Meet the Bengali who is credited for designing Jaipur, a famous historical city in India

One of India’s most well-known historic cities is Jaipur. Since the middle of the 18th century, the capital of Rajasthan has perhaps had the most impact on the growth of the area. Jaipur, often known as the Pink City since pink is the predominant color there, is renowned for both its beautiful architecture and extensive history.

What connection does a Bengali have to the founding of Jaipur?
As you would expect, Sawai Jai Singh II, the Kachhwaha Rajput monarch of Amer, created Jaipur in 1727, and the city bears his name. We are nevertheless unaware that Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Bengali, was responsible for the planning and design of one of the first planned towns in contemporary India.

Vidyadhar Bhattacharya was—who was he?
Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, who was born in 1693 in Naihati, Bengal, is said to have designed Jaipur. He was already employed as a junior auditor in the Amer kingdom and was a Gaur Brahmin when Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II asked him to design one of the first planned towns in India. The City Palace is a more recent addition to the palace complex, created by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, a British Army commander and colonial engineer renowned for various major structures in India. Bhattacharya created a grid-based model of the city using designs based on the ideas of Shilpa and Vaastu Shastra.

In honor of Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, the Vidyadhar Garden was reportedly constructed in 1988, close to Jaipur. As a tribute to Bhattacharya, “Shilpa Shastra” was also the basis for its design. Reportedly, the garden has well-kept gardens, flower beds, and serene lakes. The magnificent Indian architecture is reflected in its lovely lakes, fountains, lawns with terraces, and imposing pavilions adorned with murals and paintings of Lord Krishna.

Nonetheless, a few historians and archaeologists question whether Bhattacharya himself designed Jaipur. Some reports claim he was a minister in Jai Singh’s court, however, it has been questioned if only one individual was engaged in its creation. But the municipal government has recognized Bhattacharya’s efforts and named a satellite town Vidhyadhar Nagar in his honor. It is a well-planned neighborhood in Jaipur City with plenty of parks and spacious streets.