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Jaipur

J a i t r a y a t r a

B y : p r a k a s h s h e t t y u l e p a d y


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2 JAIPUR - Jaitra Yatra Tour Guide 3

Jaipur- THE PINK CITY City

Coordinates 265534N 754925E /

26.9260N 75.8235E / 26.9260; 75.8235

Country India

State Rajasthan

District(s) Jaipur

Mayor Jyoti KhandelwalPopulation

Density 3,210,570 (2009)

16,021 /km2 (41,494 /sq mi)

Ofcial languages Hindi

Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)

Area 431 m (1,414 ft)

Elevation 200.4 km2 (77 sq mi)

Codes

Pincode 3020 xx

Telephone +0141

UN/LOCODE IN JAI

Vehicle RJ-14

Website www.jaipur.nic.in

Jaipur (Rajasthani: [de.pr] Jaipur.ogg

(helpinfo)), also popularly known as the Pink City, is the

capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan.

During the British rule in India, Jaipur was the capital

of the princely state of Jaipur. Founded on 18 November

1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber,

the city today has a population of more than 3.2 million.

Jaipur is the rst planned city of India, located in the

semi-desert lands of Rajasthan. The city which once had

been the capital of the royalty now is the capital city of

Rajasthan. The very structure of Jaipur resembles the

taste of the Rajputs and the Royal families. At present,

Jaipur is a major business centre with all requisites of ametropolitan city.

The city is remarkable among pre-modern Indian cit-

ies for the width and regularity of its streets which are

laid out into six sectors separated by broad streets 111 ft

(34 m) wide. The urban quarters are further divided by

networks of gridded streets. Five quarters wrap around

the east, south, and west sides of a central palace quarter,

with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace

quarter encloses a sprawling palace complex, (Hawa Ma-

hal), formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort,

which was the residence of the King Sawai Jai Singh II,

crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city.

The observatory, Jantar Mantar, is one of the World

Heritage Sites. Jaipur is a popular tourist destination in

Rajasthan and India.

Contents

* 1 History

* 2 Geography and climate

o 2.1 Geography

* 3 Architecture

* 4 Administration

* 5 Politics

* 6 Infrastructure * 7 Transport

o 7.1 Road

o 7.2 Rail

o 7.3 Air

* 8 Economy

* 9 Tourism

* 10 Demographics

* 11 Culture

o 11.1 Festivals

* 12 Sister cities

* 13 References

* 14 Further reading

* 15 External links

HistoryMain article: History of Jaipur

Jaipur, Principal Street, c. 1875

Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai

Singh II who ruled from 16991744 and initially his

capital was Amber, which lies at a distance of 11 km

from Jaipur. He felt the need of shifting hi s capital city

with the increase in population and

growing scarcity of water. The King

consulted several books on architec-

ture and architects before making the

layout of Jaipur. Finally under the

architectural guidance of Vidyadar

Bhattacharya, (initially an accounts-

clerk in the Amber treasury andlater promoted to the ofce of Chief

Architect by the King) Jaipur came

into existence on the classical basis

of principles of Vastu Shastra and

similar classical treatise.

After waging several battles with the

Marathas, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II wa

the security aspect of the city. Being a lov

omy, Mathematics and Astrophysics, Jai S

advice from Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Br

scholar of Bengal, to aid him to design ma

buildings including the Royal Palace in th

the city.

The construction of the city started in 172

around 4 years to complete the major pala

and square. The city was built following th

of Shilpa Shastra, the science of Indian Ar

The city was divided into nine blocks, of w

consist the state buildings and palaces, wi

maining seven allotted to the public. Huge

walls were built along with seven strong g

For the time, architecture of the town was

vanced and certainly the b

subcontinent. In 1853, wh

of Wales visited Jaipur, th

city was painted pink to w

him during the regime of S

Singh. Today, avenues rem

in pink, provide a distinctiance to the city. In the 19t

the city grew rapidly; by 1

population of 160,000. Th

boulevards were paved an

The city had several hospi

industries were of metals a

J a i p u r - t h e p i n k C i t


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fostered by a school of art founded in 1868.

The city also had three colleges, including

a Sanskrit college (1865) and a girl s school

(1867) initiated under the reign of the enigmat-

ic Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. There was

also a wealthy and enterprising community of

native bankers, particularly the Jain, Marwaris

and the administrators Kayastha. Maharaja

Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur is the current

Maharaja of Jaipur.

Geography and climate

average max. and min. temperatures in F

precipitation totals in inches

Jaipur is located at 2655N 7549E / 26.92N

75.82E / 26.92; 75.82.[3] It has an average

elevation of 431 metres (1417 ft).

Jaipur is the headquarters of the Jaipur district

which is situated in the eastern part of Rajast-

han.

The major rivers passing through the Jaipur

district are Banas and Banganga. Ground water

resources to the extent of about 28.65 mil-

lion cubic meter are available in the district.

Although serious drought is rare, poor water

management and exploitation of groundwaterwith extensive tube-well systems threatens

agriculture in some areas.

Jaipur has a hot semi-arid climate (Kppen

climate classication BSh) receiving over

650 millimetres (26 in) of rainfall annually

but most rains occur in the monsoon months

between June and September. Temperatures

remain relatively high throughout the year,

with the summer months of April to early July

having average daily temperatures of around

30 C (86 F). During the monsoon there are

frequent, heavy rains and thunderstorms, but

ooding is not common. The winter months of

November to February are mild and pleasant,with average temperatures ranging from 1518

C (5964 F) and with little or no humidity.

There are however occasional cold waves that

lead to temperatures near freezing.

ArchitectureThe Ganesh Pol of Amber fort.Amber is now

part of Jaipur Municipal Corporation

Jaipur is considered by many urbanists to

be one of the best planned cities. In an era

when most of the Rajputs were busy ght-

ing with each other, Jaipurs kings diplo-

matically broadened their control sphere

maintaining good relations with the Mu-

ghals.

The city was planned according to Indian

Vastu Shastra (Vedic Planning for the

comfort and prosperity of the citizens). Thedirections of each street and market are East

to West and North to South. The Eastern

gate is called Suraj (Sun) Pol, while the

Western gate is called Chand (Moon) Pol.

There are three gates facing East, West,

and North and a Northern gate (known as

Zorawar Singh gate) which faces toward

the ancestral capital of Amber, while many

gates face South.

Although the present city has expanded

from outside of its walls, the original plan-

ning was within the walls. The gates used

to be closed at sunset and opened at sunrise.

Almost all Northern Indian towns of thatperiod presented a chaotic picture of nar-

row twisting lanes, a confusion of run-down

forts, temples, palaces, and temporary

shacks that bore no resemblance at all to

the principles set out in Hindu architectural

manuals which call for strict geometric

planning. Thus, for Sawai Jai Singh II and

the Bengali Guru Vidyadhar, the founding

of Jaipur was also a ritual and a great op-

portunity to plan a whole town according to

the principles of Hindu architectural theory.

The town of Jaipur is built in the form of

a eight-part Mandala known as the Pitha -

pada. Nine signies the nine planets of theancient astrological zodiac. It is also known

that Sawai Jai Singh II was a great as -

tronomer and a town planner, and hence the

Pithapada. Also, the commercial shops are

designed in multiples of nine (27), having

one cross street for a planet.

AdministrationThe administration is handled here at the

sion and District Level.

Jaipur being the capital of the state , this

the Secretariat which has almost all the a

tive ofcers looking into the functioning

Government.Apart from the Secretariat J

police headquarters also .

Politics

The Vidhan Sabha of Rajasthan in Jaipur

The recent general election showed treme

swing toward the Indian National Congre

with Ashok Gehlot emerging as the Chie

Rajasthan. The INC had won only 2 of 14

elections in the past. Currently Mahesh Jo

MP from Jaipur. Previously, Girdhari Lal

of BJP was the MP from Jaipur, who won

time in 1989 and has been elected six tim

then.

Jaipur Districts has 19 constituencies for

MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly)

han, namely Shahpura, Chaksu, Bassi, Ba

ganer, Malviya Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Kis

Civil Lines, Vidhyadhar Nagar, Hawa MaRamgarh, Amber or Amer, Banipark, Du

era, Chomu, Virat Nagar and Kotputli. B

the largest among these constituencies. R

stalwart Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has al

elected the MLA of Jaipur for three times

Jyoti Khandelwal is the new Mayor of Ja

pal Corporation (JMC). Totally, there are

Vidhan Parishad in Jaipur District.

Infrastructure

Jawahar Kala Kendra, designed by Charl

Jaipur, Rajasthan.

World Trade Park in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

In a recent International survey Jaipur wa

7th best place to visit in Asia and in anoth

was ranked third among twelve major Ind

Modern infrastructural facilities are deve

fast, and in many cases surpass those of l


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like Delhi and Kolkata. The city is expanding very

quickly and has become a hot spot for development

in Rajasthan. Jaipur International Airport is located at

a satellite location of Sanganer and offers ights to

Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata and

Guwahati along with sporadic services to Interna-

tional locations such as Dubai.

