ABOUT JAIPUR

Jaipur is the capital city of

Rajasthan.

planning of
Jaipur

It lies admist the Aravali

hill range at an altitude of
about 430m above sea
level.
JAIPUR LIES AT A DISTANCE
OF ABOUT
200 miles ( 321.8 km )
from Delhi
150 miles ( 241.4 km )
MAP
SHOWING JAIPUR IN EASTERN PART OF RAJASTHAN
from
Agra Rajasthan , lying to the east and south east of
The
eastern
84 miles ( 135 km ) from
the Aravalli divide includes the modern administrative
Ajmer.
districts
of Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Banswara,
Dungarpur, Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Jaipur,
Tonk,
Latitude
26
00 NKarauli, Bharatpur and Alwar.
Dausa,
Dholpur,

Longitude
75 02 of
E Jaipur lies in Eastern Rajasthan, in the
The
current district

HISTORY OF JAIPUR

planning of
Jaipur

The From the 10th century onwards

Dhoondhar district was formed, comprised of current

districts of Jaipur, Dausa and Tonk.
the shortest trade route between north India and rich port
cities of Gujarat and Malabar.

From the 11th century onwards

The Dhoondhar region was increasingly under the power

of Kachchwaha dynasty of Rajputs.

967 AD

Dulha/Dhola Rai one of the rulers of this clan, laid the

foundation of Dhoondhar kingdom and made Dausa his
capital.

1036 AD
Kakil Dev seized Amber from Meenas, laid the foundations
of the Amber Fort.
The capital of Dhoondar was shifted from Dausa to Amber
between 1179 and 1216 AD.
By the 17th century
The Kachchwaha Rajput clan became known for political
clout and importance in the Mughal administration.
1727
Sawai Jai Singh II outlived five Mughal emperors and tried
to prop up the Mughal Empire from 1707, established the
city of Jaipur and strengthened the boundaries of
Dhoondhar.

planning of
Jaipur

Sawai Jai Singh II (1700 1743) who outlived 5

Mughal emperors and tried to prop up the
Mughal Empire from 1707 established the city
of Jaipur and strengthened the boundaries of
Dhoondhar.
CITY AND ITS EVOLUTION
TWO SIGNIFICANT FACTS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE ORIGIN OF THE CITY AND ITS
SUBSEQUENT LAYOUT:
The need of a new capital for 18th
century Dhoondhar as the earlier one of
Amber built on a hill was getting
congested.
Sawai Raja Jai Singhs vision of the new
capital as a strong political statement at

planning of
Sawai
Jaipur
Jai Singh

Reasons for Maharaja

to
change his capital fromAmber to Jaipur
GEOGRAPHICAL REASONS
The rocky terrain of Amber restricted
expansion.
Jaipur
had
the
potentialities
of
developing into a city with adequate
drinking water due to the presence of a
perennial stream nearby.
Its rugged hills also ensured a constant
supply of building material, which might
be required in the times to come.

The physical constraints that informed

the building of Jaipur city included the
hills on the north that housed the fort
of Jaigarh and the Amber palace

planning of
Jaipur

TO FACILITATE WATER SUPPLY TO THE

NEW CITY
The Darbhavati river in the north
was dammed to create the Jai Sagar
and Man Sagar (that later housed
the Jal Mahal) lakes.
Later the Jhotwara River in the north
west was diverted through the
Amani Shah Nallah and a number of
canals were channelised through
PLANNING
Brahmapuri and Jai Niwas to supply
water to the
city.
The medieval towns of Rajasthan
were
of military, agrarian,
mercantile or religious nature. The name of the town was
usually associated with the political or religious centre (with
the Ambikeshwar temple in the case of Amber and with Sawai
Jai Singh in the case of Jaipur).
Unlike Dausa and Amber, the two previous capital cities of the
Dhoondhar region established on hill-top, whose planning was
guided by topographical structure of the areas, Jaipur city was

