India's First Planned City | JAIPUR 1727

Summary

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, was meticulously planned in 1727 by King Jai Singh II to serve as a new capital and economic hub. The city, designed with cultural heritage in mind, followed ancient architectural principles and was divided into a grid pattern with wide streets and residential quarters. It has grown into a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the 'Pink City' for its red-painted buildings, showcasing a well-organized urban expansion that offers lessons for modern city planning.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ Jaipur is a well-planned city designed to accommodate a growing population and support economic growth, with a rich cultural heritage that attracts millions of tourists annually.
• 🏰 Jaipur was founded by King Jai Singh II in 1727 as a new capital for his kingdom of Dunder, which later became part of the state of Rajasthan.
• 📚 The city's layout was carefully planned based on ancient principles of Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra, with a grid of streets and a central axis.
• 🛠 The planning included leveling the land, utilizing abundant local resources, and diverting water from the Jordawada River to the city for sustainability.
• 🏰 The city was fortified with high walls and had seven entrance gates, reflecting the social and political hierarchy of the time.
• 🛣️ Streets in Jaipur were designed with specific widths according to Shilpa Shastra, ensuring orderly urban development.
• 🕍 The central temple and other monuments like Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar were strategically placed along the city's central axis.
• 🏘️ Residential quarters were allocated among communities based on caste, subcast, or profession, with varying sizes of blocks to accommodate different social hierarchies.
• 🛒 Jaipur was intended to be an economic hub, with streets allocated for bazaars and shops to encourage trade and commerce.
• 🏛️ The city's preservation efforts have been significant, maintaining its aesthetic and cultural heritage, which led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
• 🚦 Despite being centuries old, Jaipur's city planning is an example of how wide roads can still accommodate modern traffic without congestion.

Q & A

What principles are considered when planning cities today?

Cities today are planned based on principles such as providing space for a growing population, allowing economic growth, and building proper infrastructure.

Why was Jaipur founded, and by whom?

Jaipur was founded by King Jai Singh II in 1727 to establish a new capital for his kingdom of Dhundar, as the existing capital, Amer, faced space constraints and water scarcity.

What ancient principles were used in the planning of Jaipur?

The planning of Jaipur was based on the ancient principles of Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra, which provide guidelines for architecture and city planning.

What was the layout of Jaipur, and how was it unique?

Jaipur was designed with a grid pattern divided into nine blocks known as 'chakras'. The plan was aligned 15 degrees clockwise, with an additional block added in the southeast direction due to the presence of hills in the northwest.

What was the significance of the central axis in Jaipur's design?

The central axis of Jaipur passed between the 'Suraj Pol' (Gate of the Sun) in the east and the 'Chand Pol' (Gate of the Moon) in the west, signifying the importance of cosmic orientation in the city's layout.

How were the streets of Jaipur designed according to Shilpa Shastra?

The streets were designed with fixed widths according to Shilpa Shastra principles: 111 feet for primary streets, 55 feet for secondary streets, and 27 feet for smaller lanes.

What role did Havelis play in the residential quarters of Jaipur?

Havelis were traditional courtyard houses that served as residential units in Jaipur. Their size varied according to social hierarchy, with larger Havelis reserved for ranking officials and important figures.

How did Jaipur's design accommodate economic growth?

Jaipur was planned as an economic hub with dedicated areas for traders and artisans. The king invited traders from various regions, provided tax incentives, and allocated uniformly sized shops along the cardinal roads to boost trade.

What measures were taken to preserve Jaipur's cultural and architectural heritage?

Various conservation efforts have been made to preserve Jaipur's tangible heritage, such as crafts and monuments, as well as intangible heritage, like traditions, art, and culture. Guidelines are in place for architectural and cultural preservation, and the city is regularly surveyed to maintain its heritage.

What impact did Jaipur's recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site have?

Jaipur's recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 elevated the city's preservation efforts to an international level, ensuring better coordination with local bodies and a more critical approach to maintaining its cultural and architectural significance.