Why Is Jaipur Called Pink City? Pink City of India – Jaipur

Jaipur is the most recognized city in India after New Delhi. It is especially known for its cultural heritage, beautiful buildings, food and rich history. Let’s find out more about the city of Jaipur and why it is called the Pink City.

The city of Jaipur was founded in 1727 AD by the great ruler Sawai Jai Singh II (1686 – 1744) and named after him. In 1700, after the death of his father, Bishan Singh, he ascended the throne of the Kachwaha Rajputs in Ajmer at the age of 13.

From a young age, he impressed Mughal sovereign, Aurangzeb, to the extent that he gave him the title Sawai, which translates as quarter times better than his contemporaries, a term that has since been used by all of Jaipur’s heirs to the throne.

Jai Singh II was not only a great builder with an extraordinary passion for symmetry but also a poet and astronomer. Under his supervision, the talented architect Vidyadhar built his dream of a perfect newly planned capital.

The foundation stone was laid on November 18, 1727, and the city was built in less than eight years. The plans for the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar, the largest stone observatory in the world, trace back to him.

The Design of the Pink City

The city was laid out rectangular and divided into 9 blocks. A drawing board town, which is basically quite atypical for India, was created, in which every detail was determined in advance, from the alignment across the width of the primary and secondary streets to the distribution of the individual boxes across the districts.

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This corresponded to the basic rules that were written down in the Shilpa Shastra, the ancient Indian treatise on architecture. Built on the old grid, the city was divided by broad, straight streets and avenues. The alleys with the shops on both sides runoff from it uniformly.

The whole thing is organized into nine rectangular city sectors and is surrounded by a 6 km long city wall. A tenth district shows the Islamic system preferred structure of the winding streets, where everything is tightly nested, and the quarter is mostly populated by Muslims.

After 43 years of Jai Singh’s very successful reign, arguments about his successor were inevitable. He was the father of many children with his 28 wives and four concubines. The Principality sank into chaos, and the British later gained influence.

Jaipur supported the British in the 1857 uprising and was one of England’s most loyal allies ever since. Jaipur has about three million residents today and is one of the most visited cities in India. But do you know, Why Is Jaipur Called Pink City?

Why is Jaipur Called Pink City?

Jaipur received the sonorous name Pink City due to the pink buildings in the old town, which also gives Jaipur a unique look. However, the Jaipur buildings were not painted in this colour from the start. Instead, they were given a new coat of Pink in honour of the visit by Crown Prince Albert Eduard, the Prince of Wales.

Attractions

Jaipur is a city of contrasts. You will find a lot to discover. You should definitely take the time to explore part of the old town on foot to explore the real Rajasthan. A walk through the narrow bazaar streets, lined with noisy traffic routes, is always an exceptional experience. The real culture is not in the buildings but in the people. 

Halfway between Jaipur and Amber, the Jal Mahal castle is romantically situated in a lake. The building has been restored and equipped. The first-time visitor will hardly take the time for the two mighty forts high above the city, but Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort are worth a detour.

Suggested Read: 7 Top Places To Visit In Jaipur On Your Next Vacation

Shopping

Jaipur is a city with many faces. It is both a big city with modern buildings, restaurants and large hotels on the outskirts and also an industrial city with metal, textile, jewelry and chemical industry, known in tourist circles for excellent shopping opportunities, especially in the field of handicrafts.

Good quality comes at a price, often several months of work in a carpet or marble table with inlays. Bargaining is desirable in the markets and also in the shop.

Textiles that are printed with wooden blocks (popularly known as block printing) are particularly popular. The jewellery processing industry is also famous beyond the city limits. If you have a well-stocked travel budget, you can also go shopping in the jewelry stores.

But you should know your way around, ignorance is a declaration of consent to take advantage of. Pink City has a lot to offer in terms of heritage, royalty, colours and shopping. Just pack your bags and visit one of the most history-packed cities in the world.