HISTORY OF PINK CITY
Explore the Rich History of Pink City !!
HISTORY OF PINK CITY
The city of Jaipur was founded by the King of Amber, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II on 18 November 1727, who ruled from 1699 to 1743. He planned to shift his capital from Amber, 11 kilometers (7 mi) to Jaipur to accommodate the growing population and increasing scarcity of water. Jai Singh consulted several books on architecture and architects while planning the layout of Jaipur. Under the architectural guidance of Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, Jaipur was planned based on the principles of Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra. The construction of the city began in 1726 and took four years to complete the major roads, offices, and palaces. The architecture of the city was heavily influenced by the 17th-century architectural renaissance during Mughal rule in Northern India. Hence much of it resembles architectural styles from around the Muslim world. The city was divided into nine blocks, two of which contained state buildings and palaces, with the remaining seven allotted to the public. Huge ramparts were built, pierced by seven fortified gates.
During the rule of Sawai Ram Singh I, the city was painted pink to welcome HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VII, Emperor of India), in 1876. Many of the avenues remain painted in pink, giving Jaipur a distinctive appearance and the epithet Pink city. In the 19th century, the city grew rapidly and by 1900 it had a population of 160,000. The wide boulevards were paved and its chief industries were the working of metals and marble, fostered by a school of art founded in 1868. The city had three colleges, including a Sanskrit college (1865) and a girls’ school (1867) opened during the reign of Maharaja Ram Singh II. Large areas of the city including the airport were flooded in August 1981, resulting in the death of eight people and much damage to the city’s Dravyavati River. The floods were caused by three days of cloud bursts that produced more rain than the annual average.
The first planned city of India, Jaipur has a rich history of a clan of rulers who lived in magnificent forts and palaces. But, that’s not only what the capital of Rajasthan is famous for. The entire city of Jaipur is painted in the color pink and there’s a really interesting story behind this. Here’s all you need to know about the ‘Pink Paint Culture’ of one of the most hospitable cities on the planet. The city is a muse for lay tourists, culture trippers, literary artists, history buffs, architecture enthusiasts, and art and photography aficionados alike. In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh did something that earned Jaipur its sobriquet. He painted the entire city pink, traditionally a color associated with hospitality, to welcome the prince of Wales (later king Edward VII) to the city.
Jaipur is one of the most culturally rich heritage cities in India. Founded in the year 1727, the city is named after Maharaja Jai Singh II who was the main founder of this city. He was a Kachhwaha Rajput and ruled the area between 1699 and 1744. The city was attacked many times by neighboring warriors, the Marathas. But for most of its history, Jaipur stayed under the rule of Rajputs. It was one of the few parts of the country which never came under the rule of the British, who left India in 1947. The moment you arrive in Jaipur you will witness that the walls of the most building are painted in “pink” terracotta color. The color resembles the city’s heritage and culture. Going back in history, when Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh was in power and when Prince Albert came to Jaipur during the India tour in 1876. Maharaja wanted to impress the Prince and hence, he planned an extreme strategy. One of the most famous forts & palaces to visit in Jaipur. The Amer fort is located on a hill. In the olden days, the Amer fort was a strong defense around the city. The Indian and Mughal blend of architecture is immensely beautiful. It is said that even the attackers did not want to destroy it. When exploring this place, surely experience the light and sound show which presents a rich history of this fort and city.
Due to its abundance in the proximity, pink and red sandstone was primarily used to construct the buildings. While this sandstone became the primary material of construction, another major event in the city’s history become the turning point in the city’s traditional acceptance of pink as the mainstay. History records that in 1876, the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria were touring India and they also visited Jaipur. It was Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur who thought that pink denoting the color of hospitality, it would be good to paint the entire city in its hues to welcome the royal guests. When exploring Jaipur, why not live a king? Yes, this can be done with cities’ various heritage hotels. One can experience history and royalty most remarkably with royal architecture, courtyards, royal structures, and green gardens. Thus pleasure the king inside you by staying at the heritage hotels of the pink city.
