In 2006, the busy streets of Jaipur came to life with excitement as Prince Charles, now King Charles took a memorable heritage walk around the walled city of Jaipur, led by Vinod Joshi, an expert on local culture. This extraordinary promenade through Jaipur’s historic lanes not only displayed the pink city’s rich cultural tapestry but also captured timeless moments of beautiful encounters between royalty and the city’s vibrant heritage.
Paving the Path
Prince Charles had initially visited Jaipur in 2003, as a guest at the City Palace, the residence of the erstwhile Royal Family of Jaipur. Faith Singh, the trustee of Jaipur Virasat Foundation (JVF), and a person on immense prominence in the field of art and culture, was keen to present exhibit the city’s heritage to the royal guest. Prior to his visit, she reached out to His Highness’ office in UK with a proposal. Upon getting a positive response, a detailed event was planned out.
During his trip, Prince Charles visited Amer Haveli also known as The Chanwar Palkiwalon ki Haveli… home to the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, a restoration marvel and the recipient of the first UNESCO Restoration Award in Asia. The Haveli was meticulously preserved to reflect its inherent magnificence, with the zealous efforts of John Singh, founder of Anokhi and architects Nimesh Patil and Parul Zaveri.
As a part of the exhibition, three floors of Amer Haveli were dedicated to art, craft, and culture. Vinod Joshi played a significant role on the top floor, where traditional artists were showcasing their work. As the Prince made his way to the top floor, he was mesmerized by the festive atmosphere and the lively rhythmic beats of traditional percussion instruments — the khartaal, Morchang, Maate and Kamaicha. In a spontaneous moment of joy, he started dancing with the artists there, this humble gesture pleased and delighted everyone.
Restoration Project in 2006
HRH Charles on his visit had donated funds to the JVF for the cause of heritage conversation. It was decided to invest these funds along with other local donations to a restoration of a particular street in the walled city. The idea was to bring back its lost glory and to use materials and techniques originally used while building Jaipur. This would have a trickle down effect of supporting those artisans too. The restoration work took over six months.
A Walk To Remember
It was an interesting coincidence that HRH Charles was planning to visit Jaipur again. This time, Faith requested that he take a heritage walk in the walled city and also see the impact of the restoration work done. It was a delight that he accepted the invitation.
On April 6, 2006, the narrow alley, decorated with freshly restored houses and buzzing with artisans and vibrant creators, awaits the arrival of Royal guests. Multiple rounds of recce had been done with Vinod Joshi, the entire JVF board and the British Council, going over each aspect in dept. There was tight security, with spy cameras everywhere and police ensured a smooth and safe experience for everyone.
And the walk began. They came down the alley where the restoration was done. This lane had 12 houses and 2 temples, which Vinod explained, were being restored for the past 9 months. Pictures of before/after were shown and also the multiple traditional crafts involved were explained. Everything was restricted, but people were ready with jaggery, sweets and drums. The atmosphere was vibrant and there was so much enthusiasm when they played the drums that even Prince Charles joined in the dancing and announced that it was the best trip of his life.
During the entire walk, Vinod Joshi shared his insights into the cultural significance of various common rituals and practices. When King Charles enquired about colourful and traditional attire of women, Vinod explained women wear especially vibrant clothes during festivals and special occasions. The Jain principles of ahimsa and the custom of removing shoes outside the temple, were also discussed. King Charles was deeply engaged in asking questions and appreciated the intricate details of Jaipur’s architecture.
Introducing lac bangles to Charles, King of Wales at Maniharo ka Rasta, Jaipur
A Lasting Impact
The walk ended in a grand event at Mahavir Park. Here, HRH Charles met people like local artisans, scholars, children and prominent personalities of Jaipur. The community exhibited their crafts, presenting the rich cultural heritage of Jaipur. The 3-hour event concluded with memories of a lifetime for everyone.
Reflections
Of all the heritage walks Vinod Joshi had led in past, taking around dignitaries and Nobel Laureates, this one was undoubtedly the most significant. It brought international attention to the heritage city and a renewed focus of the state government on heritage conservation. And it gave a sense of pride to the citizens of Jaipur on their built heritage.
What were Vinod’s thoughts on the day HRH Charles was crowned King of England? “I was happy for his Highness as it was such an important moment for him. And I smiled that the thought of having spend two such warm and intense interactions with him. It was indeed a privilege.”