There are sculptures depicting Rajasthani culture all around the city. Jaipur has many traditional shops selling antiques and handicrafts, as well as contemporary brands reviving traditional techniques such as Anokhi. Jaipur's former rulers patronised many arts and crafts. They invited skilled artisans, artists and craftsmen from India and abroad who settled in the city. Some of the crafts include bandhani, block printing, stone carving and sculpture, tarkashi, zari, gota-patti, kinari and zardozi, silver jewellery, gemstones, kundan, enamelling and jewellery, lac bangles, miniature paintings, blue pottery, ivory carving, conch shell work and leather ware.
Jaipur has its own performing arts. The Jaipur Gharana for Kathak is one of the three gharanas of Kathak, the major classical dance form of North India. The Jaipur Gharana of Kathak is known for its intensely complex dance forms, lively body movements and subtle abhinaya. Ghoomar is a popular folk dance style. Tamasha is an art form in which puppetry is performed as a dance drama. Major festivals celebrated in Jaipur include Elephant Festival, Gangaur, Makar Sankranti, Holi, Diwali, Vijayadashami, Teej, Eid, Mahavir Jayanti and Christmas. Jaipur is also famous for the Jaipur Literature Festival, the world's largest free literature festival attended by authors, litterateurs and literature lovers from across the country.

Architecture
The city was planned in 1727 by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya according to Indian Vastu Shastra. It has three gates facing east, west and north. The eastern gate is called Suraj Pol (Sun Gate), the western gate is called Chand Pol (Moon Gate) and the northern gate faces the ancestral capital Amber. The architecture of the city was heavily influenced by the 17th-century architectural renaissance during Mughal rule in North India. The city was divided into nine sections, two of which contained state buildings and palaces, while the remaining seven were allotted to the public. Massive ramparts were built, with seven fortified gates. The city is unusual among pre-modern Indian cities in terms of the regularity of its streets and the division of the city into six zones by 34 m (111 ft) wide broad streets. The urban quarters are further divided by a network of gridded streets. Five-quarters wrap around a central palace quarter to the east, south and west, while the sixth quarter is immediately to the east. The Palace Quarter is surrounded by the Hawa Mahal palace complex, formal gardens and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort, which was the residence of King Sawai Jai Singh II, crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city.

Food

Typical dishes include dal baati churma, missi roti, gatta ki sabzi, garlic chutney, ker sangri, makke ki ghat, bajre ki ghat, bajre ki roti and red meat. Jaipur is also known for its sweets including ghevar, feeni, mawa kachori, gajak, meethi thuli, chauguni ke laddu and moong thal.

Udaipur

The city of Udaipur is located in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, near the Gujarat border. It is bordered by the Aravalli Range to its west, which separates it from the Thar Desert. Located close to the midpoint between two major Indian metro cities, Udaipur is well connected to nearby cities and states via road, rail and air transport facilities. The city has the Maharana Pratap Airport. Common languages ??spoken include Hindi, English and Rajasthani (Mewari). Udaipur is a tourist destination and is known for its history, culture, sightseeing spots and Rajput era palaces. There are seven lakes surrounding the city. Five major lakes, namely Fateh Sagar Lake, Pichola Lake, Swaroop Sagar Lake, Rangsagar and Doodh Talai Lake, are under the restoration project of the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the Government of India. Apart from the lakes, Udaipur is also known for its historic forts and palaces, museums, galleries, natural spaces and gardens, architectural temples, as well as traditional fairs, festivals and structures. Due to the many lakes present here, it is one of the many cities in Asia that are sometimes called the "Venice of the East". Udaipur's economy is primarily driven by tourism, although minerals, marble processing, chemical manufacturing and development, electronic manufacturing and handicraft industries also contribute. Udaipur has many state and regional public offices, including the offices of the Director of Mines and Geology, the Excise Commissioner, the Tribal Area Development Commissioner, and the Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Corporation Limited, as well as major private companies such as Hindustan Zinc Limited. Udaipur is also emerging as an educational hub with 5 universities, 14 colleges, and over 160 high schools.[

