Amber (pronounced Amer) Is Situated About 11 Kilometres From Jaipur And Was The Ancient Citadel Of The Ruling Kachwahas Of Amber, Before The Capital Was Shifted To The Plains, The Present Day Jaipur. The Amber Fort Set In Picturesque And Rugged Hills Is A Fascinating Blend Of Hindu And Mughal Architecture. Constructed By Raja Man Singh I In 1592 And Completed By Mirja Raja Jai Singh The Fort Was Made In Red Sand Stone And White Marble. The Rugged Forbidding Exterior Belies An Inner Paradise With A Beautiful Fusion Of Art And Architecture. Amber Is The Classic And Romantic Fort-palace With A Magnificent Aura. Fort. Holding A History As Old As Seven Centuries, This Place Vibrates With Its Legendary Past.

Hawa Mahal (palace Of Wind) Built In 1799, By Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, Is The Most Recognizable Monument Of Jaipur. The 5 Storied Stunning Semi-octagonal Monument Having 152 Windows With Over Hanging Latticed Balconies Is A Fine Piece Of Rajput Architecture. Originally Designed For The Royal Ladies To Watch And Enjoy The Processions And Other Activities, On The Street Below. Now It Houses A Well Laid Out Museum.

The Jantar Mantar Is A Collection Of Architectural Astronomical Instruments, Built By Maharaja (king) Jai Singh Ii At His Then New Capital Of Jaipur Between 1727 And 1734. The Jaipur Observatory Is The Largest And Best Preserved Of These. It Has Been Inscribed On The World Heritage List As "an Expression Of The Astronomical Skills And Cosmological Concepts Of The Court Of A Scholarly Prince At The End Of The Mughal Period".

Gaitore, One Of The Most Prominent Tourist Attractions In Jaipur, Is A Royal Cremation Ground For The Kachhwaha Rajput Kings And The Members Of The Royal Family. The Word 'gaitore' Is Believed To Be A Mispronounced Form Of The Hindi Phrase, 'gaye Ka Thor' Which Means 'resting Place Of The Departed Souls'. Located On A Narrow Valley On Jaipur-amer Road, This Place Is 15 Km Away From Jaipur.

Situated In The Heart Of The Old City, It Occupies About One Seventh Of The Old City Area. The Palace Is A Blend Of Rajput And Mughal Architecture, It Houses A Seven Storeyed Chandra Mahal In The Centre, Which Affords A Fine View Of The Gardens And The City. Diwan-e-am (hall Of Public Audience) Has Intricate Decorations And Collection Of Manuscripts, Diwan-e-khas (hall Of Private Audience) Has A Marble Pawed Gallery Mubarak Mahal Has A Rich Collection Of Costumes And Textiles. There Is A Clock Tower Near Mubarak Mahal. Sileh Khana Has A Collection Of Armory And Weapons. Timing 9.30 To 16.45 Hrs. Entry Fee For Indians Rs. 35.00 And For Foreigners Rs.150.00 Inclusive Of Entry To Jaigarh Fort.

Located Just Outside The Walled City Inthe Sprawling Ram Niwas Garden . It Was Designed By Sir Swinton Jacob, A British Architect Who Designed Many Palaces In Rajasthan. Combining The Elements Of English And North Indian Architecture.It Was Known As The Pride Of The New Jaipur When It Opened In 1887 Ad. It Is A Very Well Maintained And Impressive Building Displaying A Rich Collection Of Artefacts Like Paintings, Carpets, Ivory, Stone, Metal Sculptures, Colourful Crystal Works . Timing 10.00 To 16.30 Hrs.

A Collection Of Beautiful Dolls From All Over The World, It Is Situated On Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg. Timing 10.00 To 16.00 Hrs.

On The Way To Amer, This Small Palace Is Set In The Middle Of Man Sagar Lake. Renovation Around The Lake Is In Progress.

Standing On A Hilltop, Overlooking The Palaces And City Of Amer. The World's Biggest Cannon On Wheels- The Jai Ban Is Positioned Here, Built During Reign Of Maharaja Sawai Jaisingh. It Has A Twenty Feet Long Barrel And Pumped In The Cannon For A Single Shot. Timing 10.00 To 16.45 Hrs.

Cresting A Hill About 600 Ft. Above The City, The Fort Was Built In 1734. The Walls Of The Fort Run Along The Ridge And Within Are Architectural Beauties Like Hawa Mandir And Madhvendra Bhawan. Timing 10.00 To 16.00 Hrs.

The Lakshmi - Narayan Temple Known As Birla Mandir Is Situated Just Below The Moti Dungari. This Is A Modern Temple Built Of White Marble On Top Of A Hill, Dominating The Skyline Of South Jaipur. The Birlas (industrialists Who Have Also Built Several Temples In India) Built This Temple. The Temple Has Been Constructed In White Marble. The Presiding Deities Here Are Vishnu (one Of The Hindu Trinity Gods) Called Narayan And His Consort Lakshmi, Goddess Of Wealth And Good Fortune. The Temple Exterior Has Carved Sculptures Of Various Mythological Themes And Images Of Saints. The Interior Has Large Panel In Marble Of Mythological Proceedings. The Images Of The Deities Are Placed In The Sanctum Sanctorum. Built On Raised Ground, It Is Surrounded By Large Lush Green Gardens.

It Is An Ancient Pilgrimage Centre Lying Beyond The Gardens Amidst Low Hills. Temples, Pavilions And Holy Kunds (natural Spring And Water Tanks) Along With Lush Landscape Make It A Delightful Spot. The Small Temple Of The Sun God Built By Diwan Kriparam On The Top Of The Highest Peak Is A Visible City Landmark.

