Jaipur tourism is one of the most sought-out places to visit in India due to the learning experience it offers. The rich history and culture hold onto stories that date back three centuries.
Jaipur was the first planned city in India, established on November 18, 1727, by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The city is also named after him, and his contributions still attract thousands of tourists here every day. The city primarily attracts families who want to educate their children beyond textbooks, foreigners who want to explore Indian history, and honeymooners looking for royal stays.
Jaipur tourism introduces visitors to a city that is caught in-between pink rustic vibes and modern infrastructure. From the forts to the historical places, from the temples to the shopping hubs, you can never have enough of Jaipur. The royal vibes amidst the courteous locals make a trip to Jaipur worth every penny.
Parents often indulge in Jaipur tourism to create an interest among their children and teach historical significance. People who love history and constantly look for a GK boost will find many interesting facts to learn. From the largest cannon in Jaigarh Fort to the biggest silver vessel in Jaipur City Palace, these facts entice all booky brains.
How To Reach Jaipur
Jaipur is approximately 310 kms away from Delhi and 240 km away from Agra by road. From Gwalior, Jaipur is 330 kms away. Many travellers booking last-minute tickets prefer coming to Delhi and booking a 4-hour train journey. Due to the short distance, train tickets are available daily. However, when planning a family trip to Jaipur, parents must book in advance to get ample options available to travel comfortably.
When looking for places to visit around Jaipur, Ajmer and Alwar are names that pop-up first in mind. However, moving south will take you to another popular tourist place, Udaipur. Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer locate towards the west of Rajasthan and are just as popular as Jaipur tourism.
By Air
Sanganer Airport is the only national and international airport in the city. It locates 10 kms away from the city centre. It offers flight services from all major cities of India, like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata.
By Road
With a massive road network, including highways like NH 8, NH 11 and NH 12, roads connect smoothly and widely. From Delhi to Agra, from Mathura to Gwalior, you are approximately 200 to 300 kms away from major Indian tourist spots. There are several buses available every day from Delhi that take about 5 hours to reach.
By Rail
Jaipur Railway Station is the headquarters of the North Western Railway zone under Indian Railways, making this city well connected. There are seven railway stations in Jaipur, but Jaipur Junction is the main for outstation trains. Gandhinagar Station is another bustling railway.
How to travel within the City
Auto rickshaws and electric auto rickshaws accommodate 3-4 people. They are the cheapest mode of transport to travel flexibly. Most of these rickshaw drivers can also be your Jaipur travel guide as they cater to tourists frequently and are well-versed with tourist hubs.
You can also avail of bus services if you know the routes. But if you want taxi services, you can book them online across platforms like Ola and Uber.
You can rent a bike or a scooter when travelling solo or as a couple. But if you are a family with small kids, it is best to avail of taxi services or book private cars. The fort trips are bound to make the children tired and cranky, so having a comfortable ride improves the experience.
Most Jaipur hotels are tied up with auto rickshaws and private car service providers. You can book a private car for to explore Jal Mahal, Amber Palace, Jaigarh Fort, and Nahargarh Fort in one day.
Best Time To Visit Jaipur
The best months to visit Jaipur are November and February. The warmth is bearable during the day, and the nights are not extremely cold during these two months. However, you can visit Jaipur during December and January if you enjoy chilly nights.
Peak Season
The peak season for Jaipur tourism is between October to March. Even though November and February will offer you the best weather, the onset of October and March is slightly less warm.
Shoulder Season
The monsoon months across July and August are worth taking a risk due to moderate rain and cooler temperatures. However, you must check the weather forecast before making outdoor plans, as dust storms are likely.
Off Season
April to September is hot across the state and uncomfortable for travel plans. However, this is when hotels slash their prices up to 50%, making Jaipur tourism cost-effective.
Types of Stays in Jaipur
Here are the types of stays in Jaipur:
Palaces
If the royal side of Rajasthan intrigues you, wanting to stay at a luxurious haveli might be on your priority list. The entire state of Rajasthan is full of palaces turned into hotels, making it one of the top reasons to attract tourism. The interests have increased post celebrity weddings.
