Jaipur
If you’re into classic Indian architecture and want to take a step back in time to discover how the Rajas once lived, Jaipur will be an absolute dream! It’s the capital of Rajasthan and evokes pure royalty.
Do plan at least a few days in Jaipur as there are several prominent palaces and monuments to be discovered. Also, the Pink City is quite large, so you’ll want to make the most of your time and avoid backtracking. My tip here is to use Google Maps to mark the places you’d love to visit as ‘want to go’ on Google Maps and plan your daily excursions accordingly. Here’s an example of the saved places in Jaipur on my Google Maps.
To mark a place on the map, simply click on the place you want to save and hit ‘Save’ as shown underneath the picture in the screenshot. As you can see, we covered a lot of ground and this map function did wonders for our trip planning.
Jaipur is only a 4.5 hour train ride away from Delhi and if you’re super fancy and want a super luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime experience, take the Maharaja Express. But for the less spendthrift folk who want to take the more economical route, book a standard train ticket. It’s quite a memorable experience travelling India by train. It’s recommended to book an AC ticket which also includes breakfast, tea and snacks.
Top sights to see
Patrika Gate
City Palace
Chokhi Dhani
Hawa Mahal
Galta Ji Temple
Jal Mahal
Albert Hall Museum
Amer Palace
Panna Meena ka Kund
Typical Costs When Travelling
Accommodation – ₹2000 per person per night. Jaipur really does cater to budget travellers and although there are some fantastic places to stay in the city, they can feel quite shabby and soulless so if you after something different with great interior spaces and artwork to marvel at Welcom Heritage Traditional Haveli hotel is definitely one to consider!
Food – budget around ₹500-1000 per day and do try the local cuisine such as Pyaaz Kachori or Jungli Laal Maas. Check out Tapri Central cafe for a quick budget-friendly meal on the terrace, Bar Palladio for a truly royal dining experience, or RJ 14 for a casual bite as recommended by a local.
Transportation – Uber is your best friend. Budget around ₹100-500 per day.
Suggested daily budget – ₹3500
HIGHLIGHTS
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Patrika Gate An incredibly fun place to take pictures.This majestic pink structure is comprised of 7 colorful gates with each pillar depicting a different side of Rajasthan. To give you an idea there are hundreds of pastel hand paintings of temples, forts, palaces, Rajasthani rulers, blue pottery, jewelry, and depictions of famous monuments such as Hawa Mahal and the City Palace.
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Fabric Shopping I hope you leave room in your suitcase because there are tons of options for shopping for the beautifully bright and colorful fabrics Rajasthan is known for. Plus, it works great for a souvenir! Most of the high-end stores in Europe and the US source their fabrics from the local shops so you can get the same quality for a fraction of the price. But do be ready to bargain! Check out the Bapu or Johri Bazaar for some great options. Alternatively, here my go-to stores for fabric shopping in Jaipur are Palace Atelier City Palace, Nilja Jaipur, and Good Earth.
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Chokhi Dhani this Rajasthani village theme park is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. The on-site restaurant offers an all-you-can eat Rajasthani dinner served on ginormous thalis (come hungry)! After dinner explore the rest of the ethnic village and catch one of the several live performances showcasing the rich Rajasthani traditions.
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City Palace one of the most COLORFUL palaces you will ever see! This 18th-century palace houses a series of courtyards, gardens, and brightly painted buildings. Another great spot for photography! Your admission price is based on which parts of the palace you want to visit. The highly Instagrammable Pitam Niwas Chowk & Chandra Mahal is a must as well as the Diwan-i-Khas. To this day Jaipur’s royal family lives within the quarters.
The places covered in this article are by no means an exhaustive list but should rather serve as a guide for the most popular places to swing by.
No matter what you ultimately decide to plan on seeing in Jaipur you’re going to have an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. If you’d like some inspiration for travel photography hot spots check out my Jaipur vision board. This was only the first leg of our Rajasthan trip and I plan on writing more on the rest of our journey soon! In the meantime, check out our destination guides on Mumbai and Goa or our India Travel Packing List Essentials for Women.
If you’ve been, what’s your favorite city in Rajasthan? If you haven’t been, what city or monument would you like to see the most? Let us know in the comments!
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April 12, 2020
