21 plus places to visit in Jaipur.

21 Plus places to visit in Jaipur.

Jaipur is one of the top destination for travellers in India. It is the most historical city with almost all modern amenities.  Jaipur being the capital of Rajasthan (United State of Princely states of erstwhile Rajputana).

When you come to Jaipur you may be asking one question always.  What the places to visit while you are in Jaipur?  Here is a straight reply of you question.

I have added one or two lines of information about the places.  Many spots are common and anyone will tell you about them, but few, you may find new (were always there).

1. Govind Devji Temple

The temple of the Supreme God Head Lord Krishna.  The rulers of Jaipur always ruled on behalf of Lord Govind Devji.  As you sign "for - your company" they use to sign as for - Lord Govind Devji.  

It is believed that the deity was made by The Great Grandson of Lord Krishna. 

Two statues were made by him before this statue - Shri Madan Mohanji and Shri Gopinathji,  then Lord Govind Devji. He made the statues as per the instructions made by his Grand Mother.  After seeing the statue of Lord Govind Devji she approved how Lord himself looked like.

If you love Hindu religion you can also visit other Lord Krishna Temples in Jaipur. Hare Krishna..

2. City Palace (Same complex).

Just within this complex is the City Palace.  The rulers of Jaipur lived here and still lives in the parts of this palace.

You will enjoy going around the palace.  Many old things worth seeing has been kept in the museum.  The palace is still in the hands of The Royal Family.  The present King is HH PadnabhSingh - Son of Princess Diya Kumari (daughter of HH Brig. Bhawani Singhji.)

The Jaipur flag on the city palace can tell if you the king is in Jaipur or not.  A small flag above the main flag if is there means the king is in Jaipur.  Aurangzeb gave the title of Sawai to the kings of Jaipur.  Sawai means if everyone is 1 than the kings of Jaipur are 1.25.  In Hindi or Rajasthani, sawaya means at least 25% better than anyone or anything else.

3. Jantar Mantar. 

King of Jaipur Swai Jai Singh II constructed 5 Jantar Mantars in the country - Jaipur (the largest), New Delhi, Mathura, Ujjain and Varanasi (Benaras).  It is a wonderful science of planets, time, sun and birth signs.  Using the natural lights and shades these instruments can be used for various astrological, weather and plantery calculations.

If you want to visit this place just do not go there and roam around, try to understand the science and intelligence of the people who build this wonderful place.

4. Jalbi Chowk and other open areas of the palace are also worth going around to understand the Royal past.  Just spare some time and move around in the open areas around the city palace.  I am sure you will enjoy the area - that too free of cost.

5. Jal Mahal.

As the name says...Jal Mahal, the palace is built in the center of Man Sagar Lake.  It is on the main road while coming from Delhi to Jaipur via Amer.  You can see the beautiful lake on you way.  

While seeing the palace do not forget to focus on the roof of the lake.  There are trees on the roof top.  The trees on the roof top are Guava Trees.  I am few of the lucky to have tasted those wonderfully tasty Guavas from the Roof Top Trees of Jal Mahal.

You will enjoy this place most if you come immediately after the rains or in winter.

Sorry to write but please ignore the dirt and ugly things around in the lake.  Just focus on the best, the wonderful and ever romantic Jal Mahal.  Sometimes, I think if Jaipur only had this palace it would have been more than enough....Just as Agra is famous for Taj Mahal....Jaipur should have been for Jal Mahal.

6. Kanak Vrindavan.

It is believed that when the Shri Vigraha (Statue) of Lord Govind Devji was bought to Jaipur, this was the temporary temple of the Lord.  After that he deity was shifted to the Palace for better care and protection of deity from attackers of that time.

Presently the place has a beautiful garden, the old temple and a nice historical structure.  You can spend some time here and enjoy the place.  You can take beautiful pictures here.

You can recall the shooting of hindi film "Beta" - Anil Kapoor - Madhuri Dixit here.  A nice place worth visiting with friends and family.

Now comes the Royal Forts of Jaipur.  If you love history and Forts there are some of the best forts of India.  Jai Garh, Nahar Garh, Amer and Moti Doongri.

