Jaipur is well known for its old Havelis that have stood the test of time. Jaipur Havelis are an integral part of Jaipur walking tours. Many of these Jaipur Havelis are historic. While most of these Havelis are in the walled city area, some are an exception. In this blog, I would like to highlight another fascinating aspect of Jaipur architecture: Jaipur Houses. What do I mean by Jaipur Houses? Jaipur Houses refers to all typography of the residential structures that exist in Jaipur and have survived many decades. Houses of Jaipur include all types of houses one finds in the Old City area of Jaipur and beyond.

Jaipur Houses | A Guide

This blog on houses of Jaipur answers everything you want to know about an important architectural element of the pink city.

Why should one read and see pictures of Jaipur Houses?

Houses of Jaipur are an important architectural element of the Pink City. Students visiting Jaipur for an architectural study trip will find Jaipur Houses an interesting subject. Architecture lovers too will find these houses quite interesting and fascinating.

What kind of Jaipur houses can one expect?

On one hand we have these old houses in Jaipur walled city. some are crumbling, others are well-maintained. This follows old vernacular Jaipur architecture; some refer to it as Rajput architecture. Also referred to as Havelis. You can read more about it in Jaipur Havelis. These were built usually until the end of the 19th century. Their architecture follows the traditional plan.

Next, we have “Houses of Jaipur” built during pre-Indian independence days during colonial period. The period of these Jaipur Houses spans the end of the 19th century until the 1950s. There are quite a few of them survive even till date in the walled city. These don’t follow the traditional architecture plan.

They borrow many elements from other geographical regions. Art Deco was one of the interesting architectural styles that developed in this period. There were many art-deco houses in Jaipur. Over time, many of these art-deco houses in Jaipur were demolished to be replaced with new buildings. Some of these were replaced by commercial buildings, others with modern residences.

Bungalow Style Jaipur Houses. These houses came up in areas beyond Jaipur’s walled city. Over time, many of these houses have been replaced by commercial buildings and new bungalows. It is understandable since the city undergoes changes spanning a period of 8 to 9 decades. Many of these bungalows were built between the 1930s and the 1950s.

The next stage saw Jaipur’s houses being built from the 1950s to the 1990s. The earlier period saw large size bungalows but with time, these houses became smaller. Sadly, very few houses from the 1950s and 1960s survive.

Most of these bungalows got sold off to builders and residential apartments replaced those beautiful houses. This trend is likely to continue for many reasons.

C-Scheme, Civil lines, and Bani Park used to have some of the most beautiful bungalows. I don’t know if these magnificent houses of Jaipur will survive in the coming months and years. These bungalows will not be able to stand against the test of time.

Is it possible to see these Jaipur Houses?

Yes, it is possible to explore these houses visually. It may not be possible to visit inside these bungalows because they are under private ownership.

Can one explore Jaipur houses with a walk on their own?

For travelers or visitors from other cities, it is difficult to explore Jaipur Houses with a walk on their own. Many old houses in Jaipur have been destroyed. The one that exists are in stand-alone locations. Only a person who has the knowledge and understanding of this architectural element can lead you to these buildings.

I hope this blog on Jaipur houses helped you understand the vernacular architectural journey of Jaipur. It would be impossible to show all the architectural elements of Jaipur houses in one blog. I will share more on houses of Jaipur in another blog.