Sunday, March 31, 2013

The Pink City



Jaipur, the everything-is-painted-pink  city


Stay still for a few moments and the civic guys 'll paint  you  pink. Within the walled city of Jaipur , everything that doesn't move is pink. Pink and more pink. Only pink. 

The harsh summer sun rays that play havoc on the Rajasthani towns and villages is tamed here in Jaipur. That explains the colour and hence the character of this city. 


Jaipur is one of the earliest planned cities of northern India. 'Sawai' Jai Singh laid the foundation in 1727 for the city designed by the architect Vidyadhar Battacharya. 

Jaipur wasn't pink at the drawing boards. It was  Ram Singh II who painted the town pink in 1876 when the Prince of Wales came visiting. 



Amber , the honey coloured fort


Built by Raja Man Singh, the Rajput commander of Akbar's army ,Mirza Raja Jai Singh and 'Sawai' Jai Singh over a period of two centuries. 





Mohan Bari



Jai Mandir (Hall of Victory) ...


... with its glittering ceiling of mirrors.




The zenana  with long corridor.. that leads to independent chambers of various concubines. 










                                       

Jai Vana , Jai Garh Fort 





Manually operated Air Conditioner , in His Maharaja's service. 






Amber Fort, as seen from Jai Garh Fort






Nahargarh Fort 




Baoli (step well) in Jaigarh. 




Jal Mahal (Water Palace) 


Jantar Mantar 



Largest and the best preserved of 'sawai' Jai Singh's five observatories. 



Built in stone and marble.


One of the high points of Indian astronomy.














City Palace, Jaipur. 
The Mughal emperor Aurangazeb awarded Raja Jai Singh the title "Sawai', meaning one -and -a -quarter. Even today, the flag flying above the city palace has an extra, quarter sized flag next to it. 













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