Exploring The Sights Of Jaipur
The city wall of Jaipur, visible from all around the city, is not your normal city wall by any means. Rather than the remaining sections being deep within a congested sprawl the likes of which one might see in many cities, this is an undulating major construction which circles the city some distance from its outer limits, following the contours of the land even where the inclines become steep and the peaks become seemingly inaccessible. It is in its way rather reminiscent of a scaled down version of the Great Wall Of China.
Our three days in Jaipur are spent exploring many of its notable sights. Rather than trot out endless facts which can be found via a quick Google, below is a brief description of each, with (mild) apologies for any lack of detail. Michaela’s photos do a better job, anyway….
Hawa Mahal, Palace Of Winds
Almost without doubt Jaipur’s most famous building, it’s something of a surprise to find this unusual yet majestic palace housed in just another street of madness rather than in a regal plaza. Constructed from red and pink sandstone, its latter day more obvious pink finish is said to emanate from an order by Maharaja Ram Singh in anticipation of a visit by British royalty in 1876, when many of Jaipur’s major buildings were given a makeover in that colour. It is from this event that Jaipur earned its “Pink City” nickname…though, incidentally, we’ve come across different accounts of which royal visitor was thus received.
Hawa Mahal is a uniquely striking building, its oversize pyramidal facade resembling a giant pink honeycomb, complete with no less than 953 windows. It’s actually the breezes whistling through these multiple apertures which give the palace its name. Behind the illustrious frontage the palace is a labyrinth of passageways and chambers surrounding a small but attractive courtyard where fountains dance in the breeze, but in truth the joy of Hawa Mahal is viewing its remarkable facade from a short distance away – climb one of the dimly lit stairways between the shops opposite and grab a table at a rooftop cafe for uninterrupted views.
Like Jaipur as a whole, Hawa Mahal is a tourist hotspot, though on today’s evidence the vast majority of visitors to the city are from across India rather than from further afield. Colourful and elegant sarees abound.
Jal Mahal, The Water Palace
Beautifully positioned out in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, Jal Mahal gives the illusion of a floating palace, its inverted image shimmering in the waters below. With two floors on its eastern side completely submerged when lake waters are at their highest, Jal Mahal is under constant threat of irreparable damage and in need of never ending repair and maintenance. It’s survived since 1699 though so those repairs have obviously been successful.
Inaccessible to the public and largely today the domain of cormorants, this ostentatious representation of Rajput architecture houses rooftop gardens with sizeable trees visible from the lakeside vantage points.
The Step Well, Panna Meena Ka Kund
Standing looking down into the Step Well is kind of mesmerising. Built of course as a way of storing natural water for the massed population of the city, its ingenious design provides access and platforms regardless of the water level, via symmetrical staircases which play tricks on the eyes.
Amer (or Amber) Fort & Palace
A tuk-tuk ride from the centre – followed by, advisedly, a jeep up the long steep hill – the Amer complex is a fascinating, rambling place, proudly sitting atop the highest hill and dominating the skyline. Once one is within the vast area covered by the fort, the opulence and wealth of its creators is absolutely obvious. Walking around its rambling structures we are constantly wowed by its detailed, ornate architecture.
Jantar Mantar
A remarkable place for many reasons, Jantar Mantar owes its existence to Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, whose fascination with astronomy attracted leading lights from the world of science to graduate to Jaipur to assist in its creation. Permanent structures measure the movement of planets and star constellations, monitoring passing seasons and keeping time to an accuracy of seven seconds. Although many of the on-site descriptions are too esoteric for us to fully comprehend, Jantar Mantar leaves the visitor in awe of both the knowledge of earlier generations and the determination to bring such major idealistic projects to fruition.
Cenotaph
Hidden from the bustling city, the burial site of royalty is an absolute haven of peace, as well as affording expansive views back across the city.
Albert Hall Museum
Set in an imposing position above a wide, open apron, the museum features displays and artefacts from around the world and from different eras, though for us we found the examples of local specialist artwork probably the most fascinating section. By the way, the many photographs on the internet of the Albert Hall reflected in a pool out front are deceptive and must have been taken on a rainy day: the water was merely a puddle on the paved frontage.
The Monkey Temple (Galta Ji)
Our last call and an unusual temple in a fabulous setting above the city, delicately placed between the rocky cliffs of the mountains where a surprisingly strong water source cascades through the centre. The endless and considerable supply of fresh water has for centuries been seen as miraculous, hence the siting of the temple – the water thus considered sacred. Judging by the visitors today, pilgrims from across India still come to douse themselves in the revered pools. Its nickname comes, of course, from the huge numbers of macaques who have made this lovely setting their home.
Once again, apologies for any brevity of detail, but it would take far too lengthy a post to do justice to the many worthy sights of Jaipur. Clearly a destination city for visitors from across India, Jaipur is an absorbing city with multiple layers of character, from breathless manic activity to places of meditative serenity.
Oh, and our Ayurvedic massage wasn’t bad either. Jodhpur next….
