Jaipur

The Pink City: forts on the hills, bazaars below and a royal palace in the middle.

Jaipur was planned in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, a king who loved astronomy and order. Its old city still follows his grid of wide bazaars, and in 1876 it was painted the soft terracotta pink that gives the Pink City its name. The walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Most visitors start their Rajasthan trip here. In two or three days you can climb to Amber Fort, look out through the windows of Hawa Mahal, wander the courtyards of the City Palace, and still have an evening for kachori, lassi and the jewellery and textile bazaars. Jaipur is also our home base, so many of our group trips begin here.

Travelling with Kurja: see the group trips that visit Jaipur, or ask for a private trip planned around your dates.

Best time: October to March
Ideal stay: 2–3 days
Airport: Jaipur International (JAI)
Railway: Jaipur Junction

Top Tourist Places in Jaipur

Must visit Amber FortHistory and ruins

Hilltop fort-palace of honey-coloured stone, with mirror halls, courtyards and views over Maota Lake.

Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0

Must visit Hawa MahalHistory and ruins

The Palace of Winds: a five-storey pink façade with 953 small windows, built so royal women could watch the street unseen.

Photo: Chainwit. · CC BY-SA 4.0

City PalaceHistory and ruins

Still home to the former royal family, with museums of textiles, arms and the famous Peacock Gate.

Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0

Jantar MantarHistory and ruins

Jai Singh II’s giant astronomical instruments, including the world’s largest stone sundial. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photo: Knowledge Seeker · Public domain

Nahargarh FortHistory and ruins

Fort on the ridge above the city; come for sunset over Jaipur.

Photo: Sanyam Bahga · CC BY-SA 3.0

Johari and Bapu BazaarMarkets and food

The old-city bazaars for jewellery, block-printed textiles, mojaris and lac bangles.

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Things to Do

Food to try

Dal baati churma – Baked wheat balls with lentils and sweet crumbled churma: Rajasthan on a plate.
Pyaaz kachori – Flaky fried pastry stuffed with spiced onion. Breakfast for half the city.
Laal maas – Fiery red mutton curry with Mathania chillies.
Ghewar – A honeycomb-like sweet soaked in syrup, made around Teej.
Lassi – Thick sweet yoghurt drink served in clay cups.

Travel tips

Reach Amber Fort early in the morning, before the tour buses.
Buy the composite ticket if you plan to see several monuments.
Bargain politely in the bazaars; fixed-price shops are good for comparing.
Watch sunset from Nahargarh Fort.

How to Reach

Jaipur is well connected by air, rail and road.

Delhi · Car, bus or train280 km, 4.5–5.5 hoursExpressway most of the way. Several fast trains a day.
Agra · Car or train240 km, 4–4.5 hoursEasy to combine as the Golden Triangle.
Udaipur · Car or train395 km, 6–7 hours
Ahmedabad · Train or flight670 km by roadOvernight trains and short flights.

Best Time to Visit

October to March is the best time to visit Jaipur. January brings the Literature Festival and the kite-flying of Makar Sankranti.

Winter (best)October–March · 8–28°CSunny days and cool nights: the best time for sightseeing. Book Christmas, New Year and festival dates early.
SummerApril–June · 38–45°CVery hot from mid-April. Sightsee early and late, rest in the afternoon, and expect lower hotel prices.
MonsoonJuly–September · 28–35°CShowers bring out the green on the Aravalli hills. Teej is celebrated with swings and ghewar sweets in July or August.

Festivals

Makar Sankranti (14 January)The whole city flies kites from its rooftops; the sky over the old city is full of colour from morning to night.
Jaipur Literature Festival (January)One of the largest free literary festivals in the world, held over five days.
Gangaur (March–April)Women pray to Gauri for a happy marriage; a royal procession leaves the City Palace in the evening.
Teej (July–August)The monsoon festival: swings, songs, green and pink clothes and ghewar.