PINK CITY JAIPUR HISTORY
Founded in AD 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan is popularly known as the Pink City. With broad avenues and spacious gardens, the city 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 Rajasthan jewelry, fabric, and shoes, possess a timeless quality and are a treasure trove for shoppers. Planned by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, Jaipur holds the distinction of being the first planned city in India. Renowned globally for its colored gems, the capital city of Rajasthan combines the allure of its ancient history with all the advantages of a metropolis. Jaipur rises majestically against the backdrop of the forts Nahargarh, Jaigarh, and Garh Ganesh Temple. The bustling modern city is one of the three corners of the golden triangle that includes Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. The story goes that in 1876, the Prince of Wales visited India on a tour. Since the color pink was symbolic of hospitality, Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur painted the entire city pink. The pink that colors the city makes for a marvelous spectacle to behold.
Jaipur gets its name from its founder Maharaja JaiSingh II (1693-1744) the great warrior and astronomer. He came to power at the age of II on the death of his father Maharaja Bishan Singh. The Maharaja was told that his son would achieve greatness and he set out to ensure that Jai Singh Had a good education. He was trained by the best teachers and scholars in art, science, philosophy, and military affairs. His scholastic background matched his innate wits When Jai Singh was 15, emperor Aurangzeb summoned him to court. Jai Singh had contravened the agreement of not waging war against the Marathas in the Deccan. On meeting Jai Singh, Aurangazb, clasping his hand in greeting, demanded an explanation.
Jai Singh, then 15, replied that since the emperor had extended his hand, it implied that he would protect Jai Singh and his kingdom. Impressed by his reply, Aurangazab conferred the title of Sawai, meaning one and a quarter, a title, that all of Jai Singh’s descendants kept. Jai Sing’s lineage can be traced back to the Kucchwaha Rajput clan who came to power in the 12th century. They built the magnificent Amber Fort and their might spread beyond the present day Jaipur, encompassing the kingdoms of Mewar (Udaipur) and Marwar (Jodhpur). At that time, the might of the Mughal empire was at its peak, and recognizing it, the Kucchwahas aligned themselves with the Mughals. After Jai Singh came to power, there was a moment of disquiet when he supported Aurangzeb’s son. Azam shah’s bid for the throne, Azam Shah lost the battle of succession to their brother Bahadur Shah, who demanded Jai Singh’s removal and installation of Vijay Singh to the throne of Jaipur. Jai Singh, not one to take setbacks lying down, formed a formidable front against the Mughals by aligning himself with other Rajput states and reinstating himself. After the dust had settled, peace reigned and the kingdom prospered and its borders expanded.
However, expansion meant that the limited sources of water proved inadequate for the city. Which he named Jaipur, after himself. Much of the credit for Jaipur goes to Vidhyadhar Bhattachary, a chief architect from Bengal who, with Jai Singh’s approval, founded the city on strong scientific principles Laid out according to the Shilpa Shastra, an ancient architectural manual, it remains one of India’s best-planned cities. After Jai Singh died in 1744, the obvious happened. His sons squabbled for power and without a monarch, the kingdom became open to invasion by neighboring Rajput states and the Marathas usurped large areas of the kingdom. As with the Mughals, Jaipur maintained good relations with the British and during the war of independence in 1857 remained loyal to the raj. Yet, the British gradually began to undermine the independence of the state and exercised greater control over the administration. In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh did something that earned Jaipur its sobriquet. He painted the entire city pink, traditionally a color associated with hospitality, to welcome the prince of Wales (later king Edward VII) to the city. The tradition has been maintained and today all residents in the old city are compelled by law to preserve the pink color.
Maharaja Ram Singh also built Ramgarh lake to supply water to the burgeoning city. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city’s population spread beyond its walls. In 1922 Man Singh II, Jaipur’s Maharaja ascended the throne and it was during his reign that civic buildings like the secretariat, schools, hospitals, and other public buildings were built. After independence, Jaipur merged with the states of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner to become the greater Rajasthan union. Man Singh II was bestowed with the title of Rajapramukh and was given charge of the new province. The title was later revoked and in 1956, Jaipur became the capital of the state of Rajasthan.