The Pink City of India, Jaipur is an exotic destination, to say the least. From royal palaces to peppy pubs and from regal forts to plush restaurants, the city offers a fascinating mix of attractions for an avid traveler. And let’s not forget the welcoming vibe of the city, a quality that’s inherent to Rajasthan’s imperial culture and heritage. When you are in such a warm and vibrant setting, there’s just one thing you should do – soak in the splendour of the city to the hilt.
But where do you start? In this blog, we’ll take you on a journey through the various places to visit in Jaipur and help you to curate your itinerary.
Amber Fort and Palace
Amber Fort and Palace
A majestic fort with a hilltop setting and an opulent palace within its premises – that’s Amber Fort and Palace for you. One of the most iconic forts in Jaipur, Amber Fort is steeped in history and remains a glorious example of architectural brilliance. The fort includes magnificent structures like the Sheesh Mahal, Shukh Niwas, and the Diwan-e-Khas or Hall of Private Audience. The light and sound show held here every evening brings alive the fort and its history, which is something you must not miss out on.
Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh Fort
The rocky ridges of the Aravali Hills cradle Nahargarh Fort, a majestic monument that overlooks Jaipur and offers a stunning view of the city’s landscape. Built in 1734 by Jai Singh II, the then Maharaja of Jaipur, Nahargarh Fort was part of the city’s defense circle, along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort. The fort served as a hunting retreat for the royal family. Today it is a splendid viewpoint to watch glorious sunsets over the Pink City.
Jaigarh Fort
Jaigarh Fort
When you are making a list of must-visit places in Jaipur, you can’t leave out Jaigarh Fort. Standing at a height of 500 feet above sea level, this 18th-century fort adorns the Cheel Ka Tila or the Hill of Eagles in the Aravali Range like a crown. Rugged beauty defines this fort that boasts of red sandstone construction. It was a prominent centre of artillery production for the rulers of this land. One of the main attractions of Jaigarh fort is the Jaivana cannon, which was once the world’s largest cannon on wheels.
City Palace
City Palace
Located in the heart of the city, the City Palace is one of the most remarkable tourist attractions in Jaipur. The architecture of this palace is a splendid blend of Rajput and Mughal styles. Flawless engravings and fine artworks lend this place a distinct beauty. Adorned with sprawling gardens, courtyards, halls, royal residences, and art galleries, every part of this palace reflects Rajputana’s glory. The palace also houses a museum where you will come across the royal garments used by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh Ji.
Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal is a five-storied pyramidal edifice constructed out of red and pink sandstone and is among the most popular tourist places to visit in Jaipur. Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799, it features 953 small windows and looks like a honeycombed hive. The interior chambers of this building enjoy a cooling effect due to the breeze blowing in through its incredible lattice of windows. If you climb to the top of the Hawa Mahal, you can get amazing views of the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar from there.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory that dates back to 1734 and was built under the command of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It houses the world’s largest sundial made out of stone, in addition to nineteen other architectural astronomical instruments. This place has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and a visit to Jantar Mantar definitely deserves to be on your list of things to do in Jaipur.
Jal Mahal
Jal Mahal
Standing in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, Jal Mahal is a spectacular five-storied palace that features the Rajput style of architecture. It was built as a hunting lodge for the rulers of this land. When the lake is full, four of these stories remain submerged under the water and only the top one remains visible. The palace is off-limits for visitors, but you can always enjoy its picturesque view by taking a boat ride in the lake.
Albert Hall Museum
Albert Hall Museum
Palaces and forts are not the only historical places to visit in Jaipur. Albert Hall Museum, the oldest museum in Rajasthan, is a treasure trove of artefacts that give you a glimpse into the region’s rich history and heritage. Named after the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, this museum has a rich collection of jewellery, paintings, ivory items, sculptures, crystal works, carpets, and metal artefacts. An Egyptian mummy housed here counts among its main attractions.
Rambagh Palace
Rambagh Palace
Rambagh Palace was once just a royal hunting lodge located amidst a dense forest. It was later expanded in the early part of the 20th century and turned into a grand residence for the Maharaja of Jaipur. Today, the palace serves as one of the finest heritage hotels in Jaipur making it among the list of the top 10 places to visit in Jaipur. You can expect a heady blend of opulence and luxury to greet you if you decide to check in at this palace-hotel.
