'Nanhe Jaisalmer' - Tax Free

Bobby Deol starrier 'Nanhe Jaisalmer' has been declared tax-free in Rajasthan, even before the release. It's a story of a child, who is a fan of Bobby - a film star. His dreams of meeting him fulfilled one day. "Yes, I got to know about it just a couple of days ago. I don't know how it will help the film... It is an inspirational film and I am sure with the tax-free tag, more people will watch the film along with their kids.

The film has a sweet message and I guess that will work in favor of the film. This is also the first time I am playing myself in the film. I am eagerly waiting to see how the film fares at the box-office," says Bobby. The film will be release on September 15.

Forts In Jaipur

The City Palace
One of the most magnificent marvels or Jaipur is the City Palace Complex which has a rare combination of the finest blends of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. In the heart of the old city, it has vast area. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh and additions made up to the 20th century. Many buildings, well-planned gardens and huge courtyards are a part of the complex. For visiting dignitaries, Sawai Madho Singh II, constructed Mubarak Mahal (welcome palace) as a reception centre. The mahal comes before the main complex, though it now forms a part of the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. The museum has an array of royal costumes, shawls, embroideries, Benares silk sarees, the maharaja's pyjamas, chogas and pyjamas of other rulers, jamawars, kamarbands, musical instruments like the giant sized tanpura and sarangis and a set of the clothes of Sawai Madho Singh I who was just over seven feet tall, over four feet wide and supported a Goliathic weight of 250 kilograms.

A delight is the Maharani's Palace, now the armory with arms to the 15th century which include the deadly Rajput scissor-action daggers which have a unique working action (after the dagger entered the body, the handles were released and the blades spread. during withdrawal, killing the victim). The guns include the ones that also served as walking sticks, one of the size of a small canon fired from a camel's back, double-barrel guns, early handguns, matchlocks and percussion cap guns, swords with pistols attached to the blades, daggers with handles of crystal and invory, katars, chhuris, peak-kubz jambhiya, Persian and Rajput swords. Deccan hand, bows and arrows, battle axes, shields, maces, breast and shoulder plate gutzis and the ruby and emerald encrusted sword presented by Queen Vicoria to Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh (1835-1880). On display are a big range of shields of rhino, crocodile and turtle skin, the shield of Sawai Pratap Singh and Raja Man Singh' sword weighing about 5 kilograms.

Diwan-e-Khas (hall of private audience) is housed between the art gallery (once the diwan-e-aam-hall of public audience) and the armoury. The most attractive feature are the two sterling silver vessels (in the marble-paved gallery) in which Maharaja Madho Singh II, a devout Hindu, took holy Ganga water during a visit to Europe. The two vessels are massive standing 160 cm and have a capacity of 9000 litres each. They are listed in the Guinness book of Records as the biggest silver vessels in the world. From the ceiling of the hall hang a number of chandeliers which are covered with plastic to prevent dust and bird droppings falling on them.

Jaigarh Frot

The western skyline is dominated by the extensive parkotas (walls), watch towers and gateways of Jaigarh. It is one of the few military structures of mediaeval India preserved almost intact containing palaces, gardens, open and covered reservoirs, a granary, an armory, a well planned cannon foundry, several temples, a tall tower and a giant mounted cannon the Jai Ban one of the giggest in the World.

Nahargarh Fort
It is 15 kilometers from Jaipur beyond the hills of Jaigarh and is like a watchful sentinel guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful capital. Much of the original structures are in ruins. From atop a hill, the fort offers a scenic view of the city be low. Rajasthan Tourism has started a cafeteria where Beer and snacks are available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Museum In Jaipur

Dolls Museum
Pretty dolls from various countries are on display in the compound of the school for deaf and dumb children, near the Police Memorial.

BM Birla Planetarium
The planetarium offers unique audio-visual education and entertainment with its modern computerized projection system. For school groups concessions are available. Closed on last Wednesday of every month.

Government Central Museum
Located in the center of the sprawling Ram Niwas Bagh, this is the oldest museum in the state. The building was designed by colonel Sir Swinton Jacob. It was built in 1876 when king Edward VII visited India as the Prince of Wales. It was opened to public in 1886 there is also an Egyptian mummy belonging to the Ptolemaic Epoch. There are miniature paintings of various sub-schools of Rajasthan. A glimpse of the land the people of Rajasthan is presented through well planned dioramas. From 1959 onwards the various galleries along the ground floor of the museum were completely reorganized and renovated. People of Rajasthan, (both males and females) from the higher strata of society, such as Rajputs and seths as well as the common tribal people like Mennas, Bhopas, Bhils, Gadoliya Lohar etc. find depiction here in their typical dresses and ornaments. Typical designs and motifs in Mehndi Mandana, so characteristic of Rajasthani ladies, are also highlighted in the gallery. In the antechamber of wing is exhibited puppetry from Rajasthan & the painted scroll delineating the scenes from pabuji Rathore's life, a great folk hero from Marwar. The central gallery is devoted to Rajasthani music and dance. Original musical instrument, both classical and folk, are displayed in their functional positions. Specimens include typical folk instruments like Masak, Kama, Yacha, Dadh, Madal, Khanjari, Satari, Bankia, Pungi, Alogoja, Iktara etc. the dances illustrated in the gallery include classical ones like kathak for which Jaipur Gharana is famous, as well as popular folk dances such as Dandia, Ghoomar Holi etc. festivals & ceremonies (like marriage) are also dioramized in a lively manner. The museum functions as the State Museum of Rajasthan.

