
Jaipur gets its name from its founder Maharaja JaiSingh II (1693-1744) the great warrior and astronomer. He came to power at the age of 11 on the death of his father Maharaja Bishan Singh. Jai Singh’s lineage can be traced back to the Kucchwaha Rajput, clan who came to power in the 12th century. They were long-term rivals to the Sisodia Rajputs who ruled from [wiki=1f072ed3a08ef4a88dcea815d2f24126]Mewar[/wiki]. This rivalry led them to ally with the Mughals, and this alliance resulted in them eventually gaining a pre-eminent position in Rajasthan.
Ruling from the magnificent Amber Fort which they built, the might of the Kucchwahas encompassed the kingdoms of Mewar (Udaipur) and Marwar (Jodhpur). After Jai Singh came to power, there was moment of disquiet when he supported Aurangzeb’s son Azam Shah’s bid to the throne. Azam Shah lost the battle of succession to his brother Bahadur Shah, who demanded Jai Singh’s removal and the installation of Vijay Singh to the throne of Jaipur. Jai Singh, not one to take setbacks lying down, formed a formidable front against the Mughals by aligning himself with other Rajput states and reinstated himself.
After the dust had settled, peace reigned and the kingdom prospered and its borders expanded. Jai Singh built the city around the Amber fort to serve as his capital, and the city was named Jaipur, after himself. Much of the credit for Jaipur goes to Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, the chief architect from Bengal who, with Jai Singh’s approval, founded the city on strong scientific principles, laid out according to the Shilpa Shastra, the ancient architectural manual. It remains one of India’s best planned cities.However, expansion meant that the limited sources of water proved inadequate for the city.
After Jai Singh’s death in 1744, his sons squabbled for power and without a monarch, the kingdom became open to invasion and neighboring Rajput states and the Marathas usurped large areas of kingdom. The core, however, remained part of the kingdom, which lasted during British times. As with the Mughals, Jaipur maintained good relations with the British and during the war of independence in 1857 remained loyal to the Raj. Yet, the British gradually began to undermine the independence of the state and exercised greater control over the administration.
In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh painted the entire city pink, traditionally a colour associated with hospitality, to welcome the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) to the city. The tradition has been maintained and today all residents in the old city are compelled by law to preserve the pink colour. Jaipur got the sobriquet of pink city.
Maharaja Ram Singh also built the Ramgarh Lake to supply water to the burgeoning city. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city’s population spread beyond its walls. In 1922, Man Singh II ascended to the throne and it was during his reign that civic buildings like the secretariat, schools, hospitals and other public buildings were built. After independence, Jaipur merged with the states of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner to form the state of Rajasthan. In 1956, Jaipur became the capital of the state of Rajasthan.
Jaipur Airport is situated in the satellite town of Sanganer and offers sporadic (chartered) service to [wiki=59ead8d1e124ccfb79f3ace06f43e703]London[/wiki] and [wiki=50fefb5efb085fd11b1a4fd2b6dda0aa]Dublin[/wiki]. Flights to [wiki=458e4cbc78201c1aec5fc53a31c59378]Singapore[/wiki] and Bangkok are available via Delhi. Direct flights to Sharjah, Muscat and [wiki=23b998b19b5f60dbbc4eedc53328b0c7]Dubai[/wiki] are also available.
Jaipur also has daily domestic air links with many Indian cities such as [wiki=33dd8b1b89aca133ba3edfab4c8b5d2b]Jodhpur[/wiki], [wiki=f285ed849de3d1818390b00873bf67ce]Udaipur[/wiki], [wiki=dc0f01709c66590e837839d2b5a12eeb]Aurangabad[/wiki], [wiki=9baaebe1759ba1a6365a2b0539081516]Delhi[/wiki], [wiki=02a342794409deaf5f29216201d9da30]Hyderabad[/wiki], [wiki=44bef2ee415c62f0ce01fbe6c5566250]Kolkata[/wiki], [wiki=904848bc2d46b8dcd2e90e5a025f726e]Goa[/wiki], [wiki=361961d900d8171b305cb8f79b1aabc2]Chennai[/wiki], [wiki=a6ed05911356fc578c660f121f2ad0de]Ahmedabad[/wiki], [wiki=1bc99cb2f4153c2d0d8025ee5575b2a0]Bangalore[/wiki], [wiki=8ebaad59980c95ade797c903761fa815]Mumbai[/wiki], [wiki=76d62042b96824bfa5e72053e947a478]Pune[/wiki] and Indore.
