Jaipur is one of the most culturally rich cities in India. It is named after Maharaja Jai Singh II who was the founder of the city. Jaipur is called the “Pink City” as it got the name when King Sawai Ram Singh painted all royal and official buildings in sandstone color to celebrate the visit of Prince of Wales to the city. It is world famous for its extraordinary buildings and its vibrancy is adequately depicted by the color.

Before you plan a trip, get all the details of Jaipur.

• Currency – Indian Rupee     
• Location – Located in the East border of Thar Desert which is the only desert of India.
• Best Time to Visit – October to March
  

How to Reach

By Air

Jaipur Airport is situated at Sanganer, 7 km (domestic) and 10km (international) from the main city. Also, there are regular domestic flights to Delhi from Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Goa, Lucknow etc.

By Train

Jaipur is very well connected to almost every part and city of India through the Indian Railways.

By Road

Jaipur is linked with the all the major cities through the network of National Highways 8, 11 and 12 to name a few. There’s also amazing bus service between Jaipur and Delhi provided by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) with the buses at about every half an hour to and from both sides.

Places to See in Jaipur

1. Amer Fort

Famous for its mirror work, the fort and its history come alive with the evening sound and light show.

Moreover, this came suddenly into spotlight after Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie Bajirao Mastani.

Entry Fees:

• Foreigners – INR 200 (adults) and INR 100 (students)
• Indians – INR 25 (adults) and INR 10 (students)
• Elephant rides: INR 900 for 2 person
• Amber by night: INR 100
• Light and sound show: INR 200 (English show), INR 100 (Hindi show)

Opening hours:

• Fort visit: 9am to 4:30pm
• Light & sound show: 7pm-9pm (English), 8pm-10pm (Hindi)
• Elephant Rides: 9am to 11:30am (on first come first serve basis), No prior bookings.

Nearby Places to Eat:

Shri Thaal Village, 1135 AD, the Stag Restro Café & Lounge, Jaigarh Restaurant, Café Coffee day

Note: the Amer Fort has food stalls inside it, you should totally try them.

2. Jaigarh Fort

The main thing that attracts most of tourists is the gigantic canon Jaivana with its exceptional military architecture.

The fort also houses a museum. It displays puppets, artifacts, photographs and the war utilities of the Rajput rulers.

Entry Fees: INR 35 – Indians, INR 85 – Foreigners

Opening Hours: 9:30am to 4:30pm

Nearby Places to Eat:

Jaigarh Restaurant, 1135 AD

3. Nahargarh Fort: The Abode of the Tigers

Since the fort is situated high up on the Aravali hills, it is one of the famous places in Jaipur. Moreover, it is popular for its enchanting sunset views overlooking the entire Jaipur city

You can also enjoy a family picnic here as there is a cafe inside that serves snacks and drinks. Also, the fort is beautifully lit at night.

Entry Fees:

• Foreigners: INR 50 (adults) and INR 25 (students)
• Indians: INR 20 (adults) and INR 4 (students)

Opening Hours: 10am to 5:30pm

Nearby Places to Eat:

Once upon a time in Nahargarh, Padao restaurant, Midtown Multicuisine Restaurant, the Grand Peacock Restaurant, Jal Mahal Restaurant

4. City Palace

One of the best tourist spots in Jaipur, this palace is a vast complex of several gardens, courtyards and buildings.

Entry Fees: INR 75 – Indians, INR 350 – foreigners

Opening Hours: 9:30am to 5pm

Nearby Places to Eat:

Baradari restaurant & bar, the tattoo café, Midtown Multicuisine restaurant, Kailash veg restaurant, Muhammadi Palace

5. Jal Mahal: The Water Palace

Jal Mahal, situated in the center of Lake Man Sagar, is one of best places to see in Jaipur. This 5-storey palace has 4 storeys beneath the surface of water that offer a unique underwater viewing experience.

Note: Entry inside the Mahal is not allowed. But, you can admire its beauty anytime you’d like.

