Rajasthan, northern India · India
The Pink City of Rajasthan: a walled bazaar town of palaces and sandstone façades, a hilltop fort above a lake and a great open-air observatory.
Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0
Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of the Kachwaha Rajput dynasty, who moved his capital down from the hilltop fort at Amber to a new planned city on the plain. It was laid out on a grid, with wide streets and organised bazaars, and its buildings were painted terracotta pink in 1876, traditionally for the visit of the Prince of Wales, which gave it the name Pink City. UNESCO inscribed the walled city in 2019.
The city's palaces, forts and observatory reflect the taste and science of its rulers. The City Palace is still partly the residence of the royal family, the Jantar Mantar is an 18th-century observatory of giant astronomical instruments, and the Hawa Mahal, with its many small windows, is the emblem of the city. Above the city on the ridge are Amber, Jaigarh and Nahargarh forts.
Jaipur is also a working city, with busy bazaars selling textiles, jewellery, gems, leather and pottery, and it is one of the best places in India to shop for crafts. It is hot in summer and crowded in winter, but its energy and colour make it a highlight of Rajasthan.
Why visit
Jaipur is the quintessential Rajasthani city, with monuments, markets and food in a compact area.
Amber Fort, the City Palace and the Hawa Mahal are among the best sights in Rajasthan.
Jantar Mantar's giant instruments still measure time and celestial positions, and are UNESCO-listed.
Block-printed textiles, blue pottery, gemstones, silver jewellery and leather goods.
Dal baati churma, laal maas, pyaaz kachori and sweet ghewar.
It connects Delhi and Agra with Udaipur, Jodhpur and the desert.
Main attractions
The main sights are spread between the old walled city and the ridge to the north, and two days covers them.
A fort-palace on a hill 11 km from the city, built in the 16th century by Raja Man Singh and expanded by later rulers, with mirror-studded halls, painted gateways and terraces above Maota Lake. It is the finest fort in Rajasthan.
Tip Go at opening time, and walk up rather than take an elephant.
The Palace of Winds, built in 1799, a five-storey façade of 953 small windows that let royal women watch street life unseen. It is best seen from the street opposite in the morning.
Tip The view from the café across the street is the classic one.
A complex of courtyards, pavilions and gates in a blend of Rajput and Mughal styles, partly a museum and partly the home of the royal family. Its four gates are decorated with peacocks and seasons.
Tip See the Pitam Niwas Chowk gates in the courtyard.
An open-air observatory built in the 1730s by Jai Singh II, with 19 astronomical instruments, including the world's largest stone sundial, which can measure time to within seconds.
Tip Hire a guide to see how the instruments work.
Hilltop forts above the city with sweeping views, particularly at sunset. Jaigarh holds a giant cannon.
Tip Go by taxi, and stay for sunset.
Johari Bazaar for jewellery, Bapu Bazaar for textiles and shoes and Tripolia Bazaar for lacquer and metal, all in the walled city.
Tip Bargain, and keep an eye on your belongings.
Things to do
Jaipur combines sightseeing with shopping and food, and a few workshops are worth seeing.
See the Sheesh Mahal's mirrored ceiling and the views of the lake, ideally at opening time.
Tip Buy tickets online.
Workshops at Sanganer and Bagru print cotton with hand-carved wooden blocks and natural dyes.
Tip Try printing a scarf yourself.
Jaipur is a global centre for gemstone cutting, but buy only from reputable shops.
Tip Ask for a certificate and compare prices.
A distinctive local ceramic with cobalt and turquoise glazes.
Tip Buy from a workshop with fixed prices.
Learn to make Rajasthani dishes in a family kitchen.
Tip Book through your hotel.
Terrace restaurants look over the lit-up Hawa Mahal and City Palace.
Tip Book a table for sunset.
Local food
Rajasthani food is hearty, spicy and designed for a hot, dry climate.
Baked wheat balls served with lentils and a sweet, crumbly wheat mixture, and the state's signature dish.
Where to try it Traditional restaurants in the old city.
A fiery mutton curry made with red chillies, from Rajasthan's warrior tradition.
Where to try it Restaurants serving Rajasthani thalis.
A crisp, flaky pastry stuffed with spiced onion, a popular street snack.
Where to try it Street stalls and sweet shops.
A honeycomb-shaped sweet soaked in syrup, made for Teej and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
Where to try it Sweet shops in monsoon season.
Thick, cool yoghurt drink served in clay cups.
Where to try it Famous lassi shops on MI Road.
A full platter of Rajasthani dishes.
Where to try it Family restaurants.
Accommodation
Jaipur has a good range of heritage hotels and guesthouses, particularly in the old city and the neighbourhoods just outside it.
Transport
Jaipur is about 280 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra.
Sights are spread out, and a car or auto-rickshaw is the best way to reach them.
When to go
Jaipur has hot summers, a short monsoon and pleasant, dry winters.
Warm days, cool nights and clear skies. Peak season.
Warm to hot, and Holi in March.
Very hot, often above 42°C.
Humid with showers, green hills and fewer visitors.
Worth planning around: May and June. The Jaipur Literature Festival in January or February brings crowds and higher prices.
Itinerary
The fort and the observatory on the first day, and the bazaars and workshops on the second.
Amber and the City Palace.
Shopping and tastes.
Travel tips
Jaipur is a shopper's city, and a few tips help.
FAQ
The old city was painted terracotta pink in 1876, traditionally for a visit by the Prince of Wales. Pink is the colour of hospitality in Rajasthan.
Two days for the main sights, and three if you want to shop and visit workshops.
Welfare concerns are widespread, and many visitors choose to walk up or take a jeep instead.
October to March. Summer is very hot.
Generally yes. The main problems are touts, scams and overcharging in the bazaars.
It is a long day, and it is better to stay overnight.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Jaipur, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
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