Known to many as the Pink City, Jaipur is the undisputed capital of Rajasthan and one of the must-see gems of your trip to India. With three centuries of history, this imposing city owes its nickname to the pink stone that adorns many of its buildings. Divided into six zones and with stunning architectural features throughout, there’s certainly plenty to see in Jaipur.
From the imposing Maharaja’s Palace, which has striking carvings all around the structure, to the Amber Fort or the Palace of the Winds, Jaipur’s architectural heritage is a succession of masterpiece after masterpiece. Of course, there’s no shortage of things to do in Jaipur either and you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of its bazaars, as well as the inescapable art of Bollywood cinema. Read on and we’ll take you through the must-see sights of Jaipur one by one.
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What are the best things to see in Jaipur?
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
1. The City Palace
If there is one thing we have to thank Maharaja Jai Singh II for, it is the impressive work he did in ordering the construction of the City Palace. This palace spares no detail to leave you speechless: its blend of Indian and Mughal architecture, along with the countless courtyards and gardens, as well as the characteristic pink of its walls, are some of the crucial elements of its splendour.
The City Palace is, for many, the most important monument to see in Jaipur. Dominating the city centre, the walled complex has served as the residence of several of the city’s Maharajas. Nowadays, only a part of the palace fulfils this function, since the rest has been remodelled to create a museum that we recommend you to visit. Here, you can visit various exhibitions which, together with the rest of the palace’s decorations, make for an unforgettable visit.
2. Hawa Mahal: the palace of the winds
Jaipur is a majestic city and the monuments that dot its landscape make this clear. After leaving the City Palace behind, you’ll come across another fantastic architectural must-see: The Palace of the Winds. Rising imposingly with its five storeys and a pink colour that characterises the city, Hawa Mahal is an iconic landmark of Jaipur.
It was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap, with special attention to detail in its design. From the pyramidal shape of its façade, with pointed domes and hundreds of windows that opened the palace to the life of the streets of Jaipur. It’s certainly not particularly grand, and for that reason alone it’s worth stopping for a moment during your trip to visit – we’re sure you won’t regret it.
3. Jantar Mantar, a unique place to see in Jaipur
In Jaipur, there is no end to the marvellous constructions that amaze visitors from all over the world and that is why they have even received worldwide recognition. We are talking about none other than the Jantar Mantar, a piece of historical heritage that was recognised as a World Heritage Site in 2010 by UNESCO, making its importance forever clear.
Jantar Mantar is the name given to this astronomical observatory, which was built in 1728 by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Passionate about the cosmos and all that it conceals, he dedicated his efforts to building this complex, which after much effort became his favourite place to measure and observe the heavens. This ‘park’ is full of large constructions called gnomons (which are used for different celestial calculations) that are still in use today. This is just one of the five observatories he built throughout the country. A visual feast for those who, like Jai Singh II, are passionate about astronomy.
4. Fort Amber
A little further from the centre of Jaipur you’ll come across Amber, a place that exudes the country’s history and has nothing to envy the capital of Rajasthan. In fact, Amber was for a long time the capital of this region of Rajasthan, which is why you’ll find so many significant monuments in the city.
One of the highlights of the city is undoubtedly the imposing Amber Fort, a complex that attracts the attention of visitors and locals alike. This palace was commissioned by Maharaja Man Singh more than 300 years ago and was later extended during the rule of Jai Singh I. The reddish and yellowish tones of the sandstone, contrasting with the white marble that accompanies its design, stand out from its slender form.
It’s a must-see during your stay in Jaipur, so the 11km from the centre of Jaipur to Amber is a small price to pay. Situated on a hill, Amber Fort is accessible in a number of ways (one of which is by elephant), although we recommend you take the tour with the help of local guides, as you’ll learn all the ins and outs of this spectacular site.
What to see around Jaipur?
1. Jal Mahal: the water palace
If you decide to spend more days in and around Jaipur, you can make the most of the experience that beautiful Rajasthan has to offer. One of the must-sees in Jaipur is Jal Mahal, a one-of-a-kind palace that towers over Udaipur Lake (Jagat Niwas) and is accessible only by a footbridge. We’ll tell you all about it so you don’t miss a thing about it.
Access is free, although you can only enter from 6am to 6pm. Our recommendation is to either go at sunrise or wait until late to watch the sunset over the lake, while the palace façade is illuminated as the light falls. It’s also important to note that if you want to visit the interior, you’ll have to do so during the rainy season. But don’t worry, because if you travel during the dry season, the views of the palace are equally impressive.
What to see in 1 day in Jaipur?
Jaipur is a splendid city, offering authentic natural wonders and a historical heritage unique in all of India. If you’re short on time, you probably won’t be able to appreciate all it has to offer, but you’ll still be able to take in many of its sights. To help you do just that, we’ve put together a short itinerary of just one day’s worth of our favourite spots.
First, we recommend a visit to the imposing City Palace, a must-see complex on any tour of Rajasthan’s capital. Next, head to the Jantar Mantar and after that the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds. With that, plus the city’s many bazaars, you’ll have completed an unforgettable day in Jaipur.
Where to stay in Jaipur?
In order to make your travel process a lot more bearable and not break your head, we have prepared a small list of the most captivating accommodations in Jaipur:
- Dera Rawatsar- Heritage: This stunning hotel is a little out of the way from the centre, but worth every minute. Its dreamy facilities, with a huge outdoor pool and luxurious rooms, are a delight. The price per weekend for a room for two is usually around €140.
- Rawla Mrignayani Palace: A charming, palace-like hotel with spacious rooms. The price for a weekend is around €57.
- Jaipur Haveli: In the heart of Jaipur city centre, you’ll find this bed and breakfast style guesthouse, exquisitely decorated and priced at around €115.
How to get to Jaipur?
One of the easiest ways to reach Jaipur is by train from New Delhi, from New Delhi Railway Station. The journey takes between 5 and 6 hours, and there are a number of different price options for the trip. You even have the option of making the journey in a hotel train, which can be a very good option for many travellers.
You can also make your way to Jaipur by bus, with trips organised by various agencies or on India’s public transport system. In general, we recommend that you choose the train, as the roads are not in the best condition. Finally, you can arrive by plane with a stopover in New Delhi (if you’re travelling from Spain) as well as by private transport.
What to consider before travelling to Jaipur
- A visa is required for travel to India. It can be obtained online and is usually granted in less than a week. The cost is around €70.
- Be covered for medical emergencies: travel insured
- The city is safe, but we advise to exercise caution and keep an eye on your belongings.
- The official currency of India is the rupee.
- The traffic is crazy, if you can avoid it, don’t drive.
- Driving is part of everyday life, so be ready.
- Best to avoid eating at street stalls and drinking tap water.
- Don’t try to see the whole country in one trip, India is huge. If you have to choose, it’s best to start in the north.
- The climate varies a lot from one area to another. If you’re going to the mountains the best time is summer. For the rest of the country, we recommend travelling between December and March.
- Beware of scams, they are very common.
How to prepare what to see on your trip to Jaipur?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Jaipur.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Jaipur
We recommend that you choose to travel between December and March, as you will be able to find lower prices and also a much less aggressive climate, which will allow you to enjoy your stay much better.
As always, we recommend that you take special care with your belongings and hire official services, but otherwise you don’t have to worry too much.
In India, some of the most typical dishes are samosas, thali, naan and vada, as well as the Lassi drink, made from yoghurt.
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