JAIPUR, Rajasthan

Main Attraction: AMBER FORT

The Fort of Amber in Jaipur as it exists now is the creation of three of the kingdom's rulers that include Man Singh, Jaisingh-I and Jaisingh-II. The fort is approached from a steep ramp, which leads to the Jaleb Chowk, through the grand, Singh Pol (gateway). From this courtyard one is faced with two flights of steps, one to the Shila Mata complex where the image of the goddess is enshrined and the other to the main palace complex, which encloses the Diwan-I-Aam the hall of audience with its spectacular display of pillars, the Sukh Niwas, Jas Mandir apartments and the Charbagh Garden. The Sheesh Mahal (a hall of Mirrors) has shimmering mirrors encrusted on its walls.

The Kachahawahas ruled from Amber for seven centuries. With a history so old, many of its earlier structures have either disappeared or ruined, but those dating back from the 16th century are in good condition.

Brief History:

The history of Jaipur goes back to 1150 AD when Amber was wrested from Mina chief of Susawat clan by one of the successors of Dhula Rai of Dausa. He made it the capital of the region popularly known as 'Dhundhar', which remained as such for nearly six centuries. Later on Dhula Rai married the sister of Prithviraj Chouhan the last chivalrous Hindu king of Delhi. In fourteenth century the region presently called 'Shekhawati' also came into the possession of the Kachhwahas.

In the region of Bhar Mal (1548-1574 AD) Amber State gone to the Mughals and paid homage to them. One such act of loyalty was the giving in marriage of his daughter to Akbar (Humayun's son) in return for high honours and high appointment in the imperial court. Till the disruption of the Mughal Empire after the death of Aurangzeb, the Kachhwaha ruler of Amber (and later of Jaipur) Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1699-1743) enjoyed royal patronage and was bestowed with important posts of honour.

In 1960 AD, the citadel of Amber Fort in which Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh-II lived was, too small for his ambitions plans, so he conceived of a larger town to execute his plans, with a motive and scope to move southwards from Amber, and finding a suitable site to the south with enough potential to expand he asked his Brahmin Architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya to draw up a plan and select a spot where the city was to be built. The plan of the city would be as per the rules laid down in the Shilpa Shastra. The city was subsequently founded on 18th November 1727 and was to bear the name of Jaipur after its founder. To beautify the city, palaces, mansions, havelis, bazars, temples, gardens, bastions and gates were made. The famous observatory was also built. In 1743 after his death the successive Maharaja further executed the plan of expansion and built the Isarlat (Sargasuli) and Hawa Mahal. In 1895 the city was painted pink, after which the city took its name of the ‘Pink City’.

When the Mughal empire began to crumble under the weight of the Maratha onslaught the rulers of Jaipur began to feel insecure. Many battles were fought after the death of Peshwa Baji Rao-I in 1740 AD in league with feudal princes with conflicting interest. Ultimately this insecurity was brought to rest after the arrival of the British into India in 1818 AD by which the princely states especially that of Jaipur was given preferential protection.

As per the signed accords and covenants, the Britishers appointed political ‘agents’ and 'Residents' in big princely states and established order and peace in the region of Rajputana. They tried to reform and modernize the administration on the lines found useful in the adjoining British provinces. English education and social reforms were started. At this juncture attempt was made for independence by launching the first war of Independence in 1857 AD which, however, was stillborn, which led to the takeover of the governance of India by the British parliament and the Queens proclamation which guaranteed a new era of rapid progress, Universities came into being, a wide network of railways and telegraph lines were laid. A group of social reformers came forth which brought about a political awakening and the birth of the Indian National Congress in 1885 AD.

The Maharaja of Jaipur continued to enjoy State patronage as they had followed the advice of the British. All the rulers in the States right from Maharaja Ram Singh (1851-1880), Maharaja Madho Singh-II (1880-1922) upto Maharaja Man Singh-II (1922-1947) had echoed the voices of the British rulers and enjoyed peace and prosperity in the region because of their allegiance. After the formation of the State of Rajasthan, Sawai Mansingh-II became the Rajpramukh.

When the former Jaipur State was merged into the State of Rajasthan it was split up for administrative purposes into four districts i.e. Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar and Jhunjhunun. Jaipur district included Kishangarh State which was also made the sub division of the district. But subsequently after the reorganization of states it went on to form a part of Ajmer district. Jaipur district remained intact until it was divided for the formation of Dausa District where four tehsils i.e. Dausa, Baswa, Lalsot and Sikrai were taken on 31.3.1991 for the formation of the new district.