Jaipur
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| ?Jaipur Rajasthan • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
200.4 km² (77 sq mi) • 431 m (1,414 ft) |
| District(s) | Jaipur District |
| Population • Density |
3,324,319 (2005) • 16,588 /km² (42,963 /sq mi) |
| Mayor | Ashok Parnami |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • UN/LOCODE • Vehicle |
• 3020 xx • +0141 • INJAI • RJ-14 |
Jaipur pronunciation (Hindi: जयपुर), also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state, India. Historically rendered as Jeypore, Jaipur is the former capital of the princely state of Jaipur. Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 5 million residents.
Built of pink stucco in imitation of sandstone, the city is remarkable among pre-modern Indian cities for the width and regularity of its streets which are laid out into six sectors separated by broad streets 111 ft (34 m) wide. The urban quarters are further divided by networks of gridded streets. Five quarters wrap around the east, south, and west sides of a central palace quarter, with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace quarter encloses a sprawling palace complex (the Hawa Mahal, or palace of winds), formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city. Another noteworthy building is Sawai Jai Singh's observatory, Jantar Mantar.
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[edit] History
- For the history of all the region, see Dhundhar
The city was established in 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II as a new capital of Kachwaha dynasty (Dhundhar region). Then the capital was shifted from the historical capital Amber, India.
In the 19th century the city grew rapidly and became prosperous; by 1900 it had a population of 160,000. The city's wide boulevards were paved and lit with gas. The city had several hospitals. Its chief industries were in metals and marble, fostered by a school of art founded in 1868. The city also had three colleges, including a Sanskrit college (1865) and a girls' school (1867) initiated under the reign of the enigmatic Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. There was also a wealthy and enterprising community of native bankers, particularly the Jains and the Marwaris.
On May 13, 2008 bomb blasts occurred in seven places of the city causing more than 100 deaths.[1]
[edit] Architecture
Jaipur is considered by many urbanists to be one of the best planned cities. It has been claimed to be the first planned city in India.It was at that time one of the best planned cities in Asia. Jaipur(Amber)'s Kings are not considered to be good rajputs but were certainly good rulers. In an era when most of the rajputs were busy fighting with each other, Jaipur's kings diplomatically broadened their control sphere maintaining good relations with Mughals. But certainly they lacked the well known rajput pride.The city was planned according to Indian Vastu Shastra (Vedic or Pouranic Planning for the comfort and prosperity of the citizens). The directions of each street and Bazzar are east to West and North to South. The Eastern gate is called Suraj (Sun) Pol, while the Western gate is called Chand (Moon) Pol. There are only three gates facing in these directions, including the Northern gate which faces toward the ancestral capital of Amber, while many gates face South. Although the present city has expanded from outside of its walls, the original planning was within the walls. The gates used to be closed at sunset and opened at sunrise. Almost all Northern Indian towns of that period presented a chaotic picture of narrow twisting lanes, a confusion of run-down forts/temples/palaces and temporary shacks that bore no resemblance at all to the principles set out in Hindu architectural manuals which call for strict geometric planning. Thus, for Sawai Jai Singh II and the Bengali Guru Vidyadhar (who was a 'Shaspati' - Hindu Priest Architect), the founding of Jaipur was also a ritual and a bronze opportunity to plan a whole town according to the principles of Hindu architectural theory. The town of Jaipur is, in fact, built in the form of a eight-part Mandala known as the 'Pithapada'. Nine signifies the nine planets of the ancient astrological zodiac. It is also known that Sawai Jai Singh II was a great astronomer and a town planner, and hence the 'Pithapada'. Also, the commercial shops are designed in multiples of nine (27), having one cross street for a planet.
[edit] Geography
Jaipur is located at .[2] It has an average elevation of 432 metres (1417 ft).
The district is situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan. It is bound in the north by Sikar and Alwar, in South by Tonk, Ajmer and Sawai Madhopur. Nagaur, Sikar and Ajmer in the west and in east by Bharatpur and Dausa districts.
