Fort Aamer in Jaipur

Amber is located at a distance of 11Amer Fort kilometers from Jaipur and was the old
fort of the Kachhwaha clan of Amber, which used to be the capital, till it was moved to Jaipur. The walls and the ceiling of the Mahal are covered with a beautiful array of mirrors, which reflect any streak of light, so as to illuminate the entire room. Located 9 Kms north west of Jaipur, the Amber Fort was once the Capital of the Minas.

The construction of the Amber Fort began in the year 1592 and was started by Man Singh I, but it was finished by his descendant Jai Singh I. The exterior of the Fort is not in the least like its interiors. The outside is very imposing and rugged looking whereas the inside is a comforting and warm interior which is influenced by both Hindu and Muslim style of ornamentation. On the walls, are paintings depicting various hunting scenes, and there is also a lot of work on walls, which are covered with intricate carving, mosaic and minute mirror work that make the halls look very majestic and imperial.

The fort is built with white marble and red sandstone and look even more attractive because of the Maota Lake in the foreground. The fort in itself is a beautiful sight to behold but as one looks on the fort with its clear reflection on the lake in the front, one cannot help but wonder if it is a dream or a beautiful illusion.

Amber Fort also called the Aamer Fort is a must-see if you are visiting Rajasthan. The tourists to this fort can either approach the fort by road or take an elephant ride, which though is quite slow yet is a lot of fun.

Khatu Shyamji Fair Sikar

Khatu Shyamji fair is one of the important fairs of Rajasthan. Read more about Khatu Shyamji fair.


Location:
Shyamji Temple in Khatu Shyamji, which is 48 km from Sikar district headquarters. Sikar is 115 km from Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Significance:
The legend connects the fair to Lord Krishna and his devotee Barbarik.
Time of Celebration
From Phalgun Sudi Dashmi (10th day of the lunar month) to Phalgun Sudi Dwadashi (12th day of the lunar month) according to the Hindu calendar. For three days in February or March.


Thousands of devotees visit the temple during this annual fair, many of them for performing the 'Jadula' ceremony of their children, where the child 's head is shaven clean for the first time. An interesting legend attaches itself to this place of pilgrimage. During the time of Mahabharata, before the big battle, the grandson of Bhima approached Pandavas and Lord Krishna and asked them to let him fight for them. After a test of his strength, Lord Krishna felt that he was too powerful and if he participates in the battle, everything will be finished off too quickly and will not be actually a justice. So he disguised himself as a Brahmin and asked Barbarik for his head as 'daan' (charity). Barbarik complied and cut off his head. Krishna was pleased with the sacrifice and blessed him so that he could watch the whole battle from the hillock, where his head was places. Lord Krishna also blessed him that in Kaliyug, he would be worshipped as Shyam (Lord Krishna) himself.

The fair is a showcase of the religious rituals and traditions of the local people.

Pushkar Mela- Ajmer, Rajasthan

This fair is held at Pushkar town, 11 km from Ajmer in Rajasthan for twelve days annually. This cultural and trade cum religious fair is an attractive and lively spectacle with Rajasthani men and women in their colourful traditional attire, saffron-robed and ash smeared Sadhus (holy men) and thousands of bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles. Perhaps the largest cattle fair in the world, it attracts more than one lakh people, from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad.
Trading of cattle, camel races and dazzling displays of bangles, brassware, clothes, camel saddles and halters make the fair colourful. Necklaces of glass beads from Naguar, pottery, printed textiles from Jodhpur and Ajmer are all on sale here. Farmers, cattle traders and breeders buy and sell their animals, leather whips, saddles etc. There are facilities for camel rides also. This livestock fair coincides with the climaxing of a religious celebration. Pushkar is among the five main places of pilgrimage mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. It has a large number of temples including one of the only two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma in India. Hundreds of thousands of devotees take a ritual dip in the holy Pushkar Lake on the day of the Kartik Purnima (full moon night of the Kartika month) and worship at the Brahma temple (Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Mandir). Pilgrims flock from all over India to be in Pushkar at this auspicious time. They also believe that all the 330 million Gods and Goddesses are present at Pushkar Lake during the occasion.
Apart from the religious rituals and trading, people participate in a number of cultural and sporting events. The sweeping expanse of the desert becomes dotted with thousands of camels, stalls and camping families. The Rajasthan tourism Development Corporation has taken adequate measures to facilitate convenient access of the fair site and to accommodate the fairgoers.

The Pinkcity Walk

The Pinkcity Walk


Albert Hall Museum
This museum building was commissioned by Sawai Ram Singh II in 1876 A.D. It is one of the finest & most beautiful examples of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob.
The building was started as a famine relief for the craftsmen of the state.

New Gate
A formidable wall encircled the entire old city and there were seven gates through which one could enter the city. New Gate is the 8th gate or pol which overlooks the Ram Niwas Bagh, which was opened in the middle of the 20th century.



Thatheron Ka Rasta / Nanak Ram Patel Ki Gali
Craftsmen making brass utensils reside and work here. Traditional handtools & implements are still used by these craftsmen.



Anant Bhagwan Ka Mandir (Nataniyon Ka Rasta)
A temple dating back 250 years. Several old temples with decorated features still exists in the old city. Recently renovated, it showcases the existence of continuous use of traditional materials and building skills.

Sarvajanik Kaun (Public Well) (Open space)
This community well used to be a meeting place of women folk while drawing water. But with advent of piped water supply, the relevance has been reduced. Attempts are on the restore the well & open space it to its former glory.

Sanghi ji - Jain Temple
This temple is famous for its traditional Kundan work on the walls. A very important Digamber Jain temple built in 1731.

Andheri Darwaja
This is a dark passage connecting Sanghon Ka Rasta to Kishanpole Bazaar, over which a building exists.

Rajasthan School of Arts
This building was originally built by Pandit Shivdin, the Prime Minister of Maharaja Ram Singh II, as his residence. It was converted into a school of arts in 1866. The school used to train people in all the 36 different crafts skills which were established in Jaipur.



Maharaja Girls School (Natanion Ki Haveli)
This haveli has seven open Aangans / courtyards and is a good example of traditional homes in the wall city. This is one of the largest havelis of the walled city.