Jaipur, the Pink City
Jaipur's origins can be traced back to the 12th
century, when it was a stronghold of the Mina tribe. It came to prominence when
the Mughul emperor Akbar married one of its princesses, thus establishing the
city as a center of power and influence. It is called the "Pink City" as it was
painted all in pink to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876. No
one is quite sure why they settled on the color pink, but since that day, all
buildings in Jaipur must be painted that color. One of the favorite sites of
Jaipur is shown above, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds. It is not a palace at
all, but merely a facade, much like a Hollywood set. It was built in 1799 for
the ladies of the royal household to enjoy the breeze and to look out on Jaipur
without disobeying the laws of purdah. The basic design was taken from a Jain
temple and repeated over five stories. Some of the major sites of Jaipur are
listed below. You may also access them via the drop-down menu below the images of the Hawa Mahal.