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
Touted as one of the most enticing sightseeing places to visit in Jaipur, Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh is a picturesque garden that symbolizes the everlasting love between Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and his second wife, Rani Sisodia Jai Singh. This multi-level garden is dotted with beautiful fountains, lovely watercourses, and spectacular pavilions highlighted with wall paintings of Lord Krishna.
Amar Jawan Jyoti
Amar Jawan Jyoti
Amar Jawan Jyoti is a memorial built to honour the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the nation during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The simple structure with the upturned rifle is a big draw among tourists and locals alike. Once the sun goes down, the memorial stands brightly illuminated against the dark sky, making it one of the best places to visit in Jaipur at night.
Jaipur Zoo
Jaipur Zoo
Jaipur Zoo is home to around 50 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. If you are travelling with kids, a visit to the zoo will be one of the most interesting things to do in Jaipur. Spend a day here enjoying the lush greenery of the zoo, in the company of leopards, bears, deer, peacocks, cockatoos, etc.
Chokhi Dhani
Chokhi Dhani
Chokhi Dhani offers you an experience of Rajasthan’s rural way of life and culture in all its vibrancy. It is an ethnic village resort where you enjoy authentic Rajasthani food, folk music, puppet shows, dance performances, magic shows, arts and crafts, and lots more.
Birla Mandir
Birla Mandir
Also known as Laxmi Narayan Temple, the Birla Temple is one of the most magnificent temples in Jaipur. Built with resplendent white marble stones, the temple stands against the backdrop of lush greenery and presents a breath-taking sight. The walls of the temple are ornamented with various scenes and quotes from the Bhagavad Gita. This grand place of worship looks spellbinding when illuminated at night. It is one of the best places to visit in Jaipur for free.
Central Park
Central Park
Nestled in the heart of Jaipur, Central Park boasts of being the city’s largest park. It has a 5 km long walking and jogging track, musical fountains, temple, and lovely stone statues. A unique attraction here is the 206-foot high pole that has the National Flag fluttering on it all day and night. Home to a wide range of birds, the place is a haven for bird watchers as well.
Galtaji Temple
Galtaji Temple
The Galta Ji Temple is one of Jaipur’s famous places and is recognised as a highly sacred destination with enormous historical value. The temple complex is essentially a cluster of temples, with Galta Ji serving as the main temple. The temples are constructed within a tiny mountain pass gap in the Aravalli hills. Galta Ji is also referred to as Galwar Bagh or the Monkey Temple due to its large population of monkeys. The langur monkeys and rhesus macaque are the species of monkeys that you can see at Galta Ji. The monkeys in this area are notorious for robbing tourists of their goods and meals. They are so infamous that if they spot someone carrying food, they will simply steal it from them. It becomes important to carry all items in a bag and to avoid eating anything in the open. The ideal time to go to Galta Ji in Jaipur is from February to March, and between October and December. It is not advisable to visit Rajasthan during its unbearably hot and unpleasant summers.
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Govind Dev Ji Temple
Among the Jaipur places to visit, the Govind Devji Temple is a famous and revered place of devotion in Rajasthan, as well as the most significant in terms of Rajasthani rulers’ history. The temple is devoted to Lord Govind Devji, one of Lord Krishna’s incarnations on Earth, who is revered as the main god of the Kachwaha Dynasty of monarchs of Amber/Amer. The ceilings of the marble and sandstone construction of the Govind Ji Temple are coated with a golden layer. The temple’s design is a synthesis of Rajasthani, Muslim, and Classical Indian styles. As befits a structure constructed next to a royal palace, exquisite paintings and chandeliers adorn the walls. The temple is surrounded by a beautiful garden called Talkatora.
Raj Mandir Cinema
Raj Mandir Cinema
Raj Mandir is a meringue-shaped cinema complex that has been enthralling movie buffs since 1976. Its spacious and lavish interiors, stunning ceiling design, and indirect lighting system, all come together to make it an awesome movie viewing experience here. Enjoying a Bollywood masala flick here counts among the popular things to do in Jaipur for couples.
Jaipur Wax Museum
Jaipur Wax Museum
Located at the entrance of Nahargarh Fort, the Jaipur Wax Museum brings alive various celebrities, personalities, kings, and queens through their lifelike wax statues. Another major attraction here is the Sheesh Mahal, a uniquely designed hall with scintillating mirror inlays all around. You can take photographs with statues of Amitabh Bachchan, MS Dhoni, Kalpana Chawla, Sachin Tendulkar, Deepika Padukone, and many others here.
