Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal (meaning "Water Palace") is a palace located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city, the capital of the state of Rajasthan, India. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.

The urban lake gets filled up during the rainy season; over the years, once the reservoir became full during rainy season, it got covered with Hyacinth. During this period the red stoned palace became approachable only by boat and through a causeway, and presented a spectacle on the way to Jaipur city from Delhi.

The lake got polluted due to sewage flow from the Jaipur city. The palace remained uninhabited, was not maintained and hence not visited by tourists. To remove the ecological damage caused to the lake due to indiscriminate pollution from the city sewage, restoration measures were undertaken, since 2001, after a detailed study by the Government of Rajasthan. But serious efforts were initiated only in 2004 through a very large restoration project undertaken through a joint-venture company called the Project Development Company Limited (PDCOR Ltd), Jaipur, a private enterprise (a consortium led by KGK Group), in association with the Government of Rajasthan, with institutional support provided by the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), a parastatal organization of the Government of India, and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOE&F). The basic objective of the project is conservation and management of the lake in regard to ecological development, sustainable fisheries development, and wildlife development. The purpose of the project is also to cater to the tourist industry, because Rajasthan attracts the largest number of tourists every year; 650,000 national and 175,000 international tourists are said to visit the state every year. Tourism in the state of Rajasthan is generally monument-centric, particularly in Jaipur and in this context Jal Mahal has an important role.

Tourist Places Jaipur - City Palace

The City Place of Jaipur is a most tourist attraction in Rajasthan. City Place is located center of the old jaipur; City Palace is a rare combination of the finest blends of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The City palace was originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh ji. This place has several palatial structures like the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Badal Mahal, Shri Govind Dev ji temple and the City Palace Museum.

The city palace is divided into two parts- One part Sawai Man Singh museum and other is still the residential palace of the former maharaja.

The excellent museum has an extensive collection of art, carpets, Sanganeri block prints, Kashmiri Pashmina shawls, folk embroideries and Benares silk saris and 15th century weapons.
Most important is pajamas and coat of Sawai Madho Singh, a well-built man 6 ½ feet tall, over 4 feet wide and weighed 250 kg.

Tourist Timings: 9:30hrs- 16:30hrs
Other attractions in City Places: Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Badal Mahal, Sukh Nivas & Shobha Nivas, Shri Govind Dev Ji temple, Chhavi Nivas & Mukut Mahal.
Entry Fee: for Indian: Rs. 35.00, Foreigners Fee: Rs.150.00

Mubark Mahal 
Mubarak mahal is also called Welcome Palace. In the past time it’s as reception for visiting dignitaries. Mubarak Mahal is a building inside the City Palace Complex, built by Maharaja Madho Singh in 19 century. It has a beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass doors on either side of this gate

Chandra Mahal 
the Chandra Mahal or the Moon Palace is the centre of the palace; it’s occupied by the royal family. Chandra mahal provides a fine view of the gardens and the city. On the 4rt floor of the Chandra Mahal is the 'Shobha Nivas' or "Hall of Beauty" with mirror effects walls having exquisite blue tiled and mica decoration. The Shobha Nivas and the Sukh Nivas is still occupied by the present Maharaja.

Chhavi Nivas
The fifth floor is the 'Chhavi Nivas' or "Hall of Images", with a well polished floor of blue and white painted walls, the maharajas retreat in the rainy season. The sixth floor has rows of double columns with mirrored ceiling through which one can have a magnificent view of the rugged hills.

Mukut Mahal 
The top most floors are called the 'Mukut Mahal' or the Crown Building. Opposite the Chandra Mahal lies the 'Badal Mahal' and the Govind Devji temple stands between the Chandra Mahal and the Badal Mahal. In the middle of Chandra Mahal and the Badal Mahal, a very delightful system of fountains is placed.

Diwan-i-Galleria
Inside the City Place located famous museum. The art gallery is housed in the former Diwan-i-am (Hall of Public Audience). The excellent museum has an extensive collection of art, carpets, Sanganeri block prints, Kashmiri Pashmina shawls, folk embroideries and Benares silk saris and 15th century weapons
The awesome Hawa Mahal is another integral part of the City Palace.

Jantar Mantar

Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories, or "Jantar Mantars" as they are commonly known, incorporate multiple buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. These structures with their striking combinations of geometric forms at large scale, have captivated the attention of architects, artists, and art historians world wide, yet remain largely unknown to the general public.

Jantar Mantar presents the observatories through a variety of media and information sources, making it possible to explore and learn about these historic sites through interactive panoramic "VR" photographs, time lapse sequences, and 3D models as well as articles, drawings, and historic texts.  It is a comprehensive resource for exploring the observatories in depth. A "VR tour" of the Jaipur Observatory, and current information about the project can be found by following the links below.

