History of Jaipur, Rajasthan

The city owes its name, founding and planning to the great warrior-astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743). In 1727, with Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh decided the time was right to move from his cramped hillside fort at nearby Amber. He laid out the city, with its surrounding walls and rectangular blocks, according to principles set down in the Shilpa-Shastra, an ancient Hindu architectural treatise. In 1728 he built Jantar Mantar, Jaipur’s remarkable observatory.

In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh had the entire old city painted pink, a colour associated with hospitality, to welcome the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), and the tradition has been maintained.

Festivals in Rajasthan

Camel Festival (Jan; Bikaner)   All conceivable types of camel fun.

Nagaur Camel Fair (Jan/Feb; Nagaur)   Serious yet colourful camel and livestock trading fair that attracts thousands of rural people.

Desert Festival (Feb; Jaisalmer)   A chance for moustache-twirlers to compete in the “Mr. Desert” contest, and a host of other desert delights.

Elephant Festival (Mar; Jaipur)   Parades, polo and human-versus-elephant tugs-of-war.

Thar Festival (Mar, Barmer)   Just after the Jaisalmer Desert Festival, this features cultural shows, dancing and puppetry.

Gangaur Festival (Mar/Apr; Jaipur)   A statewide festival honouring Shiva and Parvati’s love; it’s celebrated with particular fervour in Jaipur.

Cattle Fair (Mar/Apr; Barmer)   One of Rajasthan’s biggest cattle fairs.

Mewar Festival (Apr; Udaipur) Udaipur’s version of Gangaur, with free cultural events and a colourful procession down to lake. Local women step out in their finest.

Summer Festival (May; Mount Abu)   If, like a mad, you are travelling through Rajasthan in summer, check out the Summer Festival, dedicated to Rajasthani music.

Teej (Aug; Jaipur)   Honours the arrival of the monsoon, and Shiva and Parvati’s marriage.

Dussehra Mela (Oct; Kota)   Commemorates Rama’s victory over Ravana. It’s a spectacular  time to visit Kota – the huge fair features 22.5m-tall firecracker-stuffed effigies.

Marwar Festival (Oct; Jodhpur & Osiyan)   Celebrates Rajasthan heroes through music and dance; one day is in Jodhpur and one in Osiyan.

Bundi Utsav (Oct/Nov; Bundi)   Cultural programmes, fireworks and processions.

Pushkar Mela (Nov; Pushkar)   The Pushkar Camel Fair is the most famous festival in the state; it’s a massive congregation of camels, cattle, livestock traders, pilgrims, tourists and Japanese film crews.

Sights in Jaipur

Old City (Pink City)

Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)

City Palace

Jantar Mantar

Nahargarh Fort

Royal Gaitor

Galta (Temple of the Sun God)

Amber Fort

Jaigarh Fort

Chokhi Dhani

Sisodia Rani Garden

Jal Mahal

Kanak Vrindavan

Vidhyadhar Garden

Religious Places near Jaipur

Balaji (Famous Temple of Lord Hanuman)

Salasar ji (Famous Temple of Lord Hanuman)

Khatushyam ji (Famous Temple of Lord Krishana)

Pushkar ji (Pushkar Lake and Famous Temple of Lord Brahma)

Dargah Sharif (Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti Shrine)