Jaipur is the Capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is also known as “The Pink city of india” because of the dominant colour scheme of its buildings. Jaipur is a popular tourist destination in India and is a part of the Golden Triangle Tourist Circuit.
Jaipur is named after its founder Jai Singh II, the Rajput ruler of Amer. It is one of the earliest planned cities of modern India. This city is also among the UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you are one of those who is interested to know the lifestyle of the rulers of the bygone era or a foodie then Jaipur is the place for you. Jaipur has everything that you are looking for. Read through to know more about this flamboyant city.
- How to get to Jaipur
- Top 7 Must visit places at Jaipur
- Travel Tips
- What not to do at Jaipur, Lessons from my trip
How to get to Jaipur
Jaipur, Rajasthan is well connected by Air, Rail and Road with almost all the major cities in India. Jaipur is at a distance of 240kms from New Delhi, Capital of India.
By Air: Sanganer Airport is 10 Km away from the main Jaipur city and has both Domestic and International Terminus.
By Train: Indian Railways connects this popular tourist place to all the major Indian cities. Indian Railways also has come up with exotic journey in Palace on wheels train. It starts from Delhi and connects Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Agra and Delhi for a week long luxury trip.
By Road: Jaipur is well connected by road to all the major cities of India by National Highway(NH) 8, NH 11 and NH 12. Jaipur is 4 hours drive from New Delhi.
Top 7 Must visit places at Jaipur
1. Hawa Mahal
HawaMahal or Palace of Winds/Breeze is an iconic palace located at the center of Jaipur. This palace is made with pink and white sand stone. This was build by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of the founder of the Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. The Palace has 5 floors with 953 small windows decorated with intricate latticework. Its exterior resembles honeycomb of a beehive thus allowing cool air to pass through and making the entire place pleasant during summers.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. daily
- Entrance Fees: Local Indians: Rs 10 (USD 0.14) / Foreigners: Rs 50( USD 0.7)
2. City Palace
CityPalace is located at the heart of Jaipur city. This Palace was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and moved his court from Amber fort to this palace in 1797. This Palace continues to be the home of the Jaipur royal family. The most prominent and most visited structures in the complex are the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple, and the City Palace Museum.
- Opening Hours: 9:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
- Entrance Fees: Local Indians: Rs 75 (USD 1.05) / Children: Rs 40( USD 0.56). Foreigners: Rs 300( USD 4.2)
3. Amber Fort
Amer Fort or Amber Fort is situated in Amer, 11 kms from Jaipur. This fort is situated on a hill top with an area of 4 square kilometers. Amer was ruled by Raja Man Singh 1. Amer fort was built using red sand stone and marble suggesting the influences of both HIndu and Muslim architecture. “Sheesh Mahal”, “Sukh Mahal” and “Diwan-i-Aam” are some of the main courtyards in Amer fort. One can opt for elephant ride to reach the palace. This is one of the main tourist attraction here. However if you opt for elephant ride then make sure to reach early morning. Also do not miss the light and sound show if you happen to visit Amber fort in the evening.
- Opening Hours: 9:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
- Entrance Fees: Local Indians: Rs 100 (USD 1.4). Foreigners: Rs 500( USD 7.02 )
- Light Show Timings: 7:30 PM in English and 8:00 PM in Hindi
- Entry fee for English Light show : Rs 200
- Entry fee for Hindi Light show: Rs 100
NOTE: ALL THE ENTRY FEE MENTIONED IN THIS BLOG IS AS PER JAN 2020 AND IS BOUND TO CHANGE BY TIME. PLEASE Visit Rajasthan Tourism website for updated fare details.
4. Sheesh Mahal – Glass, Marble, Scorpion Flowers
Sheesh-mahal (Mirror Palace) is one the must visit courtyard in Amber fort. This place is built using marble, glass pieces and precious stones. Sheesh Mahal is an architectural marvel. Mirrors are placed in such a way that a candle lit at a corner in sheesh mahal illuminates the entire place. Do not miss to check out the marble carvings especially the scorpion flowers.
5. Jal Mahal
Jal-Mahal translates to water Palace. Situated in the middle of the Man Sagar lake, Jal mahal is an architectural showcase of the Rajput style of architecture. Palace is built using red sandstone. It has 5 floors. 4 floors remain underwater when the lake is full.
- Opening Hours: 6:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
- Visitors are not allowed to enter the palace. However one can enjoy the view of the palace by taking boat ride in the lake.
6. Jantar Mantar
Are you wondering what Jantar Mantar has to offer being an observatory? This place is a true human marvel. The Jantar- Mantar is an equinoctial sundial, consisting of a gigantic triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the earth’s axis. These instruments are used to measure the time of the day, correct to half a second. Maharaja Jai Singh II constructed Jantar Mantar. His keen interest in architecture, astronomy and philosophy led to the construction of the largest sun dial of the world. The astronomical instruments attracts anybody who is interested in Science. I kept wondering how can anyone build such structures with such precision. A must visit place while in Jaipur.
7. Chokhi dhani
If you are one of those explorers who is keen to understand the culture of a Rajasthan then Chokhi Dhani is the place for you. Chokhi Dhani is one stop to experience the unique Rajasthani culture. Real Rajasthan can be felt at Chokhi Dhani. They have everything that sums up Rajasthan from Bani Thani art to evening performances. If you are a foodie then you can savour authentic Rajasthani food at Chokhi Dhani. Make sure to have a lot of jilebi’s (Indian Sweet) without even thinking of calories. This is according to me a must visit place while at Jaipur.
To try other special Rajasthani cuisine, visit Must try vegetarian delicacies at Jaipur.
Travel Tips
- Carry cap, water bottle, sunscreen as it gets extremely hot during the day.
- September to March is the best time to visit. It is extremely hot during April/May and rainy from June – August.
- Hiring a guide is a must to understand the intricate designs carved on the walls and also to understand the history. Government trained guides who can speak multiple languages are available. They charge a fixed nominal fee. Feel free to give them a tip if you like their service.
- Take photographs of yourself dressed in local attire.
What not to do at Jaipur, Lessons from my Trip
Below are some of the mistakes i made when i visited Jaipur. Learn from my mistakes and make the most from your trip to Jaipur.
- Avoid going to any of the must visit places during the rush hours. It gets really hard to capture amazing photographs because of the crowd. Try to visit early morning to beat the heat and also crowds.
- Your travel guide might suggest few places for shopping. Do not not stick to the shop mentioned by your guide. I highly recommend visiting as many shops as possible before purchasing. Every shop will have the same commodity with no difference in colour, size etc except for the price.
- Bargaining is a skill and is very useful while at Jaipur. Try to bargain as much as possible to strike a good deal. Bargain only when you feel the asking price is more.
- Don’t worry if you missed taking photographs of yourself dressed in local attire. You can do it at the next place you visit at Jaipur. Every point of interest in Jaipur has this facility.
- Don’t miss buying amazing hand printed cotton kurta’s. I regret even to this day for not buying.
- Dont miss visiting Choki Dhani to experience true Rajasthani Culture.
