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The picturesque heritage city of Jaipur in India was chosen as the capital of the new state of Rajasthan, the land of the rajas, which was created after India's independence by merging the princely states of the region. In Jaipur the ancient and modern co exist in harmony.

The tourist who has discovered that urban India is one maze of cluttered cities will be pleasantly surprised with Jaipur. With its broad avenues, its well laid out gardens and specifically designed areas for markets and residential centres, Jaipur is a success story of 18th century city planning. Jaipur is famously referred to as the 'Pink City' because Maharaja Man Singh II ordered his city painted a pretty pink in honour of the visiting Prince of Wales, Edward VII in 1876.

Travel to Jaipur for its many heritage sights and the plethora of shopping opportunities it offers. The old walled area has the City Palace museum, the Jantar Mantar observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh II, temples, gardens and bazaars chock a block with all kinds of goods from exquisite jewellery to dainty jootis (traditional leather slip-on shoes, decorated

with colourful embroidery).

Jaipur is an excellent base from which to explore any popular tourist destination in eastern and central Rajasthan.

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If you're going to eat at Niros definitely try the 'Laal Maas' there! It a great dish that will have you craving for more.

Historically Speaking

The city of Jaipur was amongst the first planned cities in India. The astronomer-King Sawai Jai Singh II, one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan established his new capital in Jaipur in 1727, when he decided to shift his seat of power from Amer, 11 km northeast of the new city. Designed by a young Bengali architect, Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, the city was a marvel of town planning with separate sectors being earmarked for craftsmen and merchants. A formidable protective wall with seven gates girdled the entire city. The city was planned to conform to a geometric grid representing the nine divisions of the universe.

The history and times of Jaipur are deeply entwined with the stories of royal princes and princesses, with grand Mughals and later with visiting dignitaries from the British Royal family or 20th century royalty like the US Presidential families. Modern Jaipur plays host to all of them and to many thousands of ordinary people who come here enchanted by all that the city has to offer. Jaipur is undoubtedly a city of kings and queens and its distinctive architecture clearly emphasises this. Even so it

has a timeless appeal, since many of the traditional crafts patronised by the 18th century rulers are still thriving. So, you have streets that are famous for jewellery, tie-and-dye, pottery, ‘meenakari’, leatherwork and stone carvings.

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