The final stop on our tour of the Golden Triangle was the colorful city of Jaipur in Rajasthan. Jaipur, known as the "Pink City" is one filled with a rich history of rulers, arts, and architecture. From the moment you enter the city's perimeter, you begin to see the iconic pink buildings that give the city it's name. The reason behind all the pink: in the late 1800s, when royal visitors came to visit from England, the King of Jaipur decided to paint the city pink, as pink was a color of hospitality. Since then, the city has continued this tradition of maintaining both the beautiful pink color and the standard of hospitality. The most iconic of the pink structures in Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal. The intricate facade is located on the periphery of the City Palace. Created as a means for the women of the royal family to observe daily life and festivals from within the Palace, the Hawa Mahal has 953 windows to look out of. In present day, these windows are open to the public to look out of. As mentioned before, the Hawa Mahal is on the periphery of a much larger compound that houses the City Palace. The City Palace is the home of the royal family of Jaipur. Parts of the palace are open for tourists to view, and there is a museum within these areas that has memorabilia from the history of the Rajput clan. My favorite part of the City Palace, was probably the inner courtyard which houses four beautiful "gates", or doorways. Each doorway represents a different season, and is dedicated to a different Hindu god. If you get a chance to visit this courtyard, take a moment to admire the detail and vibrancy of each of these doors. If you get a chance to wander around the city after looking at its architectural marvels, try to check out Bapu Bazaar or Johri Bazaar, two great marketplaces in the city. Both of these shopping locations are filled with a variety of stores, from clothing, food, and linens, to the most basic of tourist souvenirs. If you're looking to buy something unique, Jaipur is especially famous for it's extremely vibrant textiles, and makes wonderful quilts known as razais. The next stop on my list was a short drive away from the city: Amber Palace and Fort. Along the way, you get to see many different views, from rural shop vendors to some pretty amazing wildlife. If you're up for it, you can even take an elephant ride up to the palace. Amber Palace was where I truly appreciated Indian architecture and design. A lot of thought went behind each and every structural and design element and this is the reason why the palace is still as marvelous as the day it was built. For example, the artwork you see inlaid into the walls of the palace were created in the early 1700s, and have not been renovated since. This is because all the designs were created using durable semi-precious and precious gemstones. From the moment you lay eyes on Amber Palace you will find yourself in awe. Built to be the residence of the royal families, Amber Palace was made taking into account every need and wish the rulers wanted. One of the most amazing areas in the Amber Palace is the Sheesh Mahal. Built by Raja (King) Man Singh in 1727, the Sheesh Mahal is truly a sight for the eyes. Essentially a courtyard inlaid wholly with mirrors, the Sheesh Mahal was created by the King for his Queen so that she could see the stars even on the cloudiest of nights. I wish I could experience what it would be like to be sitting in that courtyard on a dark night surrounded by candles, and watching their flames flicker and reflect across the thousands of fragmented mirrors. Finally to end my trip in Jaipur and of the Golden Triangle, we made a quick stop to look at the Jal Mahal. Another amazing structure that can only be viewed from afar because it rests in the middle of a lake. Try to get some stunning pictures here. I know for a fact that along the side of the lake, there a few merchants who will offer to let you get dressed in traditional Rajasthani garb and take a picture which they will then print for you. Jaipur is a city filled with culture and history which makes seeing this beautiful place worthwhile.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Mahima Siripurapu18 years old. Industrial Engineering major. Dog enthusiast. Aspiring Khaleesi. Foodie. Land dweller. Struggling writer. Horrid chess player. Adequate chef. Thrifting lover. Environmentalist, and yes that does mean I'm a tree hugger. vegetarian. Archives
September 2018
Categories |