Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is one of my favorite spots in all of India. The people were friendly, the food was amazing, and the architecture was absolutely stunning. The Pink City definitely lived up to it’s name. There are colorful, pink buildings everywhere you turn! These are all of the best places to visit on your next trip to Jaipur.
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Things to Do in Jaipur
The Patrika Gate
The most colorful spot in all of Jaipur? Maybe. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful! Photos will never do this place justice. The details on the walls are insanely gorgeous. You have to see this one for yourself!
Panna Meena Ka Kund
Unfortunately, most photos that you will see of Panna Meena ka Kund are extremely photoshopped. The steps are not a bright pink or orange color, the water is a dark and dirty green, and you are not allowed to actually walk down the steps anymore. There are guards working at the top who will stop you. The reason for this? I was told it’s because of the large amount of homeless people who were going down the steps to sleep.
Amber Fort
Amber Fort was one of my favorite spots not only in Jaipur but in all of India. I so wish we had come here for sunset (we came first thing in the morning) and spent much more time exploring. Of all the forts we went to in India this one was by far the most impressive. It’s a long walk to the top but the views are definitely worth it!
The palace grounds were gorgeous and so fun to explore. We got lost so many times going through all of the “hidden” walkways and up all of the winding staircases. There are signs pointing you in the right directions, we just chose not to follow them. Ha!
If you should choose to do so, there are elephant rides starting at the bottom of the hill (it’s a long, steep walk but totally doable). I, personally, don’t support this activity but I’ll leave that decision up to you. Once you make it to the central courtyard (where the ticket counter is), you will see tons of entertainers. Musicians, dancers, you name it! Tickets for foreigners cost 550 Indian Rupees (about 8 US Dollars).
Hawa Mahal
For the best views of Hawa Mahal, head across the street to one of the many cafes. We went all the way up to the rooftop at the Tattoo Cafe for lunch. Our meal was delicious and the views were unbeatable! If you choose to go inside the Hawa Mahal admission is 400 Indian Rupees for foreigners (about 5 US Dollars). For more info, click here.
Albert Hall Museum
Many people come to the Albert Hall Museum just to take photos from the outside (it’s the building with all of the pigeons!) but this museum is definitely worth taking a look inside. The Albert Hall Museum is the oldest museum in the state of Rajasthan. It’s much larger than I expected it to be with multiple floors of displays to check out. Most of the displays are different types of art from around the world but there’s also a mummy exhibit!
Jaipur Jantar Mantar
The Jaipur Jantar Mantar is basically right across the street from the City Palace. It’s much larger than the one in Delhi and it was much more crowded with tourists as well.
The Jantar Mantar is a group of astronomical instruments that were built hundreds of years ago. The one in Jaipur even includes all of the zodiac signs! If you should choose to do so, you can pay a local guide to show you around and explain how all of them work.
City Palace
The City Palace is probably the most expensive attraction in Jaipur. You can get admission for 700 Indian Rupees (about 10 US Dollars) but it only allows access to the grounds and one of the museums. Most people who come to City Palace want to go inside the palace which has a higher admission price. Three separate packages are offered which each allow access to different parts and rooms of the palace.
If you want admission to the entire palace, grounds, museums, and the beautiful blue and white room, admission will cost you much more. I don’t remember exactly how much but I know one of the packages was at least 2,500 Indian Rupees (about 35 US Dollars). As much as we wanted to see the whole palace, we decided to save a little money and only went to the museum and palace grounds.
Jal Mahal (Water Palace)
The Jal Mahal (also known as Lake Palace) stands right in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. What many people don’t know is that there are actually four levels to this palace hidden under the water. The palace is not open to the public but you can get a great view near the edge of the lake. I would suggest coming here later in the day after the fog has cleared so you can have a clear view. We came pretty early in the morning when the lake was still very foggy and we didn’t have a great view of the palace.
Jaipur Monkey Temple
If you want to see a bunch of monkeys, head to Galtaji Temple (also known as monkey temple). It’s a long walk up (and down) a steep, winding road to get there but it’s worth it! Once you get near the top of the hill, the road splits into two directions. Galtaji Temple is to the left, if you go to the right you will end up at a different temple, the Sun Temple.
Keep in mind that the monkeys aren’t always friendly and it’s best to leave them alone. Especially the ones with babies as they can get very defensive. Though they may be adorable, they absolutely will try to steal from you if you get close enough!
Gatore ki Chhatriyan
Also known as the Royal Gatore Tumbas. We practically had the place to ourselves other than some groundskeepers and a few monkeys here and there. Gatore ki Chhatriyan was nice in that it was tucked between the desert foothills away from all of the craziness that India has to offer. It was actually pretty quiet here (rare in India) and we were able to enjoy some peaceful time away to ourselves for a bit.
Gatore ki Chhatriyan is home to temples and tombs of many maharajas. It is open daily from 10-5 and admission is cheap at only 30 Indian Rupees per person. The grounds are beautiful and you can actually see the wall around Nahargarh Fort from here!
Jaipur Travel Tips
- Hire a tuk tuk driver for the day. It’s typically much cheaper to travel this way instead of paying for a separate ride each time. Your driver can drop you off at each destination and pick you right back up when you’re done. Just make sure to agree on a price beforehand!
- Tell your tuk tuk driver EVERY single place that you want to visit before agreeing on a price. Many drivers will tell you a price for the day but then continue to add to it for places that are too far away or up really steep hills. Yes, they charge an “uphill fee” for certain places. Many drivers will charge extra to take you to places like Patrika Gate as well. Jaipur looks small on a map but it’s huge in real life so many places are much farther of a drive than you may realize.
- Try getting a henna tattoo. There was a lady right outside of Gatore ki Chhatriyan that did mine for a decent price and it turned out great!
- Always ask your tuk tuk drivers for restaurant recommendations. As locals, they will always know the best spots. They can tell you which places to avoid as well!
What are some of your favorite spots in Jaipur? Share in a comment below!
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Don’t forget to check out these other India posts:
- The Taj Mahal: A Sunrise Visit
- Agra, India Travel Guide
- India Travel Tips: Everything to Know
- The Best Places to Visit in Delhi
- A Travel Guide for the Golden Triangle in India
- Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi
India has long been on my bucket list, but now I am certain I will have to visit Jaipur when I go. Your photos are absolutely incredible and the city looks so beautiful! I love your take on getting to know the city authentically, and it is incredible how beautiful all of the buildings are! Saving this great guide for this one day trip.
Michele | theAdventuresAbound.com