Jaipur
Context:
A budget of ₹100 crore will be allocated for the heritage conservation and development of Jaipur’s Walled City, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
More on news
- The heritage conservation efforts in the Walled City are anticipated to boost tourism, enhance the local economy, and improve infrastructure.
About Jaipur
Founding and Design:
- The Walled City of Jaipur, located in Rajasthan, India, was founded in 1727 by the then Kachwaha Rajput ruler of Amber, Sawai Jai Singh II.
Jaipur was named after its founder, Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1744), a skilled warrior and astronomer. At 15, he impressed Emperor Aurangzeb with his quick wit, earning the title “Sawai,” meaning one and a quarter, which became a hereditary honour.
Jaipur earned the nickname “The Pink City” in 1876 when Maharaja Ram Singh ordered most of the buildings to be painted pink—a colour symbolising hospitality—in anticipation of a visit from Britain’s Queen Victoria.
- Unlike other cities in the region, which were often built on hilly terrain, Jaipur was established on a plain.
- The city’s layout follows a grid plan inspired by Vedic architecture, with continuous colonnaded streets that intersect at large public squares called “chaupars.”
- The main streets are lined with markets, shops, residences, and temples, all featuring uniform facades.
Urban Planning and Cultural Exchange:
- Jaipur’s urban planning represents a blend of ancient Hindu, early modern Mughal, and Western architectural ideas.
- It was conceived and developed in a single phase during the 18th century, following the grid-iron model from the Vastu Shastra, a traditional Hindu architectural treatise.
- The grid plan, common in the West, was integrated with traditional Hindu concepts, especially in the organisation of the city’s sectors (“chowkris”).
- Iconic monuments such as the Govind Dev temple, City Palace, Jantar Mantar (UNESCO World Heritage site), and Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort (UNESCO World Heritage site) showcase the artistic and architectural craftsmanship of the period.
- Historically, Jaipur housed 36 industries (“chattis karkhanas”), many of which were craft-based.
- The city is guided by the Jaipur Master Plan 2025, which designates the Walled City as a heritage zone.
India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites showcase its rich cultural and natural diversity, including ancient temples, historic cities, detailed stepwells, wildlife sanctuaries, and scenic mountain ranges. As of August 2024, India has 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 35 are cultural, 7 are natural, and 1 is a mixed heritage site. The “Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty” from Assam is the recent addition to the List.