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Offbeat Places To Visit In Jaipur
The Royal city of Rajasthan is known for its rich culture and tradition, magnificent art and artifacts, and brilliant past. Various forts and monuments aren’t the only attractions of this Pink City, the intricate handicraft items and exquisite jewelry also catch the eyeballs of tourists. Jaipur is a magical city bursting with life, history and awe-inspiring architecture, lakes, sand dunes, and various markets. But there is much more to this city, most of which are not much explored and commercialized. Renowned by UNESCO, the city is a host to two Heritage sites, but from the point of concern of World Tourism, the city holds various attractions that are yet to be tapped by people around the world. Like certain lakes, forts, villages, and Havelis in the old-city that still preserve the age-old stories and narratives of the state.
So to highlight and focus some interesting facts let us give you a virtual guide to these top 8 unexplored tourist places in Jaipur.
- Chandlai Lake
- Sambhar Lake
- Jawahar Kala Kendra
- Abhaneri
- Bhangarh Fort
- Samode Village
- Havelis in Jaipur City
- Museums
1. Chandlai Lake
It is an Inland water body which is said to be 140 years old. Just 2kms before the Chandlai Toll Plaza there is this serene water body that is not even popular among the locals. The beautiful place is regarded as the best for sightseeing in Jaipur. If you love the romantic serenity, tranquility, privacy amidst a gentle breeze, this is the place to be. A moderate footfall of tourists can be seen here.
The lake is believed to be a host of approx. 10,000 different species of migratory birds including the ones like Pied Avocet, Pallas’s Gul, Ruddy Shelduck and the White Wagtail. A special type of algae grows exuberantly on the Chandlai soil, which serves as an amazing appetite for the birds.
The best place for someone who looks forward to reconnecting with nature, the place that gives fresh air among the hustle-bustle of various tourist attractions, is this Hidden Lake of the city, Chandlai Lake. The best time to admire its beauty is during the monsoons or the chilly winters when sun soothes and night sky shines.
2. Sambhar Lake
Located 65 km away from the city, Sambhar is the largest saltwater lake in India. It is one of the beautiful and unexplored tourist places in the region. and is trending among 5 lesser-known travel places of Jaipur. Shaped like an ellipse, the lake has a town of Sambhar on one side and surrounded by scenic Aravalli Hills from all sides that protects it like a prodigious guard. The famous temple of Shakamhari Devi is also at the shores of this lake only. The lake is a major producer of salt in India and accounts for 9% of the salt production of the nation.
Being the largest Saline lake in India, it is also a home to flamingos and other beautiful species from North Asia flocking together at this place. Nilgai can be observed venturing out freely in the adjoining forest area.
Lake is now recognized as a Ramsar Site, which means it is a recognized wetland, deemed of national significance. The place has an amazing cinematic beauty that is now being tapped by various Bollywood directors and the beautiful visuals can be seen and recognized in movies like Gulaal and much appreciated PK.
3. Jawahar Kala Kendra
Built by the Government of Rajasthan with the purpose of preserving Rajasthani arts and crafts, it is a multi-art center that houses one amphitheater, auditorium, library, museum, an art studio, and a hostel. Based on the concept of Vastu Vidya, it is an analog of the original city plan of Jaipur city drawn up by Maharaja Jai Singh. The spaces are well-connected and flow as a narrative and change the moods of the user, there is always usually something related to the arts or theatre that is being presented or performed here.
4. Abhaneri
A village in the Dausa district of Rajasthan was originally named as Abha Nagari – “City of Brightness”. Originally ruled by the Chahamanas of Shakambhari, the area was later conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni, then y Mughals and later on by Marathas. Then it became a part of Jaipur state. It is a small size village that is famous for Chand Baori stepwell and Harshad Mata Temple.
Chand Baori (stepwell) is one of the oldest, deepest and largest in Rajasthan. Consists of three flight of stairs descending into the earth, it has a palace on the right side. All these are arranged in a square design with descending to thirteen stories.