One plus point for those flying out of Delhi is that the Delhi airport is close to the highway, so you could reach the airport without entering the city.
Indian Railways[url=http://www.indianrail.gov.in/inet_srcdest_names.html]]connects Jaipur from all over the country and is one of the cheapest options. A number of daily trains connect Jaipur to [[Delhi[/url]], Ahmedabad, [wiki=8d1fdd7dcc6f2309cd15746f7e7b16d6]Agra[/wiki], [wiki=8ebaad59980c95ade797c903761fa815]Mumbai[/wiki], Jodhpur, Kota, Alwar and Ajmer. Daily connections are also available for Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Kolkata, Jammu, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Kanpur, Roorkee, Haridwar, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur and Bhopal.
Long-distance trains arrive from many other major cities including Lucknow, Allahabad, Benaras, Vadodara, Surat, Nagpur, Bilaspur, Raipur, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Puri, [wiki=361961d900d8171b305cb8f79b1aabc2]Chennai[/wiki], Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad, Goa, Mangalore, Kozhikode and Kochi.
The most popular option from Delhi is the Shatabdi express which departs New Delhi station at 6:05AM and reaches Jaipur at 10:30AM.
There are three major railway stations Jaipur Junction (main station),Durgapura and Gandhinagar (Jaipur), which is not to be confused with Gandhinagar in Gujarat state. All trains stop at Jaipur Junction and a few trains stop at Durgapura and Gandhinagar stations also.
There is an excellent bus service between Jaipur to Delhi by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) with buses approximately every half an hour both sides. non-A/C and AC Volvo bus services are offered. A/C Volvo costs about Rs 600 per seat and the bus is taken through well maintained highway and has good shock absorbers. From Delhi you can board the bus from Bikaner House on Pandara Road next to India Gate. From Jaipur you can board the bus from Narayan Singh Circle or the main Sindhi Camp bus stand. You can also book tickets up to 6 days in advance from both these places. These buses typically take 6 hours (by Volvo) or 6-7 hr by other buses. There are also some private bus operators from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi and outside of Sindhi camp in Jaipur. No need to make advance reservations and cost is Rs 150 for a seat and Rs 250 for sleeper on an A/C bus but these buses are taken through bumpy backroads to avoid toll roads and their shock absorbers are not good.
Also note that if you plan to leave from Delhi airport, you can get off the bus at Dhaula Kuan and get an autorickshaw (to the bus stand) or perhaps a taxi from there. You do not need to enter congested Delhi.
Express buses to several cities and towns within Rajasthan (such as Kota and Bundi) are also available.
This is the most popular way of reaching from Delhi. The journey by car from Delhi to Jaipur takes less than 4 hr. National Highway no. 8 connects Delhi to Jaipur via the industrial township of Gurgaon. The road is excellent.
There are many car rental services in Delhi which can provide chauffeur driven cars to Jaipur.
It is the best and cheaper way to visit the Jaipur Local Sights by RTDC (Rajasthan Tourism Dept. Corp.) There are three type of tours: 1) full day tour (Jun-2012 price: 300 Rs), 2) half day tour (Jun-2012 price: 250 Rs) and 3) Pink city by night tour (Jun-2012 price: 375 Rs). For details see the website [http://www.rtdc.in/ctt.htm]. There will be one guide with each bus to give you brief info about all sights.
Jaipur bus official web site: http://www.jaipurbus.com/route_map.html#;
Bus route schematic for routes 1 to 10 can be found by searching Google images.
As of October 2015 Jaipur is undergoing construction of its metro network and there are multiple disruptions and road diversions, the usual bus route described by the Jaipur bus website is not being adhered to near the city center (for example near Badi Chopar bus stop) so be sure where to board buses heading the correct direction. Some supposed bus stop does not have any signage at all.