List of tourist attractions in Udaipur

Ahar Cenotaphs
The Ahar Cenotaphs are a group of royal cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar, located about 2 km east of Udaipur. It has about nineteen cenotaphs of various Maharanas cremated, including one of Maharana Amar Singh, who reigned from 1597 to 1620. Nearby is also Ahar Museum, where on display is limited but very rare earthen pottery, as well as some sculptures and other archaeological finds. Some pieces date back to 1700 BC, and a tenth-century metal figure of Buddha is a special attraction.

Sukhadia Circle
Sukhadia Circle in Udaipur is a famous landmark and recreation area, located in the Panchvati neighborhood. It is a popular spot for locals and tourists, with a fountain, boating and various food options available. The Circle is named after Mohan Lal Sukhadia, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan. It is a place where you can relax, enjoy the evening lights and enjoy the local atmosphere. Fountain: A central feature, especially beautiful at night with its illumination. Boating: Provides an opportunity to enjoy the water. Food stalls: Offering a variety of local snacks and street food. Greenery: Surrounded by a well-maintained park, providing a relaxing atmosphere. Evening lights: The Circle is especially attractive in the evening when the lights are lit up. Picnic spot: A good place for families and groups to relax and have a picnic.

Lake Badi
Maharana Raj Singh I (1652-1680) built the lake at Bari village, about 12 km from Udaipur, to counter the devastating effects of famine. He named it Jiyan Sagar after his mother Jan Devi. The lake covers an area of ??155 sq km and has an embankment 180 m long and 18 m wide, on which are built three artistic chhatris (kiosks or pavilions). During the drought of 1973, Bari Lake supplied water to the people of Udaipur.

City Palace
The City Palace is a 400-year-old palace located on the eastern bank of Lake Pichola. It consists of a series of villas, halls, gateways, courtyards, overlapping passages, terraces, corridors and gardens. Monuments such as the Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, Jagdish Temple, Monsoon Palace and Neemach Mata Temple are all in the vicinity of the palace complex. The City Palace was also used to shoot films such as Octopussy and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. A 1991 documentary film called Jag Mandir includes footage of an elaborate theatrical performance staged for Maharana Arvind Singh Mewar at the City Palace by André Heller.

Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal
Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, a cultural institution, is engaged in studying folk art, culture, songs and festivals of various regions of India, including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. It also aims at popularizing and propagating folk arts, folk dances and folk literature.

Jag Mandir
Jag Mandir palace is built on an island in Lake Pichola and is known for its beautiful interiors and grand style of architecture. It is also known as the "Lake Garden Palace". This palace is now the Jagmandir Island Palace, a heritage hotel.

Bagore ki Haveli
This is an old building built right on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at Gangor Ghat. The haveli now stages Rajasthani traditional dance and music.

Doodh Talai Lake
Doodh Talai Lake, a small pond located adjacent to the Lake Pichola, is surrounded by small hillocks which hosts Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park, and Manikya Lal Verma Garden (or Rock Garden or Musical Fountain Garden). It provides few options for fast food centers, camel and horse rides and boat ride.

Jagdish Temple
Jagdish Temple is a splendid example of either M?ha M?ru or the M?ru-Gurjara architecture decorated by beautiful and ornate carvings. A short walk from the city palace will bring you to this temple. The temple sanctum has an idol of the deity Lord Jagannath.

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park
This is a garden developed around the Dudh Talai by Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) Udaipur, the local development authority. Visitors may enjoy watching a musical fountain here. A ropeway has been set up here to reach Karni Mata Temple at the top of Machhla Mangra.

Fateh Sagar Lake
Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake situated to the north of the Lake Pichola, in the north-west of Udaipur city, around 6 km from Udaipur City Railway Station. It was named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar.

