In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh had the entire old city painted pink, traditionally a colour associated with hospitality, to welcome the Prince of Wales, (later King Edward VII), a tradition which has been maintained. The old city is partially encircled by a crenellated wall with a number of gates. In the evening light, the pink and orange buildings have a magical glow which is complemented by the brighly coloured Rajasthanis.

Constructed in 1799, the Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, is one of Jaipur's major landmarks. The five storey building which overlooks the main street of the bustling old city, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry with its pink delicately honeycombed sandstone windows. It was originally built to enable ladies of the royal household to watch everyday life and processions of the city.

At first glance Janter Manter seems to be a curious collection of sculptures but it is an Observatory begun by Jai Singh in 1728. His passion for astronomy led to its construction. The sculptures measure the position of stars, altitudes and azimuths, and calculate eclipses. The most striking instrument is its Sun-Dial with its 27m high gnomon. The shadow this casts moves upto 4m an hour.

Jaipur is the place to shop until you drop. It has a plethora of handicrafts ranging from grimacing papiermache puppets to exquisitely carved furniture. Jaipur is also well known for precious stones, marble statues, costume jewellery and textile prints.