Jaipur

Jaipur, the Pink City, is probably the most well known destination of India after Agra. The former capital of the princely state of Jaipur, the Jaipur city in its modern avatar was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber in 1727.

Jaipur is the first planned city of modern India and is built according to the principle of the Indian architecture science called Vastu Shastra. As the old city consists nearly entirely of buildings made of pink stucco in imitation of sandstone, it is called the Pink City. The city is well laid out with broad streets. The Palace quarter encloses a sprawling palace complex called the City Palace and Hawa Mahal, (or palace of winds), formal gardens, and a small lake.

Jantar Mantar or the Observatory, Nahargarh Fort on top of a hill, Amer fort, Jaigarh fort and Albert museum are just some of the attractions here. Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra and together these three cities form the golden triangle in Indian tourism. An Elephant festival, a Kite festival, Gangaur and Teej festival are major attractions.

Jaipur is also known for its street foods and shopping. Fabrics (tie & dye and hand block printed), handicrafts, camel leather products and gems & jewellery are all attractive buys in Jaipur.