TRAVEL SCRAPBOOK
In the pink city
Jaipur is the perfect blend of heritage, palaces, culture and Indian flamboyance
- Published: 19/01/2017 at 04:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Life
Swirling across cracky hills like a ribbon is a two-lane road leading to Amber Fort, a palace built in Hindu and Rajput styles. Tourists line up to ride beautifully-adorned elephants to the top where the palace stands tall and graceful. This sight is common, yet colourful and tempting to all visitors. So are the must-sees in Jaipur like the City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Jai Mahal, Jaigarh Fort and Govind Devji Temple.
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan, one of India's 29 states. It was founded on Nov 18, 1727, by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who ruled Amer, the old capital, and Jaipur from 1699-1743.
Prior to Jaipur, Amer, about 10km away, was the capital, but was relocated due to an increase in population and a scarcity of water in the region. Jaipur is believed to be India's the first planned city designed by noted architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya using traditional principles.
Jaipur is nicknamed the "Pink City" because of the colour of the stone used for the construction of all the structures in and around it. Since pink also denotes the colour of hospitality, in 1876 the entire city was painted in pink to welcome the Prince of Wales. Since then, all government buildings and historical places are painted pink in order to keep the charm of the historic era.
Maharaj Devraj Singh of Jaipur, or Devraj Rangsit, a grandson of the last ruler of Jaipur, said: "Before 1947, Jaipur was like a country in its own right, with its own ruler and state machinery. In fact, Amer, the previous capital has also been an important place since the days of the Mughal empire. Amber Fort Complex is also one of the first large Indian castles that most people see when they visit North India's golden triangle [Delhi-Agra-Jaipur], and it is one of my favourite sites in Jaipur, being my ancestral castle.
"Jaipur is a gem for those interested in traditional Indian architecture. After visiting Amer, visitors could see how Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, took things to the next step by constructing Jaipur from scratch in the 1740s. Jaipur is not just an Indian medieval castle town, but it is a completely planned city built on a vision of prosperity and trade and a renewed Hindu renaissance."
According to Maharaj Devraj Singh, being part of North India's golden triangle, Jaipur has long been on the tourist map. It is a shame that a large number of people only stay or transit through the city for a day or two, he added. Visitors who stay longer are rewarded with the discovery of many pleasant sites and hidden gems of temples, havelis (mansions) and royal as well as aristocratic residences from yesteryear.
The role of rulers in the history of India stretches beyond the British and Mughal empires, as the state of Jaipur (kingdom of Dhundhar) existed for more than 1,000 years, until its merger with the Indian union in 1947 during the reign of Maharaj Devraj Singh's grandfather Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. Jaipur is also home to India's most famous queen in modern history, the late Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur.
Jaipur was and still is the centre of the gem trade in North India (with the exception of diamonds). Therefore, shopping for traditional jewellery and gold and silver crafts is recommended, Maharaj Devraj Singh said.
Jaipur celebrates national and local festivals all-year-round. Around Jan 14 each year, the people of Jaipur enjoy the Kite Festival, which is unique to Rajasthan. Colourful kites of all shapes and sizes take to the sky all across the city. At night, lanterns are lit and released into the sky.
Food delicacies include naan and chapati and various kinds of curry, as well as milk and cheese.
According to official statistics, about 8 million tourists visited India in 2015. Generally, about 80% of these tourists visit Jaipur because it is a connecting city to New Delhi, the capital of India. Visitors to the Taj Mahal, which is 230km away, also visit Jaipur.
"Like Thailand, tourism and hospitality plays a vital role to Jaipur's economy, the city being popular with both local tourists, as well as international travellers. You haven't really visited Rajasthan or northwest India, if you haven't visited Jaipur," Maharaj Devraj Singh concluded.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น