Jaipur – Shoppers’ Paradise

By Author: Rashmiranjan Patil
Total Articles: 261
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Jaipur, famous for its forts and monuments, is situated in the state of Rajasthan. The city is also called the ‘Pink City’ because pink stones are used for the construction of the buildings and the walls of the city. The city of Jaipur was founded in the year 1727 by Sawai Jaisingh II. Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is also called the ‘Walled City’.

Jaipur houses many attractive forts, some of them are Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Nahargarh Fort and the City Palace. Nahargarh Fort was the residence of the Maharaja. The Maharaja Jaisingh was well known for his vast knowledge in astronomy and he himself had taken initiative for the design and the construction of the city of Jaipur.

The architectural beauty of the city of Jaipur is very unique. The construction of the various forts and monuments showcases the culture of the Mughals and the Rajputs. The construction of the city was well planned as the City Palace is in the centre and the markets, residents and the public buildings are placed around the City Palace. The huge gates of the palaces and the walls attract the travelers.

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... Jaipur Literature Festival is the largest and the most prestigious meeting of literature lovers, for which a lot of people from India and abroad gather every year. The site of the Literature festival is the Diggi Palace in Jaipur.

Jaipur attracts tourists of varied interests. Jaipur is a shoppers’ paradise as bed sheets with traditional Jaipuri print, cloths with mirror work and other curios are a familiar sight in the markets. Jaipur is a haven for arts and crafts. The famous tie and die fabric making, block printing, painting and sculpture making are some of the arts in Jaipur. The popular Kundan style jewelry is a much demanded item. Stone carving, sandalwood carving and brass items are also very popular. The adorable jewelry and fantastic handicrafts are a treasure to the tourists.

Some of the festivals celebrated in Jaipur are Gangaur, Elephant Festival, Teej, Makar Sankranti, Shitla Asthami and Donkey Fair. The Elephant Festival is celebrated in the month of March-April on the day of Holi. The elephants are decorated with colorful clothes and a procession is also arranged to attract the tourists. Elephant Polo match, Elephant races and performance by the folk dancers of Rajasthan are mind blowing. The festival Teej is celebrated in the month of July-August to welcome the monsoon rain. Makara Sankranti is celebrated on the 14th of January and a kite flying festival is also organized in Jaipur. Camel Festival, Beneswar Fair, Nagaur Fair, Desert Festival, Mewar Festival, Pushkar Fair, Gangaur Fair are some of the other fairs and festivals celebrated with much enthusiasm.