Cycling in Jaipur

The rich heritage and architecture of Jaipur have rendered it to the name ‘Paris of India’, and Jawahar Kala Kendra is no different. It resides at the heart of this Pink City and attracts many tourists due to its cultural significance. It is en route the Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg. The architectural design of Jawahar Kala Kendra was laid out by the renowned MIT graduate Mr Charles Correa. The structure of this building is similar in appearance to the nine grids of our solar system.The walls and high ceilings are interspersed with elegant artwork from ancient and modern times, which only adds to the aesthetic appeal of the place. Theatres of Jawahar Kala KendraThe theatre at Jawahar Kala Kendra hosts frequent performances by artists, students and scholars that make for an engaging platform of profound creativity. It is constructed out of three theatres – 1 open and two closed. Most of the youngsters come to the open theatre and perform or act out their dramas, dance forms or other culturally eloquent forms of acting. The other two theatres are called Rangayan and Krishnan. Rangayan is mostly a haven for modern plays and playwrights debuting their dramas on-stage. On the other hand, Krishnayan hosts various Rajasthani festivals inviting artists from all across India. This theatre hosts distinct performances in varying styles and outcome and a major tourist attraction of Jaipur. Kala Galleries, Exhibitions and MuseumThe Alankar Museum is one of the most popular museums in Rajasthan and is situated within the peripherals of Jawahar Kala Kendra. They have a repertoire of music that stirs the soul, artworks and sculptors decorating these galleries and museums, enhancing every instrument required to produce a masterpiece. The exhibitions held portray exquisite craftsmanship and blue pottery items available on sale.  

Standing tall overlooking the city of Jaipur, Nahargarh Fort is a monumental edifice built by Sawai Madho Singh in the eighteenth century. The fort is situated on Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) and Nahargarh means “abode of tigers”. Nahargarh fort along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort once formed a strong defense around the city of Jaipur. However, Nahargarh fort was also used as a summer retreat by the Jaipur kings considering that there are several palaces, temples and landscaped gardens within its complex. There is an extended wall at Nahargarh Fort which connects it to Jaigarh Fort.The Madhavendra Palace is the hotspot attraction at the fort which has an opulent suite for the king and nine suites for his concubines. The Madhavendra palace looks spellbindingly magnificent and the walls of the suites are intricately designed with delicate fresco paintings.Within the fort lies the famous Nahargarh Biological Park and a zoo that gives tourists a sneak peek into the wilderness of the regions like Asiatic lions and Bengal tigers. Another huge attraction is the Sculpture Park that has astounding pieces of sculpture on display at the Madhavendra Palace. The fort complex even has two restaurants that offer breathtaking views of the city below and serves zesty Indian cuisine.History of Nahargarh Fort Nahargarh Fort was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in the year 1734. Interestingly, the fort was never attacked during the entire history. But, historical events in the eighteenth century like the signing of treaties with Maratha forces happened at the fort.The fort also has another intriguing history attached to it. During the construction of the fort, something things strange used to happen every single day; whatever was built during the day used to collapse at night. The King believed that the construction work was hindered by the restless spirit of Rathore prince, Nahar Singh Bhomia. So, based on the advice of astrologers, the king decided to build a temple devoted to him and also name the fort on his name to honor him. After doing so, the construction works of the fort went unhindered.The architecture of Nahargarh FortThe imposing Nahargarh Fort has been built in the Indo-European style of architecture and is decked up with scalloped archways, domed ceilings, and sprawling gardens. The tall exterior walls of the fort run for several kilometres and the main entrance of the fort, Padi Gate stands as a testimony to the magnificent architecture. The most prominent structure within the Nahargarh Fort is Madhavendra Bhawan aka Madhavendra Palace. This two-story palace was built by King Sawai Madho Singh for himself and his nine queens. The palace features one majestic suite for the king himself and nine identical suites for his nine wives. The suites are lavish with bedrooms, lobby, kitchen, and a store. An open-air corridor connects all the suites. Interestingly, the suites are built in such a way that the king can visit one of his nine wives without the knowledge of the other eight wives. Another amazing structure is the Diwan-i-Aam, which is a sprawling hall where the king addressed the grievances of his subjects. There are also two temples within Nahargarh Fort - one for the deity of Jaipur rulers and another one for Rathore prince, Nahar Singh Bhomia.

City Palace is situated right in the middle of Old Jaipur which covers one-seventh of that area. The construction of the palace dates back to 1732, but it still looks fresh and crisp as it always would have been. The entire palace is divided into distinct parts which includes courtyards, gardens, palaces and more. A portion of the palace has also been turned into a museum where you can witness all the antiques and belongings of the royal family.This beautiful palace represents the rich culture Jaipur still holds on to. You will find a perfect blend of the Rajputana with Mughal and European style of architecture. The vast property represents the grandeur and heritage of the royal families of the bygone era. The walls are beautifully sculpted and decorated with mirrors and hand paintings. You will also witness how detailed the carvings are done on the roofs of the palaceThe entire palace becomes a window which gives you the privilege to peek into the stories of the past and the true sense of the authentic culture adopted by Jaipur.You can buy some souvenirs from the market just outside the palace to take a part of the richness of the local culture along with you and cherish the journey from present to 1732 and so on.History of City Palace - Jaipur is considered to be the first-ever city from medieval times, which was planned well. The City Palace is the one-seventh part of the entire old Jaipur. The idea of constructing this beautiful palace erupted in the mind of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. He called the Bengali architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob to design the Jaipur city. They infused Mughal and European style of architecture with the traditional Rajputi architecture. The construction began in the year 1729 and lasted till 1732. The entire palace has small palaces, well-maintained gardens, beautifully carved courtyards, open terraces and more.Further Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar were added in the premises along with the outer walls of the palace. The complete structure represented the rich culture and heritage of the ancient state. Though this palace was completed, the process of making it more beautiful lasted until the early 20th century. It is still preserved carefully along with all the belongings inside the palace put on display.Architecture of City Palace - The City Palace is a marvellous blend of Rajputi, Mughal and European style of architecture. The design of the property follows the ‘Vastu Shastra’ which is said to be facilitating the art of living and the atmosphere inside the house. The entire palace is structured in ‘Grid Style’ having four gates to enter and exit, namely ‘Tripolia Gate’, ‘Udai Pol’, ‘Virendra Pol’, and ‘Jaleb Chowk’. It also consists of various palaces, gardens, courtyards, temples, terraces, balconies and patios which are beautified by latticework, jali work, carved marbles and inlaid ornamentations. The walls reflect the authentic Mughal style which features distinct murals, mirrors and latticework. A unique feature found in Pritam Niwas Chowk is that it has four gates, which depicts all the four seasons. First one is Mor Gate which portrays Autumn Season, then it is Leheriya Gate which represents spring season followed by Rose gate drawing winters and Lotus gate painting a picture of the summer season. All this makes the entire palace a remarkable structure left behind by history.