The Jaipur tourism guide walks you through all you need to know about the Pink City to make the most of two to three days of stay here. You will know how to reach Jaipur, how to travel within the city, best time to visit, types of stays, must-visit places, what to eat, and much more.
But first of… why visit Jaipur?
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 attract thousands of tourists every year. 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 rustic terracotta vibes and modern infrastructure. From the forts to the historical palaces, from the temples to the shopping hubs, you can never have enough of Jaipur. The feeling of royalty 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 at Jaigarh Fort to the biggest silver vessel in Jaipur City Palace, there are plenty of things to leave you fascinated!
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 travelers 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 multiple ticket options available to travel comfortably.
When looking for places to visit around Jaipur, Ajmer and Alwar are names that pop-up first in mind as they are closest attractions. However, moving south will take you to another popular tourist place, Udaipur. While Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer locate towards the southwest of Rajasthan in Marwar region.
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 around Jaipur?
Auto rickshaws accommodate 3-4 people to navigate within the city. 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, Rapido, 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 associated 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 that could need room heaters!
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.
By the end of March, the royal family of Jaipur organizes Gangaur, the biggest festival of the city making it a sought-after time to be here. Rajasthan Diwas is another occasion that happens in March to commemorate the foundation day of the city with cultural programs and free entry to historic venues.
Shoulder Season
Jaipur during 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 plans as both dust storms and flooding are frequent.
You will, however, be surprised to know that Jaipur turns green during monsoons. It is an unpopular opinion but if you can afford an extended stay, this is the best time to be here. That way you can stay indoors while it rains heavily and step out when it recedes to witness the mighty Aravallis in their best form. Locals go trekking to explore hidden waterfalls during this time, something non-locals cannot often picture when they think about Rajasthan.
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.
Since Jaipur experiences an extreme climate, the summer months can trigger headaches. When I lived in Jaipur, I used to stay home between 10 am and 4 pm to avoid the heat. Interestingly, the evenings were always cool and breezy. It didn’t feel like summers post sunset!
Types of Stays in Jaipur
From old heritage havelis offer royal stays to hostels that are close to the Pink City, there are plenty of stay options in Jaipur:
Havelis
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 that 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 prominent 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 travelers.
Top Attractions in Jaipur
Here is a list of all the places to visit in Jaipur if you have at least 2 to 3 days to explore:
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 handicraft. 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 attraction for Jaipur tourism. 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 used by the king.
Albert Hall Museum
Albert Museum Jaipur was built in honor 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 place for Instagram enthusiasts and often used for pre-wedding photoshoots as the artwork across the gate has mesmerizing stories to tell about Rajasthan.
City Palace Jaipur
The successors of Sawai Jai Singh II still reside in the City Palace of Jaipur. For tourism in Jaipur, only a part of the palace is open to the public. There are multiple ticket options starting from INR 400 to INR 3000, which changes the accessibility you have across the place. The palace includes a museum, a hall, an artisanal workshop, and many more interesting collectables that exhibit how royal life used to be.
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 and you can access it right when you exit the royal residence.
What to eat in Jaipur?
Here are the top five dishes that this Jaipur tourism 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. The best place to try Laal Maas in Jaipur is Niros located in MI Road.
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 available at most sweet shops come with spicy onion filling and are a popular breakfast option in Jaipur. These are served with chutneys and Dahi Kadhi 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. The best place to try Ghevar in Jaipur is Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar located in Johari Bazaar.
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. The way to experience what it feels like to eat Dal Bati Churma in a traditional way is to visit Chokhi Dhani.
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. The most popular place to try Lassi in Jaipur is at Lassiwala in MI Road.
Shopping experience in Jaipur
Here are the popular shopping places in Jaipur:
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. Note that you will get multiple products here but they are highly priced compared to buying them from individual places. This is because tourists don’t always have time to hop and shop, and find the city’s best delight under one roof.
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, jewelry 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 jewelry, 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 jewelry 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.
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 as it 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
Here’s more!
Try to keep 3 days to explore Jaipur thoroughly. You will require one day to explore the forts and one day to explore the main attractions around the city center. An additional day works best when you plan to go shopping or want to explore the hidden gems that are less traveled to!
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