A color can have a
specific meaning for a particular culture, which will help us understand the
essence of Jaipur, the Pink City of India.
The capital of
Rajasthan is known in many ways: the “Paris of India”, the most colorful city
in Asia but, above all, as Jaipur, the Pink City of India, and an appellation that far from being abstract
can be seen in the color of its facades. It is also that pinkish tone that
acquires the Palace of the Winds that sighs in the heart of a city already in
itself colorful thanks to its bazaars and tattooed elephants. However, does
this pink fever obey a specific reason? Of course, unless there is more than
one version with respect to such origin.
The first refers to the
desire of the Maharaja Jai Singh, founder of the city in 1727, to emulate the
color of the buildings built with red sandstone during the Mughal Empire,
allies of it until its later banishment from the one considered the first
official city of the India thanks to a studied urban system and a reform that
sought to beautify each of its places.
The second version, and
more widespread, arises from 1876, the year in which Prince Albert of Wales and
Queen Elizabeth visited this city as part of their tour of the famous Golden
Triangle of India . They say that the color pink, which symbolized hospitality
for Jaipur leaders, was the benchmark that prompted Maharaja Ram Singh to order
his subjects to paint the facades of the most important buildings, especially
those near temples and forts, in pink to receive visitors.
The legend also tells
that in 1877, one year after such a long-awaited visit, one of Maharaja's
favorite women convinced him to keep the pink color of the walls and prohibit
painting any other building in a different color, a desire that was reflected
as one of the laws of the city.
The third version
states that in the state of Rajasthan there is a type of red sandstone, of a
unique terracotta pink hue, which was first used for the construction of the
Palace of the Winds (known as Hawa Mahal) in 1799.
Suggested
Tour: 2 Days - Jaipur Sightseeing Tour
With the passage of
time, some of the visitors who approach one of the most famous cities in India
perceive a rather orange color instead of the mentioned pink. However, our
perception of Jaipur, the Pink City of India, will continue to look the color
that once a Maharaja chose to impress a prince who arrived from the other side
of the world. A piece of history frozen forever in order to offer future
generations of visitors the possibility of immersing themselves in a city whose
energy comes from old intentions: to offer hospitality and make the traveler
feel in a timeless, magical city and, especially, only.
