15 Cool Things to Do in Jaipur

Colorful Jaipur has been better known to tourists and travelers through the centuries as the Pink City. The vibrant painting of the buildings and palaces has long been the trademark of the city.

Jaipur is an important stop on the Golden Triangle circuit, a tourist route that has taken visitors through the best of north-west India’s most famous sights and attractions for years.

It is the capital of Rajasthan and home to stunning palaces and unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites, alongside bustling markets and stunning scenery. It is a well-deserved destination on any traveler’s itinerary through the region, and you will quickly find that there are a great many things to do in Jaipur.

To help you to plan your trip to the Pink City, here are our favorite things to do in Jaipur.

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15 Best Things to do in Jaipur

1. Amer Fort

The Amer Fort is perhaps Jaipur’s best-known tourist attraction. The fort dates back to the last years of the 16th century when local ruler Raja Man Singh began it’s construction to defend his realm.

The fort predates the city of Jaipur itself and is actually found a few miles to the north of the modern city center, within the small town of Amer.

Amer Fort is the most imposing structure in the region and it stands high on a hill overlooking Jaipur, a location designed to give the fort a powerful and commanding view over the subjects below.

The serene Lake Maota is found at the fort’s base, while inside the walls you can find the intricate designs and artistic flair of past rulers who left their mark on the architecture.

Our top recommended tour of Amer Fort:

2. Hawa Mahal

The Hawa Mahal is one of the best things to do in Jaipur city itself, as this unique palace is found in the center, and is a firm favorite on the tourist circuit. It is a wonderfully designed palace that’s built in the famous pink, sandstone style of the city.

The tall palace is known as the Palace of the Winds and dates back to 1799. The front facade is one of the most impressive designs and feats of architecture that can be found anywhere in Rajasthan, with an unusual lattice of windows and balconies forming an almost beehive-like effect.

Our top recommended tours of Hawa Mahal:

3. City Palace

Just around the corner from the Hawa Mahal can be found in the City Palace, which is equally one of the best things to do in Jaipur. City Palace was once the domain of the Maharaja of Jaipur, the ruler of Rajasthan, and can trace its design back to the early 18th century.

The palace is beautifully colorful, with red and pink designs contrasting with pure white facades and styling. It is a sprawling complex that may take several hours to traverse, with multiple entrance gates and multiple palaces within the palace walls to be explored.

Our top recommended tours of City Palace:

4. Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal is one of the most dramatic sights to be found in Jaipur. This is the Water Palace, a beautifully designed building that was constructed in the middle of Lake Man Sagar on the outskirts of the city.

This lavish project was built from the bottom of the lake upwards and from afar seems to be floating majestically on the water itself. It’s a sight like no other, and at night, it’s wonderfully lit up by colorful lights.

Our top recommended tours of Jal Mahal:

5. Jantar Mantar

During Jaipur’s golden age in the 18th century, the local ruler decided to invest heavily in science and astronomy to advance the knowledge and prestige of his kingdom.

One of the most precise creations from this period was the Jantar Mantar, an intricate device constructed with the primary purpose of being able to accurately tell the time in relation to the sun and stars.

Many Jantar Mantar was built in the most important cities in the kingdom, but the one at Jaipur, in the capital of the kingdom, is perhaps the most impressive of the observatories that have survived.

It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and amongst the astronomical instruments, you can find the world’s largest stone sundial.

Our top recommended tours of Jantar Mantar:

6. Johari Bazaar

If you need a break from forts, palaces, and history then head on over to the Johari Bazaar for a manic taste of Indian life. A visit here is one of the best things to do in Jaipur for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a little culture while visiting the city.

Johari Bazaar always seems to be crowded and noisy and amongst the tightly packed stalls and shops you can find goods for sale from across Rajasthan. It is a wonderful place to find some souvenirs but just be prepared to haggle hard to get the best price.

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7. Jantar Mantar

During Jaipur’s golden age in the 18th century, the local ruler decided to invest heavily in science and astronomy to advance the knowledge and prestige of his kingdom.

