In this travel guide, learn about the 15 best places to visit in Jaipur. From full itinerary to Jaipur tourist attractions, historical significance to how to reach – find out all about the Pink City.

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My first-ever solo travelling was to Jaipur for seven days. Back when travel writing was a lost concept to me. I was busy determining my path in a completely opposite and obvious direction. I was in my final year in university, cruising through the sweet-and-sour ride (and tide) of studying a subject I never could love (but was surprisingly good at), Economics, and dying from inside for a more creative pathway. I always wanted to study journalism.

For the first time, I met backpackers from all around the globe, from Argentina, America, Sweden, the UK, and different parts of India. For the first time, I hiked, to Nahargarh Fort and tasted a local cuisine. For the first time, I came to understand ‘budget travelling’ without even knowing anything about it (I spent less than Rs. 4000, which could be even less than that, travelling in the slipper class, eating street food in Jaipur, paying Rs. 70 per night at the dorm, hiking all the way and buying no souvenirs don’t cost you a fortune). And mind you, for the first time, I experienced the experiences I had never known to be cognizant, to be valid enough to entangle with my life. And nine months later my trip, I was boarding another train in the slipper class compartment, during a pandemic, to live a full-time travel-nomadic life.

And I have been living ever since.

Best Places to Visit in Jaipur

Enough babbling, here are the best places you should visit in Jaipur, and my personal stories attached to each place.

Excuse the pictures though. I have lost most of them. Back then I had no intention of falling in love with visuals. Funny how things turn out!

1. Amer Fort is One of the Best Forts in Jaipur

Distance from city centre: 11 km

Timing: 9 am – 6 pm

Entry Fee: Rs. 25 for Indian residents, Rs. 10 for Indian students, Rs. 200 for international tourists

Nestled on top of Aravali Hill, one of the ancient Rajput architectures, Amer Fort or Amber Fort, has been standing in The Pink City since the 1500s. Maharaja Man Singh, a trusted general of Akbar, built the fort to make a residence for the Rajput rulers. Adorned with yellow and pink sandstones facing Maotha Lake, Amber Fort in Jaipur has been presumed to have borrowed its name from Ambikeshwar (Another name of Shiva), or from Amba (another name of Durga). Separated into four segments, Amer Fort is a colossal complex with slender maze-like stairs spreading everywhere. Some stairs take you to dark alleys, some take you to marvel-carved paintings, and some simply lead you to square windows in low corridors. Each window produces a frame.

Jaleb Chowk, Public Audience Hall, Sheesh Mahal, and Sukh Mahal – are the four best places to visit in this Jaipur fort. The main entrance, also known as Sun Gate, takes you to Jaleb Chowk, a courtyard where the soldiers used to bring back their booty from war and the women were allowed to witness the traditional unfoldings only through the eyes of the window.

With mosaic glassworks embellished all over the three walls, Public Audience Hall (or, Diwan-e-Aam) opens to a wide hallway where the daily royal interactions would take charge. The empty royal chairs and cushions are all placed in alignment with the carpet, making it feel like a regal meeting in progress.

The next entrance will take you to the third section, Sheesh Mahal, the most illusionary place in the fort. The roof is an intricate work of glass paintings. If you light up two candles in the room, the roof gives the impression of a thousand lights ignited at every corner. On the opposite of Sheesh Mahal, lies Sukh Mahal, famous for its strong built of sandalwood and ivory.

There’s a local Rajasthani man in traditional attire at the entrance who plays Ravanahatha, a folk instrument considered to be the ancestral intervention of the violin. He has been playing the same tune for years, in heat and rain. A friend of mine, who used to live in Jaipur five years back, had also seen this man playing at the same spot even back then.

There was a puppet dance performance on the premises of the fort.

2. Jaigarh Fort is Adjacent to Amer Fort

Distance from city centre: 10 km

Timing: 9:30 am – 4:45 pm

Entry fee: Rs. 35 for Indian tourists, Rs. 85 for international tourists

With Amer Fort comes the adjoining Jaigarh Fort. Adjoining how? Through an underground tunnel. And several others apparently, but they are not accessible by the tourists. It’s a 3 km hike through the dark tunnel all the way to Jaigarh Fort. Although there’s a concrete road from outside Amer Fort in case you don’t want to hike, it’s more adventurous to literally walk through the tunnel used by the ancient Rajput majesties of Jaipur for taking sanctuary.