Since 2000 Jaipur has become a developed centre

for education. The city is very peaceful and many

north Indian families prefer to send their offspring

to Jaipur for higher and technical education. Jaipur

has more than 60 Engineering colleges, 40 Business

management institutes, 15 Pharmacy Institutes, 4

hotel management Institutes, 3 Medical colleges and

6 Dental colleges. It also has 8 universities including

the Rajasthan University. Malaviya National Institute

of Technology, Jaipur, The LNM Institute of Informa-

tion Technology, in Jaipur are one of the best techni-

cal institutes in India.

Jaipur has a well maintained road network with

multi-story yovers and trafc lights with closed

circuit cameras. Police control room (PCR) vans are

being equipped with GPS to monitor locations and

help maintain law and order.

Jaipur boasts of International Living standards with

well planned colonies of grid like patterns (sec-

tors and blocks) and parks well maintained by JDA

(Jaipur Development Authority). The various Shop-

ping malls and Multiplexes which offer a urban

lifestyle to Jaipurites.

Sawai Mansingh Cricket stadium in Jaipur is a popu-

lar venue for many International matches and f or

Indian Premier League matches. Events like Jaipur

Jewelry Show and Jaipur Literature Festival offer a

common platform for people not only from India but

from other countries also, giving Jaipur a cosmopoli-

tan image.

Sawai Mansingh Hospital, SDMH (Durlabhji Hos-

pital) and Fortis Hospital are among the most famed

hospitals of Jaipur. Apart from these, there are more

than 40 small and mid sized hospitals in the city.

Old city of Jaipur is highly congested, whereas

suburbs of Jaipur provide wide roads with free ow

of trafc. Tech Park has already became operational,

built by Mahindra Group and is expected to complete

by 2010.

transport

RoadThe city of Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajast-

han and is centrally located. National Highway No.8links Delhi to Mumbai, and National Highway No.11

links Bikaner to Agra, passing through Jaipur district

with a total length of 366 km. The total length of dif-

ferent types of roads in the district

was approximately 4,102 km in March

2000. Jaipur BRTS which is the Bus

Rapid Transit System serving the city

has been recently launched success-

fully.

RailJaipur Railway station is the head-

quarters of the North Western Railway

zone of the Indian Railways. It has di-

rect trains on the broad gauge network

to all major cities in Rajasthan and

India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kol -

kata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore,

Gandhinagar, Pune, Indore, Bhopal,

Gwalior, Jabalpur, Nagpur, Raipur,

Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna,

Trivendrum etc. and metre gauge ne

Ganganagar, Churu and Sikar. One

most famous and luxurious trains Th

Wheels, also makes a scheduled sto

Metro Train is going to start in the c

Mono rail also been proposed, avail

by 2012.

AirJaipur International Airport is situa

satellite town of Sanganer and offer

service to Muscat, Sharjah, Bangko

Jaipur also has well connected domlinks with Jodhpur, Udaipur, Aurang

Hyderabad, Kolkata, Goa, Chennai,

bad, Indore, Bangalore, Mumbai, S

Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Jabalpur.

EconomyJaipur district is a centre for both tr

modern industries. The main indust

ucts include: acetylene gas, ACSR (

Conductor Steel Reinforced) cable,

our (maida), atta our, ball bearings, bot

ceramics, pottery, cold roll strips, corruga

deoiled cakes, durries, dyeing and printing

electronic items, engraving on brass items

and non-ferrous castings, gems and jewelrengineering and manufacturing, granite sl

hand-made paper, handicraft items, haloge

bile headlamps, hawai chappals (sandal

Jaipur Internati


5/208 JAIPUR - Jaitra Yatra Tour Guide 9

hold electrical appliances, HT steel strips, iodized salt,

lamps, laminated springs for railways, marble statues,

marble tiles & slabs, moulded plastic components for

electronics, nitrochlorobenzene, oxygen gas, per-

fumes, pigments, plastic containers, P.P. multilament

yarn, PVC cables, PVC doors, PVC footwear, canvas

shoes, Portland cement, ready made garments (cloth-

ing), re-roller products, semolina (suji), steel furniture,

steel ingots, stone grits, synthetic leather, suits & shirts

made of synthetic materials, tablets and capsules, two

way radio and line, washing soap, wheat, woollen

carpets, rened vegetable oil and vanaspati ghee heavy

Steel fabrication, brass and lacquer work, enamel

work, gems and jewellery, granite tiles, handlooms,

marble statues, printed cloth and textiles, ready made

garments, woollen and silk carpets.

Jaipur has been ranked 31 among the 50 Emerging

Global Outsourcing cities.[5] Genpact and Infosys

have their BPO already established and running suc -

cessfully. In fact Genpact has the fastest growing loca-

tion in Jaipur. Real Estate business is ourishing well

from last 23 years. Some of the companies already

present here include MICO, Coca Cola, IBM, Ericsson

and NEI populary known as NBC Bearings.

Jaipur also has Reserve bank of India and many other

prominent international banks. Indias largest integrat-

ed IT SEZ Mahindra World City is located in Jaipur.

Master planned by Jurong Constructions Singapore it

covers nearly 3,000 acres (12 km2) of land off Ajmer

highway and has already attracted major companies

like Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, ISYS BPO

Services, Truworth and Deutsche Bank. Indias one of

a kind World Trade Park is also under construction in

Malaviya Nagar. It will be having luxury hotel, busi-

ness halls, ve screen multiplex, underwater restau-

rant and many showrooms of international brands. Incoming years it will be the hub for modern business

development in Jaipur.

Number of large and medium scale running units:

48 Number of small scale units: 19,544 Number

of industrial areas: 19 (Bagru, Bassi, Bais Godam,

Bindyaka, Dudu, Hirawala, Jetpura, Jhotwara, Kalad-

era, Kanakpura, Kartarpura, Malviya Nagar, Phulera,

Renwal, Sanganer, Shahpura, Sitapura, Sudarshanpur

and Vishwakarma). Jaipur is soon planned to have an

International Convention Centre and a Golf course. A

lm city near Agra highway is also in the pipeline.

Tourism

Jaipur is a very famous tourist and education destina-

tion in India. Lots of people ock to Jaipur to view the

various forts and monuments in Jaipur which reect its

glorious past. Tourism is a signicant part of Jaipurs

economy. Some of the worlds best hotels are located

here.

Forts & Monuments

* Hawa Mahal

* Amber Fort

* Jaigarh Fort

* Nahargarh Fort

* City Palace

* Jantar Mantar

* Jal Mahal

* Rambagh Palace

* Central Museum, (Albert Hall Museum)

Temples

* Govind Dev Ji temple

* Galtaji

* Birla Temple also known as Lakshmi

Mandir

* Moti Doongri Ganesh Temple

* Panchayati Hall devoted to Temples o

Durga and Lord Shiva

Gardens

* Ram Niwas Garden

* Sisodia Rani Garden and Palace

* Vidyadhar Garden

* Kanak Vrindavan

Others

* Chand Baori(stepwell)

* Chokhi Dhani

* Raj Mandir Cinema



RAJASTHAN



hawa MahalHawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, Jaipur

Hawa Mahal is located in Rajasthan

Location within Rajasthan

Coordinates 265525N 754936E / 26.923611N

75.826667E / 26.923611; 75.826667

Architectural style Fusion of Rajput Architecture

and Mughal Architecture

Structural system Red and pink sand stoneTown Jaipur

Country India

Client Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh

Completed 1799

Architect Lal Chand Usta

Hawa Mahal (Hindi: , translation: Palace

of Winds or Palace of the Breeze), is a palace in

Jaipur, India. It was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai

Pratap Singh, and designed by Lal Chand Usta in the

form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. Its unique

ve-storey exterior is also akin to the honeycomb of the

beehive with its 953 sm all windows called jharo khas

that are decorated with intricate lattice work. The origi-

nal intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to

observe everyday life in the street below without being

seen, since they had to observe strict purdah (face

cover).

Built of red and pink sandstone, the palace is situ-

ated on the main thoroughfare in the heart of Jaipurs

business centre. It form s part of the City Palace, and

extends to the Zenana or womens chambers, the

chambers of the harem. It is particularly striking when

viewed early in the morning, lit with the golden light of

sunrise.

Contents * 1 History

* 2 Architecture

2.1 Restoration and renovation

* 3 Visitor information

* 4 Gallery

* 5 Notes

* 6 References

HistoryMaharaja Sawai Jai singh, the ruler of Rajasthan of the

Kachwaha clan, was the original planner and builder

who built the Jaipur city in 1727. However, it was his

grandson Sawai Pratap Singh, son of Maharaja Sawai

Madhosingh I, who built the Hawa Mahal in 1799 as a

continuation of the Royal City Palace. Pratap Singhs

deep devotion to the Hindu god Lord Krishna is in -

ferred to have prompted him to build it as a dedication,in the form of a Mukuta or headgear, adorning the Lord.