City bus #5 connects directly Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, New Gate and the intersection of MI Road and Railway Rd every 10 minutes until 9 PM. Cost is Rs 10 - 12 depending on distance. [http://www.jaipurbus.com/route_map.html]
City bus #2 runs from the train station up station rd to the city palace, minar, observatory etc.
By and large, autorickshaw is the best way around the city. Hiring an autorickshaw for a whole day with a trip to Amber Fort should cost around Rs 350.
Prepaid autos are available at the Jaipur railway station and the Sindhi Camp bus stand, although prices are a little inflated and often the same as you get with minimal bargaining.
The rates have been revised to around Rs 350-400, and the autorikshaw walas will tell you to take the Slip from the Police booths, but you can also go directly without the Slip but don't forget to Bargain over the price in that case, it could be much cheaper. It'll be best if you start your sight seeing by 10 in the morning as all the major spots get closed by 4:30PM and each spot takes a lot of time especially the Forts.
In some cases, the AutoRickshaw drivers try to bring up with some excuses that this happened or that happened so pay more, or any lame story or excuse to get some more from you after the trip is over. But stick to the original amount decided, Police in Jaipur are very friendly, in case you feel the autoRickshaw driver is trying to misguide you or forcing you for some extra money then just refer the police persons located at various spots. The cops are really friendly and caring there.
Also some autorickshaw drivers will tell you to buy artifacts and gifts from some shops especially some located on way to Amber fort. Firmly refuse to stop there as these shops operate on commission to the auto driver and fleece you. If you've got to buy some souvenirs buy them in city's main shopping areas like bapu bazzar.
Take along some of your own information about the eating and shopping places as the drivers have their fixed commissions at shops and eating outlets, so you might end up paying more for and item or eating at an undesirable place.
Autorickshaw drivers have been known to work together with the gem scammers. If you hire an autorickshaw for the day, he may suggest that you 'go for a beer' afterwards, at which point you will be introduced to the point man on the scam attempt, usually a very charismatic person who is clearly much wealthier than his rickshaw-driving 'friend'. Use common sense: why would a rickshaw driver who makes 350 rupees per day (minus petrol) want to take you to a bar where beers are 75 rupees each? Politely decline these invitations; they are nearly invariably more trouble than they are worth.
Cycle-rickshaws are cheaper, but the amount of time it takes quickly makes the extra few rupees worth it. Walking in the bazaar is a treat, although side streets are a bit less welcoming and offer a sharper glimpse of poverty.
The taxis in Jaipur are very convenient and comfortable. Most of the vehicles are Maruti Omni Vans or Tata Indica cars, which are much safer than Auto rickshaws, and the drivers are polite. If you are alone or going to an unknown destination, you are strongly advised to choose this option, even though the rates will be double that of an autorickshaw. you must call for a taxi, as it is nearly impossible to hail one unless you are at a major point like the airport. When you call, you should negotiate a fare (or agree on using the meter) and get the taxi's 'number'. The taxi will come pick you up, and call you when they are close. Taxis generally have yellow license plates with black letters. Some taxis are painted with yellow & black color scheme on their body which helps to uniquely identify from the private cars.
It's possible to see the ticket price for each point of interest in the Rajasthan Tourist Government Office website [http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Destinations/Jaipur/MonumentsNMuseums.aspx]
Amber Fort, Jantar-Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall (Central Museum), Nahargarh Fort 5-monument 2-day Composite Ticket for sale at any ticket booth costs Rs 50/30 indian/student and Rs 300/150 foreigner/student.
City Palace and Jaigarh Fort also share a 1-week ticket for Rs 300.