planning of
Jaipur

Unlike Dausa and Amber, the

two previous capital cities of
the
Dhoondhar
region
established on hill-top, whose
planning
was
guided
by
topographical structure of the
areas,
Jaipur
city
was
revolutionary both in terms of
its grid-iron pattern planning
and its location at the base of
the hills.
There was also a significant
economic
shift
from
an
agricultural base in Dausa and
First,
line
of capital
the ridge suggested itself as the
Amberthe
to straight
trading in
the
route
for one of the main east-west thorough fares and
of Jaipur.
a road
along
building
The layout
of the
cityits
of crest
Jaipurmakes best possible use of
the
topography
for the
wonderfully
links
thepurpose
conceptof drainage.
What
followed then
to regularize
the Amber- Sanganer
of aShastric
citywas
with
the
road
as a north-south
route site.
at right angles to it.
practicalities
of the chosen

planning of
Jaipur

A road cutting the plain from

N to S linking Amber, the
capital
to
Sanganer,
the
principal trading town. This
road had to be preserved and
controlled and therefore had to
fall
within
the
citys
boundaries
A second road ran E to W
between the Mughal cities of
Agra and Ajmer and placing
the new city on this already
established
communication
line would help secure its
economic success. However
since
this was an imperial
road
that
could
not
be
encroached on, thus the city
to be terms,
contained
had
In Shastric
this istoanthe
ideal arrangement as declivity
north
of this
line.
towards
the
north-east Is considered the best site. In

CONCEPTUAL PLANNING

It is a model of town planning

the first planned city in India.
It is based on Hindu systems
of town planning and followed
the principles prescribed in the
Shilpa-shastra,
an
ancient
Indian
treatise
on
architecture .according to this
shastra the site should be
divided into grids or mandalas
ranging from 2x 2 to 10 x 10.
Planned according to the
Prastara type of layout, which
gives prominence to the
cardinal directions.
Thus plan of Jaipur is a grid of
3x3 with gridlines being the
citys main streets.

Planning

CONCEPTUAL PLANNIG

Planning

The central axis of the town was laid from East to West between the gates of the
Sun ( Suraj pol) and the moon( Chandpol ) .
This was crossed by two roads at right angles dividing the town into nine almost
square, almost equally sized blocks, which were further sub divided by lanes and
alleys all at right angles.
By building the western boundary of the city right up to the hills southern apex,
it provided a continuous line of defence.
The mandala could not be complete in the NW due to the presence of the hills.
On the other hand in the SE an extra square has been added that plugged the
gap between the city and the eastern hills.

PLANNIG PROCEDURE

South of the main road were four almost

equal rectangles. The rectangle opposite the
palace has been broken up into two equal and
smaller rectangles by the Chaura Rasta. Thus
altogether there are now five rectangles on
the south of the main road called Chowkris.
On the North of the main road from West to
East are the Purani Basti, the Palace and
Ramchandraji.
The principal bazaar leads from the western
gate in the city wall, The Chandpole, passing
in front of the Tripolia Gate, to the eastern city
1. RAMCHANDRASI
2. GANGAPOI CHAUKRI
gate, the Surajpole.
3. TALKATORA
4. TOPKHANA HAZURI
5. PURANI BASTI
6. TOPKHANA DESH
7. MODI KHANA
8.
GHAT DARWAZA
9.
PALACE

Planning

PLANNIG PROCEDURE

The palace building covered two blocks,

the town six and the remaining ninth
block was not usable on account of
steep hills. So this North-West ward was
transferred to the South-East corner of
the city, making the shape of the plan as
a whole asymmetrical rather than
square.
The citys division into nine wards was
also in conformity with the Hindu caste
system,
which
necessitated
the
segregation of people belonging to
different communities and ranks.
Even the lanes were named after the
occupations of inhabitants such as
Maniharon ka Rasta, Thakaron ka Rasta
& many others.
Following the directions of the Hindu
Shilpa shastra, width of the main streets
& other lanes were fixed. Thus the main

Planning

The map of early planned city of Jaipur

ROAD NETWORK

Jaipurs road network follows a

definite hierarchy. The major eastwest and north-south road ,form the
sector boundaries and are called
Rajmarg as they lead to the city
gates. These measure 33m. wide.