Lake Palace
Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel, which has 83 rooms and suites featuring white marble walls. The Lake Palace is located on the island of Jag Niwas in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India, and its natural foundation spans 4 acres (16,000 m2). Built between 1743 and 1746 under the direction of the Maharana Jagat Singh II (62nd successor to the royal dynasty of Mewar) of Udaipur, the private summer resort of the erstwhile royal family has been turned into a luxury hotel. The hotel has been ranked as amongst the best luxury heritage hotels in the country.

Gulab Bagh and Zoo
A rose garden laid out by Maharaja Sajjan Singh of Udaipur is situated near the palace on the east side of Lake Pichhola. A library in the garden has a collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and books. Some of the part of the Satyarth Prakash have been written in this library. Styarth Prakash stup is situated in Gulab Bagh. Within the garden, there is a zoo which used to have tigers, leopards, Chinkara gazelle, birds, and many wild animals, but now most of these animals have been moved to Sajjangarh Biological Park. Children can still enjoy a mini train, the track of which covers the main part of the garden and the zoo.

Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola, an artificial fresh water lake created in the year 1362 AD, is one of several contiguous lakes in the city. The lake was built by Banjara, a gypsy "Banjara" tribesman who transported grain, during the reign of Maharana Lakha. Later, Maharana Udai Singh, impressed by the charm of this lake with the backdrop of green hills, founded the city of Udaipur on the banks of the lake and also enlarged the Lake by constructing a stone masonry dam in the Badipol region on the shore of the lake.

There are four islands on the lake:

Jag Niwas, where is built the Lake Palace
Jag Mandir, with the palace of the same name
Mohan Mandir, from where the king would watch the annual Gangaur festival celebration
Arsi Vilas, a small island which was an ammunition depot, and also a small palace

Monsoon Palace
Monsoon Palace was built in 1884 by Maharana Sajjan Singh of the Mewar Dynasty giving it the name Sajjangarh. The palace is near Fateh Sagar Lake. The palace was also used in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.

Moti Magri
Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, overlooking the Fatah Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favourite horse, "Chetak"

Sajjangarh Biological Park
Sajjangarh Biological Park, a zoological garden, is situated just beneath the Monsoon Palace (also known as Sajjajgarh Garh Palace), around 4 km from the city center. The zoo houses vast varieties of animals and birds brought in from different parts of the world. At present, it has more than 60 animals of 21 species including tigers, panthers, lions, ostriches, alligators, and rhesus monkeys. Within two months of its inauguration, the park received more than 46,000 visitors in a month, generating a revenue of Rs 14 lakh for the forest department, which is a record in itself.

Saheliyon ki Bari
Saheliyon-ki-Bari or 'Courtyard of the Maidens' is a garden and a popular tourist destination. With fountains, kiosks, a lotus pool and marble elephants, this garden was built from 1710 to 1734 by Maharana Sangram Singh for the royal ladies. This renowned garden is located on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake and also has a small museum with the collection of royal households.

Shilpgram
Shilpgram is a rural arts and crafts complex, situated 3 km west of the city of Udaipur. The center is spread over an undulating terrain of about 70 acres, surrounded by the Aravali mountains. The complex was established with a purpose to depict the lifestyles of the folk and tribal people of the region. With an objective of increasing awareness and knowledge about the rural arts and crafts, the Shilpgram provides opportunity to rural and urban artists to come together and interact through camps and workshops.

Purohito Ka Talab
Purohito ka Talab is located at a distance of around 12 kilometres from Udaipur city. The Lake is surrounded by green mountains. Purohito ka Taalab is also called as ‘Mini Jaisamand’. It's situated between the Aravalli Range.

Statue of Belief
The 'Statue of Belief', also known as 'Viswas Swarupam', has been opened to tourists on 29 October 2022. It is located 44 km from Udaipur in Nathdwara, Rajasthan.

