Capital of Rajasthan also known as Pink City, surrounded on all sides by rugged hills crowned with forts and enclosed by embattled walls. Visit to City Palace which now houses a museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings, and an armoury, the observatory with a sundial 90 ft high, the museum is amidst the Ram Niwas Palace gardens founded in 1876 with a large collections of antiques, the Palace of Winds, a landmark of Jaipur made of Pink Sandstone and of unique design.

Jaipur also popularly known as the Pink City, historically sometimes rendered as Jeypore, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. Jaipur is also the capital of Jaipur District. Jaipur is the former capital of a princely state of the same name. The city was founded in 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber. The population in 2003 was approximately 2.7 million.

The city was built of pink stucco in imitation of sandstone, and is remarkable among pre-modern Indian cities for the width and regularity of its streets. The city is laid out into six quarters, 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 (the Hawa Mahal, or palace of winds), formal gardens, and a small lake. Narhargarh (fort) crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city. Another noteworthy building is Sawai Jai Singh's observatory, Jantar Mantar. Jaipur, with its rich and colourful past, resplendent with tales of valour and bravery is now one of the most important heritage cities in India, and is a must-see for tourists coming to India.

Jaipur is considered by many urbanists to be one of the best planned cities. Almost all Indian towns of that period presented a chaotic picture of narrow twisting lances, a confusion of run-down forts/temples/palaces and temporary shacks that bore no resemblence at all to the principles set out in Hindu architectural manuals, which calls for strict geometric planning. Thus, for Sawai Jai Singh and the Bengali Guru Vidyadhar (who belonged to the 'Shaspati' order of Hindu Priest Architects), the founding of Jaipur was also a ritual and a golden opportunity to plan a whole town according to the principles of Hindu architectural theory. The town of Jaipur is infact, built in the form of a nine-part Mandala known as the 'Pithapada'.

In the 19th century the city grew rapidly and became prosperous, with a population of 160,000 in 1900, and the city's wide boulevards were paved and lit with gas. Its chief industries were in metals and marble, which are fostered by a school of art, founded in 1868. There was also a wealthy and enterprising community of native bankers. The city had three colleges and several hospitals.

Raja Sawai Jai Singh had his capital in Amber, when he felt the need of shifting his capital to another place for the safety of the ever-increasing population and growing scarcity of water. In the eighteenth century, he finally built Jaipur. It was also the time when the glory of Mughal Empire was on its decline. Jaipur became the first planned city of India, which was designed by a brilliant Bengali architect who was well versed in his area of study and was known as Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. The city was planned on the edicts of the ancient Hindu treatise on Indian architecture, Shilpa Shastra. The city was planned in a grid system and boasts of wide and straight avenues and roads that are arranged dexterously in nine rectangular city sectors. As a safety measure against any possible invasions, the city was enveloped with the fortification walls with seven gates. Tourists find it astonishing that the whole city was painted in autumn pink by the then sovereign of the city to welcome his distinguished guest, the Prince of Wales in 1876.

There are different versions to the reason why the pink was chosen as the color for the city. If we believe the local fables, some people say that when the ambassadors of Prince of Wales visited the city prior to his visit, some simpleton insultingly called them the 'pink-faced monkey', as a result of the contempt for the British that had India under their clutches. To make up for his rashness and as a diplomatic tact, Raja and his ministers maintained that the person had called them so in reverence, as the 'monkey' was worshipped in the region as 'Hanuman' and pink was the sacred color of the region. To give conviction to their seemingly improbable reason they painted the city pink on the Prince's arrival. Others maintain that city was painted pink merely because the contractor was unable to supply any other color in such huge quantities that were needed to paint the whole city! Since then the pink color has been associated with hospitality in Jaipur and Rajput culture.

Eographical area of Jaipur district is 11117.8 Sqr.Km. Total number of villages is 2315. It is situated in the east of Rajasthan state. In the North of it Sikar, Mahendragarh district (State Haryana), In the South Tonk, In the East Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and In the West Nagaur, Ajmer district situated. East and North area of Jaipur district is sarrounded by Arawali hills.

