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Jaipur, called the Pink city because most of its buildings are of
sandstone, was chosen by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1693-1743) for his
capital. It still is the vibrant capital of the desert state of
Rajasthan and a major attraction for the first-time visitor.Jaipur is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts and enclosed by embattled walls. The Old City, the actual Pink City, is a great place to wander around. Maharaja Man Singh II had the whole city painted pink when the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876. Today, every home within the old city is obliged by law to maintain this facade. Fabulous, tall houses with latticed windows line the narrow streets of the old city, their rose pink colour lending enchantment to a scene which is almost magical at sunset. The city, which is very well planned, is laid out in a grid pattern.
It was designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a young Bengali engineer and scholar who formalised the city's planes on the ancient art of Shilpa Shastra and tempered it with the sublimity of the Mughal and Jain influences of those times.These palaces and forts of yesteryears, which were witness to royal processions and splendour, are now living monuments. Jaipur was, and remains, the only city in the world symbolising the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors the city is divided into. Jaipur is a royal city and this is its most noticeable aspect - even small buildings and the manner of celebrating festivals testify to it. Jaipur and its surroundings are quite like an endless museum. The city also offers an endless variety of crafts. Jewellers here still fashion the beautiful enamel-on-gold pendants, studded on the reverse with precious stones or pearls and turquoise, that one sees in miniature paintings. Jaipur's lacquer bangles are also famous all over the world.
Jaipur's signature building the Hawa Mahal, a multi layered palace, was
built by maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Famous for it's bee-hive like
structure, the mahal is an interplay of red and pink sand stone,
carefully and pain-stakingly outlined with white borders and motifs. The
palaces and forts of yesteryears which were witness to the royal
processions and splendors are now living monuments, accepted quite
naturally into the life-style of the people of the "pink city".
Beyond the hills of Jaigarh, stands the fort of Nahargarh like a
watchful sentinel guarding Sawai Jai Singh's beautiful capital. It
overlooks the city from a sheer ridge to the north, and is floodlit at
night. Much of the original structures are now in ruins, but the lovely
buildings added by Sawai Ram Singh II and Sawai Madho Singh II in the 19
th century are preserved in a good condition. Some of the rooms provide
the most spectacular view of the city below. 
In the heart of the old city, the City Palace occupies a large area
divided into a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings. The outer
wall was built by Jai Singh but other additions were made much later,
some right up to the start of this century. Today, the palace is a blend
of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, the former Maharaja still lives
in part of the palace.
