Jaipur India
I have never been to Jaipur India, but after reading The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Jossi, I was inspired to know more.
The Pink City
Jaipur is the bustling, modern-day capital of Rajasthan, India. Immersed in spectacular architecture and culture, The Pink City was built in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. and was considered India’s first planned city graced with magnificent forts and palatial palaces.
In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh reimagined what he could do to further enhance the beauty of the city already boasting some of the most stunning gardens in the country, and decided all buildings be made pink as a sign of hospitality in honor of the royal visit of King Edward VII in 1876. Consequently to this day, the city remains the most colorful in all of India with millions of visitors a year in the awe-struct wonder of Rajasthani traditional jewelry, fabrics, cuisine, architecture, crafts, and wildlife sanctuaries.
In 2019, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee anointed Jaipur, the “Pink City of India”, a World Heritage Site.
Popular Architectural Wonders of Jaipur
Hawa Mahal
The Mahal is a blend of Rajput and Mughal Architecture and was built mainly for women of royalty to ensure safety and anonymity inside while enjoying festivals and events outside. Magnificently built of pink and red sandstone, the structure is shaped like the crown of Lord Krishna, tops 5 stories, and boasts views from 953 windows.
City Palace
The City Palace has been the spectacular home of the rich and powerful Singh family for over 3 centuries since Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II decided to move his court from the City of Amber in 1727. It is located in the old section of Jaipur and was constructed under the architectural direction of Vidyadar Bhallachary, chief architect of Jai Singh II.
Surrounded by high guard walls, The City Palace is an enchanting, fairy-like realm. Rich opulent gardens are everywhere, especially those overlooking Jaipur proper and Lake Palace. The royal family continues to reside within the Chandra Mahal graced with striking eves and intricately doomed roofs a top 7 unique floors.
Besides the Chandra Mahal on the palace grounds, a visitor can absorb the beauty of The Mubarak Mahai (The Welcome Palace) with displays of dynamic and colorful costumes and textiles; The Good Armoury Museum of ancient swords and daggers; the Pitam Niwas Chowk (Peacock Courtyard) with immense painted doors of dazzling colored peacock feathers; the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) showcasing the Palace’s exquisite collection of miniature paintings; and the prized Jantar Mantar, an outstanding collection of astronomical tools that look more like a children’s playground than an important research site used by the Rajput ruler Jai Singh II to study the ancient skies nearly 300 years ago. At the Mantar’s center stands the world’s largest stone sundial named the Samsat Yanta, 27 meters tall casting a shadow large enough to measure time down to 2 seconds. And the Jai Prakash traces past time by using the shadow of a metal plate above an exquisite bowl-shaped structure.
Amber Fort
Built in 1392 of sandstone and marble, this behemoth fort commands a hill northwest of Jaipur. It shines as the finest example of Rajasthani architecture: inlaid patterned marble in the most brilliant hues imaginable, and verdure gardens covering underground tunnels of old. You would have to see it to believe it possible, that this iconic fort constructed so long ago still stands strong today. If those ancient walls could talk, they would whisper tales of intrigue, excitement, betrayal, and romance beyond imagination.
Albert Hall Museum
Albert Hall Museum is considered the oldest and finest museum in all of Rajasthan. It showcases precious historical memorabilia including a real Egyptian mummy ( the most popular exhibit), miniature paintings, outstanding 18th-century costumes worn by the different casts, and cultural artifacts of jewelry, ivory, stone, metal, and crystal.
The museum’s foundation stone was laid on February 6, 1876, in honor of King Edward VII’s visit to the city. The following year saw the museum open its doors to the public.
Birla Mandir
The Birla Mandir (Lakshmi Narayan) is an iconic Hindu temple built solely of white marble. It is said that the Birla family bought the location for one rupee from the Maharaja and jump-started the construction in 1977 and completed it in 1988. This magnificent temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu and is a joyous center for festivals such as Diwali and Janmashtami.
The temple’s architectural brilliance lies not only in the material used but in its 4 distinctive sections: the sanctum, main hall, towers, and entranceway. The towers honor the main religions of India and are laced with stain-glass windows embracing Hindu stories, sculptures, and mythology. Stunning depictions of Christ, the Virgin Mary, St Peter, Budda, Confusious, and Socrates are incorporated and also honored.
Lush gardens are present throughout the property and the view is stunning. At night, situated on a raised platform, the temple brilliantly lights the skies, an exquisite example of a monument steeped deeply in religious tradition.
Jal Mahal
The Jal Mahal (Water Palace) is located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur City, the capital of Rajasthan, India. Originally built in 1699 of red sandstone the palace was remodeled in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber. its architectural beauty exemplifies the Rajput style of design. The main drawback to the palace is that it is not open to the public. The palatial majesty and location of the palace can only be appreciated from a viewing area at the edge of the lake or by boat: akin to a historical museum piece behind glass to observe but not touch. Looking at the skies and lake itself a person can experience the hundreds of migratory birds it attracts and the outstanding lush hills of Nahargarh laced with quartzite rock croppings.
First built as a duck hunting lodge for Maharaja Singh, it was never designed to be a palace. 4 of the 5 stories are underwater when the lake is full. The highest depth of the lake is 15 ft and the lowest is 4.9 ft. The once luxuriant garden on the rooftop terrace is currently being restored and the interior of the building is undergoing a complete restoration. Water damage is a constant problem and the current royal is determined to bring the Jal Mahal back to its original grandeur.
The irresistible draw of the palace is in its location. Appearing to float, this palace on the water, in the middle of a lake, seems to many like a mirage, a fantasy from One Thousand One Arabian Nights.
My next post goes further into the widely popular Henna art and traditional jewelry of Rajasthan, India.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur
- https://www.britannica.com/place/Jaipur-India
- https://artsandculture.google.com/story/jaipur-india
- https://www.zerokaata.com/zerokaata-studio/traditional-jewellery-of-rajasthan/
- https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1605/
- Google Images
I was truly impressed the fabulous beauty of the Pink City. What a trip awaits to the lucky traveler to partake in the lush gardens, monuments, food, and culture of Jaipur. Thank you for this great post!
You are so gracious in your comments. Thank You.