33 Comments
Lynette d'Arty-Cross
Thanks for the fantastic tour, Phil. The only part I would have skipped is the Monkey Temple as I really don’t like them. I’m assuming that the Amber Fort and Palace is amber in colour and that amber hasn’t been used to decorate it?
Phil & Michaela
No, it’s a bit more basic. The correct name is “Amer” but British colonisers found it easier to say “amber”, so it’s basically just an Anglicisation. Jaipur is full of worthy sights though, Lynette, although as it happens we were to like our next stop even more.
Lynette d'Arty-Cross
Thanks for the explanation. Cheers.
Monkey's Tale
So much to see in Jaipur, I even forgot about a few of them. Our favourite though were the cenotaphs, mostly because they were not very busy, compared to everywhere else. I’m curious what you think now Jodhpur after having visited Chefchaouen. We were disappointed, and hadn’t even seen Morocco’s version yet. Maggie
Phil & Michaela
Oh, chalk and cheese. Chefchaouen is on a different level….Jodhpur round up to come next!
restlessjo
Thanks for taking me there. It’s all I could ever want of India xx
Phil & Michaela
Glad to be of service ma’am 🙂
Eha Carr
I have tried to get to Jaipur and Udaipur half my lifetime . . . methinks you have just taken me there more comprehensively than I could ever have managed on my own. Never mind the temples and fabulous scenery . . . yikes > those monkey photos are beyond belief ! Talk about well-rehearsed actors !
Phil & Michaela
Monkey business in the extreme. We’ve just arrived in Udaipur today, with Jodhpur in between. Stay tuned 😀
Toonsarah
Lots of good memories for me here! I enjoyed Amber Fort a lot, probably because it was one of the first palaces we visited on our trip, and also for the views. I’m glad you opted for the jeep ride up rather than elephant – or have they stopped that horrible practice? I also have strong memories of trying to cross that manic road opposite the Hawa Mahal to get photos, and of an enterprising and clever lad in the viewing area for the Jal Mahal who showed us some magic tricks in return for a tip, including pulling a coin from behind Chris’s ear 😂
Phil & Michaela
Ha! No, no elephants now, it’s jeep or feet. Interesting city, Jaipur, with so much to see. We had some interesting personal encounters which didn’t make it into the narrative…. joining in a pre-wedding fun night…and then, hearing the first English voices for several days, meeting two couples who live about 30 minutes from us in Kent…!
Toonsarah
It’s a small world 😀
Jyothi
Loved it!! Have a wonderful time In India, Michaela and Phil!! Enjoy!!
Phil & Michaela
Thank you!
Helen Devries
All that in three days!
Phil & Michaela
😊
WanderingCanadians
Beautiful set of pictures from Michaela. I couldn’t help but laugh at the pictures of you guys with the monkeys. Looks like you guys are having fun.
Phil & Michaela
Always 😄
Marie
We were there in 2013 – the place was flooded so we didn’t see much at all – looking at this I can’t believe how much we missed out on!
Phil & Michaela
That’s unfortunate, Marie, there’s so much to see and experience there…
grandmisadventures
What an incredible collection of stunning palaces and buildings! I think though the Palace of Winds gets the award for beautiful name and beautiful building. Also the well stairs are amazing- they remind me of that picture by Escher.
Phil & Michaela
I said exactly the same, like the never ending staircase picture. Yep, a lot to admire in Jaipur, that’s for sure.
Lookoom
You have some beautiful photos of Jaipur. It’s wonderful that Indians can also visit their own country. During my stay, tourism was mainly for foreigners and organised tours, which wasn’t always pleasant. In Jaipur, I visited the same monuments, except for The Step Well, which unfortunately wasn’t on the itinerary.
Phil & Michaela
Really enjoyed Jaipur…things are definitely evolving as we move across the country, there’s a very different feel where we are now (Udaipur) from, for instance, Delhi.
Image Earth Travel
Wow, Jaipur looks so much busier than when I was there in 1985. Great photos that brought back many memories of my month travelling solo in India.
Phil & Michaela
It’s definitely busy!…..but it is a very popular time for Indians to take holidays, as it’s cooler. And Jaipur is very much a destination city.
Steven M Berger
Thanks for bringing back great memories. I can’t wait to read about places we haven’t visited and will probably never get to. I love seeing pictures of India. The colors, the smells, the energy level is just so intoxicating.
Stay safe,
Steve
Phil & Michaela
Yes, all of that! Definitely not for everyone but boy is it a stimulating, exciting place to be. Intoxicating is the right word, Steven…
Alison
An absolute sight for sore eyes. What a fabulous city. Especially the Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal. I wonder how that was even built. I’m with Lynette about the monkeys, my least favourite animal, definitely couldn’t have one on my head.
Phil & Michaela
There’s some variety creeping into this part of the journey Ali…which is rewarding. Hawa Mahal is a bit of an unusual gem.
Andrew Petcher
Thanks for the memory nudge.
Annie Berger
You’re right, Phil, to shine a light on Michaela’s photos of Jaipur – the shots of the magnificent Hawa Mahal are superb, as are those of the water palace, the monkeys, etc. What a treat seeing the city through you both again.
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Annie 😌