Dolls Museum
Dolls Museum
With an amazing collection of dolls of all shapes and sizes, the place holds much attraction for kids and adults alike. You can find dolls dressed in ethnic attires of various states in the country. Even bridal clothing and dance outfits of different states are exhibited through the dolls here. What’s more, dolls wearing the traditional dresses of Malaysia, Mexico, Germany, America, Sweden, Britain, and various other countries are displayed at this one-of-its-kind museum.
Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing
Anokhi Museum
Dedicated to hand printing and woodblock printing, Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing is the most unique one among all the museums in Jaipur. This place preserves the rich textile heritage of the land through various artefacts, demonstrations, photographs, tools, and carvings. While you are here, you can also attend a live demonstration of hand printing and various techniques used in it.
Bapu Bazar
Bapu Bazar
If you are interested in shopping for ethnic items in Jaipur, Bapu Bazar opens up a world of wonders for you. Counted among the most popular places for shopping in Jaipur, this marketplace deals in quintessential Rajasthani handicrafts, textiles, precious stones, brass works, leheria stoles, sandalwood and marble figurines, block printed bedspreads, lac jewellery, and lots more.
Moti Dungri
Moti Dungri
Moti Dungri is a hilltop temple dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha. The shrine dates back to 1761 but the idol is believed to be more than five centuries old. The idol here has its trunk positioned in the right direction, which is a rare thing. The serene ambience and the unique idol are the main attractions of this place.
Panna Meena ka Kund
Panna Meena ka Kund
Panna Meena ka Kund is an ancient step-well that dates back to the 16th century. It has steps adorning its three sides while the remaining side is a multi-storeyed balcony. This eight-story step-well also has a community space where you can sit and spend some moments taking in the beauty of this place.It is one of the best places to visit in Jaipur in 1 day.
Kanak Vrindavan Garden
Kanak Vrindavan
Located in a lush valley at the foothills of Nahargarh Hill, Kanak Vrindavan is a picturesque garden. The garden is said to have been built to resemble the original Vrindavan in Mathura, where Lord Krishna is believed to have spent his childhood. There’s even a lovely idol of Lord Krishna in this garden. The naturally beautiful setting and the serenity here make it one of the popular places to visit for couples in Jaipur.
Johari Bazaar
Johari Bazaar
Johari Bazaar is amongst the oldest markets in Jaipur where you can shop to your heart’s content for all kinds of trinkets. This market offers an amazing choice of designs and variety in handmade jewellery. You can also shop for gemstones, traditional lehengas, Jaipuri quilts, ethnic footwear, and a variety of other stuff here. It’s one of the popular things to do in Jaipur on weekend with anyone.
Elephantastic
Elephantastic
Fancy spending a day in the company of elephants? Then head off to Elephantastic, an elephant farm that enables you to fulfil this fantasy of yours. You can feed, bathe, paint these majestic tuckers with organic colours, and even go on elephant safaris. A visit to this place is one of the most amazing offbeat things to do in Jaipur that you must not miss!
1135 AD, Amer
1135 AD, Amer
An open-air courtyard setting inside the majestic Amer Palace and a spread of authentic dishes fit for royalty – this is what you can expect at this luxury dining spot in Jaipur. Undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Jaipur, this place is a blend of elegance and opulence. The Lal Maas and Rajasthani Thali are the must-try dishes here.
Suvarna Mahal
Suvarna Mahal
A plush dining place at the Rambagh Palace Hotel, Suvarna Mahal sets the mood for a great dining experience with its opulent settings and live classical music. While the quality of food is excellent here, the top-class service also wins the hearts of visitors. Eat and get treated like royalty here.
World Trade Park
World Trade Park
The World Trade Park Mall is a shopper’s paradise. Though it is a relatively new shopping destination in the city, it has quickly become one of the favourite shopping malls in Jaipur. With well-known brands like Calvin Klein, Marks and Spencer, Celio, Zara, and others selling their merchandise here, you can have an amazing shopping experience at this mall. Also, there are a number of top-class restaurants to take care of your hunger when you are tired from all that shopping.
Amigos Bar
Amigos Bar
Amigos Bar is a Mexican-themed place that counts among the best nightclubs in Jaipur. The place boasts an enticing ambience, which is complemented with great food and exotic cocktails. Whether you are in the mood for a quiet drink or a night of drinking and dancing, this place ticks the boxes for all these and more!