Jaipur, the cultural as well as political capital of Rajasthan is a very popular tourist destination in India. Jaipur together with Delhi and Agra form India's most popular tourist circuit called Golden triangle of India.
Named after the ruler of Amer, Sawai Jai Singh, city was founded in the year 1727. This city is also known as India's earliest planned city in the line of modern Chandigarh. Several architects were consulted by the Maharaja of Amer Sawai Jai Singh and city was designed by the then famous architect from Bengal Shri Vidyadhar Bhattacharya after due deliberations on Vastu Shastra.
Jaipur is popularly known as Pink City of India. in 1876, all the buildings and houses were painted in pink colour to welcome Albert Edward, the Prince of Wells and since then the city is called Pink City. Jaipur has two UNESCO World Heritage sites namely Amber Fort and Jantar Mantar (the Royal Observatory) besides the city itself which has now been included in the UNESCO World Heritage cities.
Major places of interest are City Palace, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), Jantar Mantar (Royal Observatory), Amber Fort, Albert Museum. Other lesser visited places but equally rewarding places are Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Galta ji temple, Birla Mandir. Rambagh Palace, the erstwhile residence of Maharaja of Jaipur Rambagh Palace is also worth visiting but one needs a prior booking either at the hotel or in one of its restaurants to see and believe the opulence of this princely state. This has now been converted into a top end Heritage Hotel managed by Taj Group of Hotels.
Just in the outskirts of Jaipur, Jhalana Leopard sanctuary offers excellent sighting of leopards in their natural habitat. Sariska Tiger Reserve and Ranthambhore Tiger Reserves are two national parks not too far from Jaipur.
