History Of Jaipur
Raja Sawai Jai Singh had his capital in Amber, when he felt the need of shifting his capital to another place for the safety of the ever-increasing population and growing scarcity of water. In the eighteenth century, he finally built Jaipur. It was also the time when the glory of Mughal Empire was on its decline. Jaipur became the first planned city of India, which was designed by a brilliant Bengali a
|
 |
rchitect who was well versed in his area of study and was known as Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. The city was planned on the edicts of the ancient Hindu treatise on Indian architecture, Shilpa Shastra.The city was planned in a grid system and boasts of wide and straight avenues and roads that are arranged dexterously in nine rectangular city sectors. As a safety measure against any possible invasions, the city was enveloped with the fortification walls with seven gates. Tourists find it astonishing that the whole city was painted in autumn pink by the then sovereign of the city to welcome his distinguished guest, the Prince of Wales in 1876.
|
|
There are different versions to the reason why the pink was chosen as the color for the city. If we believe the local fables, some people say that when the ambassadors of Prince of Wales visited the city prior to his visit, some simpleton insultingly called them the 'pink-faced monkey', as a result of the contempt for the British that had India under their clutches. To make up for his rashness and as a diplomatic tact, Raja and his ministers maintained that the person had called them so in reverence, |
as the 'monkey' was worshipped in the region as 'Hanuman' and pink was the sacred color of the region. To give conviction to their seemingly improbable reason they painted the city pink on the Prince's arrival. Others maintain that city was painted pink merely because the contractor was unable to supply any other color in such huge quantities that were needed to paint the whole city! Since then the pink color has been associated with hospitality in Jaipur and Rajput culture.
|
|
People and Culture Of Jaipur
|
|
|
The dull pink houses of Jaipur come alive by the colorful attires and interesting turbans worn by its residents. Though, modern fashion has its hold among the higher societies, Jaipur is still largely a profitable commercial center and market place for the nearby rural areas of Rajasthan. Rajasthan villagers come to the city dressed in their various styles of 'pagadis' dyed in rich colors that are a marked distinction among people of different castes and the Rajput families to which they belong. Women dressed in their swirling skirts and traditional attires known as 'Ghaghra-Choli'; often wear unique enameled jewelry, adorned with 'Kundan' and 'Meenakari' work.
|
 |
They wear heavy lac bangles that reach above their elbows and often have tattoos on their arms and even chin. The brown-colored desert people are quite affable and win the hearts of the tourists with their sweet smiles and warm and cordial hospitality. The joyous and festive spirits of the colorful people of the city come alive with the various fairs and festivals of the city. The echoing sounds of the folk songs and graceful and skilful movements of the regional dances struck one with their imposing and lingering impressions. The museums and the palaces are still guarded with royal valets clothed in turbans and full livery preserving the royal etiquettes just like the splendor of their architecture and grandeur of their regal belongings. The bazaars of Jaipur have a timeless appeal and one cannot help but admire the beauty of Rajasthani handlooms, handicrafts and items made of came leather. The ambling camels and cheerful people dressed in multihued costumes are likewise a part of cultural identity of Jaipur.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
