THE BRIGHT PINK HUES OF JAIPUR

Dhriti Chopra

THE BRIGHT PINK HUES OF JAIPUR

Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India. But what is the reason for it being pink and how did the city of Jaipur come into being? Let us dive into the history of the magnificent capital of Rajasthan which hosts numerous palaces and a majority of Rajasthani culture.

Maharaja Jai Singh. Image: Wikipedia

It all started in the year 1727 when the capital of Amber became too congested to hold the growing population of the said princely state. There were acute water issues along with limited housing facilities. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh wanted to find a solution to this problem by relocating the capital to a bigger area. His search and the wish to do well for his citizens led him to a walled town surrounded by hills, providing good defence and a much better region for his rule. Hence, came the city of Jaipur in all its glory.

Maharaja Jai Singh read numerous architecture books and consulted various architects for the planning of Jaipur. Under the design by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya and the ide by the Maharaja, one of the earliest planned cities of modern India saw the light of the day. The whole city of Jaipur is planned according to the astrological necessities, especially the Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra (the two traditional Indian systems of Architecture).

It took four years for the city to come to its magnificence and was divided into nine blocks. Two were associated with the buildings and palaces of the King while the rest were made for the accommodation of the public. It also encompassed the Amber Fort, former capital under Jai Singh and the name of this new capital was also after the one responsible for its creation.

The terracotta pink of Jaipur is made from a special calcium oxide compound that is durable and stays for long under the arid climate of Jaipur. However, another interesting fact that led to the continuation of the colour pink for this city was the adoration of Sawai Ram Singh’s wife for the city. She loved how her city was under a blanket of pleasing pink and wanted it to remain the same. The queen convinced the Maharaja to pass a law stating every building’s colour should be a uniform tone of pink and doing otherwise would be considered illegal.

To date, the tradition and law of keeping the city pink continues. People come from all over the world to see the pink of this city and adore it while they can.

Today, it is revered as the Paris of India and one of the major tourist spots where recreational activities, visiting numerous forts and palaces have become the attraction. Jaipur is the town not only of architectural marvel but also known for its authentic cuisine, dance forms that leave everyone in awe and the magnificence of jewels and silver that attracts people from far off places.

Yet, the one thing that everyone notices instantly is the dominant hues of pink throughout the city landscape. Some repainted, while some are still as old as the first coat, the mosaic pink of Jaipur dominates the scenery. Why is the pink of Jaipur world famous?

Well, it is believed that during the rule of Sawai Ram Singh I, Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales planned his visit to the Indian subcontinent in 1876. It was decided to welcome the prince with the portrayal of Indian architectural grandeur and the pride of the land. Pink is a colour that denotes hospitality and the welcoming of someone new. Hence, it was decided to colour the city of Jaipur in the tones of Pink for the honour of the Prince of Wales.