Jaipur the City of Forts and Castles

A Bugler Leads the Royal Train

An unplanned trip to Jaipur was an amazing experience for my family and myself. First and foremost, the Mumbai-Vadodara expressway made the journey seamless. The top speed limit of 120 kilometres per hour on most of the journey eats up the kilometres. Restrooms every twenty kilometres are covered in fifteen minutes. The four lanes on each side of the expressway ensured enough space to overtake stragglers. A smooth and well-paved carriageway provided us with a comfortable ride. Starting from Gurgaon, Palam Vihar we travelled a distance of 268 kilometres to our hotel in Malviya Nagar in Jaipur. We had diverted to Jal Mahal on the way which incurred an additional 7 kilometres to what should have been a distance of 261 kilometres from Gurgaon.

The Jal Mahal seems to float on water

My bother and myself

Our first stop at a place of tourist importance was the famed Jal Mahal, a Palace that seems to be floating on the lake. The waterfront is studded with vendors selling knickknacks and savouries, photographers ready to take your photographs while wearing traditional costumes.

One of the gateways to City Palace

City Palace in the city centre is a must-visit spot in Jaipur. It is the royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the former rulers of the Jaipur City in Rajasthan. The Palace houses a museum, decorated courtyards, and galleries. The Sabha Niwas is a huge hall where the King used to hold an audience with the public. It is a huge hall whose ceiling is held up by massive pillars. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photographs inside it. The Mubarak Mehal complex in the courtyard's centre was built to receive foreign guests. The Clock Tower in one courtyard corner hints at a Victorian touch. One very interesting object was the silver urn in which water was stored. It stores 4000 litres of water and weighs 340 kilograms. It holds the distinction of being one of the world's largest sterling silver water containers. The green-coloured Lehariya Gate looks distinct. The city palace was built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1727.

A Hall in the City Palace meant for meeting guests

An Urn made of Sterling Silver

Posing in before a canon at City Palace

The Clock Tower at City Palace

But Jaipur is also known for having one of the largest canons in the world, namely the Jai Van canon which is really huge in size. You needed 100 kilos of Gunpowder to launch a fifty kilos canon ball into the distance. There is a legend that tells of how the person who fired the canon lost his eardrums even after he had jumped into a pool of water after lighting up the fuse! Another legend mentions how people nearby suffered heart attacks while listening to the loud boom of the canon. There is yet another legend that describes how a huge depression was formed in the ground where the projectile from the canon fell a few kilometres away and how it became a pond. A smaller sibling to the Jai Van Cannon is the Bajrang Van Cannon. Built in the year 1694 A.D., the Bajrang Van Cannon is also known as a Garrison Cannon. It was driven to the battlefield by Oxen. Both of these canons are located in the Jaigarh Fort.

The Jai Van Cannon

The Bajrang Van Cannon

The Foundry at the Jaigarh Fort

I was able to see the foundry where the above two cannons were made. It was a complex process involving moulds, drilling the barrel employing cogs and drive shafts. The drilling bit was driven by Oxen.

A Glimpse of Weapons at the Museum in the Jaigarh Fort

The Jaigarh Fort not only hosts what might be the world's largest canon but also the cannonball used in the Jai Van cannon, It is interesting to see a few muzzle-loading pistols along with arrowheads, swords and daggers.

Shields and Daggers

Swords and Hilts

Lancets and Canons

Sitting in the centre is the Jai Van Cannonball

The Amer Fort is another important must-visit fort in Jaipur. It was built in 1592 by Man Singh and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Amer Fort is also known as the Palace of Mirrors. The mirrors were imported from Belgium and some of them haven't lost their shine even today!

The Entrance to the Amer Palace

One of the extensions of the Sheesh Mahal

The glass was brought from Belgium

The Nahargarh Fort should be next on your itinerary. Built in 1734, the fort was meant to be a place of retreat for the king and his consorts.

A beautiful extension of one of the halls in the Nahargarh Palace

A well-designed doorway at the Nahargarh Palace

At the Nahargarh Palace

At the Nahargarh Palace

A corridor at the Nahargarh Fort

It wouldn't be wrong to claim that Jaipur comes to life at night, especially when the lights are turned on to bathe the monuments in a warm glow that offsets the pink colour of the monuments. One enthralling monument to see is the Hawa Mahal at night. It is simply amazing! The Albert Museum and the Patrika Gate are two other monuments worth visiting at night.

The Hawa Mahal at night

The Prince Albert Museum at night

The Patrika Gate at night

Other Places to Visit 

There are other places to visit in Jaipur besides the forts and palaces. Some of the places that I would recommend include the Patrika Gate claimed to be located on one of the largest roundabouts in the country, the Birla Temple and The  Albert Museum.

Posing at the entrance to the Patrika Gate

Inside the Patrika Gate

Inside the Patrika Gate

The Birla Temple

The Prince Albert Museum at dusk

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