Why visit Jaipur
- The beautiful Amber Palace
- City Palace museum gives insight into the royal past
- Jaipur is famous for jewellery and gem stones
The focal point of the city of Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds, a five storey high Baroque- like structure built to enable the veiled ladies of the harem to observe the street scenes below and remain unnoticed. The City Palace, a wonderful combination of Mughal and Rajput forms of architecture, is now partly a museum housing miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, musical instruments, royal costumes and weapons, giving invaluable insight into Jaipur's royal past. Some of the instruments at the astronomical observatory are still used today to forecast the weather and the turns of nature. Jewellery is an integral part of Rajasthani culture. Be it ornaments fit for a queen or a peasant or specially designed anklets for camels and elephants, the ornament industry in Jaipur caters for all. The two traditional techniques of ornamentation that the region is famous for is Meenakaari (enamel work) and Kundankaari (inlay work with gems). A few kilometres southwest of Jaipur is Sanganer, centre for block printed cotton, handmade paper and hand painted blue pottery with delicate Persian, Turkish and Indian designs.
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