Jaipur or Jodhpur? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jaipur

Did the Jai in his name provide a hint? In Sanskrit, 'pur' means a town or city, so Jaipur means essentially Jai's city. Jai Singh II became the ruler of the Kingdom of Amber in 1699, at the age of 11, on the death of his father. Initially he served as a vassal in the Mughal Empire, whose emperor bestowed on him the title of Sawai, indicating a status superior to his ostensible peers. When the capital, Amber, grew to a size that could not be sustained due to a shortage of water, he decided to build a new capital, on a site about 10km away.

The capital was officially opened, with due ceremonies, in 1727, although construction continued for several years. It was designed using the Hindu architectural principles of Vastu Shastra, which integrate buildings with nature, aligning spaces with natural forces and incorporating geometric symmetry. When it was constructed, it was one of the most advanced cities on the Indian subcontinent.

Answer: Jodhpur

Again, the name of the founder may have provided a hint - Jodhpur literally means Jodha's city. Rao Jodha was the 15th warrior chief of the Rathore dynasty established in 1226 by Rao Siha. He claimed rule during a time of transition from a nomadic lifestyle to one of landed aristocracy. Rao Jodha gained control of the Kingdom of Marwar in 1453, and decided to establish a new city to cement his claim to sovereignty over the other chiefs.

The site was chosen to provide more secure defence than was possible with the fort city of Mandore which had been his previous base.

Answer: Jaipur

During the British Raj, a number of the smaller kingdoms that had existed under the Mughals were consolidated into administrative areas, one of which was the Rajputana Agency, but retained their local rulers under British control. As part of the process of independence, this area became the State of Rajasthan (Land of Kings) in 1949. Jaipur, as its largest city, became the designated capital.

Answer: Jodhpur

Jodhpur was established to be the capital of Marwar to help Jodha consolidate his local supremacy. It prospered as he expanded his control through alliances and annexation of territory from the Delhi Sultanate, and Marwar became the most powerful kingdom in the area known as Rajputana for quite a while.

It reached the peak of its power in the middle of the 16th century, before controversially supporting the Mughal Empire when Akbar invaded in 1561. When the British Raj took control, relations were not particularly cordial between the rulers of Jodhpur and the British, and the maharajah went into exile in 1839.

Answer: Jaipur

The Jantar Mantar is an amazing collection of astronomical instruments built by the city's founder, which features the world's largest sundial. (See my quiz, 'Scanning the Skies in Jaipur', for photos and more detailed information.) Located near the edge of the city, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and draws visitors from around the world.

Other famed buildings in Jaipur include the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), famous for the honeycomb-like appearance created by its having nearly 1000 latticed windows that allow the royal women to remain in seclusion while observing celebrations in the neighbourhood. It was built of red and pink sandstone, with the wooden portions painted pink in line with the city's tradition.

While you are in Jaipur, it is a short trip to the old Amber fort, a mountaintop structure that housed the ruler of the Kingdom of Amber before the construction of Jaipur.

Answer: Jodhpur

The location of Jodhpur was selected primarily for the defensive capabilities provided by the 125 metre high ridge on which the Mehrangarh Fort was constructed, with the rest of the city surrounding it. It was initially constructed in 1459, but subsequently expanded - most of the current structure actually dates from the 17th century. The current fort covers an area of nearly 500 hectares, and dominates the skyline of the city which it overlooks.

Entry to the fort, and the buildings and courtyards it contains, is by way of a series of gates, constructed at various times; some were added for extra security, others to mark a triumph. Triumphal gates include Jai Pol (Gate of Victory), constructed in 1806 to celebrate a military victory by Maharaja Man Singh, and Fateh Pol (Victory Gate), which celebrated a victory over the Mughals by Maharaja Ajit Singh in the early 18th century. Hathi Pol (Elephant Gate) is a large gate, wide enough to allow riders mounted on elephants easy access to the interior. (Of course, during times of war, of which there were plenty, this gate was fortified with metal spikes to keep war elephants from entering!)

The buildings inside the fort house a number of museums, covering a number of aspects of historical culture. These include a howdah museum, a turban museum, an armory and an art gallery, as well as the remains of the Emperor Akbar.

Answer: Jaipur

Since many of the buildings were constructed from a local pinkish sandstone, the epithet of Pink City could be explained by that alone. However, there is more to the story. In 1876, in preparation for the visit to Jaipur of the Prince of Wales (later to be Edward VII), Sawai Ram Singh II arranged to have a number of buildings in the city painted pink, a traditional colour of welcome.

When the royal visitor expressed delight at the visual effect, a law was passed that all public buildings in the city were to be painted pink. And so it remains. (It should be noted that the pink is actually not as bright a colour as it may sound, and is sometimes described as terra cotta.)

Answer: Jodhpur

It is an observable fact that many of the buildings in the city of Jodhpur (especially those encircling the base of Mehrangarh Fort) are painted a light, bright blue. Unlike Jaipur, where the origin of the city's predominant colour is well documented, the blue here is of somewhat more obscure origin.

It is said to have its origins with members of the Brahmin caste, who selected it to indicate their devotion to Lord Shiva, often depicted with blue skin. By association, this shade of blue is associated with cosmic consciousness and deep compassion. A blue building proclaimed membership in the group, but it also had some practicality in the hot desert climate, as blue buildings were cooler than those of other colours. Additionally the paint was said to repel insects such as termites. Over time, the practice of painting buildings blue spread through all levels of the community, and remains in effect today.

Answer: Jaipur

The Golden Triangle is a popular tourist route which starts in New Delhi (the national capital, a bustling city with Old Delhi alongside it providing insight into a more traditional way of life) then goes southeast to Agra (site of the Taj Mahal) and finally on to Jaipur. This is a total distance of around 700 km, and encompasses diverse landscapes as well as significant cultural sites. Tourist guides generally recommend planning to take a week for the circuit, giving you several days at each site.

Answer: Jodhpur

The Thar Desert extends from Pakistan into northwest India, including much of Rajasthan, including the area around Jodhpur. It is one of the most populated deserts in the world, with around 80 people per square kilometre. Most of the Thar people are found in rural nomadic communities, with herding and limited subsistence agriculture forming their way of life.

While you are visiting Jodhpur you can get an amazing view of the desert from Mehrangarh Fort, and then check out the adjacent Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, created in 2006 to restore the natural ecology of the area. The difference between the interior of the park and the surrounds with their invasive plant species is quite dramatic! Another popular tourist activity is a camel ride into the desert, with photo opportunities.