Jaipur Attractions

The pearls of Jaipur!

If you`re interested in astrology, I suggest you read about my experience at the Rajasthan Astrological Council.

I tried the astrology- and the palm reading!

And before I forget...

I'm going to introduce you to some of Jaipur's finest attractions

-- The Amber Fort!

Enjoy! ;-)

City Palace Complex

Admission: Rs 300 (foreigner fee) incl. camera and video fee

Opening hours: 9.30 am - 5.30 pm.

The City Palace covers a large area which can be divided into courtyards, buildings and maintained gardens.

It's the best example of an exquisite blend of Rajasthani and Moghul architecture, and the site can be explored without a guide.

My favourite was the Peacock Gate, located in the inner courtyards. If you`re interested in getting to know Indian history, Maharani's Palace might interest you. Here you`ll find the largest collection of deadly Indian weapons, paintings in Rajasthani, Mughal and Persian style, mirror walls and ceilings.

There's a lot to see at the City Palace, but if you just want to take a look at the most important buildings you should calculate at least a half-day trip. Time goes fast when you`re studying the detailed work at the museums!

Peacock Gate:

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Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds)

Admission: Rs 50 (foreigner fee)

Personally I wouldn't call Hawa Mahal a palace. It`s more like a pink sandstone façade. Hawa Mahal is a 5-storey building and was built for the women in the Royal Family, cause they weren`t allowed to go out. It looks large and stunning from the outside, but from the inside there's not that much to look at.

Have in mind that it's packed on the main streets by Hawa Mahal.

Once you've crossed the street, you'll find yourself in the middle of the touristy market. And just down the streets you`ll find snake charmers! That was probably the coolest part when visiting the site.

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Jahar Mantar

Admission: Rs 10

Updated on July 01, 2011: During my re-visit to Jaipur in March 2011, I heard that the entrance was free. I don't know if this is true.

If you want a break from the crowded city, you might like Jahar Mantar! It was one of the few peaceful attractions I`ve been to because there was a lot of open space. I didn`t feel that it was crowded.

Astrology is important in Indian culture, and Jahar Mantar today is the largest stone astronomical observatory in the world. I have to say that the place looked weird.

But if you take a closer look, the huge instruments are actually… interesting. The instruments are placed strategically so they can predict eclipses and the sun dials are accurate.

I believe that you can spend about 1-2 hours here.

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Amber Fort

Jaipur Attractions: Amber Fort

If you're a student, bring your ID student card and get good discounts. One of my class mates did this and she paid half the price (Rs 100).

Open: 09 am - 04.30 pm

Amber Fort is a must!

Overlooking Jaipur from a 11 km distance (30 min), is the Amber Fort located at the steep hills of Rajasthan.

Amber Fort beauty reflects its history -- it was the ancient capital of the Kachhawah rulers -- Kachhawah was a powerful clan ruling a couple of kingdoms and states in India.

Here's how you get around:

The fort is divided into 3 areas.

When you arrive there, you will enter a large open area called Jaleb Chowk which has to main gates -- east and west.

If you walk further you will get to Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Audience) and the Ganesh Pol Gate which will lead you to the beautiful garden of Aram Bagh. Here you get to see the Hall of Pleasure where you will see yourself in the mirrors in the hall of Sheesh Mahal. Incredibly beautiful!

Since Amber Fort is one of Jaipur's major tourist attraction, the place is filled with touts and guides who say that they will take you on a historical tour.

You don't need a guide -- you can easily explore the fort by yourself, and it's far more exciting.

Jaipur Attractions

We got lost in the corridores of Amber Fort, and it was fun because there were a lot of places at the site where there were fewer people.

You just have to find them.

But if you want a guide, pick one of the official guides at the tourist office.

The only downside with Amber Fort is the fact that you have to share it with thousands of tourists.

So, how do you get there?

Outside Hawa Mahal, regular public buses leave every 5-10 minutes and stop at the main road below Amber Fort. From the drop-off there's a 15-20 minutes walk (depends of course on how fast you walk uphill!)

Rickshaw is also another way of getting there. From central Jaipur to Amber Fort, you pass the real part of Jaipur. By rickshaw it takes 30 minutes.

You have the chance to ride an elephant to the top when you get to the bottom of Amber Fort.

When you get to the top, there's a ticket booth. Just follow the crowd.

Recommended time: 2-3 hours

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Astrology

Do you believe in the stars?

Jaipur Attractions

If you want one of the most famous Indian astrologists to read your palm or to read your starsign, visit Dr. Vinod Shastri at the Rajasthan Astrological Council & Research Institute.

You can choose to get a computerized astrology report or palm reading! Think I paid 1000 rupees for both (Rs 900 for the detailed report 5 years).

We gave our names, date of birth, time of birth (time of the day) and place of birth. A computer was apparently doing the dirty job, and I think my results were … STRANGE! I believe in astrology, but only to a certain point.

This is what you`ll get in your report. The report is yours to keep:

Your favourable points (like lucky number, friendly and evil numbers, good years, favourable days, planets, stones, metal, color, direction, time, liquids and so much more).

A list of gems and remedies that will strengthen your Mantra.

Summaries of your personality, appearance, nature, intellect, love, romance, children and alike.

Some of the results matched what I already knew about myself, so that part was OK. But I think some of the summaries were… nonsense.

And it doesn't stop there…

I got the palm-reading as well cause I was curious. He was right about my love for travelling (not exactly a surprise!), and my personal love life. But one thing that confused me was that I had "women disease"... Weird stuff!

So, what will you learn from this experience?

... You'll learn what you already know about yourself, but didn't dare/care to admit it to yourself (or others)…

..You'll learn even more about yourself, cause some of the results will come out as… literally bull-shit. If you know yourself good enough, you`ll know what`s right and what`s not right…

…You'll learn that astrology is an important part of the Indian culture…

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