Jaipur

Pink Galore…

A favourite travel destination among tourists, Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is famous for its colourful culture, forts, palaces and lakes. A brainchild of Maharaja Jai Singh II, Jaipur was founded in 1727 and basks in the glory of a rich and eventful past. Jaipur is a planned city which is made all the more attractive by the pink wash that most buildings are periodically given. The reason why it is also known as the Pink City. Houses with latticed windows line the streets with their rose pink colour, lending enchantment to the scene, which is almost magical at sunset. Surrounded on all sides by rugged hills and enclosed by embattled walls, Jaipur was and remains the only city in the world symbolising the nine divisions of the universe, through nine rectangular sectors sub-dividing it.. It is for these reasons that Jaipur has been included on the popular tourist "Golden Triangle" of New Delhi-Jaipur-Agra.

On the road from New Delhi to Jaipur…

Jaipur is around 258 km from New Delhi. New Delhi to Jaipur is six hours away by road on the National Highway 8 (NH8).

The route to Jaipur is via Gurgaon, Neemrana, Bahrur, Kotliputli, Shahpura, Dand and Amber. There are a number of motels on the way that offers decent meals and rooms, even for use during the day. One can also opt for a short sojourn at Neemrana, where the Neemrana fort is located. Transformed into a heritage hotel, the Neemrana fort offers royal comforts - the very essence of Rajasthan.

A detour to Alwar, located 58 km off the highway at Bahrur, is another alternative one can opt for. The city offers palaces, museums and temples to sightsee. Or one can also hit the jungle trail to the Sariska Tiger Reserve located just off the NH 8, 37 km from Shahpura. There are a number of places to stay near the reserve. And if you are lucky you may even spot a tiger in the wild. So, if you plan to travel to New Delhi, don't miss the Golden Triangle circuit. Just get on the road and have a glittering time.

Climate

Like most other north Indian cities, Jaipur too has extreme climate. The summers can be very hot with mercury crossing 45°C, whereas winters are chilly and the temperature can fall below 5°C.