Hotels
The city is filled with 3-star and 4-star hotels ideal for families. Hotels are available across the city. However, most people prefer staying near Hawa Mahal to access other main sights like City Palace and Jantar Mahal.
Hostels
Jaipur has plenty of quirky hostels welcoming backpackers. Shared accommodations decrease cost, while top-notch quality and safety make them preferable for solo travellers.
Homestays
Enhance your Jaipur tourism experience by booking a bungalow for your family and feeling kingly every time you step in. There are plenty of exquisite properties, including pools and the best amenities.
Top Attractions in Jaipur
Jal Mahal
The attraction of Jal Mahal falls enroute to Amer Fort. It is a five-storey architectural marvel made in Rajput style.
Interestingly, four storeys remain underwater. You can only witness it from the bustling pavement filled with hawkers selling Rajasthani goodies. This place illuminates in the evening with reflection across the Man Sagar Lake.
Amber Palace
Amer Fort, or Amber Palace, is a blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture and a prime Jaipur tourism attraction. If you want to educate your kids about this historical place, you must hire a Jaipur travel guide on the premises.
Comprising of different sections like Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Niwas, Jai Mandir, etc., this place exhibits the lifestyle and administration of Rajput kings.
Jaigarh Fort
Overlooking Amber Palace and Maota Lake, this fort was built by Sawai Jai Singh II to protect Amer. The city of Jaipur and this fort is named after the King, who constructed the pink city in 1727.
The prime attraction of this place is the Jaivana Cannon. It is the largest cannon on wheels that had killed hundreds of people and created a crater 35 kms away. It was since then never used because of the destruction it brought.
Nahargarh Fort
The name Nahargarh defines a ‘tiger abode’ and overlooks Jaipur city offering stunning views at sunset. The city looks like tiny stars on the ground from the viewpoint. The palace was built by Sawai Jai Singh II as a residence for nine queens.
The architecture was equally distributed across all the rooms for the royals to reside. It also has bathrooms, dressing rooms, and a secret passageway only availed by the king.
Albert Hall Museum
Albert Museum Jaipur was built in honour of Albert Edward (King Edward VII), who visited Jaipur along with Queen Victoria in 1876. The museum houses one of the six Egyptian mummies present in India.
From the Indo-Saracenic architecture to the ancient collections of pottery, utensils, weaponry, etc., this place is a candy store for history buffs. Located in Ram Niwas Garden, this place has hundreds of pigeons during the day and marvellously lights up during the night.
Patrika Gate
Unlike the historical significance of eight other gates across Jaipur, the Patrika Gate was newly built in 2016. It has a unique importance as the number 9 is considered lucky in Hinduism. The place also has nine gates within the premises at equal distances from one another. It is a must-visit for Instagram enthusiasts as the artwork across the gate has mesmerizing stories to tell.
City Palace Jaipur
The successors of Sawai Jai Singh II still reside in the City Palace of Jaipur. For Jaipur tourism, only a part of the palace is open to the public. There are multiple ticket options starting from Rs. 400 to Rs. 3000, which changes the accessibility you have across. The palace includes a museum, a hall, an artisanal workshop, and many more interesting collectables that exhibit the royal lifestyle.
Hawa Mahal
The Palace of Windows, Hawa Mahal, was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in the heart of the old city. It was dedicated to Lord Krishna as the shape of the building resembles His crown. This place reflects Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. It has 953 Jharokas (windows) and was built for royal women to observe everyday life.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is an interesting place for children learning geometry and others interested in geometric forms. It was built by Sawai Jai Singh II in 1724 to possess five observatories across 19 astronomical instruments based on Ptolemaic positional astronomy. It locates right beside City Palace.
Gatore Ki Chhatriyan Jaipur
Gatore Ki Chhatriyan is a royal crematorium ground that has the remains of Sawai Jai Singh II. He had chosen this ground to be used for this purpose. Every Kachhwaha king has been cremated there ever since, except Sawai Ishwari Singh, who was buried in the City Palace complex.