Many Jantar Mantar was built in the most important cities in the kingdom, but the one at Jaipur, in the capital of the kingdom, is perhaps the most impressive of the observatories that have survived.

It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and amongst the astronomical instruments, you can find the world’s largest stone sundial.

Our top recommended tours of Jantar Mantar:

8. The Albert Hall Museum

This distinctly English sounding museum is a throwback to the colonial days of the British Empire when local authorities decided to build a grand museum to house the Princely State’s best art and historic relics.

The museum gained its name from the visit of the future King Edward VII who in 1876 was asked to lay the foundation stone of the building. His full name was Albert Edward.

Today, the museum is officially called the Government Central Museum, but most still know it as the Albert Hall Museum. Inside you can find a varied collection of artifacts and exhibits from across Indian history, as well as a few international displays too.

Our top recommended tours of The Albert Hall Museum:

9. Jaigarh Fort

The Pink City is also a city of forts too, and as well as the iconic Amer Fort, there are several other defensive locations that are just waiting to be explored too.

The Jaigarh Fort – translated as the Victory Fort – is found near the Amer Fort, as it was in fact built as a way to defend this most important of buildings near Jaipur.

Overlooking the Amer Fort and the lake below, Jaigarh Fort is in fact connected to Amer Fort by hidden, underground tunnels, and it makes for a marvelous place to immerse yourself in the local history.

10. Abhaneri Step Wall

On the road from Jaipur to Agra can be found in the village of Abhaneri, where one of Rajasthan’s most impressive architectural structures is located. The Abhaneri Step Wall is an ingenious creation, constructed to channel rainfall into the reservoir built below.

It is an incredible sight, that’s both historic and photogenic and it can be visited on a day trip from Jaipur or whilst traveling to or from Agra as part of a Golden Triangle itinerary.

11. Nahargarh Fort

The Nahargarh Fort makes up the third of Jaipur’s impressive fortifications. Alongside Amer and Jaigarh, this fort was built to protect the city from invasion and was perfectly situated in the hills overlooking Jaipur.

The imposing fort was known as the ‘Abode of Tigers’ for its impressive defensive designs and today it forms both an aesthetic structure and a place to visit for outstanding views over the rest of Jaipur and the surrounding forts.

Our top recommended tours of Nahargarh Fort:

12. Galtaji

Galtaji is an important place of worship for Hindus, located just outside the city itself. Several water tanks were built centuries ago to funnel water from natural spring, and down the hillside to allow worshippers to bathe in the mineral waters.

This spectacular temple is built amongst green, verdant cliffs, nestled amongst the hills and is one of the most picturesque places to visit in Jaipur. The temple is also known for its huge population of monkeys, so much so that it’s known by locals as the Monkey Temple, so just be careful when visiting.

Our top recommended tours of Galtaji:

How to Travel to Jaipur, India

Jaipur is the largest city in the state of Rajasthan, located in north-west India. The city is almost equidistant from both Delhi and Agra, forming the famous Golden Triangle alongside these two other iconic destinations.

Most travelers will, therefore, include Jaipur as part of a wider itinerary taking in these top sights.

Although Jaipur has a small airport with domestic flights and the occasional international flight, the best option when arriving internationally is to land at Delhi’s much larger international airport.

From Delhi, it is a distance of 200 miles, which can be driven in around 5 to 6 hours. There are buses and trains regularly connecting the two cities.

From Agra, found to the east, it’s a distance of just 150 miles by road, a journey which will take around 4 hours by car or bus.

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Best Time of the Year to Visit Jaipur

Jaipur is known for its almost desert-like surroundings and semi-arid climate, and for much of the year, it’s dry and hot.

For a short period though, the city experiences huge rainfall during the monsoons. Most of the rain falls between June and September, which is also when the city is at its hottest and most humid.

Most travelers will choose to visit in the cooler, dry winter months, from November onward until May. This is when the weather is pleasant but things will be at their busiest.

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Article by Lina Stock

Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents.

Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA