Jaipur, popularly known as the "Pink City", and "Paris of India", is the capital of Rajasthan state, India.  The city was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, a Kachawaha Rajput, who ruled from 1699-1744. Initially his capital was Amber (now pronounced as Amer), lies at a distance of 11 km from Jaipur.  Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II felt the need of shifting his capital city because of safety reasons as it was likely to be attacked by a Mughal King Bahadur Shah after the death of Aurangzeb, as well as ever-increasing population and growing scarcity of water also pushed him to set up a well planned city.

Being a great soldier, builder, mathematician, astronomer, and a poet, he had a vision to built-up a well-planned city with his royal taste that should be a good administrative unit, prime centre of business, prominent political unit, centre of spiritualism and a patron of various Indian culture and arts. 

          His ambitions and vision took shape in the form of Jaipur - the first planned city of northern India.  At that time, it was also one of the best planned cities of the World. 

          Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II consulted several architects before making the lay out of Jaipur.  Finally, he sought advice from Vidyadhar Bhatt, a Brahmin architecture scholar of Bengal, to aid him design the city architecture.  The construction of the city started in 1727. It took around 4 years to complete the major palaces, roads and chaupads (square).  Every palace, road and street was planned according to Indian Vastu Shastra (Vedic or Pouranic Planning for the comfort and prosperity of the citizens as well as safety of the city from natural disasters and enemies).

          For the time, architecture of the town was very advanced and certainly the best in India.  In 1853, when the Prince of Wales visited Jaipur, the whole city was painted pink to welcome him.  Jaipur got the name "Pink City" first time at that time.  The old city (known as four-wall city) is still painted and maintained in pink.

In order to make city a commercial hub, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II invited numerous experts of various arts and crafts from different corners of India, facilitated them to reside here, and honored them with land, money and daily needs; so that they can shape their art.  That's why, today, Jaipur is renowned for its Best Architecture in the world, Indian Vastu, Monuments, Temples, Culture, Miniature Painting, Wall Painting, Blue Pottery work, Stone Carving work, Wooden Handicraft, Metal Work, Handicraft work on Camel Leather, Bangles, Gems & Jewelry, Saree (traditional wear of Indian women), Hand made Puppets, Block printed bed sheets (hand work), Bandhej (Tie and Dye fabric), and other Handicraft work.

          Castles, Forts, Gates, Museums, Havelis (huge buildings), and Streets, all are an excellent example of the Best Architecture of Jaipur which is influenced by Mughal and Rajput genre.

That's why, A Rajasthani proverb asks: "Je na dekhyo Jaipario, to kaal mein aakar kya kariyo?"  ("What have I accomplished in my life, if I have not seen Jaipur?").