This massive fort-palace complex built in hybrid Hindu-Muslim style dates back to Raja Man Singh and was the royal palace of the Kachwahas from c. 1600-1727. The name has nothing to do with the rather pretty pastel yellow colour; instead, the fort is named after the town of Amber, in turn named after the goddess Amba. The main sights within the fort include the Sheesh Mahal, adorned with thousands on thousands of mirror tiles on the walls and ceiling. The fort/palace grounds are sprawling and the information panels (hindi/english) are somewhat limited, so it might be worth getting an audio guide or a real guide. It's a bit of a hike up from the town, and the touristy thing to do is to hitch an elephant ride to the top (in order to get an elephant it is better to to arrive there in the morning, otherwise at midday the elephants are over. But the road that elephants pass is not so long). The elephant riding costs 900 (fixed government price) as of July 5th 2011. The real guide will cost about Rs 70-100 and will also take you to the Rajasthan Kala Mandir (a government operated shop) to buy souvenirs. The guide gets a 2% commission on the items you buy. Also see the Amber Light Show below.
[url=http://www.pinkcity.com/places-to-visit-2/amber-sight-scene-jaipur/]Amber Fort Video[/url]
[url=http://www.pinkcity.com/gallery/amber-fort-wall-pictures/]Amber Fort Photo Gallery[/url]
* Never conquered in battle, this was considered the strongest of the three forts in the area. It is best known as the site of the world's largest cannon, the Jaivana, which was test-fired only once - according to legend, despite using only the half the design amount of gunpowder, the cannonball flew 35 km! A better reason to visit the fort, though, are the scenic gardens at the other end and the spectacular views over the Amber Fort and the hills around. The remains of the foundry where the Jaivana (and many more) were cast are also in the fort grounds. Please note, there are multiple board with "no tips allowed" if you have someone bothering you.
* The smallest of the three forts, notable primarily for excellent views over Man Sagar lake and the vast sprawl of Jaipur. The fort also houses the (relatively) compact Madhavendra Bhawan palace, although its former splendour is fading fast under a new layer of graffiti and pigeon droppings. Portions of the movie Rang De Basanti were shot at this fort. To go the area where the "Pathshala" song was shot, take a left turn as soon as you enter the fort. An autorickshaw can be taken from the autorickshaw stand in front of the Amber fort and a round trip will cost about Rs 250.
An imposing blend of traditional Rajput and Mughal architecture. It is a vast palace complex occupying nearly one-seventh of the Pink City. It was originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. The complex is divided into a series of courtyards, sprawling gardens and buildings. It is home to several palatial structures like the Chandra Mahal, (home to present Maharajah of Jaipur), Mubarak Mahal (housing a textile museum), Diwan-e-Khas (or Hall of Private audience housing the two largest silver vessels in the world, which are duly mentioned in the Guinness book), the Diwan-e-Aam ( or Hall of Public Audience) and the gateway Ridhi Sidhi Pol (with four small doorways decorated with motifs depicting the four seasons).
* A Rajput style architectured palace sits in the center of the Maan-sarovar lake. The lake is often dry in the winter, but summer monsoons frequently turn it into a beautiful lake filled with water hyacinths. Free on the 18th of May, as well as the Observatory and wind palace.
Govind Devji Temple - For Vaishnavites, particularly followers of Lord Krishna, this is the most important temple in the world after Vrindavan. Lord Krishna presiding in the temple were brought to Jaipur from Vrindavan during Mughal rein. According to popular legend, Lord Krishna's idol in the temple looks exactly like Krishna's form while his incarnation of Earth. It is located at Jainiwas Gardens, Jalebi Chowk, in the same campus as City Palace.
* Moti Doongari temple is located in the center of Jaipur city. This Temple is the main center of religion for Jaipur people. Moti Dungri is basically a small hill, which means Pearl Hill. There is a Temple and a Palace on this hill. Moti Dungri temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and it is said that at the time of building this city, this temple was constructed first to protect the city.
* is a relatively new temple made of white marble with beautiful carvings. It covers a vast area in Jaipur city and is built in a contemporary manner. Birla Temple is completely constructed with finest high quality white marbles.
* Akshardham Temple (at Vaishali Nagar)
* Jain Mandir (Shivdas Pura) 15-16 km from Jaipur, is a Jain temple in Shivdaspura and is well known as “Bara Padampura”. This temple comes under district Jaipur. Temple is a unique place of miracles and is famous in north India for its very beautiful statue of God Padamprabhu (The 6th Teerthankar for Jain’s). God is sitting in a crossed leg seating posture. Height of the statue is 2 ft 4" and statue is made of pure white stone. Statue was appeared while digging for foundation of a house.