Jaigarh Fort was built by Sawai Jai Singh II as a protection to Amer Fort, the original residence of the Rajputs. The small holes on the barrier of the 3-km-long fort served as the mouths of cannons during battles.

Jaigarh Fort is a spectacular edifice made of red sandstone, standing proud of its unconquered status quo, now a famous Jaipur tourist attraction. For that reason, it is known as ‘Fort of Victory’. Jaivana, the largest cannon on wheels, is treasured in Jaigarh Fort.

Pro-tip for budget travellers: As Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort are 3-km away from one another, hike through the tunnel. Don’t go for the main road. As you will come out of Jaigarh Fort, you will see a sea of vehicles willing to drop you off at Jal Mahal or Amer Fort. Don’t come out of the gate. A trail (not the tunnel) from Jaigarh Fort will take you back to Amer Fort. It’s an easy descent. Just ask the guard. No matter what, don’t come out of the gate. I did, and I had to pay for the ticket again to get inside (still better than paying a huge amount for the autos).

3. Jal Mahal is One of the Best Places to Visit in Jaipur

Distance from city centre: 7 km

Jal Mahal, the literal translation being ‘Water Palace’, is a must-visit palace in the middle of Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur. It is believed that the palace was built to be a lodge for duck hunting, although there’s no certainty in the history behind it. It’s a five-storey building with only the fifth floor visible over the water.

Entry is prohibited to Jal Mahal, and so is boat-riding around the lake. However, one can walk around the lake and cherish this beautiful remnant.

Pro tip: Amer Fort-Jaigarh Fort-Jal Mahal can be covered in a day.

4. Don’t Miss Out on Albert Hall Museum

Distance from city centre: 3 km

Timings: 9 am – 5 pm and 7 pm – 10 pm

Entry fee: Rs. 40 for Indian tourists and Rs. 300 for international tourists

Upon the arrival of the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, the first stone of the museum was laid out in this city. The museum had been grounded in Indo-Saracenic architecture in 1876. Divided into 16 art galleries, it houses artifacts assorted from all over India, such as ancient coins, rifles, war memorabilia, pottery, carpets, Egyptian mummies, and others. Carpet Gallery, Clay Art Gallery, Coin Gallery, Jewelry Gallery, Musical Instruments Gallery – five of the major galleries grace the oldest museum in Rajasthan.

I remember walking round and around this touristy museum in Jaipur before I actually joined the long queue outside the ticket counter. Pigeons fly around the museum as if taking part in a well-rehearsed play. The group dismantles and comes back again several times.

5. Bapu Bazar is the Main Market in the Old Town

Distance from city center: 4 km

Timings: 10:30 am to 7:30 pm

From the heading itself, you can understand this is the main market of this Rajasthani town. From all the Rajasthani treasures like traditional umbrellas, wall hangings, bangles, scarves, and intricate pottery by local artisans to a few of the famous eateries – all pitch in to make it the ultimate shopping hub for the tourists. Mojari – the footwear made of camel skin along with Rajasthani wedding supplies is exceedingly famous among tourists and locals.

The bazaar is a short distance from Hawa Mahal and the City Palace-Jantar Mantar area of Jaipur. On one side of the street (just before Hawa Mahal), vendors sell old coins (starting from Rs. 50) and stones.

Johari Bazar and Chand Pol are also two other famous must-visit marketplaces in Jaipur.

6. Birla Temple is A Typical Tourist Place

Distance from city center: 4 km

Timings: 5 am – 11:30 am, 4 pm – 8 pm

Perched on the Moti Dungari Hills, Birla Temple is one of the many temples in Rajasthan. Made of white marble and carvings depicting ancient mythology, Birla Temple is one of the places from where the whole city becomes visible. Being on the outskirts, the temple is surrounded by red flowers all around.

To keep the shoes outside the temple, you need to pay Rs. 10.

7. Panna Meena Ka Kund

Distance from city centre: 11 km

Located in a village near Amer Fort, Panna Meena Ka Kund is one of the many stepwells scattered all over Jaipur Rajasthan. The stepwell has a zigzag pattern which makes it unique. These stepwells were originally constructed to restore a hardy source of water for the dry months. Even though the stepwell is dry now, it serves the tradition of hosting social gatherings, where the locals would assemble and carry forward conversations of different sorts.

For some reason, it wasn’t permitted at that time to climb down the stairs. But you can generally do so (Updated in 2022 – No, it’s no longer allowed to get down).

8. Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing to Know Rajasthan’s Culture

Distance from Jaipur city centre: 11 km

Timings:. 10 am – 5:30 pm (Tuesday to Saturday), 11 am – 4:30 pm (Sunday), closed on Monday

Entry fee: Rs. 30 for adults and Rs. 20 for students

Certified by UNESCO for its outstanding contribution towards preserving the old hand printing culture, Anokhi Museum is a private museum, a historical documentation by a community named Anokhi. The Jaipuri tradition of block printing on garments for hours has slowly disappeared except in the museum (and a selected handful of villages) that conserves more than a hundred hand-printed clothes.

It’s located in close proximity to Panna Meena Ka Kund. The rural serenity that is generally not found in this Capital city, sobers up in this village. The smell of cow-dung and Rajasthani women in traditional attires – a fresh change from the crowd in Amer and Jaigarh Fort nearby.

9. City Palace is A Big-Ass Tourist Attraction, For Good Reasons

Distance from city centre: 4 km

Timings: 9:30 am – 5 pm

Entry fee: Rs. 100 for Indian tourists and Rs. 400 for international tourists

Covering almost one-seventh of the old Pink City, City Palace is a splendid piece of architecture flaunting the Mughal and Rajpur eras. Mubarak Mahal, Chandra Mahal, Pritam Niwas Chowk, Hall of Public Audience, Hall of Private Audience, Maharani Palace, Bhaggi Khana, Govind Dev Ji Temple – these courtyards dissect the myriad complex of City Palace in Jaipur.

If you truly want to explore the aesthetics of the palace, it should take half a day (and bear the crowd). The museum has a vast collection of handcrafted local products resonating with the old-age royal sentiment.

10. Jantar Mantar

Distance from Jaipur city centre: 4 km

Timings: 9 am – 4:30 pm

Entry fee:. Rs. 40 for Indians and Rs. 200 for international tourists

Just opposite City Palace is the famous Jantar Mantar, the world’s largest stone astronomical observatory. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jantar Mantar keeps nineteen astronomical instruments made of brass and stone, marveling at tracking the position of celestial bodies using three classical extraterrestrial coordinates. Also, the world’s largest sundial is preserved here in Jaipur.

11. Raj Mandir Cinema

Distance from city centre: 2 km

The prominence of Raj Mandir Cinema dates back to its archeological splendor and the royal atmosphere it created for the audience. The primary motto behind the creation of a majestic cinema hall was to make the audience feel like royal delegates. After a decade of hard work and immersive effort, in 1976, the cinema hall was finally inaugurated and presented to the world. The hall can accommodate 300 guests in its five seating areas – the Pearl seats, the Emerald seats, the Ruby seats, and the Diamond seats.

I am yet to enjoy the cinematic experience here in Jaipur, but the 1960s architecture, like so many buildings here and there, is both historically and colloquially venerable.

12. Central Park Can Be Given A Miss

Distance from city centre: 2 km

Timings: 5 am – 9 pm

Entry fee: None

Located near the Rambagh Circle and the golf club, Central Park is famous for hosting the tallest flag in the country; 28 ft. in width and 72 ft. in length. The stone-figures in the park are beautiful and the park itself is a popular hangout spot for birdwatchers. But you can give it a miss.

13. The Patrika Gate – THE Best Place in Jaipur (My Absolute Favourite)

Distance from city centre: 8 km

The gem of a place at the entrance of Jawahar Circle, The Patrika Gate, is, in simple enthusiasm, my favourite place in the Pink City Jaipur. The circle itself is presumed to be the largest circle in Asia, with a prolific vast garden and water fountains. But, to me, it’s the Gate that strikes out against all. The gate is carved with convoluted artwork designed on the roof, sidewalls, and pillars. This gate is so beautiful that I spent the whole day there, admiring and interacting with the locals, while a Rajasthani pre-wedding shoot was taking the stage.

If you are in Rajasthan, make sure that you visit this place in Jaipur, despite being a little far from the main city. Particularly if you are coming from the airport, or going towards it, The Patrika Gate will fall in between.