The important rainy rivers are Ban Ganga and Sabi. To provide drinking water to old city there is Ramgarh dam on Ban Ganga river. There is a single natural lake named Sambhar lake, the water of which is salty and is the largest source of good quality salt in India. Copper, Dolomite, Iron,White Marval, Glass, Silicon are the minarals of Jaipur District.

Height of it is 122 to 183 m. from see level. Ground water level of Jaipur district is 14 m. currently. Total length of district from East to West is 180 Km. and total width from North to South is 110 Km.

Altitude 431 metres
Temperature 45 max. 25.8 min. ( summer )
22 max. 05 min. ( winter )

Climate of Jaipur is extreme with hot and humid summers and chilly winters. Maximum temperature during the summers (from April to July) reaches a high of around 45ºC. On the other hand winters have sunny and pleasant days and bitterly cold nights. Temperature can touch a low of around 5ºC, mostly during the nights. Major problems in the winter are fog that envelops the city in the evening. If you are planning to visit Jaipur in summers, bring with you light cotton clothes. Light woolen clothes during would do the needful in the winters. Monsoon starts in the third week of July, but the state does not experience much of rainy days.

City Palace

The magnificent City Palace is in the centre of the Pink City of Jaipur, enclosed by high walls and set amidst fine gardens and courtyards. Since it was built by Jai Singh in 1728 it has been the principal residence for the Maharajas of Jaipur and the successive rulers have each added to it. The major attractions in the palace are - Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Diwan-I-Khas, Dilkusha Mahal, Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and Krishna Mahal, all of which are adorned with exquisite colours and paintings.

The magnificent City Palace is in the centre of the Pink City of Jaipur, enclosed by high walls and set amidst fine gardens and courtyards. Since it was built by Jai Singh in 1728 it has been the principal residence for the Maharajas of Jaipur and the successive rulers have each added to it. The major attractions in the palace are - Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Diwan-I-Khas, Dilkusha Mahal, Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and Krishna Mahal, all of which are adorned with exquisite colours and paintings.

Amber Fort

(Palace of the Winds) Hawa is Jaipur’s most remarkable attraction. Built in 1799, it is situated on the edge of the City Palace complex overlooking one of the city’s main streets and was constructed to offer the women of the court a vantage point, behind stone-carved screens, from which to watch the activity in the bazaars below. The five-storey building is shaped like a crown adorning Lord Krishna’s head and contains over 900 finely screened windows and balconies. Jantar Mantar-is a astronomical laboratory setup by Maharaja of Jaipur.

Albert Hall

It is situated in the beautiful garden of Jaipur city, Ram Niwas Bagh. It was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh in the year 1886 under the drought relief work of Rs 4 Lacs.
The design of the building was done by Sir Swinton Jaicob. Presently the hall is used for museum purpose.

Jal Mahal

A tiny palace romantically located in the middle of a small lake, this was supposed to be a hunting lodge for the royal family. It can only be viewed from the banks of the lake.

By Air

Sanganer Airport at a distance of around 11 km from the city center is the main air gateway to Jaipur. There are direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, and some other cities from Jaipur.

By Rail

From Delhi, there are many trains that connect Jaipur and other cities in Rajasthan; foremost among them is the Palace on Wheels. Other important trains include, Shatabdi Express and Pink City Express both from Delhi.

By Road

From Delhi, there is a direct and well-maintained road to Jaipur. City is connected to most of the tourist destinations in Rajasthan as well as Agra. Jaipur is part of the Golden Travel Circuit of India that includes Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Most of the tours are conducted either through the buses or trains.

Jaipur is famous for precious and semi-precious stones, leather goods (camel-skin), textiles (tie & dye) and handicrafts.
The major markets in Jaipur are along Jauhari Bazaar (jwellery), Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar (textiles), Chaura Rasta, Tripolia Bazaar and M.I. Raod (emporiums). Ramganj bazaar is famous for shoes and Tripolia Bazar for lac bangles. Jaipur is alive with bright and lively colours ....go get some.