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.