14. Hawa Mahal with Unique Windows

Distance from city center: 4 km

Timings: 9 am – 4:30 pm

Entry fee: Rs. 50 for Indian tourists and Rs. 200 for international tourists

Ever seen 953 small chamber-like windows on a single wall of a building consisting of five floors? I certainly didn’t, before I visited Hawa Mahal. The windows were especially carved out for the royal women to witness the festivals performed on the street. The name derives from the idea that cold wind passes through the windows during the sunny months and keeps the castle calm and composed. The red and pink sandstones are still reminiscent of the castle’s regal childhood.

It’s right in the middle of Bapu Bazar and within walking distance from City Palace and Jantar Mantar, and the most famous destination for sightseeing in Jaipur.

15. Nahargarh Fort – A Short Hike in Jaipur

Distance from city centre: 4 km

Timings: 10 am – 5:30 pm

Entry fee: Rs. 20 for Indian tourists and Rs. 50 for international tourists

Despite being touristy, I kept Nahargarh Fort for the last. Well, last, but not the least. The reason being I hiked to Nahargarh Fort on my last day. Also, this was the first hike of my life. A short-trek indeed, an hour of ascent, but significant to me for its lucky chance.

Nahargarh Fort, meaning ‘the abode of tigers’, was built in the 1700s to act as a brawny defense zone for Jaipur. Aligned in different complexes for royal men and women, the fort was used more as a retreat for the royal family. From the top of Nahargarh Fort, the entire body of the pink city can be outlined.

Cabs and private vehicles can also go as far as the entrance of the fort, but I would suggest you hike up there. Don’t do it in the middle of the day at 36°C (yeah, I was a novice back then).

Also read – Girls Get Married at the Age of Nine in Rajasthan

Jaipur: A Four-Day Itinerary

I typically don’t suggest travel itineraries with the best places to visit, but here is a rough directional idea as to how to spend time in Jaipur.

Day 1: Amer Fort – Jaigarh Fort – Jal Mahal – Panna Meena Ka Kund – Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing

Day 2: City Palace – Hawa Mahal – Jantar Mantar – Bapu Bazar

Day 3: Raj Mandir Cinema – Central Park – Albert Hall Museum – Birla Temple – The Patrika Gate (though The Patrika Gate is a little far from the rest of the places, if you have a tight schedule, you can cover it on the same day in your Jaipur itinerary).

Day 4: Nahargarh Fort (It can also be added to Day 1, but if you are trekking to the fort, it’s better to keep the day flexible).

How to Reach Jaipur

Wondering how to reach Jaipur? Here I tell you the routes by road, train and air.

By road: The Pink City is well connected via state-run buses from Delhi, Agra, Ajmer, Mathura, and others.

By train: It’s a two-day train journey from Kolkata. The Capital city of Rajasthan has its own railway station. So, all other cities are easily connected from Jaipur Railway Station.

By air: The airline connectivity is also quite smooth, as it has its own airport as well, Jaipur International Airport.

Also read – Locals Conserving Camels near Jaisalmer Rajasthan

Where to Stay in Jaipur

Dormitory Beds for Budget Travellers

There are plenty of budget-friendly backpackers’ hostels around the tourist attractions in the old part of the city. The best is to book through booking.com.

• I lived in Mozo Backpackers’ Hostel. The standard rate at that time was Rs. 70 per night. But it is located in the new part of the city and all the tourist attractions are in the old city. It’s better that you book your accommodation in the old city unless you want to walk for an hour every day to reach the old part.
• Stephel’s Hostel
• Chalo Eco Hostel
• Moonlight Homestay & Hostel

Private Rooms

• Home of the World
• Le Fort Homestay
• Marigold Homestay

Last but not least, if you are a student, carry your ID card. You will get 50% off at every tourist attraction in Jaipur.

Updated: The travel guide was written back when I did my first solo travelling. I travelled back to the Pink City in January, 2022 as part of my three-month-long backpacking across Rajasthan. Even though I didn’t explore much, and mostly stayed indoors due to the rising third wave, it was a pleasure living three minutes away from the beautiful Amer Fort. And this time I was being hosted by a local tour guide and his mother.

Couchsurfing Can Be A More Local Experience for You

Raju Meena. The most trusted person to host you in Jaipur. Highly recommended to solo female travellers.

Click here to find all the places on Google Maps.

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I hope this travel guide with all the tourist attractions was helpful in planning your trip to the Pink City. Like always, bunk this guide and find your own best places in Jaipur.

Are you a local who knows of any unexplored destination in Jaipur? I would love to explore!

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