The rulers of Amber–Jaipur were not only brave and courageous but also very efficient administrators. As administrators, they served very sincerely under different Mughal Emperors and were duly acknowledged and rewarded. They were even deputed as Subedars in different parts of the Northwest frontier and helped the emperors in running the administration smoothly. At times when other Mughal Generals were unsuccessful in their expeditions, the kachhwaha rulers like Maharaja Man Singh 1, Mirza Raja Jai Singh, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, etc. were given the charge to lead the Mughal forces to victory.
Due to internecine conflicts between the successive weak emperors, the Mughal dynasty started declining at the beginning of the 18th century and it was the opportunity for Sawai Jai Singh to strengthen his position. He shifted the kachhwaha capital from Amber to Jaipur.
During his reign, for better maintenance of the administration, the system of 36 karkhanas (Deptts.) was established. He was a great scholar of Sanskrit. He deeply studied the Hindu scriptures, especially the Vedas and the epics, and strictly followed the ideologies mentioned in them. His attachment to the Mughal administration proved another advantage for him. The 36 karkhanas are found mentioned in Buddhivilas a manuscript written by Bakhatram, preserved in Pothikhana of City Palace, Jaipur. After a detailed study of Kapatdwara records and other different literary works of Pothikhana, Pandit G. N. Bahura (ex-in charge of Pothikhana) however could identify the existence of 34 karkhanas. Their names are given in the following –
1. Kapatdwara 2. Pothikhana 3. Suratkhana 4. Khyalkhana 5. Silahkhana 6. Farrashkhana 7. Palkikhana
8. Philkhana 9. Baggikhana 10. Sutarkhana 11. Rathkhana 12. Tabela atish 13. Gwalera 14. Shikarkhana
15. Rasoda 16. Modikhana 17. Taterkhana 18. Tambolkhana 19. Aukhadkhana 20. Imarat 21. Mistrikhana
22. Nakkarkhana/Naubatkhana 23. Gunijankhana 24. Karkhana Punya 25. Bagayat 26 Khabar
27. Tarkashi (Gota-kinari) 28. Khushbukhana/Ittra ki auri 29. Nakhas (Horse selling and purchasing)
30. Mashalkhana 31. Patangkhana 32. Paatarkhana 33. Rangkhana 34. Roshan chowki
After Sawai Jai Singh his successors also took initiative in the upliftment and proper maintenance of their karkhanas. But after integration due to inadequate resources, many karkhanas gradually started declining and were finally closed. Late Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and his successor, the present Maharaja of Jaipur Brig. Sawai Bhawani Singhji restarted certain karkhanas. Nearly a dozen of these karkhanas are running in the premises of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, City Palace, Jaipur. Restarted karkhanas are –
1. Kapadwara Pothikhana 2. Suratkhana 3. Silahkhana 4. Farrashkhana 5. Palkikhana 6. Baggikhana
7. Imarat 8. Mistrikhana 9. Naubatkhana 10. Karkhana Punya (Dharmartha) 11. Bagayat etc.
It is to be mentioned that, in the last few years on the premises of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum a new gallery has been started, where to keep alive the age-old tradition of Jaipur art and craft, different artists of paintings, enameling work, blue pottery, etc are given space to demonstrate their skills and sell their products directly to the tourists/visitors.
(Source: Display Board at City Palace in Jaipur (Rajasthan)