Though no historical record is available to its exact

history, it is conjectured that Royal family ladies, who

were under strict observance of purdah (the practice of

preventing wom en from being seen by men), had to be

given opportunity to witness proceedings in the market

centre and watch the royal processions and festivities

sitting behind the stone carved screens. Hawa Mahal

did just that in style, amidst its luxurious comforts and

behind strict screened exclusivity, unseen by outsider s.

Royal family of Jaipur, during their reign, also used the

Mahal as a hot weather retreat, during the suffocating

summer season, for several years, since the unusually

designed window screens provided the needed coolbreeze.

ArchitectureThe palace is a ve-story pyramidal shaped monument

that rises to a height of 50 feet (15 m) from its high

base. The top three oor s of the structure have a d imen-

sion of one room width while the rst and second oors

Forts & Monuments

have patios in front of them, on the rear side of the

structure. The front elevation, as seen from the street,

is like a honeycomb web of a beehive built with small

portholes. Each po rthole has miniature w indows and

has carved sandstone grills, nials and domes. It is a

veritable mass of semi-octagonal bays, which gives the

monument its unique faade. The inner face on the back

side of the building consists of need-based chambers

built with pillars and co rridors with least ornam enta-tion, and reach up to the top oor. The interior of the

Mahal has been described as having rooms of different

coloured marbles, relieved by inlaid panels or gilding;

while fountains adorn the centre of the courtyard.

Lal Chand Usta was the architect of this unique struc-

ture who also planned Jaipur city, considered then as

one of the best-planned cities in India. Built in red and

pink coloured sa nd stone, in keeping w ith the dcor

of the other monuments in the city, its colour is a full

testimony to the epithet of Pink City given to Jaipur.

Its faade depicts 953 niches with intricately carved

Jharokhas (some are made of wood) is a stark contrast

to the plain looking rear side of the structure. Its cul-

tural and architectural heritage is a true reection ofa fusion of Hindu Rajput architecture and the Islamic

Mughal architecture; the Rajput style is seen in the

form of domed canopies, uted pillars, lotus and oral

patterns, and the Islami c style is evident in its stone

inlay ligree work and arches (as distinguished from its

similarity with the Panch Mahal - the palace of winds -

at Fatehpur Sikri).

The entry to the Hawa Mahal from the city palace side

is through an imperial door. It opens into a large court-

yard, which has double storeyed buildings on three

sides, with the Hawa Mahal enclosing it on the east

side. An archaeological museum is also housed in this

courtyard.

Hawa Mahal was also known as the chef-duvre of

Maharaja Jai Singh as it was his favourite resort be-

cause of the elegance and built-in interior of the Ma -

hal. The cooling effect in the chambers, provided by

the breeze passing through the small windows of the

faade, was enhanced by the fountains provided at the

centre of each of the chambers.

The panoramic view from the roof of the M

ning. The bazaar (the Seredeori Bazaar or m

the east resembles avenues of Paris. Green

mountains and the Amer Fort form the scen

west and north. The Thar deserts intermin

undulating vapour lies to the east and sout

transformation of the landscape, from a sta

late land of the past, occurred because of th

efforts of the Maharajas of Jaipur. So muchMahal has been stated to be a counterpart o

Views of the Jantar Mantar and the City Pa

be witnessed from the to p oor of the mon

The top two oors of the Hawa Mahal are

only through ramps. The Mahal is maintain

archaeological department of the Governm

than.

Restoration and renovat

In 2005, restoration and renovation works

were undertaken, after a long gap of 50 yea

a face lift to the monument at an estimated

45 lakhs . The corporate sector is also lendto preserve the historical monuments of Jai

Unit Trust of India has adopted Hawa Mah

tain it.

Visitor informationThe Mahal, called as the specimen of fanc

tecture, is located to the north of the Jaipu

main road intersection called the Badi Cha

four square). Jaipur city is well connected b

and air links with the rest of the country. Ja

Station is a central main station on the broa

of the Indian Railways. As well, Jaipur is c

by major highw ays, and by the Intern ation

Sanganer, at a distance of 13 kilometres (8

the city.

Entry to the Hawa Mahal is not from the fr

a side road to the rear end. Facing the Haw

turning right and again to the rst right, lea

archway entry and then to the rear side of t

Forts & MonuMents* Hawa Mahal * Amber Fort * Jaigarh Fort * Nahargarh Fort * City Palace *

Mantar * Jal Mahal * Rambagh Palace * Central Museum, (Albert Hall Mu


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aMBer Fort

Amber Fort (Hindi: , also known as

Amer Fort) is located in Amber, 11 km from Jaipur,

Rajasthan state, India. It was the ancient citadel of the

ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber, before the capital was

shifted to present day Jaipur. Amber Fort is known for

its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Mus-

lim (Mughal) elements, and its ornate and breathtaking

artistic mastery. The fort borders the Maota Lake, and

is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan.

Contents * 1 Origins

* 2 Structure

* 3 Tourism and tourist attractions

* 4 Renovation

* 5 Gallery

* 6 References

* 7 Also see

* 8 Further reading

* 9 External links

OriginsAmber was originally built by the Meenas in the town

they consecrated to Amba, the Mother Goddess, whom

they knew as `Gatta Rani or `Queen of the Pass Built

over the remnants of an earlier structure, the palace

complex which stands today was commenced under

the reign of Raja Man Singh, Commander in Chief of

Akbars army and a member of the Emperors inner

circle of nine courtiers, in 1592. The initial structure of

the fort was entirely completed by his descendant, Jai

Singh I. Amber was modied by successive rulers over

the next 150 years, until the Kachwahas shifted their

capital to Jaipur during the time of Sawai Jai Singh II.

Structure

An interior view of a room in the palace covered in

thousands of tiny mirrors.

The structure which is known today as Amber Fort

was initially a palace complex within the original fort

of Amber that is today known as Jaigarh Fort. Con -

nected to Amber via fortied passages, Jaigarh Fort

is located on a hill above the Amber complex, and

is constructed of red sandstone and white marble. It

overlooks Maotha Lake, and was reputed to be the

treasure vault of the Kacchwaha rulers.

Like the entire fort complex, Amber Fort is also con -

structed of white and red sandstone. The Fort is unique

in that its outside, an imposing and rugged defensive

structure, is markedly different from its inside, an

ornate, lavish interior inuenced by both Hindu and

Muslim (Mughal) styles of ornamentation. The walls

of the interior of the fort are covered with murals,

frescoes, and paintings depicting various scenes from

daily life. Other walls are covered with int

ings, mosaic, and minute mirror work.

Amber Fort is divided into four sections. E

cessible via large staircases from a central

from a broad pathway leading to each of t

The pathways are currently used to transp

via an elephant ride. The main entrance of

Surajpol, leads to the Jaleb chowk, the ma

of the Fort where the staircase to the pala

In ancient times, Jaleb Chowk was the are

returning armies were paraded back home

Just prior to the palace entrance is a narroleading to the Kali Temple, also known as

Devi Temple, made popular for its enormo

lions. The origins and purpose of these lar

still unknown. The Kali Temple is known

doors with raised reliefs. According to leg

haraja Man Singh I had worshiped Kali fo

over the rulers of Bengal. The legend says

appeared in the Maharajas dream and ord

to recover her statue from the Jessore seab

Bangladesh) and place it in an appropriate

accuracy of the legend has not been verie

it is said that the Maharaja recovered the s

the bed of the sea and created the temple. A

riosity is an image of Ganesha at the temp

carved entirely from a single piece of cora

Tourism and tourist atttionsToday, tourists can ride up to the fort from

of the hill on elephants. On the ride, one c

skyline of Jaipur, Maotha lake, and the ori

walls. The fort can be toured with a guide

own. You also have audio guides available

languages. The sound and light show in th

worth a view. Due to low rainfalls, the lak

up and its not clear. That is, if and when it

lled with water again (as of May 2009).

One of the most striking parts of the fort i

Mahal (Hall of Mirrors). Tour guides tell v

when the palace was occupied by royalty, could be lit at night by a single candle bec

the tiny, intricate mirrors.

RenovationA large part of the fort is closed for renova

the upcoming Commonwealth Games in 2


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Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort, located around 15 km from Jaipur, is one of the most spec -

tacular forts in India, with almost all its original facilities intact. While

Jaigarh Fort is on top of the hill, Amber Fort is at the bottom. The forts

are connected through well-guarded passages. Many consider the two

together as one complex.

