Jaipur, called the Pink city because most of its buildings are of sandstone, was chosen by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1693-1743) for his capital. It still is the vibrant capital of the desert state of Rajasthan and a major attraction for the first-time visitor.

Jaipur is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts and enclosed by embattled walls. The Old City, the actual Pink City, is a great place to wander around. Maharaja Man Singh II had the whole city painted pink when the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876. Today, every home within the old city is obliged by law to maintain this facade. Fabulous, tall houses with latticed windows line the narrow streets of the old city, their rose pink colour lending enchantment to a scene which is almost magical at sunset. The city, which is very well planned, is laid out in a grid pattern.

 It was designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a young Bengali engineer and scholar who formalised the city's planes on the ancient art of Shilpa Shastra and tempered it with the sublimity of the Mughal and Jain influences of those times.These palaces and forts of yesteryears, which were witness to royal processions and splendour, are now living monuments. Jaipur was, and remains, the only city in the world symbolising the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors the city is divided into. Jaipur is a royal city and this is its most noticeable aspect - even small buildings and the manner of celebrating festivals testify to it. Jaipur and its surroundings are quite like an endless museum. The city also offers an endless variety of crafts. Jewellers here still fashion the beautiful enamel-on-gold pendants, studded on the reverse with precious stones or pearls and turquoise, that one sees in miniature paintings. Jaipur's lacquer bangles are also famous all over the world.