The Golden Triangle tour is recommended to first time India travelers as it covers top tourist destinations Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. We followed the Golden Triangle route and explored Jaipur during our fifth day in India.
Jaipur is popularly known as the Pink City because most of the city was painted pink to look like the red sandstone architecture of other Mughal cities.
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| Pink City |
We spent a day touring Jaipur and here are the attractions we visited:
1. AMBER FORT
Amber Fort is the most visited attraction in Jaipur and is perched on a hill overlooking Maota Lake. It was built by Raja Man Singh I and is known for its artistic style of blending both Hindu and Rajput elements.
We made arrangements to take an elephant going up Amber Fort and we had to wait in line for our turn. While waiting, vendors were eager to offer books, turbans, and shirts. Just remember to haggle up to just 10% of the initial price because they do take advantage of unsuspecting tourists.
It could be argued that the ride is a tourist trap...
but the impressive view that can be seen by being on top of the elephant proved that it was a worthwhile experience.
We were dropped by the elephant at Jaleb Chowk, the main courtyard of Amber Fort. From there we climbed a few steps...
and were greeted by the magnificent Ganesh Pol, the main entrance gate of the Amber Palace.
From there, we headed straight to one of the highlights inside Amber Fort...
SHEESH MAHAL!!!
Sheesh Mahal is a dazzling architectural wonder made of glass with different colors, shapes, and sizes...
thus, it's only fitting that it's called the Palace of Mirrors.
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| Details, Details, Details |
We moved deeper inside and got to appreciate some of the more interesting elements of the fort:
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| At the Highest Point of Amber Fort |
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| Wall Art |
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| Spot the Difference |
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| Historical Maze |
2. JAL MAHAL
Jal Mahal is the summer palace of the Maharaja located in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. We just took pictures from a distance as it is not easily accessible to tourists.
3. NAHARGARH FORT
Nahargarh Fort is one of three forts in Jaipur and it houses Madhvendra Palace. The palace has 9 chambers and legend has it that this was where the Maharajah kept his mistresses.
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| Courtyard |
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| Roof Terrace |
Nahargarh Fort is worth a visit as it offers sweeping views of the city:
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| Jaipur From the Top |
4. JANTAR MANTAR
Jantar Mantar is an observatory of astronomical instruments built by a Rapjut King between 1727 to 1734. It's part of the UNESCO World Heritage list and is considered as the largest, most significant, and best preserved astronomical observation site in India.
Some of the instruments at Jantar Mantar were invented and designed by the Maharaja himself! I was very impressed with the time, effort, and resources he dedicated to the study of celestial objects.
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| Laghu Samrat Yantra to Tell Time |
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| Giant Sundial |
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| Jai Prakash Yantra to Calculate the Position of the Sun |
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| Ram Yantras for Distance and Altitude of the Sun |
5. CITY PALACE OF JAIPUR
The City Palace was the seat and residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur. It was built between 1729 and 1732 with Indian and European influences.
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| Chandra Mahal |
We toured the residence of the Royal Family and it displayed memorabilia of the King and Queen. The Hall of Public Audience was the most impressive room but sadly picture taking was not allowed.
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| Entering the Royal Residence |
There's a building inside City Palace that nurtures local talent called Friends of the Museum. Jaipur artists (painters, jewelry designers, etc.) all sell their wares under one roof making it convenient for tourists to buy authentic Indian handicrafts.
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| Friend of the Museum Store |
We exited the City Palace via the Pitam Niwaa gate. Check out how intricately adorned it is:
6. HAWA MAHAL
Hawa Mahal is called the Palace of Winds because its windows allow the wind to flow, keeping the palace cool. It was built for the ladies of the court to get a glimpse of the daily activities in the streets without being seen. We only saw Hawa Mahal while inside a moving vehicle but it was already enough for us to marvel at what is considered to be Jaipur's most awe-inspiring sight.
After visiting the sights, we allocated some time to go shopping. We first visited Jaisalmer Arts and Crafts. It is a good place for wholesalers to go since the store export jewelry to all parts of the world.
Anokhi, on the other hand, offers tastefully designed and quality clothes, scarves, and other accessories that are distinctively Indian. It mostly caters to tourists but price points are reasonable.
One day in Jaipur was certainly enough to cover and get a feel of the city. Among the Golden Triangle cities, Jaipur was the least memorable but it certainly is still a must visit.
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