Jaipur named UNESCO World Heritage Site

Pink City Jaipur has made an official entry in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Jaipur is the second Indian city after Ahmedabad to get the recognition.

Jaipur: Pink City of India

The city of Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. The location of the city makes it unique. Contrary to other cities built during that time which were located in hilly terrain, Jaipur was located on the plain.

Jaipur was built according to the grid plan interpreted in the light of Vedic architecture. The street which intersects at the centre featured continuous collonaded businesses creating large public squares called ‘chaupars’. Markets, stalls, residences and temples were built along the main streets with uniform facades.

The urban planning of the city of Jaipur shows an exchange of ideas from ancient Hindu, modern Mughal as well as Western cultures. While the grid plan model is prevalent in the West, the organisation of the different districts refers to traditional Hindu concept.

Jaipur which the capital of the state of Rajasthan has maintained its local commercial, artisanal and cooperative traditions to this day.

UNESCO World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage list seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. These ideals are also enshrined in the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.

To be included in the world heritage list sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria outlined in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention.