Jaipur, Rajasthan’s capital, packs centuries of Rajput architecture into a city of 3.1 million people. The Pink City earned its nickname in 1876 when Maharaja Ram Singh painted the entire old city terracotta pink to welcome the Prince of Wales. Most major attractions sit within a 5 km radius of the City Palace. Plan 2 to 3 full days for the core sights. Auto-rickshaws cost 50 to 150 INR per ride depending on distance. Negotiate before getting in.
Top Things to Do in Jaipur
Amber Fort (Amer Fort)
Located 11 km north of Jaipur on the Aravalli hills. Built in 1592 by Raja Man Singh I, this sandstone and marble fort combines Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. Opens daily 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Foreign entry costs 550 INR ($6.60) or 50 INR for Indian nationals. The light and sound show runs at 7:00 PM (English) and 8:00 PM (Hindi) for 295 INR.
The fort’s centerpiece is the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) where a single match can illuminate the entire room through thousands of mirrored tiles. The Ganesh Pol gateway has intricate frescoes in lapis lazuli and malachite. Elephant rides from the parking lot to the main courtyard run 1,100 INR per person for two people per elephant, operating 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Arrive by 8:00 AM to avoid the worst crowds and heat. Jeep rides from the parking lot cost 500 INR round-trip. The tunnel connecting Amber Fort to Jaigarh Fort is open to walk through. Plan 2 to 3 hours minimum.
Jaipur City Palace
Located in the heart of the old city. Still the residence of the Jaipur royal family, built between 1729 and 1732 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Opens daily 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM). Foreign entry costs 700 INR ($8.50) for the full complex including the museum galleries. The Chandra Mahal private residence requires a separate 2,000 INR ticket with guided tour.
The four gates representing the seasons are the most photographed feature: the Peacock Gate (autumn) with detailed peacock feather designs in green, blue, and gold. The Mubarak Mahal, built as a reception hall for foreign dignitaries, now houses the textile museum with royal costumes including Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I’s 250 kg clothing. The armory gallery displays swords, guns, and the world’s largest silver vessels (1.6 meters tall, 345 kg each) used to carry Ganges water to England. Plan 1.5 to 2 hours.
Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)
At the intersection of Badi Chaupar and Tripolia Bazaar. Built in 1799, the five-story pink sandstone facade has 953 small windows (jharokhas) designed to let royal women observe street life without being seen. The building is actually just one room deep. Opens daily 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Entry costs 200 INR ($2.40) for foreigners, 50 INR for Indians. The interior is modest compared to the iconic exterior. Photograph the facade from the rooftop cafe across the street (Wind View Cafe) for the classic shot. Morning light (8:00 AM to 10:00 AM) hits the pink sandstone directly for the best photos. The adjacent Tripolia Bazaar is excellent for bangles and textiles.
Jantar Mantar Observatory
Adjacent to the City Palace. Built between 1728 and 1734, this UNESCO World Heritage site contains 19 astronomical instruments. The Samrat Yantra is the world’s largest sundial at 27 meters tall with a shadow that moves 1 mm per second, accurate to 2 seconds. Opens daily 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Entry costs 200 INR ($2.40) for foreigners. Each instrument has an explanatory plaque in English and Hindi. Audio guides cost 150 INR but the on-site guides (200-300 INR) are more informative and explain how each instrument functions. Visit in full sun between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM when the instruments cast shadows. Plan 1 hour. The site is fully exposed with zero shade, wear a hat in any season.
Nahargarh Fort
Perched on the Aravalli ridge 6 km north of the city center. Built in 1734 and expanded in the 19th century, it forms the northern defense ring with Amber and Jaigarh forts. The fort offers the best panoramic view of Jaipur’s grid layout, especially at sunset. Opens daily 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Entry costs 200 INR ($2.40) for foreigners. The Madhavendra Palace inside the fort has 12 identical suites for queens, each connected by frescoed corridors. The Padao restaurant at the fort serves cold beer (250 INR) and snacks with the city view. The sunset crowd arrives by 4:30 PM. The access road from the city is steep and winding; an auto-rickshaw charges 400-500 INR round-trip with a 1-hour wait.
Jaipur Markets and Bazaars
Jaipur’s bazaars in the old city are some of India’s best for textiles, jewelry, handicrafts, and leather goods. Johari Bazaar is the gemstone and jewelry hub, open 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, closed Sundays. Bapu Bazaar sells textiles, leather sandals (mojari, 300-800 INR), and block-printed fabrics. Tripolia Bazaar specializes in bangles (lac bangles from 100 INR per dozen) and brassware. Chandpole Bazaar has marble carvings and sandstone sculptures. Prices are negotiable: start at 40% of the asking price and expect to settle at 50% to 60%. The government-run Rajasthali emporium at Ajmeri Gate has fixed prices and guaranteed quality if you prefer not to haggle. Most bazaars operate 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Visit between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM when shops are freshly opened and less crowded.
Albert Hall Museum
Located in Ram Niwas Garden, 2 km south of the old city. Rajasthan’s oldest museum, opened in 1887 in an Indo-Saracenic building designed by Samuel Swinton Jacob. Opens daily 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Entry costs 300 INR ($3.60) for foreigners. The Egyptian mummy in the basement is one of only six in India. Galleries cover miniature paintings, weaponry, pottery, carpets, and musical instruments. The night viewing (7:00 PM to 10:00 PM) has fewer crowds and the illuminated building exterior is photogenic. Plan 1.5 hours. The surrounding Ram Niwas Garden has a small zoo (50 INR) that’s skippable.
Jaipur Food Experiences
Rajasthani thali is the essential Jaipur food experience: an all-you-can-eat platter with dal baati churma (baked wheat balls with lentils and sweet crushed wheat), gatte ki sabzi (gram flour dumplings in yogurt curry), ker sangri (desert beans and berries), and bajra roti (millet flatbread). Laxmi Misthan Bhandar (LMB) on Johari Bazaar is the most famous, serving thali for 750 INR ($9) in their air-conditioned restaurant. For street food, Rawat Misthan Bhandar near Sindhi Camp bus stand is famous for pyaaz kachori (deep-fried pastry with spiced onion filling) at 35 INR each. The Masala Chowk in Ram Niwas Garden is an open-air food court with 20 stalls covering Rajasthani street food, all using filtered water. Lassiwala on MI Road has served yogurt lassi in clay cups since 1944 for 50 INR.
