Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh Fort, also known as Tiger Fort, is perched high on the rugged Aravali Hills overlooking Jaipur city. The fort was built 1734 to help defend the city. It found fame in 2006, after many scenes from the movie Rang De Basanti were filmed there. Nahargarh Fort offers spectacular views, which are best seen at sunset. A number of new attractions recently opened there including a wax museum, sculpture park, and fine-dining restaurant.
Jaigarh Fort
Massive Jaigarh Fort was built in 1726 and holds great appeal for military lovers. Flanked by towering gateways and watchtowers, it contains the world's largest cannon on wheels. The cannon has never been fired though, and neither has the fort been captured. As a result the fort has remained intact over its long life, and is very well preserved. Infact, it's one of the best-preserved military structures of medieval India.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar, built by King Jai Singh II between 1727 and 1734, literally means "calculation instrument". More than just a curious collection of sculptures, each structure at the intriguing Jantar Mantar observatory has a specialized astronomical function. There are 14 structures in total, which measure time, predict eclipses, and track stars. The most impressive one is the huge Samrat Yantra sundial. At a height of 90 feet (27 meters), it has a shadow that moves roughly the width of a person's hand every minute.
Monkey Temple
Getting to this rather ruinous but holy Hindi temple, nestled in peaceful surroundings between two granite cliffs, is quite an adventure but it's completely worth the effort. The temple is part of a larger temple complex, which also has three sacred pools of water. One of the pools has been taken over by thousands of monkeys that congregate there to swim and bathe. They're generally friendly and love to be fed. Unfortunately, the area is not well maintained.Be prepared to encounter dirty and trash, as well as priests and pseudo holy men coercing people for money. These days, most of the crowd consists of tourists rather than locals.
Museum of Legacies
This new government museum is dedicated to promoting the cultural heritage of Rajasthan. It's housed in an atmospheric heritage building dating back to 1825, which once served as the Rajasthan School of Arts. There's more than 10,000 square feet of exhibition space featuring previously unseen private collections of textiles, jewelry, stoneware and inlay work, paintings, pottery, photography.
Amber Fort and Palace
Around half an hour's drive from the city center, like something out of a fairy tale, Amber Fort sits atop a hill overlooking Maota Lake. It was the home of Rajput rulers until Jaipur city was constructed, and contains a series of breathtaking palaces, halls, gardens, and temples. Inside, elaborate mirror work adds to the grandeur. The evening sound and light show, which brings alive the Fort's history, is impressive. The Anokhi Museum of Block Printing near the fort is another attraction. Workshops are held there. Plan your trip with this complete guide to Amber Fort.
Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, or also called Palace of the Breeze, is one of the important places to visit in Jaipur. Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1798, Hawa Mahal is a five-storey extension in the form of a honeycomb. This unique building has 953 small windows, called jharokhas, decorated with intricate latticework. The entire palace represents the crown of the Hindu God, Lord Krishna.
Jal Mahal
It was during the Rajput era that India has seen some of the glorious forts and palaces. Jal Mahal or the Water Palace is one of the classic names in the list of Rajputana architecture. Located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, this palace is also a fusion of Mughal and Rajput styles of architecture. Built in red sandstone, Jal Mahal is a five-storey building, of which four storeys remain underwater when the lake is filled. This, in turn, offers a breathtaking view of the palace and makes it one of the important Jaipur tourist places so if you are in Jaipur, Jal Mahal is one of the must-visit places in the tour list.
Rambagh Palace
One of the best places to visit in Jaipur, an outstanding attraction and a luxurious accommodation spot in Jaipur is Rambagh Palace, the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and now it is reestablished as a hotel by Taj. The palace is located 8 kilometres away from the city of Jaipur on Bhawani Singh Road. It is a marvellous example of architectural brilliance and fine artistic values. The palace depicts the unique blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture.