The major rivers passing through the Jaipur district are Banas and Banganga. Ground water resources to the extent of about 28.65 million cubic meter are available in the district. Although serious drought is rare, poor water management and exploitation of groundwater with extensive tube-well systems threatens agriculture in some areas.
Jaipur has a semi-arid climate in spite of receiving more than 50 cm rainfall annually, as the rainfall is concentrated in the monsoon months between June and September. This is due to its proximity to the Thar desert.
[edit] Politics
Jaipur has always been the stronghold of the opposition Bharatiya Janta Party. The Indian National Congress has till date won only two out of 14 parliament elections. Maharani Gayatri Devi has been an MP from Jaipur thrice, with the highest margin recorded by the Gusiness Book of World Record. Rajasthan's legendary leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has been an MLA from Jaipur thrice. BJP's Girdhari Lal Bhargav has been MP for 6 terms continuously, yet another record. Jaipur has produced the highest number of ministers in history, namely Satish Chandra Aggrawal, Bhanwar Lal Sharma, Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, Ujala Arora, L. Vidhya Pathak etc.
[edit] Infrastructure
Modern infrastructural facilities are currently fast developing, and in many cases surpass those of larger cities like Delhi and Calcutta[citation needed]. The city is expanding very quickly and has become a hot spot for development in Rajasthan. Jaipur has an airport, but is currently not equipped to handle heavy traffic, including traffic from international locations (although flights to some international destinations are available).
Today Jaipur boasts of one of the best IT infrastructure, which is required for setting up BPO operations[citation needed]. In the past couple of years companies like Genpact, Infosys, IBM, Wipro, and others have been acquiring land and setting up operations. Jaipur district receives hydroelectric power from the Chambal Hydel system. 98% of the total of 2,131 villages in the district receive electricity as of March 2000.
[edit] Transport
Jaipur city is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is centrally located. The National Highway No.8 links Delhi to Mumbai and No.11, linking Bikaner to Agra passes through Jaipur district to a total length of 366 km. The total length of different types of roads in the district was about 4,102 km as of March 2000.
Jaipur is very well connected by rail with all major cities and towns in India. Jaipur is connected on the broad-gauge and meter gauge network of the Indian Railways. Jaipur has direct trains on the broad gauge network to cities like Agra, Delhi, Gwalior, Mumbai, Howrah, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mysore, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kanpur etc. across the country and to cities like Ajmer, Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur within Rajasthan.
Jaipur is connected with metre gauge rail route with Sri Ganganagar, Churu,Sikar
Jaipur is also connected with major centres of neighbouring states such as Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Delhi through the broad gauge network.
Jaipur's Jaipur Airport (IATA: JAI, ICAO: VIJP) is situated in its satellite town of Sanganer and offers sporadic service to Muscat, Sarjah, Bangkok and Dubai. Jaipur also has well connected domestic air links with Jodhpur, Udaipur, Aurangabad, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Goa, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bangalore, Mumbai, Surat and Raipur, Lucknow, Gorakhpur .
Call Taxi or Call Cabs or famously known as Radio Taxi is a fare mean of transport in the city. It runs as per the fare meter. The fare of the taxi is governed by the State Government. It is known to be the safest transport in the City. Pink City Radio Taxi is the name of the service and to call them you can have to dial 511 5100 or 220 5000.
[edit] Places to see
- Amber Palace The Amber Palace complex overlooking the artificial lake south of the town of Amber is one of the most popular tourist sites in the city, famous for its mixture of Hindu and Muslim architecture, and offering elephant rides from the town up to the palace courtyard. Although the structure is today known as Amber Fort, the complex was initially a Palace Complex within the Fort of Amber which is today known as Jaigarh fort.
- Jaigarh Fort The Jaigarh Fort on the hills above the Amber Palace complex offers stunning views of the foothills of the Aravalli range, as well as attractions such as immense underground water-storage tanks, a medieval canon foundry and an impressive collection of medieval cannons including the Jaivana which is reputed to be the world's largest cannon on wheels. Historically this was the original Amber Fort, although it became known as Jaigarh from the time of Sawai Jai Singh II onwards.