Jaigarh Fort was a center of artillery production for the Rajputs and

it is home to the worlds largest cannon on wheels, the Jaivana. The

foundries provide fascinating information for the visitors. The manner

in which they drew in blasts of air from the desert is most intriguing. A

5km long canal can be seen entering the fort complex to bring in waterfrom the high hills and store in the fort for the armymen. A huge water

tank is centrally located connecting the canal. It is assumed that the

Kings of Amber/Jaipur used the compartments below the water tank to

store the gold and jewellery of the royal family. It is said that this tank

was opened during the Emergency declared by the Indian Prime Minis -

ter Indira Gandhi during 1975-1977. Views of the barren Aravalli Hills

gradually disappearing into the desert haze can keep one engrossed for

hours.

nahargarh

Fort

Nahagarh Fort stands on the

edge of the Aravalli Hills,

overlooking the pink city

of Jaipur in the Indian state

of Rajasthan. The view

of the city from the fort is

breath taking. Along with

Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort

it formed a strong defencering for the city. During

the Sepoy revolt of 1857,

Nahagarh served as a refuge

for Europeans eeing from

the havoc created by mu-

tineers in neighboring states.

Nahar Singh Temple in Nahar-garh FortThe word Nahargarh means the abode of tigers. Legends

say that it was name after Prince Nahar whose spirit

haunted the place and obstructed construction of the fort.

Built mainly in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai

partially in ruins. It was extended in 1868. T

linked by corridors and still have some delic

There are nine apartments for the nine queen

raja had and all are well planned and decora

garh is also called the hunting residence of M


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City palaCe, JaipurCity Palace complex, Jaipur

City Palace, Jaipur is located in Rajasthan

Location within Rajasthan

Coordinates 265532N 754925E / 26.9255N

75.8236E / 26.9255; 75.8236

Architectural style Fusion of Rajput Architecture

and Mughal Architecture

Structural system Red and pink sand stone

Town Jaipur

Country India

Client Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II

Started 1729Completed 1732

Architect Vidyadar Bhattacharya and Sir Samuel

Swinton Jacob

Stereoscopic picture of the Chandra Mahal in 1903

City Palace, Jaipur, which includes the Chandra Mahal

and Mubarak Mahal palaces and other buildings, is a

palace complex in Jaipur city, the capital of the Raj-

asthan state, India. It was the seat of the Maharaja of

Jaipur, the head of the Kachwaha Rajput clan. The

Chandra Mahal palace now houses a museum but the

greatest part of it is still a royal residence. The palace

complex, which is located northeast of the centre of

the grid patterned Jaipur city, incorporates an impres-

sive and vast array of courtyards, gardens and build -ings. The palace was built between 1729 and 1732,

initially by Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber.

He planned and built the outer walls, and later addi-

tions were made by suc-

cessive rulers right up to

the twentieth century. The

credit for the urban layout

of the city and its struc-

tures is attributed to two

architects namely, Vidyadar

Bhattacharya, the chief

architect in the royal court

and Sir Samuel Swinton

Jacob, apart from the Sawai

himself who was a keenarchitectural enthusiast.

The architects achieved a

fusion of the Shilpa shastra

of Indian architecture with

Rajput, Mughal and Euro-

pean styles of architecture.

Contents * 1 History

* 2 Structures

o 2.1 Entrance gates

o 2.2 Mubarak Mahal

o 2.3 Chandra Mahal

o 2.4 Pitam Niwas Chowk

o 2.5 Diwan-I-Khas

o 2.6 Diwan-I-Aam

o 2.7 Maharani palace

o 2.8 Bhaggi Khana

o 2.9 Govind Dev Ji temple

* 3 Visitor information * 4 Gallery

* 5 Notes

* 6 References

* 7 External links

HistoryThe palace complex lies in the heart of Jaipur city, to

the northeast of the very centre, located at 265532N

754925E / 26.9255N 75.8236E / 26.9255;

75.8236. The site for the palace was located on the site

of a royal hunting lodge on a plain land encircled by

a rocky hill range, ve miles sou th of Amber (city).

The history of the city palace is closely linked with the

history of Jaipur city and its rulers, starting with Ma-

haraja Sawai Jai Singh II who ruled from 1699-1744.He is credited with initiating construction of the city

complex by building the outer wall of the complex

spreading over many acres. Initially, he ruled from his

capital at Amber, which lies at a distance of 11 kilome-

tres (6.8 mi) from Jaipur. He shifted his capital from

Amber to Jaipur in 1727 because of an increase in

population and increasing water shortage. He planned

Jaipur city in six blocks separated by broad avenues,

on the classical basis of principals of Vastushastra and

other similar classical treatise under the architectural

guidance of Vidyadar Bhattacharya, a man who was

initially an accounts-clerk in the Amber treasury and

later promoted to the ofce of Chief Architect by the

King.

Following Jaisinghs death in 1744, there were inter-

necine wars among the Rajput kings of the region but

cordial relations were maintained with the British Raj.

Maharaja Ram Singh sided with the British in the Sep -

oy Mutiny or Uprising of 1857 and established himselfwith the Imperial rulers. It is to his credit that the city

of Jaipur including all of its monuments (including the

City Palace) are stucco painted Pink and since then

the city has been called the Pink City. The change in

colour scheme was as an honour of hospitality ex-

tended to the Prince of Wales (who later became King

Edward VII) on his visit. This colour scheme has since

then become a trademark of the Jaipur city

Man Singh II, the adopted son of Maharaj

Singh II, was the last Maharaja of Jaipur t

the Chandra Mahal palace, in Jaipur. This

however, continued to be a residence of th

family even after the Jaipur kingdom merg

Indian Union in 1949 (after Indian indepe

August 1947) along with other Rajput stat

pur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner. Jaipur became

of the Indian state of Rajasthan and Man S

the distinction of becoming the Rajapramu

day Governor of the state) for a time and l

Ambassador of India to Spain.

Structures

The City Palace is in the central-northeasJaipur city, which is laid in a grid pattern w

avenues. It is a unique and arresting comp

eral palaces, pavilions, gardens and templ

prominent and most visited structures in th

are the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, M

hal, Maharanis Palace, Shri Govind Dev

the City Palace Museum.


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where weapons used by the royalty during war cam -

paigns are displayed, including those belonging to the

15th century. The ceiling of this chamber has unique

frescoes, which are preserved using jewel dust of

semiprecious stones. A particular weaponry on display

is the scissor-action dagger, which when thrust into

an enemys body is said to disembowel the victim, on

its withdrawal. The other artefacts on display include

swords with pistols attached to it, the sword presented

by Queen Victoria to Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh

(183580) which is inlaid with rubies and emeralds,

guns serving as walking sticks and a small canon

which could be mounted on a camels back and many

more.

Bhaggi KhanaBhaggi Khana is a museum in the palace complex

where a collection of old carriages, palanquins and

European cabs adopted as baggis to Indian situations

are on display here. The baggi which attracts attention

is the one gifted by Prince of Wales to the Maharaja in

1876, called the Victoria baggi. Also on display here

are the mahadol, a palanquin with a single bamboo bar

that was used to carry the priests and a Rath (chariot)

that was used for carrying the idols of Hindu gods in

procession on festive occasions.

Govind Dev Ji templeGovind Dev Ji temple, dedicated to the Hindu god

Lord Krishna, is part of t he City Palace complex. It

was built in early eighteenth century outside the walls

set in a garden environment. It has European chan -

deliers and paintings of Indian art. The ceiling in the

temple is ornamented in gold. Its location provided a

direct view to the Maharaja from his Chandar Mahal

palace. The arathi (prayer offering) for the deity can be

seen by devotees only for seven times during the day.

Visitor informationThe palace complex is in the heart of the Pink City,slightly northeast of the very centre of Jaipur. Jaipur is

well connected by a network of road, rail and air links

to all the major cities and towns of India.

National Highway No.8 linking Delhi to Mumbai, and

No.11 linking Bikaner to Agra, passes through Jaipur.

Jaipur is on the broad-gauge and meter gauge net -

work of the Indian Railways and has direct trains on

the broad gauge network to all major cities in Rajas-

than and India. Jaipur is also connected with a metre

gauge rail route with Sri Ganganagar, Churu

and Sikar. One of Indias most famous and

luxurious trains the Palace on Wheels, alsomakes a scheduled stop in Jaipur.

Jaipurs Jaipur International Airport (IATA:

JAI, ICAO: VIJP) known as Sanganer In-

ternational Airport is sit uated in its satellite

town of Sanganer. It provides domestic air

links with Jodhpur, Udaipur, Aurangabad,

Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Goa, Chennai,

Ahmedabad, Indore, Bangalore, Mumbai,

Surat, Bhopal, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and

Jabalpur. Its international operations are,

however, sporadic, with ights to and from

Muscat, Sharjah, Bangkok and Dubai.

The City Palace and the Museum are open tovisitors from Monday to Saturday between

10 AM to 5PM and an entry fee for foreign-

ers of Rs 150/80 for adult/child and Rs.

35/20 for Adult/child, Indian citizens.

Jantar Mantar (Jaipur)

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur*

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Tourists gather at Jantar Mantar

State Party India

Type Cultural

Criteria iii, iv

Reference 1338

Region** South Asia

Inscription history

Inscription 2010 (34th Session)

* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.