7. Jai Garh Fort.

This is a massive and wonderful fort worth visiting.  This is the house of the famous "Jai Vaan - The largest cannon".  The cannon is believed to have been used only once.  It is huge and worth seeing.

Will not write much about this fort - but is worth visiting.  Keep 2 to 3 hours for this place to enjoy nicely. Try to explore every corner to actually get the feel of this wonderful palace.

If possible take some food and water with you, find a nice place and enjoy the food.  Do not make the place dirty.

The palace has large water storage tanks (Tankas).  Believed to have treasure of Jaipur Royal Family.  This Fort is still a private fort of the Jaipur Royal Family.

If you forget to take your camera, you will miss it for your life.  Take some wonderful pictures.  

THIS PALACE IS CONNECTED WITH AMER BY ROAD..UNFORTUNATELY NOW THE CONNECTING ROAD IS CLOSED.

8. Nahargarh Fort.

On your way to Jaigarh, after you finish with Jaigarh you can go ahead to Nahargarh.  This is also a beautiful place to see.  

There is a nice Cafeteria and rooms "Padao" on rent where you can rest and have a leisure time.  You can search RTDC site for more details about this.

Do not forget to enjoy your drive to both Jaigarh and Nahargarh.  Do not focus on completing the sites.  The on way views are also worth capturing.  

9. Amer Fort.

Darling of all and easy to reach - Amer Fort.  The Fort was the original palace of the kings of Jaipur before they moved to City Palace.  Again I will suggest you to keep atleast 2 to 3 hours for this palace.  The famous Elephant Ride is also done here.  Hope you will enjoy.  If you do not like the ride you can exercise and walk through the stairs.  The walk itself is a lifetime experience if you do not travel too often.  Keep taking pictures, you will enjoy them afterwards.

Will not write about everything widely written about this palace.  The things I would like to share are:

1. Have a eye full view from the main road.  It is work seeing for a longer time, taking pictures of the palace and your family, specially your kids photo with the gigantic palace in the back. 

2. Walk upward through stairs. (Elephant ride is also an option).

3. Enjoy the first courtyard - Enjoy the Langoors (Black Face Monkeys, Indian Baboon).

4. Now explore different corners of the palace.  Spend some time in each place you like.  It is lovely.  

As the palace is easily accessible will be crowded.  Enjoy the people around, ignore them..imagine as if you are alone and see and cherish the beauty.  Move upward to some place at height and have birds eye view of the gigantic palace.  

When you go to Jaigarh, you will have an even better view of Amer from there. 

There are rooms of different queens of The Maharaja.  The rooms has been designed in such a way that if Maharaja visits one queen, another queen will not know about that.  Smart...

10. On way you will see the chatris (Cremation places of the royal families).

Chatri is the place where the members of the Royal family were cremated.  The main being the Gaitore.

a) Gaitore - In the foot of Gadh Ganesh Temple.

b) Near Amer Palace - On the main road outside Amer Palace move ahead downward.  After crossing the boundry of Amer Palace.  The chatris are on the right side.

c) While coming back to Jaipur from Amer.  After you cross Jal Mahal and then a traffic crossing on the left hand side is one more place for Chatri.

11. Meena ki baori. - Panna Meena Ki Baori

Move downward on main road from Amer Fort.  After you finish the boundary of the fort there is a small lane in the left.  Enter that lane and ask anyone about the place.  It is a small step well  worth seeing, if you have not seen any of the step wells.

Spend some time here.  After you are finished with this place move even interiors and ask for Sagar.

12. Sagar 

My all time favorite - unexplored place.  Normally very few tourist go here.  Lonely and worth seeing.  This place has a very old lake with beautiful architecture.  I am sure you will enjoy this place if you are not in a hurry.

13. Birla Mandir + Moti Doongri Fort + Moti Doonri Ganesh Mandir

In the new city area is Birla Mandir and on the back drop of the temple is the Moti Doongri Fort.  The Moti Doongri Fort is a small fort but is a private property.  So you may not be allowed to visit the fort.  Still worth seeing the view.

Visit the beautiful Birla Mandir in the evening of summer and anytime is Sun is not in full mood.  Make sure it is not very hot if you are going to Birla Mandir.  You will love this place if it is not hot otherwise the floor will be unbearably hot.

Just near Birla Mandir is the Moti Doongri Ganesh Mandir.  Do not forget to visit this temple - Ganpatti Bappa Moriya.

14. Jawahar Circle

Jawahar Circle is near Gaurav Tower on JLN Marg. Jawahar Circle is a beautiful park and the main attraction is the musical fountain.  The musical fountain is of the latest technology.  I am sure you and your kids or even elders will love it.  Set your time to go to this place in the evening.  The time changes as per season.  Normally it is around 8.00 pm.  Please check the web for current timing.

You can plan going to Gaurav Tower and then from there to Jawahar Circle

15. Gaurav Tower + The world Trade Park Area

Gaurav Tower is one of the oldest mall of Jaipur.  Many new malls have emerged after this.  This is the most happening place in the evenings.  Near Gaurav Tower is The World Trade Park.  This place is a nice place to move around.

The small food stalls in and around Gaurav Tower serve a wide variety of food of your choice.  There are other different food joints near by this area.  You can have the dinner of your choice in this area.

16. Sisodia Rani Baagh.

On the Jaipur Agra Highway on the foots of Galtaji Temple is Sisodia Rani Bagh.  This place was the palace of Sidsodia Rani - mother of King Madho Singh.  Sisodia Rani was from Udaipur.  This park was made which could give the queen the feel of her home town Udaipur.

17. Vidyadharji ka Bagh

The Bagh is made in steps and looks wonderfully beautiful.  Worth visiting atleast once.

This is the latest attraction opened for the public.  Vidydhar Bandhopadyay was the architect of Jaipur.  This place was either made in his memory or he use to live here.  I am writing this because Vidyadharji ka Bagh is a very old name in Jaipur but the wonderful park behind Ghat ki ghuni has been opened recently for the public.  Just visit this place.  Please check the timings before approaching, to be safe try to reach around 10.00 am.

On Agra Road when you are moving towards Sisodia Rani Bagh, Galta Temple you will be crossing a very decorated road having beautiful architectural structures on both side of the road. This area is called the Gaht ki Ghuni.  Just do not ignore these free offers.  They are worth seeing and enjoying. 

18. Hati Gaon (Elephant Village)

The much talked Elephant Ride at Amer Road is the mother of this place.  Earlier the mahaut (elephant owners) use to keep the elephants with them as per the facilities they had.  After some tragic and sad incidents with elephants and the tourists a nicely liveable place for elephants was planned and developed.  

This place is the staying place of the elephants of Amer Elephant Ride.

19. Kanota Dam.

Unexplored, difficult to reach.  The way to this place is on way to Galta temple.  There is point where three roads will meet while going to Galtaji.  At this point you have to take the right exit. After Keshav Vidyapeeth you will have to take right.

Try google map it is there on google map now.  Now a very happening place but you can see lots of birds and a different Jaipur altogether.  

Warning: Only go there if you enjoy experiencing something different.  Not a very known spot and not very popular.  No facility for tourist.  Please keep all this in mind.

20. Gadh Ganesh Temple.

This temple was established when Sawai Jai Singh started making Jaipur.  Here Lord Ganesh is like a child.  You have to climb lots of steps to reach the temple.  The temple is on the Nahargarh Hills (more adventurous people can go to Nahargarh Fort from here).

21. Galvya Rishi Ashram - Galtaji Temple

This is the Ashram of Galvya Rishi.  There are temples here which you can visit and have divine blessings.  As a tourist you will love to see the architecture, structures and two lakes (one for men and another for women).  

Above everything else you will love to see the huge numbers of monkeys.  The foreigners call this place Monkey Temple.  Why ? May be because they see monkeys only, everything else is of no interest to them.  Or may be the tourist guides tell them so.  Just to mention, this is the ashram of the great rishi Galvya Rishi.  Now don't ask me what is rishi.

Nikanj Pareek