The Town Plan of Jaipur : Its Sources and Narrations

Abstract: Jaipur’s town plan has been the subject of a multitude of suggestions regarding its origin. Jaipur was founded by Jaisingh II in 1727, and has since then been the capital of the State of Rajasthan, India. The city, which remains almost intact in respect of its foundation scheme, is laid out according to a plan with straight streets of varying breadths, residential blocks for different occupational groups, a palace complex and an astronomical observatory in the middle of the city. Such wellplanned cities are rarely found in northern India. In contrast to the absence of excavated planned cities, there are a number of treatises dealing with town planning, which provide detailed instructions for siting and arranging cities. Therefore many have sought the origin of the ground plan of Jaipur among the plans described in Hindu technical literature on architecture and town-planning. Jaisingh also had intensive contacts with Europeans, especially during the years preceeding the foundation of the city. As a result some have taken European town plans as their starting-point in their attempt to find sources of influence. In addition, Jaisingh’s deep interest in astronomy seems to have played a central role in the design of the city.The present study discusses specific features of the traditions of rulership and education in the Amber House. These traditions included elements of the religious and philosophical sphere of Hinduism, as well as more recent traditions of the Kachvåhå rulers, who had adopted a great deal from the Mughals. After a description of the process of the layout, the town plans that have been proposed as models for Jaipur are presented and discussed in the light of the circumstances under which various beliefs about the model for Jaipur have emerged.The arrangement of the urban space and the actions of Jaisingh are analysed in an interpretive chapter. Two principle objects of examination in this chapter are the concepts of religion and political power as they are connected with the kingship. Approaching the kingship from the religious perspective, the king is deified. Approaching the kingship from the perspective of political power, the king is proclaimed universal emperor. The town plan of Jaipur is analysed as an expression of these two approaches.