** Region as classied by UNESCO.

Coordinates: 265529N 754928E / 26.92472N

75.82444E / 26.92472; 75.82444 The Jantar Mantar

is a collection of architectural astronomical instru-

ments, built by Maharaja (King) Jai Singh II at his

then new capital of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734. It

is modeled after the one that he had built for him at

the Mughal capital of Delhi. He had constructed a total

of ve such facilities at different locationsthe ones at Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur ob

is the largest and best preserved of these. I

inscribed on the World Heritage List as a

of the astronomical skills and cosmologic

of the court of a scholarly prince at t he en

Mughal period.

Contents * 1 Name

* 2 Description

* 3 Filming location

* 4 See also

* 5 External links

* 6 References

NameThe name is derived from jantar (instrum

Mantar (formula, or in this context calc

Therefore jantar mantar means literally c

strument. This observatory has religious s

since ancient Indian astronomers were als

masters.


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DescriptionObservation deck of the samrat yantra (Giant sundial).

The observatory consists of fourteen major geometric

devices for measuring time, predicting eclipses, track-

ing stars location as the earth orbits around the sun,

ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determin-

ing the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides.

Each is a xed and focused tool. The Samrat Yantra,

the largest instrument, is 90 feet (27 m) high, its shad-

ow carefully plotted to tell the time of day. Its face is

angled at 27 degrees, the latitude of Jaipur. The Hindu

chhatri (small cupola) on top is used as a platform forannouncing eclipses and the arrival of monsoons.

Built from local stone and marble, each instrument

carries an astronomical scale, generally marked on the

marble inner lining. Bronze tablets, all extraordinarily

accurate, were also employed. Thoroughly restored in

1901, the Jantar Mantar was declared a national monu -

ment in 1948.

An excursion through Jai Singhs Jantar is a unique

experience of walking through solid geometry and en-

countering a collective astronomical system designed

to probe the heavens.

A view of the smaller of two Giant sundials.

The instruments are in most cases huge structures. The

scale to which they have been built has been alleged

to increase their accuracy. However, the penumbra of

the sun can be as wide as 30 mm, making the 1mm

increments of the Samrat Yantra sundial devoid of

any practical signicance. Additionally, the masons

constructing the instruments had insufcient experi-

ence with construction of this scale, and subsidence

of the foundations has subsequently misaligned them.

The samrat yantra, for instance, which is a sundial,

can be used to tell t he time to an accuracy of

about two seconds in Jaipur local time.The

Giant Sundial, known as the Samrat Yantra

(The Supreme Instrument) is the worlds

largest sundial, standing 27 meters tall. Its

shadow moves visibly at 1 mm per second,

or roughly a hands breadth (6 cm) every

minute, which for most people is a visibly

profound experience.

Today the observatory is a popular tour-

ist attraction. However, local astronomers

still use it to predict the weather for farm-

ers, although their authority is becoming

increasingly questionable. Students of

astronomy and Vedic astrology are required

to take some of their lessons at the observa-

tory, and it can be said that the observatory

is the single most representative work of

Vedic thought that still survives, apart from

the texts. Many of the smaller instruments

display remarkable innovation in architec-

tural design and its relation to function, for

instance - the Ram Yantra.Filming location

It was used as a lming location for the

2006 lm The Fall as a maze.

Storm Thorgerson photographed the sundial

for the cover of Shpongles DVD, Live at

the Roundhouse 2008.

Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal Palace amidst Man Sagar Lake

Location Jaipur

Coordinates 265713N 755047E / 26.9537N

75.8463E / 26.9537; 75.8463Coordinates:

265713N 755047E / 26.9537N 75.8463E /

26.9537; 75.8463

Lake type Freshwater - Recreational

Catchment area 23.5 square kilometres (9.1 sq

mi)

Basin countries India

Surface area 300 acres (120 ha)

Max. depth 4.5 metres (15 ft)

Settlements Jaipur

Jal Mahal (meaning Water Palace) is a palace locat-

ed in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city,

the capital of the state of Rajasthan, India. The palace

and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in

the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.

The urban lake gets lled up during the rainy season;

over the years, once the reservoir became full during

rainy season, it got covered with Hyacinth. During

this period the red stoned palace became approachable

only by boat and th rough a causeway, and presented a

spectacle on the way to Jaipur city from Delhi.

The lake got polluted due to sewage ow

Jaipur city. The palace remained uninhabi

not maintained and hence not visited by to

remove the ecological damage caused to t

due to indiscriminate pollution from the crestoration measures were undertaken, sin

after a detailed study by the Government o

But serious efforts were initiated only in 2

a very large restoration project undertaken

joint-venture company called the Project D

Company Limited (PDCOR Ltd), Jaipur, a

terprise (a consortium led by KGK Group

tion with the Government of Rajasthan, w

tional support provided by the Infrastructu

& Financial Services (IL&FS), a parastata

tion of the Government of India, and the M

Environment and Forests (MOE&F). The

tive of the project is conservation and man

the lake in regard to ecological developme

able sheries development, and wildlife dThe purpose of the project is also to cater

industry, because Rajasthan attracts the lar

of tourists every year; 650,000 national an

international tourists are said to visit the s

year. Tourism in the state of Rajasthan is g

monument-centric, particularly in Jaipur a

context Jal Mahal has an important role.


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Contents * 1 Topography

* 2 History

* 3 Man Sagar lake

* 4 Fauna and ora

* 5 The Palace

* 6 Restoration works

* 7 Visitor information

* 8 Gallery

* 9 References

Topography

Aravalli hills in JaipurThe lake, situated to the north of Jaipur city lies be-

tween Amber, the historic city and Jaipur, the pro-

vincial headquarters of Rajastan state. It has a water

spread area of 300 acres (121 ha) and is enclosed by

the Aravalli hills on the north, west and eastern side,

while the southern side consists of plains that is in-

tensely inhabited. There is the Nahargarh Fort (Nahar-

garh means home of tigers) in these hills that provides

a commanding view of the Man Sagar lake and the Jal

Mahal palace, in addition to a beautiful view of the

city of Jaipur. The lake was created by constructing a

dam across the Darbhawati River, between Khilagarh

hills and hilly areas of Nahargarh, in the 16th century.

The drainage area of the lake is 23.5 square kilometres

(9.1 sq mi)contributed by an urban area accountingfor 50%, hilly terrain accounting for the balance area

comprising the degraded Aravalli hills, which have

added to siltation problem in the lake. Rain fall of an

average of 657.4 millimetres (25.88 in) per year (90%

of this rainfall occurs during the months of June to

September) in the catchment contributes to the storage

in the reservoir. At the outlet end of the dam, there is

an irrigation system that is supplied with water stored

in the reservoir (obligatory water demand for this is

reported to be 2.41 MCM during the ve months from

November to March). But two large nalas (streams)

that also drain the surrounding Nahargarh hills and the

Jaipur town are the Brahmpuri and Nagtalai, which

bring in large amount of untreated sewage ows, in

addition to solid wastes.

Geology and soilsThe hills surrounding the lake area, towards the north

east of Jaipur, has quartzite rock formations (with

thin layer of soil cover), which is part of Aravalli hills

range. Rock exposures on the ground surface in some

parts of the project area have also been utilised for

constructing buildings. On the north east, the Kanak

Vrindavan valley, where temple complex is sit uated,

the hills slope gently towards the lake edge. Withinthe lake area, ground conditions depict a thick mantle

of soil, blown sand and alluvium. Forest denudation,

particularly of hilly areas, has caused soil erosion,

compounded by erosion due to wind and water. Due to

this, silt moved to the lake resulting in raise of the bed

level of the lake.

HistoryMan Sagar Dam at the Jal Mahal Palace lake outlet

In the past, at the location of the lake, there was a

natural depression where water used to accumulate.

During 1596 AD, when there was a severe famine in

this region there was consequent acute shortage of

water. The then ruler of Ajmer was, therefore, moti-vated to build a dam to store water to overcome the

severe hardships caused by the famine to the people

inhabiting the region. A dam was constructed, initially

using earth and quartzite, across the eastern valley

between Amer hills and Amagarh hills. The dam was

later converted into a stone masonry structure in the

17th century. The dam, as existing now (see picture),

is about 300 metres (980 ft) long and 28.534.5 metres

(94113 ft) in width. It is provided with three sluice

gates for release of water for irrigation of agricultural

land in the down stream area. Since then, the dam, the

lake and the palace in its midst have undergone several

rounds of restoration under various rulers of Rajasthan

but the nal restoration in the 18th century is credited

to Jai Singh II of Amer. During this period, a number

of other historical and religious places, such as the

Amer Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Khilangarh

Fort, Kanak Vrindavan Valley were also built in the

vicinity of the lake. All these places are now linked

under a tourist corridor of road net work.

