Sightseeing in Jaipur

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan captivates visitors. This beautiful pink city springing from the desert offers a wealth of sightseeing opportunities from hilltop forts, regal palaces, well organised museums and colourful bazaars.

Our sightseeing in Japiur guide will help you plan your itinerary.

Jantar Mantar

A key attraction of Jaipur is the Jantar Mantar. Between 1727 and 1734 Maharajah Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed five astronomical observatories in west central India. The observatories, or “Jantar Mantars” as they are commonly known, incorporate multiple buildings of unique form, each with a specialized function for astronomical measurement. These structures with their striking combinations of geometric forms at large scale have captivated the attention of architects, artists, and art historians world wide. Jantar Mantar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jantar_Mantar_at_Jaipur

Timings 9.00 A.M. – 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 20 / Foreigner Rs. 100 / Child Rs. 20

Amber Fort

Amber Fort located in Amber, 11kms away from Jaipur, used to be the capital of the Kachhwaha clan, untill Jaipur was made the official capital in 1727. The Amber Fort looks stunning, built in white marble and red sandstone. To add to its charm, Maotha Lake makes a beautiful foreground. This beautiful fort is one of the very few well preserved military structures of medieval India.

Amer-Fort-Jaipur

Timings 7.00 A.M.- 6.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 25 / Foreigner Rs. 150 / Child Rs. 25

City Palace

The City Palace forms one of the most famous tourist attractions and a major landmark in Jaipur. The beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his reign. Among the various forts and palaces of Jaipur, City Palace stands apart, with its outstanding art and architecture. The beautifully carved marble interiors, magnificent pillars, jali or lattice work and inlaid ornamentations are exceptional and a highlight for visitors. Jaleb Chowk and Tripolia Gate are the two main entrances to the City Palace Jaipur. The City Palace is actually a palace complex comprising of “Chandra mahal” and “Mubarak Mahal” amongst other palaces and buildings.

Jaipur_City_Palace

Timings 9.30 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 35 / Foreigner Rs. 150 / Child Rs. 25

Gaitore

Another interesting visit would be to Gaitore, situated about 15kms from Jaipur on the Jaipur – Amber Road. Gaitore is a royal cremation site of the majestic rulers of Jaipur. There is a cenotaph for each Maharaja, built in his honour. These royal cenotaphs of the Maharajas are commonly known as ‘Chhatris’.

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 20 / Foreigner Rs. 30

Hawa Mahal

One of the most popular attractions of Jaipur is the Hawa Mahal, it stands upright as the entrance to the City Palace. Hawa Mahal is an epitome of the Rajputana architecture. Its unique five-storey exterior is also akin to the honeycomb of the beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas that are decorated with intricate latticework. The original intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen, since they had to observe strict “purdah” (face cover) It is particularly striking when viewed early in the morning, lit with the golden light of sunrise.

Jaipur-Hawa-Mahal

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 4.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 10 / Foreigner Rs. 50

Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort which is located immediately above the Amber Fort on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles). It provides an excellent view of Aravalli hills and the Amber Fort sitting 400m below. Similar in design to the Amber Fort the fort features a cannon named “Jaivana”, which at the time of manufacture was the world’s largest cannon on wheels.

Rajasthan-Jaipur-Jaigarh-Fort-compound

Timings 9.00 A.M.- 5.00 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 25 / Foreigner Rs. 75

Nahargarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort is situated atop a picturesque hill. It is the first of the three forts built by Maharaja Jai Sawai Singh of Jaipur. The Fort stands at the top of rugged point of the Aravalis and offers a spectacular view of the City. The fort has nine absolutely identical suites each delightfully decorated with motifs.

Timings 9.30 A.M.- 4.30 P.M.

Entry Fee Indian Rs. 10 / Foreigner Rs. 50

Composite Ticket

The Rajasthan Tourism Office has introduced the tourist friendly concept of a “Composite Ticket” This ticket costs Rs.50 for an Indian and Rs.300 for a foreigner and allows the ticket holder to visit five tourist spots namely Hawa mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert hall, Amber Fort and Nahargarh Fort.

It is recommended to check timings and entry fees for all attractions before setting out as these are subject to change. The entry fee for foreigners in many places is different from that for India nationals.

Swaad with Sharmaji

An Architectural Extravaganza – The City Palace, Jaipur

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, promises a heady mix of all things Indian – vivid colours, bustling markets, gastronomical delights and most importantly, a walk into history. The city embraces some of the most fantastic monuments in the country and is sprinkled with forts, monuments and structures from the Rajput era. For those who want to take a stroll into the glorious period of Kings and Royalty, this is the place. Out of many such monuments, the City Palace in Jaipur is quite striking. Here is a guide for planning your visit.

