PUNDRIK JI KI HAVELI

Ratnakar Pundrikji-ki-Haveli at Brahmpuri in Jaipur city, popularly known as Pundrikji-ki-Haveli, was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh founder of Jaipur during the eighteenth century A.D. Ratnakar Pundrikji was royal purohit of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, he was also a great scholar of astrology and tantra. His original name was Ratnakar Bhatt. Originally belonging to Maharashtra, he  had come to Kashi (Varanasi) for advanced studies in astrology and tantra. At this place, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh met him and was impressed by his expertise and astounding knowledge. Sawai Jai Singh then  brought him from Kashi to Jaipur and made him royal purohit, giving title of  ‘Pundrik’. Pundrikji-ki-Haveli is famous for having Jaipur school of mural paintings belonging to mid eighteenth century A.D. These paintings  depict scenes of royal court, celebration of Holi, Gangaur and other festivals,  royal processions and army movements from palaces.