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As the capital city of the state of Rajasthan—the land of kings—the “Pink City” of Jaipur is a visual marvel, magical in colour and atmosphere, evoking an era of ancient battles and warriors, and the wealth that decorated storybook palaces.

Most evident is the Old City’s pink sandstone architecture (thus, the “Pink City”) is a fine blend of Rajastani and Moghul styles.  The colours change throughout the day, finally casting a warm pink glow by sunset. 

Set upon a dry lake bed nestled among fortressed hills, Jaipur is often described as a more relaxed spot than most—despite its population of nearly one and a half million—enjoying the space afforded by broad avenues, a rare commodity in urban India.

Credit for the city’s name and its spacious rectangular layout go to an 18th century Raj warrior and astronomer—the Maharaja Jai Singh, who lived only from 1699 to 1744.  In 1727, the story goes, the Maharaja decided to move down from his hilltop fortress and build a home more to his taste on the barren plain.  Using the Shilpa-Shastra, an ancient Hindu text on architecture as his guide, he began the layout and construction of what would become now the Old City, with its original wall and gates seven gates or darwazas.  As a result, Jaipur is credited to be the only city in the world that actually illustrates in its rectangular layout the “nine divisions of the universe” as laid out in ancient Vedic texts and is a draw today for contemporary followers of the philosophy.