Widely Considered To Be The Best Shopping Destination In Rajasthan, Jaipur Provides A Variety Of Outstanding Shopping Venues. The City Boasts Vibrant, Colourful Markets Offering Handicrafts, Antiques, Jewellery, Gems, Pottery, Carpets, Textiles And More. Many Markets Also Sell Authentic Indian Spices And Fresh Fruits And Vegetables. The City's Bazaars Are A Glimpse Of The Vivacious Culture Of The Area For Tourists, Who Flock To The Markets In Search Of A Special Souvenir Or Great Deal. Popular Jaipur Shopping Destinations Include Kishanpol Bazar, Haldiyon Ka Rasta, Maniharon Ka Rasta, M.i. Road, Jauhari Bazar, Bapu Bazar And Nehru Bazaar. From Handicrafts To Hand-woven Rugs And Textiles, The Items At These Bazaars Are One Of A Kind.

Jaipur Has A Famous Market For Its Jewellery.Jauhari Bazaar', Is Renowned For Its Precious And Semi-precious Stones And Its Other Jewellery Works In Diamonds, Topaz And Emeralds. One Will Also Find Craftsmen Working Religiously On The Art Of minakari' (renowned Jaipur Enamel Technique Mostly Done On Gold And Silver), Embellishing The Designs Of Blue And Green Enamel Into Gold And Silver.Vark', The Infamous Silver Foil Covering Indian Sweets For Embellishment, Is Also Created Here. The Tapping Sounds You Will Hear On Your Promenade Will Be An Indicator Of vark' Being Made Around You.

The Shops And Emporium On Mi Road Cater To The Tourist Needs. The Shops Carry Beautiful Work Of Jewellery, Brass, Blue Pottery, Marble, Etc. It's A Souvenir Shopper's Delight. You Can Spend Quite Some Time Around Here, Just Looking For Your Favourite Piece. This Place Will Fulfil Your Most Shopping Requirements At One Place.

This Market Is Famous For Its Marble Work. Look For A Street Crossing With A Name khazane Walon Ka Rasta'. Moving Further You Will Come Across silawaton Ka Mohalla for Some More Marble Marvels.

These Are More Famous For Textiles, Local Perfumes And Camel Skin Shops. Look For Mirza Ismail Road.

For A Riot Of Color Look For rangwalon Ki Gali' In This Market. This Is A Tiny Lane Where Local Art Of tie and dye' Is At Display. Tons Of Artisans Converting White Fabric Into Multi-color Patterns.

Market With Textiles, Utensils, Iron Ware And Trinkets.

Another Famous Shopping Spot For Tourists For Its Easy Location And Renowned Jaipur Quilts' Is The Street Across Hawa Mahal. You Can Find Quilts That Are As Light As Hundreds Grams Here. You Can Also Find Other Trinkets And Souvenirs All Around The Street.

The Pride Of Jaipur, Niros Has Been A Gourmet's Delight With Celebrities From All Walks Of Life As Its Clientele For Almost Five Decades. Niros Has Become A Landmark On The Bustling M.i.road. Tourists Find Its Central Location Ideal As They Can Easily Hop In For A Bite While They Are Out Shopping. Having Served Specialities Like Laal Maas, Reshmi Kebab And Chicken Tikka Masala For Decades. Location : Niros Restaurant, Mirza Ismail Road, Jaipur-302001, Rajasthan.

Lmb, Is One Of The Best Places To Go To For Vegetarian Delicacies. A Perfect Pit-stop After A Day Of Seminars And Readings, It Has Everything From Samosas And Aloo Tikkis To Stuffed Kachoris, Lassi, And Sweets Like Paneer Ghewar. Location : Johari Bazar, Jaipur-302003, Rajasthan. Tel : 0141-2565844, 2578845;

Spice Court Is One Of The Supreme Multi Cuisines Restaurants In Town. Situated At A Posh Locality In The City, The Joint Offers The Best In Hospitality, Ambience, And Entertainment And Of Course Food. Appealing To The Eye This Multi-cuisine Restaurant Does Stimulate The Senses Fully. For Entertainment It Offers A Cultural Evening Every Day. While Enjoying The Food You Can Also Take Pleasure In Watching Flok Dances And Puppet Shows. So While The Puppets Steal Your Heart The Eat Stuff Really Leaves You Craving For More. Location: Hari Bhawan, Achrol House, Jacob Road, Civil Lines, Jaipur-302006, Rajasthan. Tel : 0141-2220202, 9571970005;

Chine, Indian And Continental. It Has A Resto Bar Serving Only Lager Beer And Wine. You Should Try Lal Mas. It Is Mutton Cooked In Traditional Rajasthani Style With Dry Red Chillies. Location : Maya Mansion, Opposite Gpo, Mirza Ismail Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan. Tel : 0141-2360889;

Normally Called Rawat Mishthan Bhandar, They Serve Irresistible Onion Kachoris, Mirchi Vadas, Mawa Kachoris, And Equally Divine Sweets, Which Will Have You Craving And Coming Back For More. Location : Station Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan. Tel : 0141-2367460;

Chokhi Dhani Village Has Been The Mirror Of Rajasthani Culture Since 1989. Started As Part Of Ambiance For A Restaurant, Over The Years It Has Evolved As A Tasteful And Authentic Symbol Of Ethnic Village Life Of This Most Colorful State In The Country. Live Dance And Music Performance All Through The Evenings Is One Of The Major Attractions At Chokhi Dhani Village. Its An Hour Ride From The City, Give That Rural Experience &where One Can Enjoy Typical Rajasthani Food. Location : Chokhi, Sukhdeopura Nohara, Jaipur-302022, Rajasthan. Tel : 0141 2770555;