About Jaipur
Rajasthan's beautiful Pink City Jaipur, was the
stronghold of a clan of rulers whose three hill forts and series of
palaces in the city are important attractions. Known as the Pink City
because of the colour of the stone used exclusively in the walled
city, Jaipur's bazaars sell embroidered leather shoes, blue pottery,
tie and dye scarves and other exotic wares. Western Rajasthan itself
forms a convenient circuit, in the heart of the Thar desert which has
shaped its history, lifestyles and architecture.
Founded in AD 1727 by
Sawai Jaisingh II, Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan is popularly known
as the Pink City with broad avenues and spacious gardens. The capital
of Rajasthan, Jaipur is steeped in history and culture. Here the past
comes alive in magnificent forts and palaces, blushed pink, where once
lived the maharajas. The bustling bazaars of Jaipur, famous for
Rajasthani jewellery, fabric and shoes, possess a timeless quality and
are surely a treasure-trove for the shoppers. This fascinating city
with its romantic charm takes you to an epoch of royalty and
tradition.
Jaipur has been laid according to the conventional nine-grid pattern
that astrologers believe to be lucky, and which has been recommended
in the ancient Indian treatise on architecture. Each grid consists of
a square, and these have been planned so that, at the heart of the
city is the City Palace. Spread around it, in rows, are public
buildings, the residences of noblemen, the living and trading quarters
of merchants and artisans. Straight, wide roads run through the city,
while a high, crenellated wall that forms its defense is pierced with
seven gateways that serve as entry points. Today, these walls may be
more difficult to spot since the city has grown far beyond its
original plan, but they are still there, proof that though Jaipur saw
no great siege, it was more than adequately prepared for it.
Jaipur’s architectural planning may have been ancient, but its
execution was definitely modern. Best represented by the City Palace
complex, it brought together all that was excellent in Rajput and
Mughal architecture, creating a new tradition that found wide currency
over much of north India. As in the Mughal tradition, the durbar or
court areas became much more open, characterised by a series of arched
pavilions held on delicately crafted pillars. Ornamentation had always
been a part of the state’s architectural heritage, now it became much
more opulent. The private wings of the family also extended their
entertainment areas. Since defence was no longer a primary concern,
larger, more ornamental windows were built to over look the streets or
courtyards outside these wings. Gardens were no longer planned within
the internal courtyards only, but were added to the external vistas,
and water, a basic feature of Mughal palaces and gardens, was utilised
in a similar fashion, in canals and fountains.
Jaipur has much to offer visitors — everything from pageants and
festivals to extraordinarily clad people, a wealth of handicrafts, a
royal legacy of palaces, and sightseeing — that will occupy their
time. However, should the visitors simply choose to walk around the
streets of the old city instead, they will not regret it. All of
Jaipur is an architectural gem, and no scheduled sight seeing can even
hope to do justice to this rare city.
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