Modern Art Gallery
A small gallery in the first floor of Ravindra Manch Auditorium shows a selection of works by the well known modern artists and sculptors of Rajasthan.

Museum of Indology
Created and established by Acharya Ram Charan Sharma "vyakul" in 1960, the museum has a collection of folk and Tantra art. The eighteen sections of this three storied private museum include old manuscripts and archives, thematic folk art of India, Indian textile designs, Tantrik paintings and yantras, glass and pottery items, minerals, gems and fossils etc. making it one of the finest museum of Rajasthan.

Hawa Mahal Museum
Just behind the beautiful Hawa Mahal (Palace of winds) in the adjoining Partap Mandir, a Museum was set up in the year 1983. Preserved here is the sculptural heritage collected from Ganeshwar. Virat Nagar, Raid, Sambhar and Nagar.

Exhibits include items of terracotta. Antiquities, fish hooks, arrow heads, swords, helmets and belongings of the maharajas of Jaipur. A big storage vessel of 2nd century AD obtained during excavation at Naliasar (Sambhar) draws the attention of visitors.

Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum
Located within the city palace complex and nestled amidst old buildings, temples and the palace quarters, this museum was founded in 1959 by Maharaja Swai Man Singh II.

The exhibits consist of the ancestral collections built up by the successive rulers of Amer & Jaipur, and presently run by a public charitable trust. A small selection of paintings, manuscripts, weapons and armours was displayed in the Pothikhana (library) and the Silehkhana or armoury (both of these in their present form were established in 1952) of the palace. However, the collection remained exclusive and was shown only to selective visitors and dignitaries with the special permission of the Maharaja. In 1959, this private museum consisting of the Pothikhana and the Silehkhana was thrown open to public and a new Textile and costume gallery was added to it.

Galta Ji / Monkey Temple

In the vicinity of the city, 10 kms. from Jaipur, Galta is situated amidst the range of hills east of the city. On the top of the hill. overlooking the Galta valler is a sun temple. To the east of the temple is a reservoir or a tank which is fed by spring of pure water falling from a Gaumukh or an outlet shaped like the mouth of a cow. On way to Galta, by the Ghat-ki-Guni, is a range of hills crowned with the fort of Amargarh.

The complex of Galtaji has numerous temples, pavilions, natural springs and holy 'kunds'. Built in pink sandstone, Galtaji Temple appeals to the aesthetic sense of the visitors. The temple, dedicated to the Sun God, is the most famous temple built on the top of a hill. The temple is decked with rounded roofs, exquisitely carved pillars and painted walls. Out of all other temples, Hanuman temple stands out, being surrounded by hundreds of monkeys. Besides all other attractions, Natural water springs draw special attention of the visitors.

The water of these springs is accumulated in the tanks or 'kunds'. In all, there are seven tanks, holiest being the Galta Kund, which never goes dry. It is considered auspicious to take bath in the holy waters of Galtaji. Thousands of people come every year to take a dip in the tanks to rinse out their sins. Makar Sankranti is regarded as a special day to take bath in the holy waters of Galtaji.

Dial 108 for any emergency while in Jaipur

The Rajasthan government together with the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) has just started a new emergency response services phone number '108'. The number is for all emergency calls, be it for police, fire or medical service. The telephone number is toll-free, without any prefix or suffix; and is accessible from landline phone (fixed line), mobile phone, as well as local telephone booths.

IBM Begins Operations From Jaipur

IBM India has announced the launch of its SME (small and medium enterprises) operations from its centre here as part of expansion plans to enter 14 new cities in the country. With the new facility, IBM is in a position to cater to specific requirements to enable customised services to small and medium business (SMB) clients in the Rajasthan capital and the neighbouring markets.

IBM is slated to expand operations in five additional cities such as Ludhiana, Nasik, Surat, Bhubaneswar and Madurai. The company has launched similar centres in Chandigarh, Jamshedpur, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Goa, Bhopal and Lucknow.

“The latest centre in Jaipur clearly demonstrates our ongoing commitment to help SMB clients succeed in an already competitive marketplace. By empowering SMB clients in textiles, travel & tourism, in the government, gems and cement industries with world class technology we offer them the opportunity to be an integral part of India’s growth story,” said Ramesh Narasimhan of IBM India/South Asia.

With over 3,000 SMB customers in India, IBM’s operations in Jaipur will target clients in hospitality, in the Government, and in textile and gem and jewellery sectors. Currently IBM is delivering solutions to Shree Cements and NBC Bearings in Rajasthan.

The products and services offered are specifically priced and designed for the SMB marketplace under the brand name ‘IBM Express Portfolio’ which comprises hardware, software, services, solutions and financing and is designed to meet specific criteria for SMBs.

Jaipur Will Be Wi-Fi City

Rajasthan's capital Jaipur will be made a wi-fi enabled city to meet the communication requirements of the investors, Rajasthan's Minister of Industries Narpat Singh Rajvi said here Wednesday.

'The government plans to convert Jaipur into a Wi-Fi city, which would meet the investors' communication needs,' Rajvi said.

He was here to invite south Indian industries to participate in the 'Resurgent Rajasthan' summit, which will take place in Jaipur in November. The event, supported by FICCI, will showcase the state's investment opportunities.

The minister said the 'Doing Business in South Asia, 2007' report by the World Bank on the business climate in 12 major cities in India ranked Jaipur in third place, just behind Hyderabad and Bangalore.