India's Historic Pink City: Jaipur

Without any prior plans, the wind blew us here, and we found ourselves in Jaipur, India's "Pink City." The story of this color dates back to 1876, to the visit of the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria: before their visit, the buildings in the city were painted pink, which is considered the color of hospitality in Rajasthani culture. Since then, the buildings in the walled old city have had to maintain their shade of pink; moreover, this is no longer just a tradition, but a city identity protected by law.

Traditional Market and City Traffic

As soon as you step into Jaipur's traditional market, you are greeted by the scents of spices and colorful traditional clothing. Transportation in the city is an experience in itself: traffic is heavy and chaotic at first glance, horns almost never stop, lanes are rarely used, and traffic lights are missing even at some major intersections. That is why hailing a ride or a tuk-tuk via Uber became the most practical option for us in the city.

Patrika Gate

Located at the entrance of Jawahar Circle Park, Patrika Gate is a monumental gateway that reflects Rajasthani architecture and handicrafts. This colorful structure consists of nine distinct arches; the ceilings and pillars of each arch are decorated with vibrant, handmade frescoes depicting the state's history, culture, forts, and palaces. Summarizing the region's rich cultural heritage in a single spot with its architectural details and color palette, Patrika Gate is one of the most popular photography and visiting spots in the city.

City Palace

Located right in the center of Jaipur, the City Palace was built in the 18th century and stands at the heart of Jaipur, considered India's first planned city. Inside are gardens, courtyards, temples, and museums that reflect royal grandeur. The palace consists of two parts: a museum section open to visitors, and a private section where the descendants of the royal family still live.

In one of the palace courtyards, there are four gates, each associated with a different Hindu god or goddess. Each of these gates also represents a season: the green Leheriya Gate symbolizes spring, the Lotus Gate decorated with lotus leaves symbolizes summer, the Peacock Gate in purple tones symbolizes autumn, and the Rose Gate adorned with rose patterns symbolizes winter.

Hawa Mahal: Palace of Winds

Rising right in the heart of the city, Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, was built for a very specific purpose. According to the traditions of the time, royal women were not allowed to be seen in public spaces, so it was designed for them to watch street festivals and city life without being noticed. That is why the building stands out with its small windows and screened balconies. An important part of the city's pink identity, the facade of Hawa Mahal resembles a honeycomb.

Jal Mahal: Water Palace

Watching the sunrise in Jaipur with a view of Jal Mahal is one of the most special experiences in the city. Also known as the Water Palace, this structure was designed in the 18th century for duck hunting parties. The detail that makes the palace truly interesting is that four of its five stories remain underwater.

Amer Fort

Rising in the town of Amer, about 11 kilometers from Jaipur, Amer Fort has a thousand-year history and is one of the oldest forts in India. Construction began in 1592, and the building and expansion process that gave the fort its present appearance continued for many years.

The walls surrounding the fort for 6 kilometers and the guards on the lookout hills used to communicate with each other by beating drums. One room inside the fort is completely lined with Belgian glass; this material, considered the highest quality glass of the time, was specially imported. It is said that the room was designed in such a way that the reflection of a single candle flame could light up the entire room. The interior of the fort is like a labyrinth, explored by moving from one corridor to another.

According to a rumor about the fort, the queen of that time never walked. Because her clothes weighed 9.5 kilograms and her jewelry weighed 3.5 kilograms, she was always carried on a wheeled litter.

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This place is far beyond anything I could have imagined. It has a unique diversity in every way - its religion, language, architecture, climate, music, and everything else. It is one of the rare places where you can find peace amid chaos. Time spent in India leaves such an impression on a person that it feels as though the rest of the world is unreal.