City Palace - Jaipur Rajasthan - India

History and Architecture

The City Palace was the muse of Sawai Jai Singh II who was responsible to give its initial structure from 1729 to 1732. Later, two able architects Vidyadar Bhattacharya and also the Sawai himself infused the Indian nuances with Mughal and European details to make it one of the most awe inspiring buildings in the city. It was the seat for the ruling King of Jaipur and included the two palace complexes – Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal. Even now, the City Palace, commands the erstwhile awe and respect from visitors all across the globe.

Entrance of City Palace 

Apart from the palace complexes, the City Palace houses a museum. The other notable parts of the structure are the Diwan – I – Khas, Pitam Niwas Chowk, Diwan-I-Aam, Maharani’s Palace, Baggi Khana and the Govind Ji Temple. Stories like that of Ishwari Singh (son of Jai Singh) who died after being bitten by a snake and his 21 wives committing ‘sati’ (sitting in the funeral pyre of the husband) still hang heavy in the corridors of the palace. Make sure that you take your time to soak in the history and the legendary stories that reverberate in this magnificent structure.

A doorway inside City Palace

How to Get There

Jaipur is well connected to Delhi by road and rail, it is not necessary to take a flight as the distance is only 277 kms and it takes not more than 4 hours to reach. The trains are also very convenient and well timed. Within the city, City Palace is quite accessible. Use a cab or local transport like auto rickshaws to get there. Please note that the entry is only from two of the three gates – Virendra Pol and the Udai Pol or the Atish Pol (Stable Gate). The third gate, Tripolia, is reserved for the Royal family.

Best Time to Visit

Weather wise, Jaipur has great weather between the months of October and December. Extreme cold and heat in the respective months are difficult to deal with for some, especially the summers.

City palace interior

Opening Times

The City Palace and the Museum are open between 10.00 a.m – 5.00 p.m on the days of the week. It is only closed on major festivals like Holi, Diwali and other select few. Please check before you plan your trip.

Entry Fees

As almost all historical places in India, the fees for foreign nationals is more than Indians. Foreign National – Rs 150 for adults, Rs 80 for children and Indians – Rs 35 for adults, Rs 20 for children.

Other Tips

• There are plenty of guides available at the Palace. Choose a government certified person only as the rates are fixed. One can tip accordingly based on your experience.
• The aarti in the Govind Ji Temple can be seen 7 times in the day. Check for the timing before you get in.
• Be suitably dressed as a mark of respect. String tops & shorts etc for women are common as Rajasthan is a travel hub, but carry a light stole around the shoulders is recommended for women.

चोखी ढाणी - Chokhi Dhani - Attractions in Jaipur Rajasthan

Chokhi Dhani has been touted as a must see location in Jaipur and I agree after the visit there this Monday. It is best enjoyed with family and friends. It is a typical village setting with everything except farming thrown in.

Chokhi Dhani Enterance

It is very colourful as Rajasthan is.The variety starts from the check in counter. All the employees are in traditional gear. So are the various performers in the premises. There are low buildings with thatched roof, tiled roof and mud roof. There are several stages for 

Halwai boiling milk at Chokhi Dhani

Kathputli Dance

performers spread across the campus. We watched three sets of traditional Rajasthani dancers performing to the tunes of traditional music. Every now and then, the visitors can join the dancers for a few minutes.

There are magicians and a puppet show to keep one and all amused. 

One can ride a camel. There are camel, horse and bullock carts adding to the variety.Elephant ride catches the fancy of the young and the old. Jaipur is a dusty place and the path taken by various animals and carts have been doused with water to reduce the dust pollution.

The rides are very reasonably priced. There is no extra charge for cameras. This is a welcome exception as the camera charges elsewhere in travel destinations in Jaipur and other towns in Rajasthan is several times the entry fee. At Chokhi Dhani the entry fee is for the sumptuous dinner.

Traditional Rajasthani Food

Woman dancing

One as a choice of sitting under a roof or open space for dinner. It is out and out Rajasthani cuisine and one can hog as much as one wants.The food is served by well trained employees who do not allow one's plate to go clean until one gets up.
 

A visit to Chokhi Dhani while at Jaipur is a must to get a complete flavour of Rajasthan. 

CHOKHI DHANI is around 25 Km from Jaipur. Entry ticket costs 275/- per person & 150/- per child between 3 to 9 yrs in Chokhi Dhani. Chokhi dhani is a ethnic village setup with people skilled in different things. There are dancers, magicians, astrologers, puppet shows, Bailgari, Camel/Hathi savari, Jhoola & a lot of stalls with different entertainment games like Nishanebaazi, local version of Bowling etc

Massage at Chokhi Dhani