Next there is a network of 16.5m

wide which runs north-south in each
sector linking the internal areas of the
sectors to the major activity spine.

An orthogonal grid of 8.25mx4.00m

roads in the prastara-chessboard
pattern further divide sectors into
Mohallas.
PUBLIC
SPACES

Chaupars
Bazaars
Mohallas
Streets
Temples

Planning

CONCEPTUAL PLAN - CHAUPAR

a square that occurs at the

intersection of east west
roads with three north south
roads.
100m x 100m
used for public gathering on
festive occasions
The distance between two
chaupars is about 700m
which is ideal for pedestrian
movement.
It has controlled faade
treatment enveloping it.

Planning

STREETSCAPES AND CHOWKS

The main markets, havelis and temples on

the main streets in Jaipur were constructed
by the state in the 18th century, thus
ensuring that a uniform street facade is
maintained. The widths of roads were
predetermined.
Junctions of the main axial streets formed
the two square civic open spaces called
chaupars
(Badi
chaupar
and
Chhoti
chaupar). The width of the square chaupars
was three times that of the main street.
Historically, the chaupars were outlets for
intense social use with water structures
connected by underground aqueducts,
supplying numerous sources of drinking
water at street level. Presently, the centre of
each chaupar has square enclosures with
ornamental fountains.
The streets and chowks (central open
squares in a town) of the internal chowkries
(sectors) with numerous clusters or mohallas
were not predetermined; hence show a mix

Planning

View of a main bazaar street

View of a chaupar today

planning of
Jaipur
SPATIAL AND URBAN GROWTH PATTERN OF JAIPUR
The growth of Jaipur can be divided into 4
phases
PHASE I: 1727-1850 AD
The city was founded and planned by
Maharaja Sawai Singh based on Hindu
system of Town planning following
the principles prescribed in the
Shilpa-shastra.
The site is divided into 9 grids or
mandalas,
by
grid
lines
(main
streets). Due to steep hills, the
Jaipurs
network
follows
a definite
mandalaroad
could
not be
completed
in hierarchy. The major
east-west
north-south
road, form
Northwestand
direction.
Therefore
an the sector boundaries
and
called Raj
wide)
extraare
mandala
has marg
been (33mts.
extended
in as they lead to the
city
gates.east

the south
direction.
Next is a network of 16.5m wide roads which run north south
in each sector linking the internal areas of the sectors to the
major activity spine.

Urban Design Features

The main markets, havelis and temples on the main streets in Jaipur were constructed by the state in the
18th century, thus ensuring a uniform street faade is maintained. The widths of roads were
predetermined.
According to a popular belief, the city was painted pink to celebrate the visit of the Prince of Wales in
1876, during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II, lending the city the name of Pink City.
Junctions of the main axial streets formed the two square public open spaces called chaupars (Badi
chaupar and Chhoti chaupar). The width of the square chaupars was three times that of the main street.
Historically, the chaupars were outlets for intense social use with water structures connected by
underground aqueducts, supplying numerous sources of drinking water at street level. Presently, the
centre of each chaupar has square enclosures with ornamental fountains.
The streets and chowks (central open squares in a town) of the internal chowkries (sectors) with
numerous clusters or mohallas were not predetermined; hence show a mix of grid iron and organic
pattern, with the basic unit of built form View of a chaupar today being the rectangular haveli.
Typical architectural features of the bazaar streets is use of chhajjas (sunshades) resulting in strong
horizontal lines.

planning of
Jaipur

PHASE II:1850-1930 A.D.

The city grew outside the walled city confines, triggered by
establishment of railway line in 1868 A.D. outside the
walled
PHASE
III:city.
1930-1970A.D.
Government followed an socialist ideology and development
5 development schemes to provide residential plots, public
institutes, other amenities and the Rajasthan university
opening opportunities towards the south direction.

(I) LINEAR

(II) LEAF FROG

(III) RADIAL

PHASE IV: POST 1970S

Major changes were between 2 land uses i.e. agriculture
area converted to built area.
The city has grown towards south, south- west, and west