Page 358 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

356  WESTERN INDIA

1 Jaipur

A labyrinth of fascinating bazaars, opulent palaces
and historic sights, Jaipur is often called the “Pink City”
because its prominent buildings are washed in this
colour. Tradition and modernity exist side by side here.
On its colourful streets, motorbikes jostle for space
with camels, and turbaned village elders rub shoulders
with youngsters in jeans. Jaipur’s old walled area has
the City Palace, an astronomical observatory and
bazaars that sell everything from shoes to jewellery.
Recent additions include a multi-arts centre, but the Govind Dev Temple, dedicated to Krishna
focal point remains the Hawa Mahal.

E City Palace Museum opposite end of the garden, P Hawa Mahal
See pp360–61. and installed the image as the Sireh Deori Bazaar. Tel (0141) 261 8862.
guardian deity of Jaipur’s rulers. Open daily. Closed public hols. Jal Mahal,
Y Govind Dev Temple Just behind the temple is & Extra charges for photography. GAITOR Jaigarh &
Jaleb Chowk (at City Palace). Open the 18th-century Jai Niwas 8 9 Amber Fort
daily. _ Holi (Mar), Janmashtami Bagh, a Mughal-style garden A whimsical addition to
(Aug/Sep), Annakut (Oct/Nov). with fountains and water Rajasthan’s rich architectural RAMGARH
The presiding deity of this channels. Towards the north is vocabulary, the fanciful Hawa Talkatora Joriwar
unusual temple is the flute- the Badal Mahal, an enchanting Mahal or “Palace of Winds” Chaugan Jai Niwas Singh Gate
Bagh
playing Lord Krishna (also hunting pavilion. was erected in
known as Govind Dev). The R OA D BA G RO O WALON K A R AS TA JA I LA L M U N SH I G A NG A URI BAZ A AR Stadium
Govind Dev
image of this god originally P Chaugan Stadium KA NT IC H AND RA R OAD CHAND K A R AS TA Temple MOT I K AT R A B AZ A AR
J HO TWA RA
came from the Govindeoji Brahmpuri. Open daily. POLE City Palace
Museum
Temple in Brindavan (see p183). This large open area near Inter-state PAT H C H AN DP O L E BA ZA AR HAWA M A HA L BA ZA AR THE
It was brought to Amber (see the City Palace derives ROAD COLLECTORATE Bus Terminal Jantar Hawa PINK CITY
Mahal
V IJ AY
pp368–70), then the capital of its name from S A N S AR C H A N D R A R D KALYAN J I KA R A STA Mantar G HO R A N IK AS R O A D
Jaipur’s ruling family, in the chaugan, an ancient STAT IO N R OAD VA N A SATH LI K HAJ AN E WALO N K A RA STA T RI P OLI A BAZ AAR
Jami
late 17th century to save it from Persian form of Jaipur Railway K I SH AN P O LE B A Z AAR Masjid R AM GA N J B A ZA A R
M A RG
Station
the iconoclastic zeal of the polo played with C HA UR A R A STA
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. a curved stick. The G O P I N AT H M A R G I N DI RA BA ZA A R JO H ARI BA ZA A R GALTA
It is believed that this temple area was once M IR ZA I S M A IL RO AD N E H R U
was once a garden pavilion used for festival A J M ER R O AD Ajmeri B A Z AAR B A P U GH AT DA R WAJ A BA Z A AR
Gate
D A S R OA D
called Suraj Mahal, where processions and New B A Z AA R
Sawai Jai Singh II lived while wrestling matches, AJMER SA R D AR PAT EL M AR G B H AG WA N Gate Sanganeri
Gate
his dream-city, Jaipur, was being as well as elephant MALV IYA M AR G ARO J I N I MAR G AS H OK M A RG
built. Legend has it that one and lion fights. Today S Albert Hall Jaipur Zoo Sisodia
night the king awoke from the stadium, with its P R I T HVI R A J R OAD MAHAVIR RD Museum Rani ka Bagh,
AGRA
Ram
his sleep to find himself in viewing pavilions, is Raj Mahal Niwas
Palace
the presence of Krishna, who the venue for the STATUE Bagh
CIRCLE
TI LA K MAR G
demanded that his devasthan famous Elephant SA RD A R PAT E L HOSPITAL ROAD M OT I D O O NG A R I R OA D
(“divine residence”) be returned Festival (see p375) held M ARG YUDHISTIR W A N D A S R D SMS
to him. Jai Singh then moved at the same time as Central Park Hospital
to the Chandra Mahal, at the the Holi celebrations. MARG S AWAI R AM S ING H R D JAWA H A RLA L NE H RU RO A D
B H A G
M ARG
BH AWA N I SI NG H
AMBEDKAR
CIRCLE N A R A I N S I N G H R D
Government Rambagh
House Palace Hotel
Jawahar Kala Kendra
& Moti Doongri Palace
Sanganer Airport
15km (9 miles) SANGANER
Sights at a Glance
1 City Palace Museum
2 Govind Dev Temple
3 Chaugan Stadium
4 Hawa Mahal
5 Albert Hall Museum
Walled city of Jaipur, a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network 6 Jantar Mantar
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p699 and pp712–13
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