Discover countryside hotels and rural retreats in Jaipur, India

The capital of the romantic state of Rajasthan, this rose-hued city was founded by the Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century. Today, Jaipur is a busy urban hub as well as a centre for arts and an important market for Asia's gem trade (cue hot shopping!). Much remains of the Maharaja's legacy, in particular Jantar Mantar, the huge, whimsical outdoor observatory he had built. Within the old walled town, little seems to have changed: bazaars heave and traders ply their wares in much the same way as they did in centuries past.