Nearby Places to Eat:

Jal Mahal Restaurant, Jal Mahal – trident, Pink City Restaurant, Trident Hotel, Rainbow Restaurant

6. Hawa Mahal: The Palace of Winds

Hawa Mahal is a famous landmark in the heart of Pink City in Rajasthan. The Mahal is a five-storey building made of pink and red sandstone in the shape of a crown of Lord Krishna. In addition, it has 953 jharokas or windows built to facilitate the royal women to enjoy the processions without stepping into the public.

Entry Fees: INR 10 – Indians, INR 50 – foreigners

Opening Hours: 9am to 4:30pm

Nearby Places to Eat:

Kailash Veg restaurant, Sri Balaji Vegetable restaurant, Heritage Buffet, Kelash Pavitra Bhojnalay, Yugal Pavitra Bhojnalay

7. Birla Mandir: The Laxmi Narayan Temple

Birla Mandir is one of the most popular religious places in Jaipur.

Entry Fees: Free

Opening Hours: 8am to 12pm, 4pm to 8pm

Nearby Places to Eat:

Sanjay Omelette, Firewood Restaurant, SATVA, Suvarna Mahal, Steam

8. Galtaji Temple: The Abode of Monkeys

One of the buzzing tourist attractions in Jaipur, Monkey Temple is famous for its complex structure. It consists of three sacred pools of water and is surrounded by two granite cliffs. Moreover, you can actually spot a lot of monkeys bathing in pools.

Entry Fees: Free

Opening Hours: It is recommended to go during late afternoon, during the sunset when the monkeys get into the temple.

Nearby Places to Eat:

The Grill Restaurant, Kabul Chicken Sajji, Ghat Ke Balaji Bhojanalya, D’arte, Pink City Kings

9. Sisodia Rani Garden

Sisodia Rani Gardon, is considered as a symbol of eternal love between Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh and Rani Sisodia Jai Singh. It is based on the stories of love between Lord Krishna and Radha. Moreover, the garden is also a popular wedding destination in Jaipur.

Entry Fees: Free

Opening Hours: 9:30am to 4:30pm

Nearby Places to Eat:

Choolgiri canteen, Nh11 Restaurant, Khalasa Restaurant, ORA café & restaurant, Domino’s Pizza

10. Central Park

Central Park is one of the largest and most colorful gardens in Jaipur. Musical fountain, temple, stone states, 206-feet national flag, and the 5 km long jogging and walking track are some of the attractions of the park.

Entry Fees: Free

Opening Hours: Open 24×7

Nearby Places to Eat:

V2 Lawn & Fine Dining, Rajasthani Thali, Satkar Non-Veg & Veg, Jaipur Adda, Indian Coffee House

Shopping Places

• JOHARI BAZAAR
• TRIPOLIA BAZAAR
• CHANDPOLE BAZAAR
• KISHANPOLE BAZAAR
• NEHRU BAZAAR
• SIREH DEORI BAZAAR
• BAAPU BAZAAR

What to Expect? / Tips

• You must visit Jaipur city in the winter months as the weather is very pleasant.
• For getting around in Jaipur, there’s a prepaid taxi counter at Jaipur airport and auto rickshaw counter at the railway station. Auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are the most easiest and convenient ways to cover short distances in Jaipur.
• Summer heat is very draining, so it’s important to take measures to avoid getting dehydrated (if you visit in the hottest months).
• It is advisable to not buy any gems from stranger or someone who approaches you and asks you to buy them

Where to stay?

There are great accommodation options throughout Jaipur.

Some of them are as follows-

• Royal Heritage Haveli
• Hotel Kalyan
• Golden Tulip Jaipur
• Hilton Jaipur
• Arya Niwas
• Ramada Jaipur
• The Lalit Jaipur

“I am that person who dropped her B.Tech (really!) and chose to travel, specifically travel blogging. I’m Manmeet Kaur, a crazy, fun loving and adventurous person from Delhi. I knew I had an interest in writing since I was in school. I didn’t want to be an engineer, doctor or I would say a teacher. My plans were different. I wanted to travel which I guess no one,  specially girl had chosen to do in my family for a living. And like other human beings on this planet I have big dreams too. But my ultimate dream is to travel the world and share my experiences through writing and blogging.” 🙂