PLACES TO VISIT IN JAIPUR & PUSHKAR

#EPISODE 3

JAIPUR & PUSHKAR

In this episode, I am going to discuss my exploration across Jaipur, Pushkar and finally reaching Bikaner via road. This includes the top places to visit in Jaipur and Pushkar.

We were traveling via road by a/c bus all over Rajasthan. So get on the bus with us to start exploring! Let’s do this!!

PREVIOUSLY..

My first stop is at Jaipur. From railway station we reached straight to the hotel, Clarks Inn at around 7 am.

We took rest and refreshed soon to explore Jaipur. The hotel was neat with nice ambiance. Food was also good. We stayed there for one day.

The hotel has a lot of services that are affordable. We started by 9 in the morning and visited a lot of places in Jaipur.

JAIPUR

Before starting, we shall know a little history about “PINK CITY” – Jaipur!

LITTLE FACTS ABOUT JAIPUR

• Jaipur is the capital of India’s largest state Rajasthan
• King Jai Singh ∥ founded the city. Therefore Jaipur is named after him.
• Jaisingh-Jaipur.
• Maharaja Ram Singh painted Jaipur in “pink“. In order to welcome the Prince of Wales, during his visit to India.
• The color “pink” indicates “hospitality” and the color is exactly “terracotta pink”
• So Jaipur got the nickname, “Pink City Of India”.
• The city is well developed with extreme climatic conditions.

PLACES TO VISIT IN JAIPUR

Places we visited during our trip, in brief, are as follows:

AMBER FORT

Amber Fort, located in Amber is 11 km from Jaipur, Rajasthan. The fort, located in the Aravalli hills has a beautiful architecture. Raja Man Singh built and ruled the city in late 16th century.

It has 4 main sections with its own gate and courtyard. The interesting one is the “SHEESH MAHAL” or the “MIRROR PALACE”.

The main water source to this fort is from Maota Lake. The saffron garden is located here. It looks like a Persian carpet floating in the water.

To know a little more about Amber palace, click – Amber Fort.

HAWA MAHAL

Hawa Mahal is also called as “Palace of Wind”. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799. Constructed based on Rajput architecture.

The Mahal is 50 feet from the base with numerous windows, rooms and spacious courtyard. Mainly constructed of red and pink sandstone.

Hawa Mahal was built for Royal Women to watch the everyday life through the windows without being seen by others, as they were not permitted to be seen by others.

JAL MAHAL 

Jal Mahal is called as “WATER PALACE”. Maharaja Madho Singh I constructed the water palace, located in the middle of ManSagar Lake. Mainly built to stay, when the King goes for hunting ducks in the lake.It seems to appear as if the palace floats in the water. It is based on Rajput and Mughal architecture. Beautiful boat rides to the palace were stopped a few years back.

JANTAR MANTAR

Jantar Mantar is one of the 5 astrological observations build by Maharaja Jai Singh ॥.  He built it in order to study space and time as he was a great scholar of astrology.

Jantar Mantar has many built instruments to measure time and season.

Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the largest and most accurate among 5 and still active. Even it has the world’s largest stone sundial –  “smarat yamtra”, which shows the local time of accuracy of 2 seconds.

BIRLA TEMPLE

Birla Temple is a Hindu Temple. It is also known as “Lakshmi Narayan Temple”, located at the foot of Moti Dungri fort in Jaipur.

The temple, constructed with beautiful white marble, stands stunning during nights with the lights.

CITY PALACE

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh॥ built the City Palace, located in the heart of Jaipur city. The palace is beautiful, constructed of red and pink sandstone.

Due to the population increase and development, the King decided to shift the capital from Amber to Jaipur. Because of that, the King constructed City Palace. 

It consists of different sections like Mubarak Mahal, Chandra Mahal (previously King’s residence. Now, museum that holds kings clothes, etc), Diwan-i-Aam (hall for public audience), Diwan-i-Khas (hall for private audience), Maharani Palace (the Queen’s residence. Now, museum consists of Queen’s different clothes, footwear, etc), Bhaggi Khana (Now, museum consists of different chariots used by the Royal Family).

PUSHKAR

From Jaipur, we started towards Bikaner which is 255 km. (approx 5-7 hrs travel), On our way, we stopped in Pushkar, which is 145 km from Jaipur. There we went to Brahma temple.

Travel continued and on our way, we saw a flock of camel and horse.

RAT TEMPLE

Later on our way, we visited Rat Temple. Yes, you read correctly. A temple of Rats. This temple is also called as Karni Mata Temple, a Hindu Goddess. This temple is located in Deshnoke, 30 km to Bikaner.

This temple consists of thousands of rats roaming across and few white rats. It is believed that seeing white rats is a good sign. Finally, we reached Bikaner at around 9 pm.

Stay tuned for the next episodes!! For further exploration of Rajasthan!!

Hope you liked the places to visit in Jaipur and Pushkar episode. Comment me which one is your favorite. 

In case if you have missed out the previous episodes, click Episode 1 & Episode 2.

To read about Bikaner, click EPISODE 4.