jaipur
Jaipur is one of India's most beautiful cities. One of the most photographed buildings in Jaipur is the five-storied Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), which is, in fact, just a spectacular façade with overhanging windows with latticed screens, domes and spires.
The City Palace Museum houses an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art. The museum is resplendent with its collection of robes of royal princes, carpets, an armoury of old weapons, miniature paintings portraying court scenes, battle scenes and processions.
A short distance from Jaipur stands Amber Fort, a marvellous example of Rajput architecture with its terraces and ramparts reflected in the Maota Lake below. The interiors of the fort offer various royal halls decorated with intricate ivory, mirror and glass work complemented by exquisite wall paintings.
Forming a corner of India’s west Golden Triangle tourist circuit with Delhi and Agra, Jaipur ranks as one of the top ten must-see places in India. Dubbed the ‘Pink City of India’ for its pink inspired architecture, Jaipur is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Amber Fort and Jantar Mantar. The city enjoys a monsoon-influenced, semi-arid climate with long, extremely hot summers and short, mild winters, with an average annual temperature of 26°C. Jaipur also holds historical distinction for being the first planned city of India in 1876, whereby Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur painted the city pink to symbolise hospitality.