Jodhpur

Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan. Rao Jodha founded the modern city of Jodhpur on 12 May 1459 AD. Jodhpur is also a famous tourist destination with its many magnificent palaces, forts and temples in the middle of the Thar Desert. It is also called the "Sun City" due to its year-round sunshine. It was also known as the "Blue City" due to the thousands of blue houses surrounding the Mehrangarh Fort located here. Most of the old city is built around this fort, whose watch wall has many gates,[4] although in the last few decades the city has expanded extensively outside this wall. Jodhpur serves as an ideal base center for tourists to travel around the state.Jodhpur, famous as the Sun City, is identified by the stonework used in its palaces and old houses. The huge Mehrangarh Fort of the fifteenth century is situated on a rocky hill, 125 meters above the plain. This city with eight gates and countless towers is surrounded by a ten kilometer long high wall. Jodhpur, the main trade center of the sixteenth century, the city of forts, is now the second largest city of Rajasthan. The magnificent palaces, forts and temples scattered throughout the city, on one hand bring alive the historical glory, while on the other hand, excellent handicrafts, folk dance, music and cheerful people create a colorful atmosphere in the city.

Achievements
Jodhpur is called the judicial capital of Rajasthan, the High Court of Rajasthan is also located in Jodhpur. Jodhpur also has an airport to connect with the whole world. Famous departments of the whole Rajasthan like Meteorological Department, Narcotics Department, CBI, Customs, Textile Ministry etc. are present here.

Places to visit in Jodhpur:

Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort is one of the most beautiful forts [1] in Rajasthan as it is situated right on the top of the hill. The beauty of this fort is further enhanced by the gates built in a series. One of these gates is Jaipol. It was built by Raja Mansingh in 1806 AD. The name of the other gate is Vijay Dwar. It was built by Raja Ajit Singh to commemorate the victory over the Mughals. There are many important buildings inside the fort for tourists to see. Such as Moti Mahal, Sukh Mahal, Phool Mahal etc. The five kilometer long grand fort situated on a 125 meter high hill is one of the most impressive and formidable buildings. This fort has four gates [2] connected by winding roads, invisible from outside. Inside the fort there are many grand palaces, amazingly carved doors, latticed windows and inspiring names. Notable among these are Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Sileh Khana, Daulat Khana. These palaces contain an amazing collection of Indian royal attire. Apart from this, there is also an amazing collection of palanquins, elephant howdahs, miniature paintings of different styles, musical instruments, costumes and furniture.

Jaswant Thada
It is completely made of marble. It was built in 1899 in the memory of Raja Jaswant Singh (II) and his soldiers. Its artwork still attracts tourists. Built in 1899 AD from white marble in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, it is a group of royal monuments. Inside the main monument are pictures of various rulers of Jodhpur. A Chhath temple is also built.

Umaid Bhawan Palace
Maharaja Umaid Singh built this palace in 1943. The view of this palace made of marble and sandstone attracts tourists. Ancient clocks and paintings are also preserved in the museum of this palace. This is the only twentieth century palace built under the flood relief project. Due to which the flood victims got employment. This palace was completed in sixteen years. This very rich building made of sandstone is currently the residence of the former rulers, one part of which is a hotel and the rest is a museum.

Girdikot and Sardar Market
The colourful bazaar, dotted with narrow streets with tiny shops, is located in the heart of the city and is famous for its wide variety of handicraft items and is a favourite spot for shoppers.

Ghantaghar Market
Friends, if you have visited the famous places of Jodhpur and now you want to do shopping then this is another famous place where you can do shopping. You can buy clothes of your choice from this famous market and there is a huge crowd of people here to buy clothes.

Arna Waterfall
Now let us know about another famous place of Jodhpur. We are talking about Arna Waterfall. This is a very prominent and beautiful place where tourists from far and wide keep coming. Like the waterfall, tourists get attracted to see the greenery and fast flow of water. If you want to enjoy this place then it would be better to go in the rainy season of June, July.

