Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is popularly known as the Pink City, because of the rosy ochre hue of its old buildings and crenellated walls. The Kachhwaha Rajputs, originally from the region, associated the color pink with hospitality and are said to have painted the city with this color on the occasion of the visit of Prince Alfred of Great Britain in 1853. This tradition and the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere of Jaipur are still in force today.
Jaipur owes its name, foundation and careful planning to the great warrior and astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II (1699-1744), who took advantage of the weakening of Mughal power to leave his fortress in the mountains, near Amber, where space was lacking, and to descend to the lowlands in 1727. He built the city walls and its six rectangular blocks with the help of the Shilpa-Shastra, an ancient treatise on Hindu architecture.
Today, Jaipur is a city of wide avenues and remarkable architectural harmony, built in the desiccated bed of a lake and surrounded by desert hills. It is a colorful place, and in the evening light radiates a magical and warm glow. It has 1.5 million inhabitants, and has spread beyond its original fortified confines, but most of its attractions are concentrated in the walled pink city, northeast of the city. The walls retain all seven original doors, one of which leads to Johari Bazaar, the famous jeweler's market.