The Planning of Jaipur in 6 Minutes

Summary

The script delves into the meticulous planning of Jaipur, India's first planned city, known as the Pink City. Built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II, it was designed with Hindu architectural principles and a grid layout, dividing the city into nine wards. The city's strategic location, promotion of commerce, and integration of diverse craftsmen contributed to its growth. The script also touches on the city's transformation over time and invites discussion on preserving historical sites.

Takeaways

• 🏛 Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan and was the first planned city in India, designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya in the 18th century using Hindu planning traditions.
• 🏰 The city was conceived to replace the congested capital of Amer and for strategic defense considerations, ensuring distance from Delhi and preventing expansion in the south.
• 📚 Jaipur's layout follows the principles of Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Indian treatise on architecture, with a grid pattern of streets and a central axis from east to west.
• 🔢 The city's initial plan consisted of nine almost equally sized blocks, with two dedicated to state buildings and palaces, and the rest for public use.
• 🛡 Jaipur was fortified with a 25-foot high and 9-foot thick masonry wall with eight gates, reflecting the Hindu caste system's segregation of communities.
• 🛣 The city's streets were meticulously planned with specific widths for main streets, secondary streets, and smaller lanes, all intersecting at right angles.
• 🏙 The city's planning was revolutionary for its time, promoting commercial activities and attracting merchants with incentives, making Jaipur a vibrant trade and commerce center.
• 🏘️ Craftsmen and merchants settled in mahalias or occupational groups, with lanes named after the inhabitants' trades, preserving the city's occupational identity.
• 🎨 The name 'Pink City' originated from the city being painted pink to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876 during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh.
• 🗼 Jaipur features monumental structures like Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory with the world's largest sundial, and the city palace complex, which are important public buildings.
• 🚗 Despite the city's well-preserved planning, modern challenges like growing traffic have impacted the original character of the streets, raising questions about preserving historical sites.

Q & A

What is the significance of the name 'Jaipur' or 'The Pink City'?

Jaipur, also known as 'The Pink City,' was the first planned city of India and was named after its founder, Maharaja Jai Singh II. The name 'Pink City' originated from the city being painted pink to celebrate the visit of Prince of Wales in 1876 during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh.

Why was Jaipur planned and what were the considerations in its conception?

Jaipur was planned to address the congestion in the then capital of Duda, Amer, and to establish a new capital. The site chosen was at the south of Amer, ensuring greater distance from Delhi and preventing the city's expansion in that direction. Defense was also an important consideration in the city's planning.

Who were the key figures involved in the planning of Jaipur?

Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, a Bengali architect, and Maharaja Jai Singh II were the key figures in the planning of Jaipur. They incorporated Hindu planning traditions and principles from the Shilpa Shastra in the city's design.

What is the significance of the grid layout in Jaipur's town planning?

The grid layout of Jaipur is significant as it was revolutionary for its time, dividing the city into nine or more almost equally sized squares, which were further subdivided by lanes and alleys at right angles. This layout is based on Hindu systems of town planning.

How did the city's division into wards relate to the Hindu caste system?

The division of Jaipur into nine wards was in conformity with the Hindu caste system, which necessitated the segregation of people belonging to different communities and ranks. This division helped in organizing the city according to the social structure of the time.

What were the main streets and lanes' widths as per the city's planning?

According to the Hindu Shilpa Shastri, the main streets of Jaipur were 111 feet wide, secondary streets were 55 feet wide, and smaller lanes were 27 feet wide.

What role did the temple of Govinda Deva play in the city's planning?

The temple of Govinda Deva defined the center of Jaipur and led to the genesis of the city plan. It continues to be the most active temple even today.

How did the planning of Jaipur promote commercial activities?

The planning included the promotion of commercial activities by inviting merchants in 1729, offering them special incentives, and prime locations to settle in the city. This made Jaipur an important and vibrant center for trade and commerce.

What is the significance of the term 'mahalia' in the context of Jaipur's craftsmen?

Mahalia refers to groups of mullahs, or neighborhoods, occupied by families pursuing similar trades or crafts. This organization helped in housing a large number of artisans, craftsmen, and merchants from distinct parts of India.

What are some of the monumental structures in the city center of Jaipur?

Some of the monumental structures in Jaipur include Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory with the largest sundial in the world, the city palace complex, and Hawa Mahal, an old with on saba building.

How has the growth and urbanization affected the character of Jaipur's streets as originally planned?

The growth and urbanization have led to an increase in vehicular traffic, which has taken away some of the character of the streets as initially planned. However, the old city of Jaipur still functions as an integral part of the city without much change.