Status of water qualityIn recent years, with urbanization of Jaipur city and

areas surrounding the lake, ecological system of the

lake and its vicinity area deteriorated drastically. It got

silted up heavily thereby reducing the surface area ofthe lake. The silt deposited (estimated to be about 2.5

MCM) was contaminated with efuents (untreated

sewage) from the city drainage causing intense eu -

trophication. The ground water around the lake was

also found to be highly contaminated and created

serious health hazards. The rainwater combined with

sewage water ow from the city resulted in the lake

water emnating foul smell. Water samples collected

from the lake were tested, which clearly showed that

water quality was not uniform. It was extremely poor

in southeast, south and southwest caused due inuent

nalas. The water quality parameters of BOD and total

nitrogen recorded were 20 mg/L each. BOD values

indicated high level of organic matter. COD denoted

a very high level of oxidisable chemicals. Nitrate andphosphate content were excessive. Coliform number

was more than 500 times the normal. The Chloride

content was found to be fatal to plants and shes.

Hydrology

The fresh water into the lake is seasonal during rains

between July and September. This ow originates

from 325 small and big streams that drain the hilly

catchment of the lake. But the two municipal nalas

from the Jaipur city contribute the perennial ow to

the lake. The volume of water in the lake has been

assessed as 3.13 million cubic metres (MCM) at the

maximum water level. During lean season

be about 0.36 MCM from October to June

of water at the deepest location in the lake

to be a maximum of 4.5 metres (15 ft) and

of 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). In additi on, the store

also used for irrigation on the downstream

lake during summer months resulting in d

the lake in these months.[8]

Fauna and floraFlamingo Common Moorhen

The reserve forest area of the lake catchmeral wild life species such as Deer, Jungle

hyena, Indian Fox, Indian wild Boar and l

The lake used to be a bird watchers parad

past and was a favorite ground for the Raj

Jaipur for royal duck shooting parties duri

The lake was natural habitat for more than

cies of local and migratory birds that inclu

Flamingo, Great Crested Grebe, Pintail, P

Kestrel, Coot, Redshank, Marsh Sandpipe

Herring Gull, Red Breasted Flycatcher, G

but their numbers declined with the deteri

the lake. Now, with restoration works und

birds have started visiting the lake again, t

to the same degree as in the past. In order attention to the lakes condition, a private

holding an annual birding fair was started

reported that the common moorhen, a resi

has started breeding in large numbers at th

other birds seen now are the g rey geron, w

wagtail and blue tailed bee eaters.The lake

home for a large species of the aquatic eco

as sh, insects, microorganisms and aquat

tion.

The ora is dictated by the subsidiary Eda

dry tropical forests in the catchment; the t

area of 9.01 square kilometres (3.48 sq mi


15/20


dense forest cover of 6.45 square kilometres (2.49 sq

mi) area, degraded forest of 0.95 square kilometres

(0.37 sq mi) and encroachment of 1.61 square kilo -

metres (0.62 sq mi). The dominant oral specie found

in the area is Dhauk (Anogeissus pendula), which

has lean foliage. The low vegetation cover and steep

gradient of the hills causes substantial erosion and

the eroded material ows into the l ake. On the west-

ern side, beyond the urbanized area, the Nahargarh

hills on the western side are also denuded, which has

reduced its moisture retaining capacity.

The Jal Mahal palace is considered an architectural

beauty built in the Rajput and Mughal styles of ar-

chitecture (common in Rajasthan) providing a pictur-

esque view of the lake (from the Mansagar dam on

the eastern side of the lake that acts as a vantage point

for viewing the lake and the valley), and the surround-

ing Nahargarh (abode of the tigers) hills. The palace,

built in red sandstone, is a ve storied building out of

which four oors remain under water when the lake

is full and the top oor is exposed. The rectangular

Chhatri on the roof is of the Bengal type. The Chha -

tris on the four corners are octagonal. The palace had

suffered subsidence in the past and also seepage due

to water logging, which have been repaired under the

restoration project undertaken by the Government of

Rajasthan. On the terrace of the palace, a garden was

built with arched passages. At each corner of this pal-

ace semi-octagonal towers were built with an elegant

cupola. The restoration works done in the palace in

the past (1015 years back) were not satisfactory and

an expert in the eld of similar architectural restora-

tion works of Rajastahn palaces carefully examined

the designs that could decipher the originally exisitng

designs on the walls, after removing the recent plaster

work. Based on this nding, restoration works were

redone with traditional materials for plastering. The

plaster now used consisted of an organic material of

a special mortor mix of lime, sand and surkhi mixed

with jaggery, guggal and methi (cummins) powder. It

was also noticed that there was hardly any water seep-

age, except for a little dampness, in the oors below

the water level. But the original garden, which existed

on the terrace had been lost. Now, a new terrace is be-

ing created based on a similar roof garden exisitng on

the Amer palace.

The Royal family cenotophs

At Gaitore, opposite to the lake, there are Chhatris or

cenatophs erected over cremation platforms of some

of the Kachwaha rulers of J aipur. They were built by

Jai Singh II within landscaped gardens The cenotaph

monuments are in honour of Pratap Singh, Madho

Singh II and Jai Singh II, among others. Jai Singh IIs

cenatoph is made of marble and has impressive intri -

cate carvings. It has a dome with 20 carved pillars.

Restoration works

In the year 2000, Government of Rajasthan entrused

to IL&FS the task of nding a permanent solution tothe development requirements of the Man Sagar lake

and the palace. In 2001, Government of Rajasthan

initiated a project for the Ecological Restoration of

Man Sagar Lake and the palace in its midst to its

past glory and to enhance the tourism potential of the

precincts, through the Jaipur Development Authority

(JDA) as the nodal agency. It was also recommended

that private developers should also be involved in this

effort. In the year 2002, the Ministry of Environment

and Forests sanctioned through its National Lake Con-

servation Programme (NLCP), Rs 24.72 crores (about

US$ 5 million) and released Rs 17.3 crores (about US

$3.46 million) as grant-in-aid with the proviso that the

balance amount shall be raised by JDA. JDA initi-

ated steps for restoration and completed 2 kilometres(1.2 mi) tourist trail and a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)) long

promenade, apart from other works.

Joint sector project

Man Sagar lake, the palace and the vicnity, as restored

now

The Lake restoration project of the Man Sagar lake

area with an estimated investment of Rs 1.5 billion

(considered as one of the largest and unique such

projects in India) has evolved a plan that has diverse

project components.[2] Consequently, there are many

project stakeholders and beneciaries. The project

stake holders are: the Government of Rajasthan andtheir subordinate organizations such as the Public

Works Department (PWD), Rajasthan Urban Devel-

opment Authority (RUIDP), the Jaipur Development

Authority (JDA - the nodal agency for implementa-

tion of all aspects of the project), the Department

of Tourism, Rajasthan Project Development Fund

(RPDF) and the Rajasthan Tourism Development

Corporation (RTDC) and an Empowered Committee

on Infrastructure Development (ECID); the Central

Government organizations associated for planning and

nancing are the Ministry of Environment and Forests

(MOE&F) through its National River Conservation

Program (NRCP) and ILFS.[2] The Private Sector De-

veloper (PSD) appointed was M/s KGK Consortium.

Under the publicprivate sector partnership model

approved by the EICD, PDCOR had prepared the De-

tailed Project Report (DPR) for the restoration of Man

Sagar lake, Jal Mahal restoration and lake precincts

development. The total project area for restoration and

development approved by ECID was 432 acres (175

ha) comprising the lake with 300 acres (120 ha) water

spread, the lake precincts area of 100 acres (40 ha),

which subsumed 15 acres (6.1 ha) of submerged land)

for tourism development under joint sector coopera -

tion and 32 acres (13 ha) for lake promenade and

tertiary treatment facility and related works.[14]

Unique features of the project

The studies indicated two approaches to tackle the

nature of environmental degradation that had occurred

in the lake, namely, dealing with natural catchment

area and concurrently addressing the serious problem

of municipal sewerage emerging from large scale

urbanization or human settlement. Keeping this broadplanning approach in view, under the lake restoration

project, the works undertaken involved were: the re-

alignment of city drains, de-silting of the lake, con-

struction of artery road from Amber to Mansagar Dam

(about 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi)), construction of check

dam in a 100 metres (330 ft) length with silt removed

from the lake, creation of three nesting islands for

migratory birds, lake front promenade in1 kilometre

(0.62 mi)), afforestation and treatment of forest area

portion of lake catchment, plantation to stabilize the

slopes of bank formation. Afforestation envisaged

plantation of local plant species such as Acacia arabica

(Desi babool) and tamarix indica (planting close to

the water edge where they can grow well), Terminalia

arjuna (Arjun ) poplar, Neem and all species of Ficus,which would provide diversity in vegetation and also

better habitat diversity for feeding by birds and wild

life.

