Jaipur (pop. 3,046,163) is a city in northwest India, lying about 160 miles (259 kilometers) southwest of New Delhi. Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan.
Jaipur’s remarkable buildings include a palace, an open-air astronomical observatory, and the elegant five-story building known as Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), with its 593 windows and peepholes through which women of the maharajah’s harem were able to peer out at the world unobserved. There is also a fort, a library, a museum, and two palaces. The University of Rajasthan, founded in 1947, is also in Jaipur.
Jaipur is a walled city, surrounded on three sides by hills. It is laid out on a bold straight-line grid pattern. The buildings are covered in a distinctive rose-colored wash given to them in the 1800’s. Broad, treelined avenues give the city an orderly, open atmosphere.
Many transportation routes converge on Jaipur, and the city is also a major trade center. Local industries include engineering and metalworking; the weaving of carpets, blankets, and hosiery; and the manufacture of glass, shoes, and drugs. Its traditional craftworkers are known for the carving of stone, marble, and ivory, and the production of jewelry and enamel.
