India is a country famous for its culture, architecture, diversity of food, language and dressing. All the states of India attract tourists from different parts of world and each state has something unique to offer. Rajasthan attracts more tourists than any other Indian state because of its rich architectural and cultural heritage. Rajasthan which means land of kings have many forts built by Rajput kings. Some of these ancient havellis/forts are converted into hotels to offer closeness to the ancient history. These hotels are renovated in a luxurious way to imitate the living style of Rajput kings.
Jaipur, also known as Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan and is a city with very nice blend of history and modern India. From ancient forts to modern shopping malls, the city charms you in variety of ways. To enjoy the beauty of the city I would recommend spending at least 3 days. Most of the people in Jaipur can speak and understand English and are very nice. So don't hesitate to ask for directions or help.
Regarding places to see, I have categorized them below and depending on your interest you can plan to see them.
Forts in Jaipur
Below are the forts in Jaipur which I would recommend to visit.
1. Amber Fort
This is the most famous fort of Jaipur and is 11 kms from Jaipur. Local people of Jaipur call it Amer fort. From outside Amer fort does not look very appealing but from inside it is worth seeing. You can enjoy the flawless beauty of Amber fort on a royal elephant ride as well.
2. Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh fort is another major fort in Jaipur and is my favorite. From the top of the fort you get a beautiful view of the city. It was build by King Sawai Jai Singh in 18th century. Read more about Nahagarh Fort at http://www.jaipur.org.uk/forts-monuments/nahargarh-fort.html
3. Jaigarh Fort
Jaigarh is another famous fort of Jaipur which is at the top of a mountain. It has a museum with the collection of ancient coins, guns and other things which were used by Rajput kings. Read more about Jaigarh fort at http://www.jaipur.org.uk/forts-monuments/jaigarh-fort.html.
4. City Palace
City palace is a remarkable place in Jaipur. It is very beautiful and I would highly recommend you to visit it. Read more about it at http://www.jaipur.org.uk/forts-monuments/city-palace.html.
5. Jantar Mantar
Close to City Palace is Jantar mantar. It is an old stone observatory and in ancient times it was used to study astronomy and other celestial bodies. This place won't take more than 30-45 mins to visit. Close to this is the Govind Dev Ji temple which is the most famous Krishna temple in Jaipur. Prasad or sweets which are offered to Hindu Gods can be purchased inside the temple. You will find lots of people buying sweets from vendors outside the temple. If your stomach allows it, I would highly recommend you to try these sweets.
6. Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal is a major landmark of Jaipur and is close to City Palace. You can take cab to Hawa Mahal or City Palace. Both are at walking distance from each other. Hawa Mahal shouldn't take more than 30 mins to visit. After visiting Hawa Mahal and City Palace, you can head to Lakshmi Misthan Bhandar, commonly known as LMB to eat best Indian sweets. LMB also has a restaurant which is also highly recommended. If you want to buy some good Indian dresses at a good price then you can head to RoopLakshmi sarees where you will find a good variety. RoopLakshmi is close to LMB.
Enjoy..
Neha
