Jaipur City, Rajastan
Jaipur, the capital city of the state of Rajastan is the latest to be included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list. Jaipur is also known as the Pink City, due to the dominant colour scheme of its buildings. Jaipur was founded in 1727 by the Rajput ruler Jai Singh II the ruler of Amer, after whom the city is named.
Unlike other cities in the region located in hilly terrain, Jaipur was established on the plain and built according to a grid plan interpreted in the light of Vedic architecture. The streets feature continuous colonnaded businesses that intersect in the centre, creating large public squares called chaupars. Markets, stalls, residences and temples built along the main streets have uniform facades.
The city's urban planning shows an exchange of ideas from ancient Hindu and modern Mughal as well as Western cultures. The grid plan is a model that prevails in the West, while the organization of the different districts refers to traditional Hindu concepts. Designed to be a commercial capital, the city has maintained its local commercial, artisanal and cooperative traditions to this day.
