In Jairpur, the capital of the federal state Rhajasthan situated in the west of India , you will find one of the most timeless and culturally independent pieces of architecture in the world. A place of religion and science still in its own unspecialized integrity, only comparable with the witnesses in stone of the archaic cultures.

The Jantar-Mantar (Sanskrit; translated as "Magical Device") was built between 1728 and 1734 due to the drafts of Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693 -1743) in the center of Jaipur, which itself was founded 1727 as new capital city of his principality

Jaipur's Jantar Mantar is the most famous of five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh in India . Yet, Jantar Mantar is not only a timekeeper of celestial bodies, it also tells a lot about the technological achievements under the Rajput kings and their attempt to resolve the mysteries regarding astronomy .

It was built to measure the local time, the sun's declination, altitude, and the declination of stars, planets and to determine eclipses

More about Jantar Mantar...

Constructed in 1799, Hawa Mahal is the most sensational monument in the city of Jaipur . The palace overlooks one of Jaipur's main streets and was originally constructed to offer women of the court an upper hand, so that they can watch the activities taking place in the bazaar and the surrounding streets behind stone-carved screens. For this purpose, it was designed with over 900 niches, and the entire building is shaped like a crown adorning Lord Krishna's head.

Famous for it's beehive like structure, Mahal is interplay of red and pink sand stone, carefully and painstakingly outlined with white borders and motifs. The palaces and forts of yesteryears, which were witness to the royal processions and splendors, are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyle of the people of the " Pink City ".

Built in memory of Maharaja Lal Singh, by his son. Lalgarh Palace has a graceful facade of red sandstone, and is one of the greatest achievements of Maharaja Ganga Singh's. The maharaja ruled for a period of 56 years. The state especially prospered under his rule.

In the fort museum which is housed in the red sandstone Ganga Niwas, built during the reign of Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh, here can be seen a unique collection of miniature paintings, manuscripts, weaponry and even a world war I bi-plane.

Located in the capital of Rajasthan, the City Palace of Jaipur or the main palace is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthan and Mughal architecture. The vast palace complex occupies one seventh of the walled city of Jaipur . Originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs, additions have been made to the palace complex by many of his successors.

The first building in it is Mubarak Mahal, built by Maharaja Madho Singh. It has a beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass doors on either side of this gate. Beyond this gate, lies the 'Diwan-E-Khas' or the 'Hall of Private Audience' with a marble paved gallery. Across a paved square lies the 'Diwan-E-Am' or the 'Hall of Public' with its intricate decorations and manuscripts in Persian and Sanskrit.

This fort and its palaces were built between 1588-1593 by Raja Raj Singh, a general in the army of the Mughal emperor Akbar. It has a 96 mt long wall, with 37 bastions and 2 entrances. The main entrance of the fort is Suraj pol or sun gate.

It is the most imposing forts of Northern India-- Junagarh Fort has remained unconquered till date.

City Palace , the majestic white royal building towers itself on a hill and is surrounded by crenellated walls. The palace was completed in its present form by the contribution of many rulers. Originally started by Udai Singh, the later additions were so carefully planned and integrated with the original building that it becomes difficult to believe that the building was not conceived as a whole. The city palace stands along the shores of Lake Picholav .

As the hub of Udaipur the City Palace stands majestically on the hill guarded by crenellated fort walls. A riot of arches, domes, turrets, crenellations and chattris crown the steep fortress.

In contrast to its rugged exterior, the inside presents a delicate and feminine world of beauty with lavish use of marble, mirror work, frescoes, wall paintings, a profusion of colored glass, fluted columns, inlay work, silver doors, fountains and gardens.

Former it was known as summer residence of the Royal family has now been turned into a fabulous hotel. With Pichola Lake surrounding the lake palace, lapping and murmuring, rippling waves make the whole atmosphere very pleasant. All the luxuries of the lake palace have been utilized in making the hotel as attractive and comfortable as possible. This Lake Palace Hotel is considered to be one of the best hotels in the world.

Also known as Jag Niwas, this stunning lake palace afloat on Lake Pichola , was developed by Rana Jagat Singh II in the 1730 as a pleasure palace because permission had been denied to him by his father to develop the existing island palace of Jag Mandir .

Ranthambore National Park is surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges and is very near to the outer fringes of the Thar Desert . It is situated in northwestern state of Rajasthan, in India near the town of Sawai Madhopur , midway between Bharatpur and Kota townships. It is The entire area has sprawling tracts of the desert and semi-desert vegetation. Originally a hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur, Ranthambore was declared a game sanctuary in 1955. In 1980, it became a national park and listed among the reserves protected under Project Tiger (1973). Presently the Kaila Devi Sanctuary, also famous for its tigers, and Mansingh Sanctuary also form part of Ranthambore Reserve.

This 5km of ramparts quila stands 300mtr.above the city provides a heartthrobing view of the city. Bala Quila was built in 1775 by Pratap Singh. The fort has 15 large towers and several gates. It is one of the few forts in Rajasthan built before the rise of Mughals. The fort now houses a radio transmitter station. History testifies that the Mughal Emperor Babur spent a night here while Emperor Jehangir was also sent in exile here. Mughal empror Babur stayed here overnight. On his way to Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar the Great stoped here in 1579. Prince Salim (Akbar's son) resided here, in the Salim Mahal, during his exile. The palace is now in the ruins.

It is now a radio trasmitting station and can be entered only by permission from the police.

Located up on the hills that surround Jaipur, the fort, sprawled along the Maotha Lake, boasts of a massive complex gateways, courts, stairways and pillared pavilions, and palaces that recall the glory and wealth, of Amber's association with the Mughals. This complex was built by Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh, over a period of about two centuries.It is situated 11kms from Jaipur city amidst dry wrinkled hill rises.The fort is a combination of red sandstone and whote marbles .