* Galtaji is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site situated 10 km from Jaipur on Jaipur-Agra highway near Sisodia Rani Garden. The main temple here is temple of Galtaji in constructed in pink stone. The temple has a number of pavilions with rounded roofs, exquisitely carved pillars and painted walls. The temple is surrounded by natural springs and reservoirs that are considered holy .There are also seven tanks or kunds here.
* Galwh Bagh (aka The Monkey Temple) and Suriya Mandir (aka The Sun Temple) are located on the Eastern edge of the city. Both locals and tourists come here to feed the surprisingly tame monkeys, use the temples, and enjoy the views. You can climb to the top of the hill and then down into the valley to see the Monkey Temple, all the while enjoying the company of countless monkeys, goats, and other animals. At the top of the hill, you turn right to reach the Sun Temple for one of the best views of the city, especially at sunset. Monkey food is available for purchase at the bottom of the hill. The Temples are free, but local religious people may ask for donations (optional) and there is a Rs 50 charge for using a camera.
This UNESCO world heritage site is the largest of five astronomical observatories build by Maharaja Jai Singh during the period 1727-1734 in north India. The observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices (or yantras in Hindi) for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets and determining the celestial altitudes etc. There is signage providing elaborate explanations for the use of each device, and guides can be hired to provide much the same information in a more digestible format. The audio guide at the observatory isn't great and doesn't tell you very much more information than the already existant signage. The observatory, the water and the wind palace are free on the 18th of May.
* Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Singh as part of City Palace. It was an extension of the Zenana (women) chamber. It's purpose was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen. It is a five storey high red sandstone structure complete with over 950 windows. The breeze (or hawa in Hindi) circulates through these windows giving the palace its name. Free on May 18th.
* This is a royal cremation site of the royal rulers of jaipur.
* There is an alternative to the minor that's open 24/7. Just across the other side of the road (Chandpol Bazaar) from the minaret is a shopping complex with stairs up to a rooftop area where you can get basically the same view as from the minar. To get there, go through the arched gateway almost opposite the minar, then as soon as you get to the courtyard, look to the left for a metal spiral staircase and keep climbing until you reach the roof, walk around the corder to the next set of stair and go up another floor until you know you can't go any higher.
Ram Niwas Garden
* Zoological Garden
* Sisodia Rani Palace and Garden
* Vidyadhar Garden
* Central Park (Entrance near Statue Circle)
* [url=http://greenpalms.in/]Marriage Garden[/url]
A beautiful clean museum dedicated to the traditional art of hand block printing textiles, this museum is housed in a recently restored heritage haveli tucked into the back streets of old Amber. Small cafe, clean toilets, small shop, friendly staff & a printer & block carver demonstrating their crafts every day.
*
Visit the bazaar in the city centre. An evening visit is a complete assault on the senses - the colours, the sights, the sounds and the smells. There are different specialist zones, whether it's food, flowers, textiles, carved statues or plumbing. While you should always be wary, be sure not to completely close yourself out to the locals as one of the highlights of Rajasthan is the chance to interact with the friendly people. It is not uncommon to be invited to homes for dinner, parties, and even weddings as many middle class young people are curious of foreigners and genuinely very hospitable as is the open culture of the region (which you will not find in Delhi/Agra). Be sure to spend time time sharing masala chai and chatting with some of the gen Y of Rajasthan.
* Experience the history, culture and life of Amber through this spectacular show. Amitabh Bachhan narrates the story of Rajasthani kings with a script written by Gulzar. Don't forget the mosquito repellent. The light show can be watched from outside the fort, but the sound won't be audible from there.