Harshad Mata Temple is dedicated to Mata Harshat – “The Goddess of Joy and Happiness”. Located near Chand Baori, the people worshipped here during its beginning which is in the 8th Century. But Islamic invaders destroyed this temple and what we can see now are the remains of architectural and sculptural styles of 10th Century India which temple still boasts of. Since it is built on a raised platform, one can view the nearby fertile regions of the area. On the whole, it makes an amazing site to visit and is loved by many travelers from around the world.
5. Bhangarh Fort
Located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, these are the remains of a ruined city where one can find temples, palaces, and Havelis. There are four points to enter the fort – Lahori Gate, Ajmeri Gate, Phulbari Gate, and Delhi Gate. At the entrance gate there are many Hindu temples, then Nachan ki Haveli (dancer’s palace) and Jauhari Bazar (market place). The Royal Palace is located at the extreme end of the fort’s limits.
There is an interesting story related to its past. The legend has that there was a sadhu named Baba Balak Nath lived within the fort area, and it was his injunction that any houses built in the precincts of the fort should not be taller than his house, and if the shadow of any such house fell on his house, it would result in destruction of the fort town. There is also a common folk tale according to which an enchanter adept in black magic fell in love with a beautiful Bhangarh princess named Ratnavati but because the princess never reciprocated his love. Being a magician, in order to cast his spell on the princess, he tried to give him a love potion – a magical liquid which she again refused throwing it onto a large boulder that consequently rolled onto the wizard and crushed him to death. There follow different tales depicting various stories of its ruin.
From the tourism point of view, the place is actually worth visiting if one wants to experience the art and artifacts of the old times. Learn more about forts in Jaipur
6. Samode Village
The village famous for its forts and Havelis lies at a distance of 42 km from Jaipur to Shekhawati. A perfect desert gateway, this village will give you an opportunity to feel the aura of rural life and age-old culture and traditions of the state. These are some of the key facts which are preserved by Indian families to date. One can experience traditional agricultural farming, and cattle making being in this village for a day’s trip.
Renowned by World Tourists for its Samode Palace, the major attraction of this village among the tourists is Camel Safari.
Due to its extreme climate, the best time to visit this place is between October to March.
7. Havelis In The Old City
There are various Havelis in the old city of Jaipur, that makes for an ultimate tourist destination to visit especially for the people who have an interest in the arts and architecture of a place. It is believed, that to know the Heritage, it is important to fill in your knowledge bucket with twisting and swirling through these Havelis that preserve the age-old heritage of the state. Taking inspiration from Rajasthani culture, many Havelis of India and Pakistan were replicated with usually a fountain in the center of the courtyard.
Usually contains the frescoes depicting images of Gods and Goddesses, animals, scenes from the past depicting some stories of Lord Rama and Krishna, and some ornate wall paintings, the Havelis include the Jharokhas (balconies), gateways and archways. To name a few of them Samode Haveli, Sankotra Haveli, Khatu Haveli, Jaipur haveli, etc. Most of these Havelis are now being converted to tourist attractions and hotels in Jaipur.
8. Museums in Jaipur
Parallel to Haveli there is certain museums that depict the story of some scintillating arrays of the arts and beautiful and rich cultural inheritance of Rajasthan. Being an informative tour of the place, it gives us interesting insights into the cultural world of the region. The antiques in the museums of Jaipur tell a story of intrinsic workmanship and royal lifestyles that were led in the resplendent homes of kings and queens of this princely state. For a lover of arts and history, paintings and sculptures this can be a must-visit nostalgic experience.
Some of the famous museums of Jaipur are – The Dolls Museum, Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur Wax Museum, Jawahar Kala Kendra, A museum of hand painting – Anokhi, etc. will be a sight to behold and are famous among the world tourists.
So we have just counted a few offbeat places to make your tour worth-visit in Jaipur. Some of the places are also tapped by us during our Heritage Walking Tour which basically makes you familiar with the rich heritage of our city.
