Streets of Jaipur

This part of the site is a tribute to the beautiful city of Jaipur and proposes to introduce the visitor to the city's fascinating inner areas. It is a city that never ceases to amaze. Consider this - today we have our planning departments equipped to take on the most complicated designing projects. We plan housing colonies and industrial areas, the best of technical know-how is available and our designers have access to the latest computers. And what have we created? Is there anything even half as impressive as the city of Jaipur? What did Sawai Jai Singh have in the early eighteenth century except a vision? Yet, he designed a city so perfect, so beautiful, the likes of which cannot be found the world over. Not a single aspect of designing has been overlooked here, from the uniformity of the shops to the length and breadth of the streets. Houses were placed strategically so that the hot summer sun was blocked out, yet they received adequate sunlight and air. Proper sewage lines were laid and the wells ensured that no house went without its share of water. One does wonder how Sawai Jai Singh could visualise, in the eighteenth century, the needs of the city. It was the genius of the ruler that not only did he design a perfect city but he also made provisions for its future expansion. What kind of instructions must he have given to his planner Vidyadhar Bhattacharya? How did he explain the different mohallas, the chaupars where the general public could relax, the temples that were placed just outside the lanes and the sections that were demarcated for different communities? And how did Vidyadhar Bhattacharya manage to follow the guidelines and execute them so perfectly? Not a lane, not a house, not a wall is out of proportion. Did those visionaries know that they were giving shape to a city that would become a marvel in town planning and that the most experienced of architects would visit the city to try and learn something from it?

The streets with their treasures of scalloped arches, dainty pillared cupolas make Jaipur, with its enclosing wall and seven gates, a tourist's delight. These walks have been planned in a way that they allow you to get a glimpse into the enchanting city and its charmingly chaotic life but they are by no means comprehensive. Every lane in the walled city has something interesting to offer and these walks take you into most of the city's important blocks or chowkris from Chowkri Topkhana Desh to Chokri Ramchandraji. Sadly though, most of the temples mentioned are being partly reused as schools, colleges and shops. Availability of public transport has been kept in mind and care has also been taken to keep to the main streets. Though it is perfectly safe to go into the by-lanes, it is advisable not to venture alone.

Do keep in mind the fact that there are still a lot of areas that these pictures do not cover and there are many more things to explore, to learn and to do in Jaipur.

Elephant Ride - Central Park - Jaipur Food - Jantar Mantar - Ram Niwas Garden - Jaipur Zoo