Chandrima S. Bhattacharya
Published 18.11.23, 05:59 AM
This day is celebrated as the foundation day of Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II founded the city, with the help of an architect from Bengal, Vidyadhar Bhattacharya.
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The king, who ruled from 1699 to 1743, had decided to shift his capital from Amber to Jaipur, about 11km away.
A growing population and lack of water were reasons behind the shift.
With Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, who was from Naihati in present- day Bengal, Jai Singh planned the city meticulously, on the basis of traditional Indian texts on aesthetics and architecture. The city was divided into nine blocks.
The architecture also showed heavy Mughal influence. It included massive ramparts and gates.