"Pink City" of Maharaja rajputs, it was built to the 18 2nd century by Maharaja Jai Singh II, according to the ideal plan exposed in an old work, Arthashasthra, according to which the city must be with the image of cosmos and reflect, in the distribution of the inhabitants, the social order of the varna. Thus the city it was traced in a square, enclosure of walls bored of nine doors, and divided into nine districts of which each one had a precise function, the palate occupying the center.
Jaipur is undoubtedly the Indian city nearest to this ideal model. The magnificence of the palates testifies to the power that the princes rajpoutes reached who left the fortress of Amber for the palates of Jaipur. Bordered of high hills, it is one of the most picturesque and coloured Indian cities.
One visits there in priority City Palace, palate of Mahârâja. While entering by the Door of the Lion, one reaches at a court where the immense hall of the private audiences of the king is drawn up, Diwan-i-Khas, built out of pink sandstone, the color of the city. One recognizes it by two enormous money earthenware jars which are deposited there.
In Diwan-I-Am, hall of the public audiences, was installed an interesting collection of old miniatures (17 2nd and 18 2nd centuries) of the school of Jaipur, as well as carpets and hangings.
Rooms, in another part of the palate, expose weapons which one known as remarkable (personally I do not appreciate really these testimonys of last slaughters). Another small museum of royal clothing and the textile, is in an elegant house, Mubarak Mahal.
One will not miss the sight, since an interior court, on Chandra Mahal, private part of the palate where still current Mahârâja resides.
The observatory, Jantar Mantar, are the witness of the passion of Mahârâja Jai Singh II for astronomy. It made build several observatories in various cities (Delhi, Ujjain, Bénares), but that of Jaipur (1728/1733) is most famous and most beautiful. These monumental instruments with the strange forms, sundials, graduated slopes and arcs make it possible to read the latitudes and longitudes and the distances between the celestial bodies, the hour corresponding to the meridian line of Jaipur, etc. They had, for the time, a completely astonishing precision. It is a place (early the morning when there is not yet the multitude of the visitors) impresses of a strangeness and an environment which one does not find nowhere elsewhere.
Hawa Mahal (the Palate of the Winds) is another remarkable building of Jaipur, perhaps most known of the visitors. It is acted in fact of a false palate: it is an immense frontage baroque of pink sandstone, decorated on four stages with surmounted bow windows of pinnacles. It constitutes an at the same time whimsical architectural structure and functional calculus which allowed to the women court to contemplate the spectacle of the street to the shelter of the inquisitive eyes.
Those which like the temples and their environment can visit, in the southern part of the city, the temple of Lakshmînarayana, name which designates the Vishnu god associated with Lakshmî, its Shakti. Very of white marble, this recent temple was built by Mr. Birla, a famous industrialist in India. The stained glasses "with European" representing Hindu gods (obviously) constitute a characteristic of this temple.
The visit of Jaipur could not be complete without devoting one moment to the pleasure of strolling in the bazaars, which are very animated. One finds there, gathered by streets, all the trade associations: vegetable and fruit merchants, shops of the merchants of clothing and fabrics and also all craftsmen: tisserands, dyers, sculptors, potters, shoe-makers, confectioners, etc.
Environs
Amber
To 8 km of Jaipur, with mountainside, draws up majestic Fort of Amber. One can reach foot by a short but stiff slope it, but it is more pleasant to go there to back of elephant on a nacelle (howdah). Amber, in the medium of high hills, near a small lake, was the capital of the old empire rajpoute. It was abandoned when Mahâraja Jai Singh, to the 18 2nd century, went to be established in Jaipur.
Nevertheless this city, from now on deserted, had chaired, six centuries during, with the glorious destiny of the area. One penetrates in the enclosure where imposing it hall of the public audiences is drawn up, Diwan-I-Am.
Monumental Ganesh pol. (carries of Ganesh) is marked by a very beautiful mural gone back to 1639 of the god with head of elephant. It gives access inside the palate.
One visits there especially the hall of the private audiences, Diwan-i-Khas, with the refined luxury of decorations, Jas Mandir, which was used as part of reception.
One will appreciate the sight and the approval of Sukh Mandir, where the king came to take the expenses during the hot season. These various rooms of the palate are located around a pleasant garden moghol. Top of the ramparts, the sight on the surrounding hills is splendid.
A small temple of the Kâlî goddess is close to the door of entry of the palate. Remarkable money doors can be admired there. The photographs are strictly prohibited.
In Amber, the scrupulous tourist will not be satisfied with the visit of the palate, but also will spend a few minutes in the village to the temple of Jagat Shiromani, dedicated to Vishnu. The priest will be delighted by an apparently rare visit. From beautiful points of view since this temple are to be announced.
In the gardens downwards of the palate of Amber, in edge of the lake, one will not fail either to visit a small museum, in the medium of a garden.
While returning towards Jaipur, you will make certainly a photograph of Jal Mahal, old palate of summer (nonworth visiting) of Mahârâja, in the medium of its lake (often dry in winter...).
Gaitor
Not
far from the city, it will be pleasant to go to the chhattri of Mahârâja de
Jaipur, in Gaitor. It is certainly the most beautiful group of cenotaphs (besides
those, very different, of Bara Bagh, close to Jaisalmer). Located in a rock
small valley, leaned with the mountain, within a framework green in summer,
but harder and rock the winter, these beautiful white marble monuments make
a completely remarkable unit. Some are marvelously decorated low-reliefs engraved
in the marble.
Jaigarh
To enjoy a unspoilable view on the town of Jaipur and the surrounding countryside, one will climb to the fort of Jaigarh (collection of weapons, temples of Bhairava and Harihara).
Galta
All with the opposite, on the road of Agra, one will fork on the left to reach, after a few km of a pretty sinuous road in the mountain, the old religious site of Galta. Here, not of sumptuous temples; but the basins enchased in a narrow throat, the peaceful monkeys, the temples and small palates more or less ruins some, still decorated with mural frescos, give to this site much charm.