JAIPUR: THE PINK CITY
Jaipur: The crown of Rajasthan
The capital of Rajasthan, is also called “Pink City” because of the pink color of the buildings in the old quarter. It received the paint job in 1876 on the occasion of a state visit by Prince Albert of England, the husband of Britain’s Queen Victoria. Pink is Rajasthan’s traditional color of hospitality. In 1727, Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II as the new residence of the principality after the nearby old fortress complex of Amber had become too small. The city was built according to exact urban planning principles. According to the ancient Hindu treatise ‘Shilpa Shastra’, all side streets run exactly at right angles to the main streets in a checkerboard pattern. The old city is surrounded by a completely preserved 6 m high fortification wall and is still accessible only through seven mighty city gates.
Popular Tourist Attractions in Jaipur
Hawa Mahal: the Palace of Winds
The most famous landmark of Jaipur is the “The Palace of Winds” built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, who was the founder of Jaipur. This five-story structure with its many windows is actually just a facade. Its purpose was to allow the numerous ladies of the court to view the pompous processions without being seen themselves. The building got its name because of the ingenious air circulation, which always lets a fresh breeze pass through the rooms.
City Palace: Residence of Royal Family
In the center of the city rises the royal palace, enclosed by high walls, which occupies one seventh of the old city area. With the exception of the Chandra Mahal Palace, the seven-story main building that still houses the private chambers of the Maharaja’s family, it is open to the public as the Sawai Man Singh Museum. The two-story marble palace Mubarak Mahal houses a textile museum, where mainly clothes and jewelry of the royal family are exhibited. The garments, studded all over with gold and precious stones, give an idea of the fabulous wealth of Jaipur’s rulers. The former residence of the Maharani is home to the best-equipped weapons museum in India. Among the indescribable variety of weapons made of the finest materials are daggers with handles of jade, crystal, silver or gold, and inscribed swords that once belonged to the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. In the Diwan-I-Kha audience hall, which is open to the sides, are two silver vessels that have been entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest handmade silver objects in the world. Both vessels are over 1.5 meters high and hold 8182 liters. When Madho Singh II traveled to England in 1901 to attend the coronation of King Edward VII, he had the vessels filled with Ganges water and taken with him because of his great distrust of Western water.
Jantar Mantar: The Observatory
Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, was an avid astronomer, and had several large observatories built in northern India between 1724 and 1737. The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the best preserved among them and has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2010. The constructions, covered with yellowish plaster, appear futuristic and archaic at the same time. Most of them are enlarged replicas of the metal instruments in use at the time, some of which Jai Singh II is said to have invented himself. They can be used to determine the position and movement of stars and planets, read the time, and even make predictions about the intensity of the monsoon.
Nahargarh Fort
Perched on a rocky ridge above Jaipur, the “Tiger Fort” of Nahargarh offers breathtaking views of the city. Jai Singh II had it built from 1734 as a retreat for his wives. The completely identical living quarters of the Maharanis enclose a central courtyard in perfect symmetry. The Maharaja could visit his respective favorite wife without being seen by the other wives, as a separate tunnel led to each of the nine apartments.
Heritage Hotels in Jaipur