Jaipur

Jaipur (Rajasthani: Jayapura, pronounced [ˈd͡ʑɛpʊɾᵊ]) is the capital and largest city of the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan. As of 2011, the city had a population of 3.1 million, making it the tenth-most populous city in the country. Located 268 km (167 mi) from the national capital, New Delhi, Jaipur is also known as the Pink City due to the dominant colour scheme of its buildings in the old city. Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II, the Kachhwaha Rajput ruler of Amer, after whom the city was named. It is one of the earliest planned cities of modern India, designed by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. During the British colonial period, the city served as the capital of the princely state of Jaipur. After Indian independence in 1947, Jaipur became the capital of the newly formed state of Rajasthan in 1949. Jaipur is a popular tourist destination in India, forming a part of the Golden Triangle tourist circuit along with Delhi and Agra. The city serves as a gateway to other tourist destinations in Rajasthan, such as Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Bundi, Kota, and Mount Abu. The historic city center was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 6 July 2019, joining the Jantar Mantar (inscribed in 2010) and the nearby Amer Fort (part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan). The city has colloquially been referred to as the "Paris of India", and Nobel laureate C. V. Raman described it as the "Island of Glory".