In addition, to remove eutriphication of the lake water

and improve its water quality, in-situ Bioremediation

process with 140 diffusers & 5 air compressors to

aerate and create inversion of the lake bed

water was also envisaged. The city sewage

supplied 7.0 MLD of untreated sewage wa

with Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) and

the lake to maintain its water level, after d

of nutrients through tertiary treatment. Th

involved diversion of the Brahampuri Nal

Nagtalai Nala by a lined channel to its southen lead through a treatment plant on site

secondary level efuent, which was then d

into an articial wetland through a hyacin

nel. For this purpose, a Physi co Chemical

Plant was also envisaged and the efuent f

plant was taken through articially create

in an area of 4 hectares (9.9 acres)) (not on

the water but also to serve as natural habit

and through this process the entire eco-sy

re-generated. Vegetation generated in this

disposed in a composite pit near the lake.

It is also reported that about 0.5 MCM of

moved from the lake. This silt was then pu

strengthening of embankment and buildinas wintering grounds for migratory birds.

After the above initial restoration works o

and its feeder system were mostly comple

JDA, during 2003, private sector develope

vited to develop identied tourism compo

land adjoining the lake. After following th


16/20


cess, a joint sector undertaking called the PDCOR was

formed between the JDA of the Rajastahn Government

and the consortia of private developers with lead pro-

vided by M/s. KGK Enterprises. The project for tour-

ism development was entrusted to this joint group. The

tourism project entailed development of Convention

Centre and Art Gallery, Multiplex and Entertainment

Centre, Craft Bazaar, Arts and Craft Village, Resort

Hotels, restaurants and food courts, public park and

gardens including responsibility for restoration and

maintenance of the Jal Mahal.Visitor information

The Jal Mahal palace within the Man Sagar lake is ac -

cessible from the Jaipiur-Delhi National Highway No

8, over a road distance of 4 kilometres (2.5 mi)) from

Jaipur. Delhi is a further 273 kilometres (170 mi))

away.[9] Jaipur city being centrally located in Rajast-

han, the National Highway No.8 not only links to Del-

hi but also to Mumbai. NH No.11 is a road link of 366

kilometres (227 mi)) from Bikaner to Agra via Jaipur.

The lake is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi)) from Amer palace

on the Amber - Mansagar dam road to the north.

Jaipur is well connected by rail to all the major cities

and towns of India. Jaipur is on the broad-gauge and

meter gauge network of the Indian Railways and has

direct trains on the broad gauge network to all major

cities in Rajasthan and India. The city is also connect-

ed with a metre gauge rail route with Sri Ganganagar,

Churu andSikar within the state. One of Indias most

famous and luxurious trains, The Palace on Wheels,

originating from Delhi also makes a scheduled stop in

Jaipur.

Jaipur has well connected

domestic air links with

Jodhpur, Udaipur, Aurang-

abad, Delhi, Hyderabad,

Kolkata, Goa, Chennai,

Ahmedabad, Indore,

Bangalore, Mumbai, Surat

and Raipur, Lucknow,

Gorakhpur. Jaipurs Jaipur

International Airport

(IATA: JAI, ICAO: VIJP)

is situated in its satellite

town of Sanganer and

offers sporadic service to

Muscat, Sharjah, Bangkok

and Dubai.

raMBagh palaCeRambagh Palace in Jaipur, India

The Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan is the former

residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and now a luxury

Taj Palace Hotel, located 5 miles (8.0 km) outside of

the walls of the city of Jaipur on Bhawani Singh Road.

HistoryThe rst building on the site was a garden house built

in 1835 for the wet nurse of prince Ram Singh II. In

1887, during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Madho

Singh, it was converted into a modest royal huntinglodge, as the house was located in the midst of a thick

forest at that time. In the early 20th century, it was

expanded into a palace to the designs of Sir Samuel

Swinton Jacob.Maharajah Sawai Man Singh II made

Rambagh his principal residence and added a num-

ber of royal suites in 1931[3]. After India became

independent and the princely states united, the Palace

became the Government House. By the 1950s, the

royal family felt that the upkeep of the palace and its

47 acres (190,000 m2) of gardens was becoming very

costly. They, therefore, decided in 1957to convert it

into a luxury hotel

Awards and recognition

* Sep 2009 it was rated as the best hotel in theworld by Conde Nast Traveller magazine. Central MuseuM

(alBert hall MuseuM)Albert Hall Museum is a museum in Jaipur city in

Rajasthan state of India. It is the oldest museum of

the state and functions as the State museum of Rajas -

than. The building is situated in Ram Niwas Garden

outside the city wall opposite New gate and is a ne

example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The building

was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob and was

opened as public museum in 1887. It is also called the

Government Central Museum. Maharaja Ram Singh

initially wanted this building to be a town hall, but

his successor, Madho Singh II, decided it should be a

museum for the art of Jaipur and included as part of

the new Ram Nivas Garden. The museum has a richcollection of artefacts like paintings, carpets, ivory,

stone, metal sculptures, colourful crystal works etc.

It is named after King Edward VII (Albert Edward),

during whose visit to the city as the Prince of Wales,

its foundation stone was laid on February 6, 1876.

teMples* Govind Dev Ji temple * Galtaji * Birla Temple also known as Lakshmi Narayan Mandir


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Govind Dev Ji Temple

The Hindu temple Govind

Deo Ji is situated in Jaipur in

Rajasthan state of India. It

is located in the City Pal-

ace complex. The temple is

dedicated to Govind Deo Ji

(LordKrishna) .The image ofthe deity was brought from Vrin-

davan here by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder

of Jaipur. According to popular legend, Lord Krish-

nas idol in the temple looks exactly l ike Krishnas

form while his incarnation of Earth.

The deity originally belonged to Srila Rupa Go-

swami who was a disciple of Lord Caitanya Ma-

haprabhu.

For Vaishnavites, particularly followers of Lord

Krishna, this is one of the most important temple in

the world after Vrindavan.

Aartis and Bhog are offered to the deity seventimes a day, when the idol is unveiled for Darshan

.Thousands of devotees visit the temple daily and

even larger number visit during Janmashtami.

External links

* Rajasthan tourism website

* The ofcial website of the Temple

GaltajiGaltaji is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site situated 10

km from Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan, on the

Jaipur-Agra highway near Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh. The

site features temples, pavilions, natural springs and

holy kunds.

It is believed that Saint Galav spent his life here and

practiced meditation.

The main temple is the Temple of Galtaji, built in pink

stone; it comprises a huge complex and is famous due

to the large tribe of monkeys who live here. These

rhesus macaques were featured in the National Geo-

graphic channels Rebel Monkeys series. The temple

features a number of pavilions with rounded roofs, ex -

quisitely carved pillars, and painted walls. The temple

is surrounded by natural springs and reservoirs that are

considered holy. There are seven tanks here and the

Birla Mandir, JaipurThis article is about Birla temple in Jaipur. F

Birla temples in India, see Birla Mandir.

Birla Temple.jpg

Birla Mandir, Jaipur is a hindu temple locate

India and is part of one of the several Birla m

cated all around the country. The grand temp

on an elevated ground at the base of Moti D

Rajasthan. The temple is sometimes also ref

the Laxmi Narayan Temple.

External links * http://www.jaipur.org.uk/temples/birla-

* http://www.india-travel-agents.com/raja

birla-temple.html

Galta Kund is considered the holiest. A la

of people take a holy bath in these tanks, e

Makar Sankranti.

There is another temple in the complex, th

Balaji. Yet another notable temple at Galta

Temple; Surya is dedicated to the Sun God

built in the 18th century.

The place is known as Monkey temple (Gin travel literature.

teMples Govind Dev Ji temple Galtaji Birla Temple also known as Lakshmi Narayan Mandir

* Moti Doongri Ganesh Temple * Panchayati Hall devoted to Temples of Goddess Durga and Lord


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References 1. ^ Jaipur City (or Jainagar). The Imperial Gazet-

teer of India. 1909. pp. 402. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/

reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V13_408.gif.

Sisodia Rani Garden and Palace

Sisodia Rani Garden and Palace is a beautiful palace

garden 6km from Jaipur city in of Rajasthan state in

India. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in

1779. The place consists of tiered multi-level gardens

with fountains, watercourses and painted pavilions.

A charming double storeyed palace occupies the top

terrace of the garden. The palace has many galleries,

pavilions and beautiful murals depicting scenes from

the life of lord Krishna.

References* Jaipur

Stub icon This article related to a location in Rajasthan

is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

v d e

Stub icon This garden-related article is a stub. You can

help Wikipedia by expanding it.

raM niwas garden

Ram Niwas Garden is a garden situated in Jaipur city

in Indian state of Rajasthan, bui lt by Maharaja SawaiRam Singh of Jaipur in 1868.

OverviewThe historical garden is located in the heart of the city

and covers an area of 33 acres, and was got built by

Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh in 1868.

Within the garden which originally spread over 76

acres in early 1900s is the Albert Hall Museum (now

known as Central Museum), named after King Edward

VII (Albert Edward), during whose visit to the city as

the Prince of Wales, its foundation stone was laid on

February 6, 1876. [1].