* Raj Mandir Theatre. An experience in itself, and another "don't miss". Once known as the best movie theater in India, and still the best in Rajasthan, it offers an overwhelming experience. From the pushing, shoving, and general chaos in the ticket line, to an audience that laughs, cries, cheers, claps, and consistently talks through the entire film, the Raj Mandir provides an insight into Rajasthani culture. The movies themselves are always interesting; Masala movies are action, drama, mystery, suspense, and epics all wrapped into one single movie, teeming with dances and obligatory wet sari scenes, and unabashedly lifting generous amounts of plot devices from Western movies. The theater-goers are very friendly and genuinely curious about overseas visitors who come to the Raj. Expect to answer many questions about country of origin and movie likes and dislikes, as well as take photos of theater-goers themselves with their mobile phones. Don't be put off by "House Full" notices at the entrance. The box office opens again a nominal 45 minutes before the next performance, and there are usually tickets available. Box seats at Rs 120 go first, so its worth going early to avoid disappointment. Shows at 6:30PM and 9:30PM. A great place to meet locals, with the nearby McDonald's as a central congregation spot.
* Nad Sadhna [nadsadhna.com]. Provides a platform to learn Indian Music (Vocal, Instrumental and Dance) from an experienced musician.
* B.M. Birla Auditorium and Convention Centre is located at the heart of Jaipur. This auditorium is spread over 9.8 acre, that includes a computer centre, interactive science museum, an information processing centre, library, a processing planetarium, eight research division, a dissemination cell and an auditorium. Auditorium has the capacity of 1350 people to seat and it is among the largest auditoriums of India. This auditorium is built up to international conference standards.
Statue circle
* Ramgarh
A nice, modern and very clean hotel a few minutes from the Pink City. Has a simple restaurant, laundry service, internet Rs 30/hour and wifi Rs 100/day. Full of foreign travellers. Be careful of rickshaw/taxi drivers - they don't get a commission here so may try to bring you somewhere else.
*Family run guesthouse located in the heart of the city, with 8 A/C rooms. The service is friendly and it is also excellent value for money.
*Family hotel located in the heart of the city, with A/C and non ac rooms. The service is friendly and it is also excellent value for money.
* Chit Chat Guest house , D-160 Kabir Marg, Bani Park. ☎ +91 141 2201899, +91 2202843 [url=http://www.chitchatrestaurantandguesthouse.com/],][mailto:chitchat7@hotmail.com chitchat7@hotmail.com[/url]. Rs 300/person single, double room Rs 500/day (hot/cold shower). Airport/rail station/bus station pick up available, nice restaurant.
* Explorer's Nest, [url=http://www.jaipurbedbreakfast.com],]☎ +91 99 28517801, +91 141 2376173, [mailto:jaipurtravel@yahoo.comjaipurtravel@yahoo.com[/url]. Bed & breakfast provided by a couple who are fond of meeting travellers and guiding them about their city. The house has ethnic decor and is situated at a quiet place 5min walk from the center. The whole atmosphere is that of personal care and warmth. Owner Arvind is always there to help, the rooms have A/C and you can use wifi. Rooms Rs 600-800/night.
*2 Star hotel with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Free parking and pickup is available from the train station and central bus stand.Very nice hotel with a silent and relaxing atmosphere.Restaurant is nice with mouthwatering dishes.Good and helping people in the hotel.
* Hotel Ramsingh Palace , B-2, hathi babu ka bagh, kanti nagar, Bani Park. ☎ +91 141 4005191 , [mailto:hotelramsinghpalace@gmail.com]. double room Rs 1100/day (hot/cold shower). Comfortable beds, each room comes with LCDTV with all channels. Walking distance to the train station and central bus stand. Airport/rail station/bus station pick up available, multi-cuisine restaurant.
* Hot water, AC, TV, heater, and telephone in every room. The hotel also has a backup power generator and a lift. Nice rooftop bar with great views over the city and free WiFi. Computers with internet access can be used for Rs 20/30mins or Rs 40/hour. They can also serve food. -50% discount if you stay 2 days or more.
* The Karan's Guesthouse, [url=http://www.karans.info/],]☎ +91 141 2363262, [mailto:karans@bsnl.in karans@bsnl.in[/url]. Budget house hotel with spacious neat and clean A/C rooms
* Karni niwas, Motilal attal marg. Very good budget hotel. Very clean with hot water, quiet room. Restaurant, includes continental breakfast, from Rs 35-650 double room.
