National Geographic Traveler Interactive - 10.11 2019

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

layout following Vedic

architectural principles,

and districts organized

according to traditional

Hindu concepts frame

the historic backdrop

to a bustling modern

city. Visitor high-

lights in the Pink City

include the Amer Fort

(shown), perched on

the outskirts, and the

evocative Hawa Mahal

(“palace of winds”),

2 

Learn what makes

a timeless city tick

Capital of the north-
west Indian state of
Rajasthan, JAIPUR got a
nod for its centuries-old
yet forward-thinking
design. Founded in
1727 as a commercial
center, it’s believed
to be India’s first truly
planned city and a
model for population
centers that followed.
The rosy hue, grid

with a honeycomb

facade that lets

breezes in and allowed

royal women to see

but not be seen. Other

standouts recognized

this year for artistic

and cultural achieve-

ment are the ancient

archaeological site of

Babylon, Iraq, and the

sacred Buddhist art

and architecture of

Bagan, Myanmar.