Things to do in Jaipur

About Jaipur

Jaipur is India's first planned city, founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II using principles of Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra. Known as the Pink City, it features a highly distinctive grid-based urban layout and uniform terracotta-colored facades throughout its historic center. Visitors can explore architectural marvels like the intricate Hawa Mahal or climb to the expansive vantage point of Nahargarh Fort. The city serves as a living museum of Rajput history, housing expansive collections at the Albert Hall Museum and unique astronomical instruments at Jantar Mantar.

Good to know

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   The city's signature pink color was mandated by law in 1876 when the Maharaja ordered the city to be painted to welcome the Prince of Wales, a color that remains protected by local ordinances today.

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   Jaipur is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site designation that encompasses the entire walled city, recognizing its exceptional town planning.

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   The city was India's first modern planned city, designed with wide, rectangular blocks that were highly advanced for the 18th century.

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   The city is a global hub for gemstone cutting and polishing, particularly for emeralds and tanzanite, which have been processed here for centuries.

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   The city walls and gates were designed with a defensive focus, featuring heavy iron-studded gates that were closed at night to protect inhabitants from tigers and wild animals from the surrounding Aravalli hills.