Jaipur - The Pink City

Jaipur – The Pink City is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan in Northern India. The pinkness comes from the stone exclusively used for the construction of all the structures. The pink color has its own history. In 1876, the Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II visited India on a tour. Since pink denotes the color of hospitality, Maharaja Ram Singh of Jaipur painted the whole city pink in color to welcome the guests. The tradition has been sincerely followed by the residents who are now, by law, compelled to maintain the pink color.

One of the main sights in Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by Lal Chand Ustad, it takes the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. Its unique five-storey façade resembles a honeycomb, with 953 small windows—called jharokhas—decorated in intricate latticework. If you stand in front of this structure, locals will almost certainly approach you and challenge you to guess the number of windows. I was wrong on my first guess, of course, but after that, I looked like a genius when asked again.

The original purpose of the latticework was to allow royal ladies to observe life in the streets below without being seen, as they were required to observe strict purdah (face cover). Today, the Hawa Mahal is essentially a façade, though for a small fee you can climb inside and look out over the bustling streets below.

Elephants abound in Jaipur and its outskirts, especially at the Amer Fort, where they are used to transport tourists up to the main entrance. Amer Fort itself is an impressive structure. Though many of its rooms now stand empty, the labyrinth of halls and passages is fascinating. I must have taken 200 images here—though of course I later edited them down.

Built by Raja Man Singh I, Amer Fort is celebrated for its artistic blend of Hindu design elements. Its massive ramparts, imposing gates, and cobbled pathways overlook Maota Lake. When we visited, the fog lent the fort a mysterious, almost ethereal atmosphere. Constructed of red sandstone and marble, the fort even features a cooling system: on hot days, breezes blow over cascading water within the palace to create a cooler climate.

If I return, I would love to see Amer Fort at night, illuminated in all its grandeur.

Another Jaipur highlight is the Raj Mandir Cinema, a historic theatre that opened in 1976 and has since become a cultural icon, often called the “Pride of Asia.” Its magnificent foyer, with sweeping vaulted ceilings lit in vivid emerald hues, is breathtaking. The theatre itself is grand, and the atmosphere is electric. And yes—the movie I saw there was pretty good too.