Outlines

00:00

🏛 The Birth and Planning of Jaipur: The Pink City

The script discusses the planning and establishment of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, India, also known as the Pink City. It was the first planned city in India, designed by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the 18th century, incorporating Hindu planning traditions. Jaipur was envisioned to replace the congested capital of Amer and was strategically located south of Delhi. The city's grid pattern was revolutionary for its time, with a central axis and nine squares, influenced by the Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Indian architectural treatise. The city was divided into wards, with streets and lanes of varying widths, and was fortified with a wall and gates. The planning also considered the Hindu caste system and commercial activities, attracting merchants and artisans, leading to a vibrant trade center.

05:00

🎨 The Cultural Heritage and Evolution of Jaipur

This paragraph delves into the cultural heritage of Jaipur, highlighting its transformation when it was painted pink to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876, hence earning the nickname 'Pink City'. It mentions significant structures like Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory with the world's largest sundial, and other public buildings that contribute to the city's historical significance. The script reflects on the balance between preserving historical sites as they were originally intended and adapting them to modern needs without losing their artistic and cultural integrity. It invites viewers to share their thoughts on this matter and encourages participation in an architectural competition related to the presenter's thesis project.

Keywords

💡Jaipur

Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is the capital of the state of Rajasthan in India. The city was meticulously planned and built in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II, making it the first planned city in India. The script discusses the city's strategic location, grid layout, and architectural significance, highlighting its historical and cultural importance.

💡Hindu Planning Traditions

Hindu Planning Traditions refer to the ancient Indian architectural principles found in the Shilpa Shastra, which guided the layout and design of Jaipur. The script mentions that Jaipur's planning adheres to these traditions, emphasizing the city's grid pattern and the centrality of the Govind Dev Ji temple, which is a reflection of the Hindu philosophy of town planning.

💡Grid Layout

The grid layout is a fundamental aspect of Jaipur's urban planning, dividing the city into a series of squares and blocks with main streets running east to west and north to south. The script describes this layout as revolutionary for its time, creating a well-organized and easily navigable city structure.

💡Shilpa Shastra

Shilpa Shastra is an ancient Indian treatise on architecture that prescribes principles for town planning, including the design of streets, public spaces, and buildings. The script notes that Jaipur's planning followed these principles, which contributed to the city's unique and functional layout.

💡Maharaja Jai Singh II

Maharaja Jai Singh II was the ruler of the Duda province and the founder of Jaipur. The script credits him with the vision and execution of the city's planning, emphasizing his role in creating a city that was both strategically located and aesthetically designed according to Hindu architectural principles.

💡Caste System

The Hindu caste system was a social structure that influenced the division of Jaipur into nine wards, each potentially housing people of different communities and ranks. The script mentions this system in the context of the city's planning, indicating how it necessitated the segregation of people and influenced the city's layout.

💡Govind Dev Ji Temple

The Govind Dev Ji Temple is a central temple in Jaipur, defining the city's spiritual and architectural center. The script highlights its importance in the genesis of the city plan and its continued role as an active temple, reflecting the central Indian philosophy in the city's design.

💡Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar is a monumental structure in Jaipur, an astronomical observatory that houses the largest sundial in the world. The script identifies it as one of the important public buildings in the city center, showcasing the scientific and architectural achievements of the time.

💡Pink City

The name 'Pink City' originated from the city being painted pink to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876. The script explains this popular belief and how it has become synonymous with Jaipur's identity, adding a layer of historical and cultural significance to the city's name.

💡Trade and Commerce

The promotion of trade and commerce was a significant part of Jaipur's planning, as the script describes the city's efforts to attract merchants by offering incentives and prime locations. This strategy contributed to Jaipur becoming a vibrant center for trade, attracting artisans, craftsmen, and merchants from various parts of India.

💡Mahalash

Mahalash, or neighborhoods, were areas in Jaipur where craftsmen and merchants settled, often grouped by their trade or craft. The script mentions these mahalash as an integral part of the city's social and economic structure, with lanes named after the occupations of their inhabitants, reflecting the city's diverse and organized community life.

Highlights

Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan and was built in the 18th century using Hindu planning traditions.

Jaipur was the first planned city of India, conceived by Maharaja Jai Singh II.

The city was established to address the congestion of the previous capital, Amer.

Strategic considerations for Jaipur's location included distance from Delhi and preventing city expansion southward.

Jaipur's planning was overseen by the Bengali architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, alongside Maharaja Jai Singh II.

The city's grid layout is revolutionary for its time, with a main street and secondary streets of specific widths.

Jaipur's planning follows the principles of Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Indian treatise on architecture.

The city was divided into nine wards, conforming to the Hindu caste system.

Jaipur's central axis is between the gates of the Sun and the Moon, dividing the town into almost equal squares.

The city's growth was supported by the promotion of commercial activities and incentives for merchants.

Artisans and craftsmen from various parts of India settled in Jaipur, contributing to its vibrant trade and commerce.