Apart from that it also has a bird park, the Zoo, Rav -indra Rang Manch Theatre, art gallery, exhibition

ground, gymnasium and several cafes and picnic spot s

are housed in the garden.

gardens* Ram Niwas Garden * Sisodia Rani Garden and Palace

* Vidyadhar Garden * Kanak Vrindavan

saModeLocation: 42 kms from Jaipur

Highlights: Medieval Architecture of Forts and

Havelis.

Samode PalaceSamode is a great place of tourist inter-

est, located at a distance of 42kms from Jaipur, on the

way to Shekhawati in Rajasthan. Samode is renowned

for its stunning havelis and forts. Samode makes a

perfect destination to enjoy ones holidays. Samode

is a place of immense interest for people who value

heritage and local arts.

Out of all other, Samode Palace captures the attention

of people with its magnicent architecture. The Palace

belonged to Rawals of Samode, who were not the part

of Royal family. Actually they were wealthy noble-

men, the title of Maha Rawal was granted to them

by the Royal family, as an incentive for their courage

and faithfulness. The striking Palace is embellished

with rich work of ornamentation.

The Samode Palace is about four hundred years old.

The present form of the Palace is the outco

restoration work. This old Palace is now c

in a Heritage Hotel after making several a

it. One can visit the Samode Palace, which

prime attraction of Samode. The interiors

are harmonized with warm colored walls, marble work, colorful patterns and traditio

jects. The Durbar Hall is the highlight of t

It is one of the most stunning halls showca

work and enamel work of Minakari.

Samode Fort is the other attraction, which

Samode Palace on the hill. The Royal For

luxury, elegance, taste and sophistication w

the former Prime Ministers of the Jaipur R

However, the condition of the fort has det

still it is popular with tourists for its histor

portance. The Fort also offers a spectacula

the town below. Samode Bagh is an incen

excursion of Samode. The beautiful garde

nated after some work of renovation and n

tourists from all over the world.You can a

camel rid

across the

check out

traditions

of Samod

denitely

the affect

and cordi

tality of t

people. In

you can s

nings enj

folk danc

music perby local m

totality, S

nice place

and make

excursion

city of Ja

speCial* Samode * Chand Baori(stepwell) * Chokhi Dhani * Raj Mandi


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Chokhi Dhani - The 5-StarVillage ResortChokhi Dhani Village, situated in the outskirts

of Jaipur, is a representation of the culture,

traditions and lifestyle of village life in Rajas-

than.

Developed in 1989 for the rst time, it is now

spread over 10 acres of land and has evolved

as one of the most popular tourist attraction in

Jaipur.

Capturing the spirit of Rajasthan and ensuringthe perfect Rajasthani experience is Chokhi

Dhani, a unique Village Resort. Chokhi Dhani

literally means a ne hamlet i.e. a quintes -

sential village that offers an ideal pastoral ex-

perience. Away from the urban life the quaint

mud and thatch dwellings in the resort give

the right blend of traditions - modern ameni-

ties in typical ethnic environment.

Chokhi Dhani is an ideal place for a perfect

vacation or a business meeting or a royal

wedding. It has multiple facilities fullling all

the needs of its esteemed guests, especially

those that are needed to make a guest s stay, a mem-

ory. Its quest for continuous improvement in terms of

quality services & standards assures the guests thattheir comfort is in right hands. Chokhi Dhani Resort,

literally meaning the Fine Hamlet, is a 5 star ethnic

village resort - the only one of its kind in the country.

Embedded with the richness and variety of Rajasthani

culture is Kotri, the Lobby. It brings a churn of the

ethnicity that lies in Rajasthan, mud plastered walls,

paintings, murals, beautifully carved furniture and

artifacts.

The accommodation at the resort comprises 59 double

occupancy Cottages, 33 Royal Cottages and 8 Haveli

Suites. All are spacious, air-conditioned, with attached

washrooms, running hot & cold water, telephone, in-

room safe, teakettle, mini bars, etc. Richly and taste-fully adorned with ethnic decor, they offer all comforts

of a 5 star hotel plus the unique ambiance that we are

famous for.

Bindola Restaurant Entrance - Click to enlargeA mul-

ticuisine restaurant in the ambiance of live soft music

is the unique Bindola Restaurant, aesthetically treating

your taste buds and also your mind with the right kind

of decor.

An abode that shines like moonlight in darkness,

Chandi Mahal Bar has thousands of mirrors in its ceil -

ing reecting light. Beadwork curtains, green marble

oor & gilt furniture - a recreation of Udaipurs

beautifully mastered art and architecture adds up to the

perfect mood that one expects in a bar.

Sun basking or just enjoying the blowing wind in

open; the pleasure of eating delicious food in the

premises of a tiled courtyard, the Chaupal is another

such place.

Sajjan Goth - Click to enlargeHaving 4 conference

halls, the resort, with its ambiance of a typical Rajast-

hani village, is also fully equipped to handle all yourbusiness needs. From small meetings to seminars of

up to 250 persons, all arrangements can be handled

with professional efciency and warmth of service

that is the hallmark of Chokhi Dhani.

To infuse some excitement and thrill into your stay

at Chokhi Dhani, a recreational canter has been cre-

ated, with gaming zone imbibing Virtual Games, Pool

Games & a well-decked di scotheque. Also Tennis can

be played in the adjoining outdoor Tennis court.

Not only these, but our world-class facilities, tasteful

food, ethnic and royal look everywhere, eye-catching

greenery and much more... will leave a deep impact

which you will experience when you stay at Chokhi

Dhani - The Pride of Rajasthan & India!

aBhaneriLocation: 95 kms from Jaipur, On Jaipur-Agra

RoadHighlights: Beautifully Carved Baoris (Step Wells)

AbhaneriAbhaneri is a small town village, situated

at a distance of 95 km from Jaipur, on Jaipur-Agra

road. The place is popular for the amazing Baoris

(step wells) and Harshat Mata Temple. The village

of Abhaneri is believed to be established by the King

Raja Chand. Originally Abhaneri was named as Abha

Nagri, which means the city of brightness, but due to

mispronunciation of the term, it is changed to the pres-

ent name.

In the present day, this city of brightness is in ruins;

still it attracts tourists from across the globe. Abhaneri

is prominent for Baoris, which are the un ique inven-tion of the natives for harvesting rain water. Amongst

the other step wells, Chand Baori is the most popular

one. This colossal step well is located in front of the

Harshat Mata Temple. Chand Baori is one of Indias

deepest and largest step wells. The huge tank with

delicate carvings is certainly delightful to the eyes.

Step wells are the unique concept of India.

These big tanks were used as cool places of

resort and water reservoir in parched days.

It was a ritual to wash hands and feet before

visiting the temple. Adjoining the Chand

Baori, there is a temple, dedicated to Harshat

Mata. This temple serves as the other tourist

attraction of Abhaneri. Raised during the 10thcentury, the wrecks of the temple still boast

of the architectural and sculptural styles of

ancient India.

Harshat Mata is considered to be the goddess

of joy and happiness. As per the beliefs, the

goddess is always cheerful, who imparts h

happiness to the whole village. The templ

visiting for its amazing architecture and th

which belongs to the medieval India. Abh

glorious past and this hoary magnetism of

attracts tourists to its threshold, from all o

world.

Chand Baori : The DeepeWell in the World

Chand Baori is a famous stepwell situated

lage Abhaneri near Jaipur in Indian state oThis step well is located opposite Harshat

ple and is one of the deepest and largest st

India. It was built in 9th century and has 3

steps and 13 stories and is 100 feet deep. I

example of the architectural excellence pr

the past.

Raj Mandir Cinema, JaipuRaj Mandir Cinema is a famous movie the

Jaipur in Rajasthan state in India. Situate

Bhagwan Das Road, near M.I. Road, the m

shaped auditorium opened in 1976, and ov

has seen many movie premieres of Hindi

has become a popular symbol of Jaipur, it

referred as the Pride of Asia.HistoryIt opened on 1 June 1976 with the lm Ch

It was designed by architect W.M. Namjo

Moderne style (Streamline Moderne or lat

Known for its large size as well as opulent

ringue interiors, Raj Mandir remains an im

of the tourist circuit, and thus usually rem

exCursionists * Sowjanya * Prakash Shetty Ulepady * Vishwas * Manjunath B.S. * Rake


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exCursionists Sowjanya Prakash Shetty Ulepady Vishwas Manjunath B.S. Rake* Pradeep * Veeresha Hogesoppinavar * Jyothi Hogesoppinavar (left totrain sChedule

departure

Date: 10-09-2010, Friday

Time: 22:35 (10:35 PM)

Place: DELHI S ROHILLA(DEE) -JAIPUR(JP)

arrival

Date: 13-Sep-2010

Time: 00:50 (12:50 AM)

Place: JAIPUR(JP) - DELHI(DLI)

jaipur jaitra yatre book2

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