Mandore Gardens
It is located at a distance of 08 km from the city. The ancient capital of Marwar houses the monuments of the rulers of Jodhpur. The Hall of Diamonds has fifteen rock-cut figures representing Hindu deities. With its high rocky platforms, its attractive gardens have also made it a popular picnic spot.

Mahamandir
It was built in 1812 AD. It is remarkable for its 84 carved pillars.

Kaylana Lake
Kaylana Lake is a famous lake in Jodhpur. This beautiful lake is an ideal picnic spot. The lake is located at a distance of 11 km from the main city.

Food
Especially milk products are used a lot here. Like Mawa Laddu, Cream Lassi, Mawa Kachori, and Doodh Firni etc. Mirchi Bada and Pyaaz Kachori are very famous here. In the food, rotis made of millet flour, which are called Sogra, are eaten prominently here. Sogra is eaten with any chutney, greens etc. which is delicious to eat. Similarly, buttermilk and onion are also eaten with it.

Gangaur pujan also has a special significance in Jodhpur and on this festival Gangaur floats are also taken out in the old city. Dhinga Gavar is an event that comes after this. On this day women come out at night in the city wall after performing various stunts and beat men with sticks. It is a unique festival of its kind.

GANGA MANDIR

The Ganga Mandir, which resides in the heart of the city of Bharatpur is one of the most beautiful temples in Rajasthan. In it lies the magnificent deity of Ganga Maharaj made of pristine white marble. Maharaja Balwant Singh started constructing this temple in the mid-19th century. However, he had a very unique request that required all the affluent inhabitants of the city to donate one month’s pay to help towards the temple’s creation.

LAXMAN MANDIR

This temple is dedicated to Laxman, brother of Lord Rama, and is famous for its typical Rajasthani style of architecture and beautiful pink stonework. Visitors will enjoy the intricate carvings of flowers and birds on doorways, ceilings, pillars, walls and arches.

KEOLADEO GHANA NATIONAL PARK

Every year, thousands of migratory waterfowl birds such as green sandpiper and cranes visit the park during winter. It was created in mid 18th century as a small reservoir located 5 kilometres to the southeast of Bharatpur. The construction of the Ajan Bund (dam) and the subsequent flooding of this natural depression led to one of the world’s most fascinating and spectacular bird reserves. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is considered to be one of the richest bird areas in the world today.

LOHAGARH FORT

True to its name, Lohagarh Fort has withstood many attacks by the British, but was ultimately captured by Arthur Wellesley. Where Lohagarh Fort differs from others is that it is not flamboyant, but radiates an aura of rugged strength. The fort is surrounded by a moat which used to be filled with water to keep enemies out. Interesting monuments inside the fort are Kothi Khas, Mahal Khas, Moti Mahal and Kishori Mahal. Raja Suraj Mal built Jawahar Bhurj and Fateh Bhurj to commemorate victories over the Mughals and the British.

DEEG

Deeg is a beautiful garden town situated north of Bharatpur. It has many embellished palaces that add to the beauty of the place. Known for its forts, palaces, gardens and fountains, the highlight of Deeg is an impressive fort surrounded by moats and gateways. It was built by Raja Suraj Mal and stands over a slightly elevated point. Although the interiors are almost in ruins, the watch tower containing a gun still maintains watch over the city.

BAND BARETHA

Band Baretha is an old wildlife reserve of the rulers of Bharatpur, currently under the administration of the Forest Department. The construction of the dam on Kakund River was started by Maharaj Jaswant Singh in 1866 AD and completed by Maharaj Ram Singh in 1897 AD. The palace inside the reserve was built by Maharaj Kishan Singh and is the private property of the Bharatpur royal family. Band Baretha is a bird watcher’s paradise because of over 200 species of birds, including the elusive Black Bittern.

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