India 2023
Jaipur – The Pink City

Where chaos dances with symmetry, and history glows in shades of pink.
Arriving in Jaipur feels like stepping into a city painted by history itself. Known as the Pink City for the distinctive terracotta hue of its old quarter, Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II as the first planned city of India. Its grid of broad avenues, fortified gates, and bustling bazaars still echoes the vision of a ruler who combined astronomy, architecture, and strategy to shape his capital.
Walking through Jaipur is an assault on the senses: rickshaws buzzing through the streets, spices coloring the markets, fabrics shimmering under the sun, and the scent of incense drifting from temples. Yet, amid this energy, the city also hides corners of stillness: cenotaphs resting in quiet valleys, temples where rituals unfold in timeless rhythm, and palaces whose facades catch the changing light like vast stone canvases.
For a photographer, Jaipur is more than just a destination, it is a dialogue between chaos and symmetry, between vibrant street life and monumental calm. Every angle offers a story, every shadow reveals a pattern, and every encounter brings the city’s layered heritage into focus.
Galta Ji Temple – The Monkey Temple
Tucked away in a rocky valley of the Aravalli Hills, about 10 kilometers east of Jaipur, lies Galta Ji Temple, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site with a history stretching back several centuries. According to tradition, the temple complex was established in the 16th century by Saint Galav, who is said to have meditated here for many years. Later, in the 18th century, during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the site was further developed into the form we see today, a series of temples, shrines, and sacred water tanks (kunds) cascading down the hillside.
The most striking feature of Galta Ji is its natural spring, which feeds seven holy water tanks. Pilgrims have long come here to bathe in these waters, believed to be purifying and spiritually significant. The largest pool, the Galta Kund, is said never to run dry, even during the harshest droughts, a mystery that has deepened its sanctity over the centuries.
Architecturally, the temples are built in pink sandstone, blending harmoniously into the cliffs around them. They bear delicate frescoes and carvings that tell stories of gods, saints, and eternal cycles of devotion. Yet what makes Galta Ji unforgettable is not only its sacred aura but also its lively inhabitants: large groups of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus). They swing across balconies, peer curiously into courtyards, and sometimes even join pilgrims at the water’s edge.
Rhesus macaques overlooking Jaipur city with Birla Mandir temple in the distance
Young rhesus macaque interacting with a pilgrim hand at Galta Ji Temple
Sacred stairway of Galta Ji Temple with monkeys and a cow among pilgrims
Rhesus macaque sitting on the balustrade with the sacred water tank
Rhesus macaque observing pilgrims
Rhesus macaque lurking near pilgrims trying to snatch food offerings
Rhesus macaque family grooming each other
Rhesus macaque sitting on a stone pillar
Rhesus macaques resting on rocky cliffs near Galta Ji Temple
Architectural details of Galta Ji with pujari in saffron robes performing daily rituals
Panoramic view of Galta Ji Temple complex nestled in the Aravalli Hills
Ornate facade of Galta Ji Temple framed by rocky cliffs
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
At the edge of Jaipur, at the foothills of Nahargarh Fort, lies Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan, the royal cremation site of the Kachwaha dynasty. This sacred ground was established in the early 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, who chose this peaceful valley as the final resting place for his lineage. From that moment on, each successive ruler was honored with a cenotaph, elegant chhatris built between the 18th and 19th centuries, transforming the site into a marble garden of memory.
Each pavilion is unique, blending Rajput and Mughal elements: domes that echo the city’s skyline, slender pillars, and carvings of floral motifs or mythological figures etched into sandstone and marble. Among them, the cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II stands out for its intricate latticework, while others display more restrained elegance, a reminder that beauty here is meant to whisper rather than shout.
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan
Hawa Mahal – The Palace of Winds
Rising like a sandstone crown above the old city, the Hawa Mahal is one of Jaipur’s most celebrated landmarks. Commissioned in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, a ruler deeply devoted to Lord Krishna, it was designed by the architect Lal Chand Ustad in a style that blends Rajput artistry with Mughal elegance. The five-story facade, shaped like the crown of Krishna, was built as an extension of the City Palace, looking out onto the bustling streets below.
Its purpose was as ingenious as it was symbolic. Behind the lattice of 953 jharokhas, or small windows, the royal women of the court could watch processions, markets, and festivals unfold without being seen, as tradition required them to live in seclusion. The airflow through these windows also created a natural cooling system, giving the palace its evocative name: the Palace of Winds.
Standing before it, I couldn’t help but marvel at the geometry, the honeycomb of arches and screens catching the light in shifting tones of pink, red, and gold throughout the day. It is architecture designed not only to serve but also to enchant: a stage for life in Jaipur, where privacy, devotion, and artistry meet. For me, photographing Hawa Mahal was like capturing a heartbeat carved in stone, a facade that hides stories while revealing the city’s soul.
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajastan
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajastan
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajastan
Govind Dev Ji Temple, Jaipur
Dedicated to Lord Krishna, Govind Dev Ji Temple is one of the most venerated spiritual sites in Jaipur. Situated within the City Palace complex, it was built in the 18th century under the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who brought the idol of Govind Dev Ji from Vrindavan to install it here. The temple was designed to be open and accessible, so that devotees, even from outside the palace walls, could have a direct darshan of the deity.
The architecture blends Mughal and Rajput influences, with vast courtyards, ornate arches, and vibrant frescoes that come alive especially during religious festivals. The heart of the temple is the sanctum, where the idol of Krishna, adorned with silk garments and jewelry, attracts thousands of devotees daily. At certain times of the day, the atmosphere becomes electric: crowds of worshippers gather shoulder to shoulder, singing bhajans, clapping in rhythm, and offering prayers.
During the evening aarti, the temple transforms into a sea of devotion. The sound of bells and chants fills the air, while the fragrance of incense mingles with the colors of marigold garlands and the flickering glow of oil lamps. At the center of this ritual are the pujaris, who lead the ceremonies and maintain the sacred traditions of worship.
Visiting Govind Dev Ji Temple is not only a spiritual experience but also a glimpse into the living culture of Jaipur. Unlike many historical monuments that stand in quiet majesty, this temple is alive, vibrant, and deeply woven into the daily rhythm of the city.
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Pilgrim at Govind Dev Ji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple