2026 INDIA
ALLEGHENY COLLEGE
ALUMNI TOUR
Allegheny College Faculty Co-Leaders:
Dr. Ishita Sinha Roy (Media & Cultural Studies) and
Dr. Brian Miller (History & International Studies)
Tentative Tour Dates: 13 May-01 June, 2026
Click here to go to the Allegheny College 2026 India Tour website
Jaipur, is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is also known as the Pink City due to the color of the sandstone used in the historic buildings and monuments.
In 1876, Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh I painted the city pink to welcome Prince Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales and son of Queen Victoria, to India. Pink was a symbolic color of hospitality at the time, and the Maharaja also passed a law requiring that any future buildings in the city be painted pink.
Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh, the Kachhwaha Rajput ruler of Amer, after whom the city is named. It is one of the earliest planned cities of modern India, designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. During the British colonial period, the city served as the capital of Jaipur State. After Indian independence in 1947, Jaipur was made the capital of the newly formed state of Rajasthan in 1949.
Elephant Retreat
Spend a day with rescued and retired elephants, learning how to massage them. Enjoy playing with these gentle beasts, before taking a break for a home-cooked meal with the family running the refuge
Patrika Gate and Jawahar Circle Park
Jaipur was founded on the principles of Vaastu Shastrain by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in 1727AD. At the time, he built a fortified city away from Amer (the former capital) with seven gates on the city walls. Later, an eighth gate called Naya Pol or New Gate was built in the city in the 1940s. A fun fact is that this gate was based on the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin!
The Patrika Gate is now the ninth gate of Jaipur and was named after a local news company called Patrika. It was constructed and opened to the public in 2016. In 2020 the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, virtually inaugurated this gate.
Heritage Culinary Session
Enjoy an evening with the descendants of a royal courtier, at their ancestral home or haveli that dates back to the 19th century. Learn how traditional and unique Rajasthani dishes are prepared and then sit back and enjoy the feast.
Street Walk, Jaipur
Take a guided walking tour along the back streets of busy Jaipur, sampling spices, teas, and watching local vendors craft bangles, sell bright sarees, and grind flour from machines that are relics of the British Raj.
Amber Fort and Palace, Jaipur
The construction work of the fort, named after the goddess Amba, started in the 1st Millennia (967 CE). Its antiquity means it has been a silent spectator of many dynasties like the Meenas, the Kachwahas, and the Rajputs. Today, it may be the crowning glory of Jaipur, but let us not forget that Sawai Jai Singh founded Jaipur only in the early 18th century, while Amber existed since the latter half of the 9th century! The access to the palaces within is through Ganesh Pol (Ganesh Gate). Its Pietra Dura work is amongst the best in the world. The gate is named after Lord Ganesha, who is the obstacle-remover. Within, the shimmering Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) captures the romance and glamor of the royal past.
Visit the Family Jewelers of Maharajahs and Billionaires
See why the famed Jaipur gems and jewelry craftsmanship draw customers from across the globe. A private session filled with stories and fun-facts with a family member from this esteemed house of gems.
OUR HERITAGE HOTEL IN JAIPUR
"It’s in the name: This is a palace. And I don’t mean that proverbially, as in this place is like a palace. I mean this is a once-home-to-local-rulers, actual palace. It’s evident the moment you step into the building. Interiors are dominated by the polished marble and vaulting ceilings characteristic of the Indo-Saracenic architecture that was popular here in the 18th century, when this place was built. The next thing you notice, beyond the majesty of what’s inside, is what’s outside: Namely, 18 acres of meticulously manicured Mughal-style gardens, perfect for an afternoon with a novel or a stroll contemplating all the rich history embedded in every corner of Jaipur." ~~ Conde Nast Traveler
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Inside Unseen Parts of Jaipur City Palace With Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh | AD India
Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh, the head of the Jaipur royal family, leads us through unseen parts of the royal City Palace complex—stepwells, terraces, havelis rich with the patina of age and time— and lays before us his ambitious project of revival.