10

Resorts in Achrol

The rich heritage and architecture of Jaipur have rendered it to the name ‘Paris of India’, and Jawahar Kala Kendra is no different. It resides at the heart of this Pink City and attracts many tourists due to its cultural significance. It is en route the Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg. The architectural design of Jawahar Kala Kendra was laid out by the renowned MIT graduate Mr Charles Correa. The structure of this building is similar in appearance to the nine grids of our solar system. The walls and high ceilings are interspersed with elegant artwork from ancient and modern times, which only adds to the aesthetic appeal of the place. Theatres of Jawahar Kala KendraThe theatre at Jawahar Kala Kendra hosts frequent performances by artists, students and scholars that make for an engaging platform of profound creativity. If is constructed out of three theatres – 1 open and two closed. Most of the youngsters come to the open theatre and perform or act out their dramas, dance forms or other culturally eloquent forms of acting. The other two theatres are called Rangayan and Krishnan. Rangayan is mostly a haven for modern plays and playwrights debuting their dramas on-stage. On the other hand, Krishnayan hosts various Rajasthani festivals inviting artists from all across India. This theatre hosts distinct performances in varying styles and outcome and a major tourist attraction of Jaipur. Kala Galleries, Exhibitions and MuseumThe Alankar Museum is one of the most popular museums in Rajasthan and is situated within the peripherals of Jawahar Kala Kendra. They have a repertoire of music that stirs the soul, artworks and sculptors decorating these galleries and museums, enhancing every instrument required to produce a masterpiece. The exhibitions held portray exquisite craftsmanship and blue pottery items available on sale.  

Resembling Krishna’s crown, Hawa Mahal is an elaborate monument in Jaipur. Standing right in the middle of the old market of Jaipur, the structure made of red and pink sandstone keeps the name of the Pink City very proudly.Lal Chand Ustad has put a lot of effort in designing the back of the palace to blend in the city, which is now also confused as the front by people.  Also known as ‘The Palace of Winds’, the Hawa Mahal is a part of the City Palace. There is no entrance from the main road to the mahal, so you have to seek for the gate which let you enter. Inside are five floors designed very carefully. There are 953 ‘jharokhas’ made to allow the winds to pass into the palace and keep it fresh and breezy in sweltering summers. Being surrounded by the traditional market of Jaipur, you will find all the authentic pieces of souvenirs related to the culture and the history of Jaipur.  Hence, you can club shopping while visiting the palace.  Make sure to spend your entire evening shopping traditional souvenirs and then wait for dusk to draw upon only to see the colourfully lit Hawa Mahal standing amidst the bustling market. History of Hawa Mahal Jaipur -  Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh who was the grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. The story of the birth of the palace started when Pratap visited Jhunjhunu and saw Khetri Mahal.Maharaj was impressed by the unique design of the Khetri Mahal, and that was when he decided to create a better version of it. Lal Chand Ustad designed this palace and ended up making one of the best monuments history has ever created. The primary purpose for creating this palace was to give royal women a separate place. From Hawa Mahal, they could enjoy the everyday lives and celebrations of the festival through the windows without being seen as they weren’t allowed to go out in public without a veil. The Hawa Mahal was a part of the main City Palace, and the royal family used to come here to escape the scorching heat as this palace was always cold and breezy due to the windows it has. From then on, it has been preserved to keep the glory and grace alive for the generations to come.Architecture of Hawa Mahal Jaipur - Hawa Mahal is an excellent example of Hindu Rajput architecture finely blended with Islamic Mughal architecture giving it the face it is famous for.  It is made with red and pink sandstone along with white marble inside the palace.  The look of the palace observed from the street looks extremely beautiful, and people mistake it with the entrance of the palace.  Actually, it is the backside of the palace as it is an extended part of the main City Palace. It has five floors adorned with 953 jharokhas and latticework. The technology of Venturi effect is utilised well to make the air coming inside the palace cool.  This effect always helped the Hawa Mahal stay serene and pleasant, so royal women never had a problem staying here in hot temperatures. At several times, the entire royal family used to get together here and escape the summers together.This honeycomb-like monument is a proud heritage left by the bygone era, which is an integral part of the history as well as architecture.

Known originally as Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Birla Mandir is located at the base of Moti Dungri Temple, Jaipur. The temple is a popular pilgrimage site among the Hindu devotees. Made of sparkling white marble, the structure looks incredibly marvelous.  Lush green gardens surround the temple on the sides and give the structure a truly dreamy touch.  Birla Mandir has a total of three domes, each one representing a different perspective of religion. The temple features stunning carvings and drawings all around its body. The walls of the structure are adorned with mythological quotes and holy charms from the Hindu holy book of Geeta. In addition, various mythological events and happenings are also carved on the shrine’s interior walls. The temple’s architectural beauty is totally admirable and appreciable.  The most important part of Birla Mandir is the beautiful monolithic figurine of Lakshmi Narayan. The temple also houses an idol of Shri Ganesha, which is equally stunning and appreciable. You will also find pictures and sculptures of various other Gods and Goddesses, which strike a religious charm in the air inside the temple. The temple even shelters the pictures of legendary personalities, such as Zarathustra, Jesus Christ, Gautam Buddha, Confucius, and Socrates. Birla Mandir is also home to a beautiful museum that stores and exhibits all the ancestral assets of the respected Birla family. All these elements combine to make Birla Mandir a perfect destination for spiritual seekers of every religion. The temple gets a lot of visitors all through the year and the crowd becomes even bigger during important festivals. History of Birla Mandir Jaipur - In accordance with the popular historical belief, Birla Mandir at Jaipur in Rajasthan is built on the land that was handed over to the country’s reputed Birla family by the respected Maharaja of that time in exchange for just INR 1. The construction of the temple began back in the year 1977 by the B.M. Industrial Foundation.  The structure was developed over a total time period of around eight years and the construction work finally ended in the year 1985.  In reference to historical facts, Mahatma Gandhi was invited to inaugurate Birla Mandir. However, Gandhi stated that he would only accept the invitation if the temple would be open to devotees of all the castes of society. The temple’s consecration ceremony finally happened on February 22, 1985. Since then, Birla Temple is open for visitors irrespective of the caste and creed they belong to.