*Heritage property which looks like a palace. Nice garden, quiet and very clean traditional style spacious rooms with private bath and hot shower. 24 hr service. Comfortable beds, each room comes with colourTV with all channels. Roof top and garden restaurant available. Walking distance to the train station. Managed by a friendly family. Very quiet and relaxing neighbourhood surround by the greenery. Pick up service from the train and central bus station is free of charge.
* Moon Light Palace , S-34, Shanti Nagar, Near Labour Court, Opp. NBC, Jaipur. ☎ +91-141-2450753, 6508059 [url=http://www.hotelmoonlightpalace.com/],][mailto:hotelmoonlightpalace@gmail.com[/url]. From 900Rs/day. It's a new hotel, clean with solid WiFi. Free pick up from station. Restaurant has a wide range of food and very reasonable price.
*The place is designed as an art museum. Wonderful roof top patio restaurant. The owners are nice but the front desk clerk is very moody. They do not always honor reservations made from their website.
* Pink City Guesthouse, 18 Motilal attal Rd. Clean rooms and good value with reliable hot water, TV and WiFi-just ask the guy at the reception. Steps away from bus station and few min walk from old town and/or rail station. Female manager speaks great English, her number is ☎ 9829 804048. Five stores down the road south on that side of the street is an amazing vegetarian restaurant Mohal's which does great cheap-ish food. Make sure you get one of the rooms facing the quiet backstreet Rs 400-700 double room. Off season rate for a very basic room (not attached bathroom) is Rs 250.
* Pink Petals Inn, ☎ +91 141 4016727, [url=http://www.pinkpetalsinn.com].]Comfortable accommodation in the poshest, hippest neighborhood of Jaipur.
* Sangam hotel, 17 Motilal atal Rd. ☎ +91 141 237179192. Budget room from Rs 600. Good mattress, TV, restaurant, includes breakfast toast. Rs 40.
*Family run budget hotel, free pick up from railway station, bus stand, free WiFi. A/C and non A/C rooms with attached bathrooms and TV. Hot shower, food, travel desk, laundry, 5 min walk from railway station. Not especially clean, ceiling fan noisy. Laundry Rs 15 big, Rs 10 small pieces. Walking distance to the bus station in a seedy neighborhood.
* Sunder Palace Guest House, [url=http://www.sunderpalace.com[/url],]☎ +91 141 2360178, [mailto:sunderpalace@hotmail.com sunderpalace@hotmail.com[/url]. Clean rooms, great service, convenient location, a rooftop restaurant, a lovely garden area and a terrace. Tiled double room with cableTV, big bathroom with hot water and a Persian carpet area with a small table where you can sip tea and read for Rs 550. Internet available at Rs 40.
* Youth Hostel, Janpath Rd, (on the approach road of the Raj Assembly), [http://www.yhaindia.org]. A great low budget hostel run by the Government of Rajasthan part of the Youth Hostel Association of India, affiliated to Hostelling International, offers accommodation for backpackers.
Hotel Meghniwas, [url=http://www.meghniwas.com/]]☎ +91 141 2202034, [mailto:email@meghniwas.com email@meghniwas.com[/url]. Single and double rooms from Rs 2,000. It also has a swimming pool open to non-guests for Rs.200.
* Designed in the traditional Rajasthani style
* Sumati Villa, 7, Shubham Enclave, Jamnalal Bajaj Marg, (near Civil Line Crossing), ☎ +91 141 5140965,+91 141 5125176, +91 98 29055772, [url=http://www.sumativilla.com].]A budget guest house located in the heart of the city. situated near bus station, railway station, airport, shopping complexes and cinema hall.
* 29 guest rooms with cableTV, direct-dial phone, refrigerator, and broadband internet access. Conference room that can hold up to 200 people, and a complimentary pick-up service from the nearest airport and railway station.