Hawa Mahal Hawa Mahal is a major tourist attraction of Jaipur, the capital Rajasthan. Hawa Mahal is also known as Palace of Winds.

Location: 
Next to the entrance of City Palace
Built by: Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh
Built in: 1799
Highlights: Its Rajputana architecture
How to reach: 
One can easily reach Hawa Mahal from the city by taking local Buses, Rickshaws and Taxis

Hawa Mahal is a major landmark and a famous tourist attraction of Jaipur. The Palace offers a beautiful sight to behold. The splendid Rajputana architecture of Hawa Mahal, still speaks the glory of the royal family. However, one can also find a glimpse of Mughal architecture, which is blended perfectly to make it different from others. The literal meaning of Hawa Mahal is Palace of Winds. Hawa Mahal was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799.

Hawa Mahal is a pyramid-shaped facade with five stories. It has 953 small windows decorated with tiny lattice work. These pink sandstone windows commonly known as "Jharokhas" are constructed in such a style, that it looks like a giant honeycomb. The air circulation through windows represents the marvelous touch of Mughal designing, which keeps the Palace always cool. The small screened balconies and arched roofs with hanging cornices enhance the beauty of the Palace. The Pyramidal outline and replication of pattern makes it more attractive in appearance.

As a matter of fact, Hawa Mahal is believed to build for the women of the Royal Families, since they had to observe strict "purdah" (cover). The small windows and screened balconies serve the women to watch processions and different activities taking place on the streets. In this manner, the women could enjoy a sense of freedom without showing themselves.

Early morning is considered as the best time to visit the Palace, when it is drenched in the golden light of the Sun. At this time, Hawa Mahal appears incredible. One cannot possibly describe the beauty of the Palace in words. The golden light of the early morning sun floats beautifully through the windows of this palace creating a wonderful sight for one and all. The palace has to be visited to experience the true beauty.

ABOUT JAIPUR

Rajasthan's beautiful Pink City Jaipur, was the stronghold of a clan of rulers whose three hill forts and series of palaces in the city are important attractions. Known as the Pink City because of the colour of the stone used exclusively in the walled city, Jaipur's bazaars sell embroidered leather shoes, blue pottery, tie and dye scarves and other exotic wares. Western Rajasthan itself forms a convenient circuit, in the heart of the Thar desert which has shaped its history, lifestyles and architecture.


 Founded in AD 1727 by Sawai Jaisingh II, Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as the Pink City with broad avenues and spacious gardens. The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is steeped in history and culture. Here the past comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces, blushed pink, where once lived the maharajas. The bustling bazaars of Jaipur, famous for Rajasthani jewellery, fabric and shoes, possess a timeless quality and are surely a treasure-trove for the shoppers. This fascinating city with its romantic charm takes you to an epoch of royalty and tradition.

Jaipur has been laid according to the conventional nine-grid pattern that astrologers believe to be lucky, and which has been recommended in the ancient Indian treatise on architecture. Each grid consists of a square, and these have been planned so that, at the heart of the city is the City Palace. Spread around it, in rows, are public buildings, the residences of noblemen, the living and trading quarters of merchants and artisans. Straight, wide roads run through the city, while a high, crenellated wall that forms its defense is pierced with seven gateways that serve as entry points. Today, these walls may be more difficult to spot since the city has grown far beyond its original plan, but they are still there, proof that though Jaipur saw no great siege, it was more than adequately prepared for it.

Jaipur’s architectural planning may have been ancient, but its execution was definitely modern. Best represented by the City Palace complex, it brought together all that was excellent in Rajput and Mughal architecture, creating a new tradition that found wide currency over much of north India. As in the Mughal tradition, the durbar or court areas became much more open, characterised by a series of arched pavilions held on delicately crafted pillars. Ornamentation had always been a part of the state’s architectural heritage, now it became much more opulent. The private wings of the family also extended their entertainment areas. Since defence was no longer a primary concern, larger, more ornamental windows were built to over look the streets or courtyards outside these wings. Gardens were no longer planned within the internal courtyards only, but were added to the external vistas, and water, a basic feature of Mughal palaces and gardens, was utilised in a similar fashion, in canals and fountains.

Jaipur has much to offer visitors — everything from pageants and festivals to extraordinarily clad people, a wealth of handicrafts, a royal legacy of palaces, and sightseeing — that will occupy their time. However, should the visitors simply choose to walk around the streets of the old city instead, they will not regret it. All of Jaipur is an architectural gem, and no scheduled sight seeing can even hope to do justice to this rare city.