So one day you decide that the next stop in your lifelong journey of exploration of the world and its many wonders is Jaipur. You choose Jaipur because it is a city of World Heritage Site. Out of the five Jantar Mantars built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, the largest is in Jaipur. What also makes Jaipur renowned is its radiant cultural outfits, pottery, fabrics, and not to mention, its mouthwatering food, which you cannot wait to taste. Excited as ever, you quickly get to planning an itinerary which you type out with a lot of enthusiasm.
Looking forward to filling up your itinerary as much as possible, you put in an hour or two of research in order to put together a few facts about the monuments and sites you wish to visit in Jaipur:
Delhi to Jaipur (265 km / 165 miles / 5 hours)Day 1: Visit to Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar Observatory.
Hawa Mahal: Also called the Palace of Winds, Hawa Mahal is a blend of Islamic Mughal and Hindu Rajput architecture. It was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh for the royal women to enjoy the events and festivals in the streets. This five storey building, which has 953 jharokhas, and is in a shape of Lord Krishna’s crown, is made of pink and red sandstone. Hawa Mahal is one of the prominent monuments, which celebrates the regality of the city.
City Palace: Constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II, this royal monument is situated at the center of the city. A “paradise” of “art and history lovers”, this palace is an amalgamation of Mughal and Rajput architecture. It also has a section dedicated to the artisans of Jaipur, where one can purchase souvenirs.
Jantar Mantar Observatory: Located near City Palace and Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar Observatory is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, built by the Rajput king, Sawai Jai Singh II, and completed in 1734. It features the world’s largest sundial, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Now that you've checked off everything on your day 1 itinerary, you go over the day 2 itinerary you made prior to your visit to Jaipur, and share the plan of the day with your chauffeur and guide. Your guide is confident that he will be able to provide you with the ultimate tourist experience for all these sites, and will provide you with all the knowledge your brain could possibly soak up for the day. Here is some of the key information you collected :
Day 2: Visit to Jhalana Leopard Conservation Reserve and Amer Fort, and then back to Delhi.
Jhalana Leopard Conservation Reserve: Located in the Malviya Nagar Industrial Area of Jaipur, Jhalana Safari Park is one of the best places for adventure and wildlife lovers. This reserve is inhabited by myriads of creatures, like Hyenas, Leopards, Blue Bucks, Deer, Peacocks, Monkeys, et cetera.
Amer fort: Built using red and white sandstone marbles, this magnanimous beauty is a mix of Rajput and Mughal architecture. The fort is known for its light show, which highlights the historical background of Jaipur. Sheesh Mahal and Jai Mandir are some of the exciting and beautiful features of the fort.