* 3 star hotel only 12 km from the domestic airport. 12 superior rooms and 26 suites. All are fitted with a private bath with hot & cold water, cable/ satTV, and broadband internet connection. The travel desk, 50-capacity conference area, complimentary transfer services.
* A feudal lord's mansion converted into a hotel with the ambience of a stately home. Centrally located, family managed, cafeteria serving decent vegetarian food and a garden to relax in during the evenings.
* 'Hotel Classic Holidays [url=http://www.hotelclassicholidays.com],]A-79, Shyam Nagar, Sodala, Ajmer Rd. ☎Telefax: +91 141 229 3999, +91 141 229 3890 [mailto:hotelclassicholidays@gmail.com hotelclassicholidays@gmail.com[/url]. 10 year old hotel in a residential area with peaceful, clean, and green surroundings.
* Loharu House, Civil Lines, ☎ +91 141 222 5251, +91 141 222 5945. This property belongs to the Royal Family of Loharu and they rent out a few rooms. The place is quaint and beautiful and the rooms are well appointed. The service also has the touch of personal care and warmth. A plus side is the cooks are excellent and put together some fine dinners. Around US$30-40/night including breakfast.
* Umaid Bhawan, D1-2A, Behari Marg, Bani Park, ☎ +91 141 2206426, [mailto:reservation@umaidbhawan.com reservation@umaidbhawan.com], fax +91 141 2207445), [url=http://www.umaidbhawan.com].]A nicely restored heritage hotel with clean, comfortable rooms, many with balconies. Beautifully decorated, it looks like a mini-palace. It has a roof-top restaurant with views of the rising sun in the morning and the setting sun in the evening. The swimming pool is on the ground floor, and it's cold in the off-season. The friendly and helpful staff will arrange airport/train station pickup. Rs 1,100-1,600/1,200-2,800 (singles/doubles). Great value, a great place.
* Umaid Mahal, ☎ +91 141 220 1952, [url=http://www.umaidmahal.com[/url].]A very Nice heritage house hotel with all 3 star facilities and also offers free pick up from train and bus station From Rs 1,800.
* Sarang Palace, A-40, Subhash Nagar, ☎ +91 141 2281199, [url=http://www.hotelsarangpalace.com[/url],][mailto:reservation@hotelsarangpalace.com[/url]. 3 star heritage hotel, offers free pick up from train and bus station From Rs 1,800.
*Run by a retired army colonel and his wife, who hails from a royal family of Rajasthan, a peaceful place to stay adjoining 50 acres of bird-filled nature. Home cooked meals available, and good advice on attractions and shopping.
*A large heritage hotel.
* Anuraag Villas', [http://www.anuraagvilla.com/index.htm]. 3star hotel situated 15mins by rickshaw from the city center (100rps each way). Peaceful place to relax with clean comfortable rooms and internet facilities for 1300rps per night. Onsite restaurant offers very good vegetarian options Rajasthani style.
Jaipur has an excellent selection of expensive places to be treated like a maharaja for a day or two, most of which are many times booked a year in advance. Though the list is endless, a few of them are:
*Heritage home built in 1872 by the Prime Minister of Jaipur (Late Thakur Fateh Singh ji of Naila), presently owned and managed by his 7th generation descendants. It is surrounded with sprawling gardens and open spaces on all sides; the large front courtyard provides ample seating space for our visitors along with providing a calm and serine ambience. One of jaipurs oldest heritage buildings and home the erstwhile Prime Minister "Thakur Fateh Singh Ji". Surrounded with gardens and open spaces on all sides, large front courtyard provides ample seating, antique chandeliers, original frescos, colonial furniture and a heritage of family history on display. Swimming pool, modest gym, wifi in some areas.
* This beautiful fort is situated in the middle of the villageand on top of the hill.
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* If you have money to blow and you want to stay in the lap of luxury, this is the place for you. The only problem is that it is nearly impossible to get a booking here. Themed suites from 1,400,000 Rs/night.
* Surprisingly intimate low-rise hotel built like a gilttering white Mughal palace, recently renovated and well maintained. Small pool. It's worth it to pay the few bucks extra for a lake view room.
* A former Palace and an excellent place to stay.