Delicacies and Beverages to try in Jaipur
Here are the top five treats that this Jaipur guide recommends:
Laal Maas
Rajasthan is predominantly vegetarian, with around 74.9% of people consuming meatless meals. However, Laal Maas became a part of Rajasthan during times when hunting was prevalent. Deer meat was familiar to indigenous tribes, but the delicacies are now prepared with mutton.
Piyaz Ki Kachori
If you are looking for something to treat a fussy eater, you must try Piyaz Ki Kachori. Children totally love these and are different from kachoris you get in other parts of India.
These kachoris come with spicy cooked onion filling and are a popular breakfast option in Jaipur. These are served with chutneys on the side.
Ghevar
Ghevar is a dessert that has a shape of a disc. It is a larger and more complicated version of jalebi, made with ghee, sugar syrup, and flour. While many sweet shops sell this daily, it is more commonly sold during Raksha Bandhan and Teej festivals.
Dal Bati Churma
Dal Bati Churma comes under the main course category for full meals. These traditional Rajasthani food items include lentils, a round gram flour-filled ball, and powdery sweets.
Chaach and Lassi
To beat the heat of Jaipur during summer, Chaach is a go-to comfort option in Jaipur. However, people prefer having Lassi filled with Malai, cashews, and pistachios during winter.
Shopping experience in Jaipur
Here are the shopping places you must ask your city travel guide to take you:
Jaipur National Handloom
Located close to Amer Fort, this place sells authentic block-printed clothing, quilts, sarees, suits, and more. They also have a section dedicated to selling precious stones and jewels. There are more handloom shops like these across Jaipur, and best known by local tour guides and auto drivers.
Bapu Bazaar
Located 5 minutes from Hawa Mahal, this place brings you to a one-stop destination for all you need. From clothes to shoes, jewellery to souvenirs, this should be the only place you visit if you don’t have time to shop elsewhere.
MI Road
To get your hands on some of the most authentic jewellery, come to MI Road. The entire stretch has plenty of big labels selling antiques and gemstones. Try The Gem Palace if you especially want to explore the royal Rajasthani culture.
Johari Bazaar
Unique design with handmade artisanal grandeur awaits you at Johari Bazaar. A market fully dedicated to precious and semi precious stones, this is the ideal place to find fabulous jewellery and negotiate your price.
Chandpole Bazaar
If you love handicrafts, come to Chandpole Bazaar and find excellent craftsmanship reflected through carvings made of marble. Target visiting Khazanewalon ka Rasta to buy sculptures, handicrafts, carpets, woodwork, and more.
View this post on Instagram
Safety Tips
Jaipur is one of the safest places to travel in India because it is the epitome of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava.’ Locals depend on tourists, and ensuring their safety and happiness is bread and butter for most.
Here are some safety measures to consider:
- Parents must pack clothes according to extreme weather conditions as Jaipur can be extremely hot during the day and equally cold during the night
- Parents must carry water and food when travelling to the forts as food options are not available uphill
- Auto drivers often cancel when you make online bookings from hotels until you book them for an entire day of city tour
- Product prices are high in stores around or inside forts compared to local shopping markets
- Always ask for bills when buying from local retail shops
- Purchase jewellery from authentic shops with proof of quality
- Every Jaipur travel guide ends their journey by taking you to local handloom shops as tourists’ purchases get them a commission
Final thoughts
When opting for Jaipur tourism, try to have three days to explore the city thoroughly. You will require one day to explore the forts and one day to explore the main attractions around the city centre. The additional day works best when you plan shopping sprees and exploring off-beat places.
Resham is actually Shusree Mukherjee but she chose to make this blog with her nickname as it rhymes with tourism. Shusree write SEO content and aspires to become a travel content creator by upskilling into video content creation. Thanks for tuning in and navigating roots with me!
Leave a Reply