- Jal Mahal is located on the way to Sisodia garden. The rajput style "Water Palace" sits in the center of the Man Sarobar lake. The lake is often dry in the summer but winter monsoons frequently turn it into a beautiful lake filled with water hyacinths.[3]
- Jantar Mantar
- Hawa Mahal
- Galtaji
- Govind Dev Ji temple
- City Palace Museum
- Moti Dungari (Ganesh Temple)
- Kanak Ghati
- Albert Museum
- Jawahar Circle
- Central Park
- Birla Temple
- Chokhi Dhani
- Sisodia Garden
[edit] Economy
No. of large and medium scale running units: 48 No. of small scale units: 19,544 No. of industrial areas: 19
Bagru, Bassi, Bais Godam, Bindyaka, Dudu, Hirawala, Jetpura, Jhotwara, Kaladera, Kanakpura, Kartarpura, Malviya Nagar, Phulera, Renwal, Sanganeer, Shahpura, Sitapura, Sudarshanpur and Vishwakarma.
Jaipur district is a centre for both the modern and traditional industries. The main industrial products include: acetylene gas, ACSR (Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced) cable, all-purpose flour (maida), atta flour, ball bearings, bottling of LPG, ceramics, pottery, cold roll strips, corrugated boxes, deoiled cakes, durries, dyeing and printing, edible oil, electronic items, engraving on brass items, ferrous and non-ferrous castings, gems and jewelry, general engineering and manufacturing, granite slabs and tiles, hand-made paper, handicraft items, halogen automobile headlamps, "hawai" chappals (sandals), household electrical appliances, HT steel strips, iodized salt, lamps, laminated springs for railways, marble statues, marble tiles & slabs, moulded plastic components for electronics, nitrochlorobenzene, oxygen gas, perfumes, pigment colours, plastic containers, P.P. multifilament yarn, PVC cables, PVC doors, PVC footwear, canvas shoes, Portland cement, readymade garments (clothing), re-roller products, semolina (suji), steel furniture, steel ingots, stone grits, synthetic leather, suits & shirts made of synthetic materials, tablets and capsules, two way radio and line, washing soap, wheat, woolen carpet, refined vegetable oil and vanaspati ghee heavy Steel fabrication .
Brass and lacquer work, enamel work, gems and jewellery, granite tiles, handloom, marble statues, printed cloth and textiles, readymade garments, woolen and silk carpets.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[4] Jaipur had a population of 2,324,319. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. In Jaipur, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Sports
Jaipur has been famous for sports like squash, polo and of-late it has acquired a special place on the world cricket map as well. Jaipur is home to the Rajasthan Royals cricket team of the Indian Premier League. The team will be captained and coached by Australian cricket legend Shane Warne and features a cast of talented Indian and foreign-born players including Mohammed Kaif, Yusuf Pathan, Graeme Smith, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Younis Khan.They have played magnificently and have won the first season of the IPL.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.ibnlive.com/news/7-blasts-in-jaipur-60-dead-150-injured/65207-3.html
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Jaipur
- ^ Bradnok, Robert, Footprint India Handbook, p. 325. Bath, England: Footprint Handbooks. (2002) ISBN 1-903471-38-9.
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
[edit] Further reading
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
- R.S. Khangarot, P.S. Nathawat Jaigarh- The Invincible Fort of Amber, RBSA Publishers, Jaipur (1990)
- Andreas Volwahsen, Cosmic Architecture in India: The Astronomical Monuments of Maharaja Jai Singh II, Prestel Mapin, Munich (2001)
- J Sarkar, A History of Jaipur, Orient Longman Limited, New Delhi (1984)
[edit] External links
- Jaipur District Administration site
- Rajasthan Maps
- Jaipur travel guide from Wikitravel
- Current time and weather in Jaipur
- pinkcity.info
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