The city was painted pink in 1876 to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales, earning its nickname 'Pink City'.

Jaipur's streets were initially planned with specific functions, such as housing for artisans and craftsmen.

The city's monumental structures, like Jantar Mantar, are important public buildings that contribute to its cultural heritage.

Despite modern challenges, Jaipur's original planning still functions as an integral part of the city.

The video transcript invites viewers to discuss the preservation of historical sites and their practical use versus their integrity.

The creator of the video is seeking support for an architectural competition through viewer engagement.

Transcripts

the planning of jibber-jabber also known

as the pink city is the capital of the

state of rajasthan chapel was built by

some addressing in 18th century using

Hindu Planning traditions of austell he

created the first planned city of India

now let's look at how j / was conceived

what is rajasthan today was previously a

collection of divided provinces

one such province was driven do nur was

the Empire of Rajput kings and at that

time their capital was the city of amber

or as it is now called

Amer now amber was hill town and soon it

started to get congested thus survived

chasing the then ruler of Duda

established the city of Jaipur defence

was also an important consideration

while conceiving the new city a site at

the south of our male ensured greater

distance from Delhi and also prevented

the expansion of the city in that

direction hence the site at the base of

the Ovilus was chosen rasa why Jessie

researched a lot before planning the

town temple he also pointed with the

other Bhattacharya a Bengali architect

to overlook the planning of the city of

Jaipur now unlike other Rajasthani towns

of that time Jaipur City was

revolutionary both in terms of its grid

iron part of planning and its location

at the base of the hills the Jaipur is

based on Hindu systems of town planning

and followed the principles prescribed

in the Shilpa Shastra an ancient Indian

treaties on architecture let's look at

the planning of the town but before I

start let me tell you that Jaipur has

grown much bigger than then it was

established I have an only focus on the

initial establishment that was done

under survived chasing the plan of

Jaipur is a trade of three by three the

grid lines being the city's main streets

the central axis of the town was laid

from east to west between the gates of

the Sun and the

also known as the Suraj phone and the

chant pole this was crossed at two roads

at right-angles dividing the town into

nine or more squares almost equally

sized blocks which were further

subdivided by lanes alleys all at right

angles the mandala could not be complete

in the northwest due to the presence of

the hills on the other hand in the

southeast an extra square had been added

that plugged the gap between the city

and the eastern hills the town around it

had a masonry wall 25 feet high and nine

feet thick with eight gates the city's

division into nine Ward's was also in

conformity with the Hindu caste system

which necessitated the segregation of

people belonging to different

communities and ranks following the

direction of the Hindu Shilpa Shastri

width of the Main Street and other lanes

were fixed thus the main street of the

city 111 feet wide secondary streets 55

feet wide and smaller ones 27 feet wide

the city was divided into nine blocks of

which two consists the state buildings

and palaces with the remaining seven

allotted to the public the planning of

Jaipur is rooted in the central Indian

philosophy with the temple of Govinda

defining the center that led to the

genesis of the city plan the Govinda

temple continues to be the most active

temple even today the two middle squares

were originally public water times that

were closed in the 19th century when

five water supply came into the city

these two locations called the buddy

chopper and the chota chopper serve as

public squares with fountains today the

most important part of ceviche since

planning included the promotion of

commercial activities of the city

as a result merchants were invited in

1729 to dispatch letters and given

special incentives and prime locations

to settle in the city they were given

free line and given remissions and

concessions on taxes located on the

important trade route jaipur thus became

an important and vibrant center for

trade and commerce that fuel its growth

further housing large number of artisans

craftsmen and merchants from distinct

parts of india these craftsmen settled

in mahalia's or groups of mullahs

occupied by families pursuing similar

trade or craft even the lanes were named

after the occupations of inhabitants as

many haruka rasta Tottenham karosta and

many others so how did the name ping

city come into being

well according to popular belief the

city was painted pink to celebrate the

visit of Prince of Wales in 1876 during

the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh -

lending the city the name of pink city

let's look at some other details in the

planning of jaipur monumental structures

such as the Jantar Mantar the harem an

old with on saba building and parts of

the city palace complex are important

public buildings in the city centre

today gentlemen

which is an astronomical observatory

houses the largest sundial in the world

the old city of Jaipur was wonderfully

planned in the 18th century and it still

functions as an integral part of

Chappell without much changes vehicular

traffic also means within the city but

unfortunately growing organization has

taken away the character of the streets

that was initially planned

what do you think of this should

historical sites we preserve to just be

a museum of the past or should they be

allowed to serve the function they were

meant for but destroy their art and

integrity in the process comment below

and let's discuss also do comment below

if you have a topic that you want me to

hope you like this video don't forget to

give it a thumbs up happy exploring it's

an architectural competition and it has

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