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There are many places to visit in Jaipur.
City Palace: The sprawling palace of Sawai Jai Singh II, sits right in the centre of the geometric grid in the heart of the old city. It consists of the seven-storied Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal and other buildings. While the beautiful Chandra Mahal is still used as a residence by the former royal family, a part of the complex is open to the public as the City Palace Museum. The City Palace Museum houses an exquisite collection of textiles, costumes, carpets, the finest porcelain and a rare collection of arms and paintings. It is here that you can see the world’s largest silver objects - a pair of giant urns.
Timings: 9:30 am to 5:.00 pm daily except on public holidays.
Hawa Mahal: Hawa Mahal or the ‘Palace of Winds’ is one of the most unusual structures built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. Honeycombed with over 900 niches or windows, it allowed the ladies of the court to watch the activities on the streets below and yet not be seen themselves! The Hawa Mahal too is made of the famed Jaipur pink stone!
Timings: 9 am to 4 pm daily except Fridays.
Jantar Mantar: It is one of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh whose ruling passion was astronomy. It was built between 1728 and 1734 and consists of observer’s seat, sundial and a number of enormous instruments used to calculate altitude, locate and identify celestial bodies. These instruments are extremely accurate.
Timings: 9 am to 4.30 pm daily.
Nahargarh Fort: Also known as Tiger Fort the fort is located 2 km from Jaipur. It was once a royal retreat for the Maharanis (queens) and was also used as a personal treasury. Legend has it that a huge treasure of gold bullion, jewels and gemstones is stashed away within its wall. Access to the fort is via a steep winding path. Once up in the fort premises, visitors can enjoy an excellent view of the city and sip a cup of tea/coffee at the RTDC caféteria. Gaitor is the cremation ground of the rulers of Jaipur and is located at the foot of the Nahargarh hills. It has several ornate cenotaphs - Maharani ki Chattri, adorned by memorials to the royal ladies whose last rites were performed there.
Timings: 10 am to 4.30 pm.
Jaigarh Fort: The imposing Jaigarh Fort or the Fort of Victory was built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1726 stands sentinel over Amber. It housed the royal treasury for many years. The piece-de-resistance here is Jai Vana, believed to be the world’s largest cannon on wheels (barrel length 6m or 20 ft).
Timings: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Amber Fort: The fort-palace Amber, 11 km from Jaipur is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. Built in the 16th and early 17th centuries by Raja Man Singh and his successor Jai Singh I, it sprawls dramatically on a hillside overlooking the Maotha Lake. The white marble and red sandstone complex has some interesting apartments of a kind found nowhere else. The stunning Sheesh Mahal in the Jai Mandir, the Jas Mandir, Sukh Niwas and the shimmering gateway Ganesh Pol, justify the ten-minute climb up the hill. The less energetic can make the journey riding a caparisoned elephant, in the manner of former kings and queens.
Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Other sightseeing options are:
Birla Temple: It is one of the most revered Hindu temples located on an elevated ground at the base of Moti Dungari hill in Rajasthan. The Birla Temple looks like a magical palace during the festival of Janmashtami, which is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna. The magnificent structure in white marble glows in breathtaking radiance and captivates everyone with its unparalleled beauty.
Timings: 8:00 am to 7:00 pm daily.
Sisodia Palace and Garden: It is the 18th century palace with a terraced well laid garden where there are several galleries, pavilions and beautiful murals depicting scenes from the life of Lord Krishna. One can spend memorable time in the lap of the nature here. It is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.
Jal Mahal Palace: The Jal Mahal is a lovely palace/hunting lodge set in the Man Sagar Lake, used for duck-shoots by the royalty. Jal Mahal of Jaipur, Rajasthan is a five-story palace, with the first four floors being submerged under water. The best time to visit the Jal Mahal is during October to March.
Timings: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Dolls Museum: The museum is famous for its wide collection of beautiful dolls from all over the world. It is situated on Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg.
Timings: 10 am to 4 pm.
You can also visit the amusement park that will ease out your stress and give you a joyous experience. Visit Wonderland Amusement Park in Ram Niwas Bagh, Jaipur, Pink Pearl - The Fun City in 10th Mile, Ajmer Road, Jaipur and Fun Kingdom, near SFS Agrawal Farm, Mansarovar, Jaipur.
While taking a sightseeing tour in Jaipur you can experience ethnic Rajasthani culture by visiting the ethnic village resort Chokhi Dhani. A visit to Chokhi Dhani is a unique experience and takes one through the rich and vivid culture of the state. Located in 12 Miles, Tonk Road, Via Vatika, Jaipur, there are a lot of mesmerizing events Chokhi Dhani offers such as bullet cart rides, puppet shows, parrot fortune teller, Kalbeliya Dance, and not to forget the authentic Rajasthani culinary dishes.
Other places worth visiting include the Govind Devji Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna, the Jai Niwas Bagh and the Ram Niwas Garden with the Government Central Museum (Albert Hall) in the middle. While the museum has a rich collection of paintings, ivory and stone sculptures and carpets, Ram Niwas Bagh houses one of the oldest zoos in the country.
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