The city was established with a vision to make it a leading centre of art, culture and craft. There is a distinct Jaipur School of Classical dance `Kathak’. The Ghoomar is a popular dance among the common people with simple and elegant steps. The `Dagar Bandhu’ singers of Vedic singing ‘Dhrupad’ are based from Jaipur. Jaipur is a famous Music Gharana (School). It is also a leading centre for the learning of Sanskrit, Astrology, Naturopathy, Ayurveda and Herbal Treatments. Jaipur has given to the world a number of poets and writers. There is a separate school of Rajput style of Miniature Paintings.

Despite its size, Jaipur is far from being a place with its people having no time for socializing. Lifestyle in the older part of the city (the walled Pink City) still depicts the flavour of the old times. Except for the increased crowds and motorized vehicles plying over the roads, nothing seems to have changed here. Right from the beginning it earned a reputation of being a leading trade city in India and it is still evident.

Typical of the medieval times, almost all kinds of commodities are sold at teeny-weeny stores (back in the U.S., we would probably have a full-fledged department store stocking that wide a range of groceries and goods). Shopkeepers, hawkers, and vendors all vie for space and the place becomes important for gatherings and socializing. All kinds of displays, advertisements, street dancers and singers find their place there.

Business is gathered in the mornings and folded back in the nights. You will know what I mean if you click and enlarge our pictures of Chhoti Chaupar (with Isarlat towering in the background) on the right. The square bursts with life every morning and winds up every evening.