The pink city of Jaipur is one of India’s most popular sites and is renowned for its majestic palaces and charming bazaars. The city has many stories to tell its visitors as they revel in the glory of its royal past. Here are some of the best sights and attractions in Jaipur.
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Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds)
It is one of the most famous places in the city due to its unique picturesque facade. The 5 storied structure has 953 small windows, called jharokhas, with beautiful latticework that allows cool breezes to enter the palace. It’s an extension of the city palace having a different entrance.
The ticket price is Rs.50 for Indians and Rs.200 for foreigners, and the timings are from 9 am to 5 pm daily.
Nahargarh Fort
Located on a hill-top, this place offers a breath-taking view of the city. The fort was built in 1734 as a place of retreat and was connected to the Jaigarh fort.
The architecture is the Indo-European style with many beautiful structures inside. The highlight of them is Madhavendra Bhawan, the two-storeyed structure with suites for queens. The ticket price is Rs.50 for Indians and Rs.200 for foreigners, and the timings are from 9 am to 5 pm daily.
Amer Fort and Palace
Amer Fort (Amber Fort) was the former residence of the Royal family. The architecture is of Mughal and Rajput style and is made with sandstone and marble. The main attractions include the two buildings called Sheesh Mahal and Sukh Niwas. Sheesh Mahal, or the Palace of Mirrors, is famous for its intricate decoration of glass. Sukh Niwas was a private place, where the king spent time with his wives.
The ticket price is Rs.100 for Indians and Rs.500 for foreigners, and the timings are from 8 am to 5.30 pm daily. The fort reopens from 6.30 pm to 9 pm, and people can visit the light and sound show at Maota Lake and dine at the restaurants inside the fort premises.
Anokhi Museum
The unique museum, located near Amer Fort, is dedicated to the art of traditional block-printing. The artists showcase their craft, and visitors can even learn to create their own prints. The ticket price is Rs.100, and the timing is from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm. The Museum is closed on Mondays and National holidays.
City Palace
The City Palace is a vast complex that houses several buildings, courtyards, gardens, and temples. The magnificent complex is built with a blend of Mughal, European, and Rajput architecture. Some of the important attractions within the complex include – the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Pritam Niwas Chowk, Shri Govind Dev Ji Temple, and Maharani’s Palace.
There are different ticket prices for different monuments inside the complex, starting from Rs.200 for Indians and Rs.700 for foreigners. The timings are from 9 am to 5 pm daily.
Jal Mahal
It’s a magnificent palace submerged in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. The palace is restricted, and visitors are not allowed. You can take a boat ride to see the place closely or walk around the bank of the lake to take photos.
Albert Hall Museum
The museum was built in 1876 with Indo-Saracenic architecture. It includes priceless artifacts such as pottery, sculptures, textiles, coins, musical instruments, etc. There are beautiful Mewar paintings and murals depicting ancient civilizations. There are also international artworks, including Japanese and Egyptian antiquities.
The ticket price is Rs.40 for Indians and Rs.300 for foreigners, and the timings are from 9 am to 5 pm daily. It reopens at 7 pm to 10 pm, and the ticket price is Rs.100.
Chokhi Dhani
It’s a cultural resort that gives you a glimpse into the traditions and culture of the state. The highlights include performances like folk dances, plays, and traditional dining experience. The ticket prices start from Rs.700, and the timings are 5 pm to 11 pm daily.
Jantar Mantar Observatory
The UNESCO World Heritage site is an architectural marvel with nineteen astronomical instruments built out of stone and brass, including the largest Sun Dial in the world. The instruments were used for astronomical observations in the 18th century, including observing the positions of celestial bodies. The place is a delight for people interested in astronomy and astrology.
The ticket price is Rs.50 for Indians and Rs.200 for foreigners, and the timings are from 9 am to 5 pm daily.
Jaigarh Fort
It was built as a fortress to protect the Amer Fort and the royal family in case of an attack. The Jaigarh fort had Foundries for manufacturing cannons, and it had built the largest canon in the world called Jaivana, which could attack the enemy on all four sides.
There a few temples and important sites to visit inside the complex, including the Aram Mandir. You can climb the Diwa Burj watchtower to get a panoramic view of the surroundings.
The ticket price is Rs.35 for Indians and Rs.85 for foreigners, and the timings are 9.30 am to 4.30 pm daily.
Markets
Jaipur has some cool places to shop for traditional goods. Here are some of the famous markets for shopping in Jaipur.
a) Johari Bazaar – It’s famous for jewelry including precious gems. Some of the other items available are handicrafts and traditional clothes.
b) Tripolia Bazaar – It’s famous for items like lac jewelry, trinkets, utensils, and textiles, including carpets.
c) Chandpol Bazaar – It’s famous for handicrafts, especially marble and wooden sculptures.
d) Kishanpol Bazaar – It’s famous for textiles and wooden souvenirs.
e) Nehru Bazar – It’s famous for Rajasthani footwear, ready-made garments, and pottery items.
f) Bapu Bazar – It’s famous for leather products, including footwear made from camel leather. There are also textiles and hand-crafted items available here.
Day trips from Jaipur
There are some noteworthy attractions outside Jaipur which can be visited as day trips.
a) Sariska National Park - It’s a Tiger Reserve having a variety of flora and fauna. You can spot several wild animals and birds here during Safari. It also has ruins of Garh-Rajor temple and Kankwari fort.
b) Sambhar Lake – It’s a large saline lake, home to migrating birds such as flamingos and waterfowls. It’s an ideal spot for nature lovers to relax and view birds.
c) Bhangarh Fort – The fort is popular since it’s believed to be haunted, and entry is restricted after dark.
d) Abhaneri Step Well - It’s a spectacular architectural sight with 3500 steps on 13 levels. It’s popularly known as Chand Baori, and it is frequently visited by travelers.
General travel tips to Jaipur
1) The best time to visit is during winters starting from October to March. The nights during Winter can be cold. The period between April to June should be avoided as the summers are quite harsh.
2) Buy Composite tickets that are valid for 2 days, which gives access to 7 main attractions to save time and money. The cost is Rs.100 for Indians and Rs.400 for foreigners.
3) Student discount is available at various places.
