Built in the 18th century by Maharaj Jai Singh for his second wife, a princess from Udaipur, the match was made to secure relations with the neighbouring Sisodia Rajputs. When the political alliance weakened, the queen lost favor with the Jaipur house and was moved to another palace with her son.

The palace is surrounded by landscaped gardens with fountains. The walls of the palace are decorated with murals depicting Krishna legends. If you have a tight schedule, you can give this a miss.

Open daily 8am to 6pm, Rs 3, 6kms. Regular buses leave from the main train station and from Ghat gate. (15 mins, Rs 5). The road continues to Galta.

Just 200m before Sisodia Rani Palace on Agra road. Open daily from 8am to 6pm, Rs 2.

Three kilometres west of Jaipur is a collection of 250-year-old temples around a sacred water tank. Galta is sacred to Hindus mainly because of the temple dedicated to the Sun god and the freshwater spring that seeps through the rocks in the otherwise dry valley. The water keeps the two tanks fresh and full and the legions of monkeys around the tank frolicking. If you want to bathe in the tank for some ritual cleansing, get to the upper reaches of the tank, which is where the humans bathe, the lower reaches are 'reserved' for the monkeys.

The temples are intricately and brightly painted and have images of Brahma, Vishnu, Parvati and Ganesha. There are friezes showing scenes from religious festivals and state occasions, maharajas playing polo, the exploits of Krishna and the gopis, even one of the City Palace. Inside swirling red, yellow, blue clouds ring the roofs in what will soon become a familiar pattern. Most of the mahals in Rajasthan have at least one room frescoed in cloud swirls. Heavy rains had destroyed the frescoes but they've been recently restored. Warning: Flower and food may elicit an unwelcome response from the monkeys.
Regular local buses from Jaipur (25mins, Rs 5.50).

Six kilometres from central Jaipur, on the road to Amber is the walled complex of Gaitor, just opposite the lake from the Jal Mahal. This is the burial ground of the royal family of Jaipur. Stately marble chhatris (cenotaphs) dominate the tranquil setting of this place, which was built by Jai Singh II. There are memorials to him, his son, his grandson and rather eerie, a space set aside for the present head of the state. Behind the cenotaph of Maharaja Madho Singh II, is another commemorating his 13 sons all of whom died of malaria.

Much like ancient Egypt, in Jaipur and a practice followed by all the royal families of Rajasthan, the construction of the cenotaph is normally underway during the ruler's lifetime. In fact, each ruler takes extra care to see his cenotaph is made to requisite standards.
Entrance free.