Jaipur was definitely our favourite city in India. I don’t even know why. It is less hectic than Mumbai. And there is many places that are definitely worth checking out. We spent more than 4 days here and we completely loved it! Find out more about all the amazing things to do in Jaipur.
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How to get around
Getting around Jaipur is really easy. There are locals buses but we never use. The reason was lack of information about routes and so on. Tuktuks are definitely the best. As always, expect to get some rocket prices for your trips but you can always bargain. We used Uber very often and got the best deals! We found that Uber doesn’t work that well in a bit more remote areas. But at least you can check what the price should be.
There is also a few rickshaws (bikes, like in the photo). But for me it was really hard to watch those people struggle with pedaling. We only used it once and Juraj changed with the driver! He took us 2.5km across city’s main streets in a crazy traffic! And it was definitely a memorable experience.
Plan your India trip
Going to India without preparation might be a little bit difficult. It’s always good to check places you would like to visit before going. This three weeks in India itinerary will certainly make your planning a piece of cake.
Best time to to visit Jaipur
There are 3 different types of climate in Jaipur based on time of the year.
Summer lasts from March until June. The days can be really hot and temperatures can become unbearable. It is also quite humid. Definitely not the best time for sightseeing. The benefit of visiting Jaipur at this time is less tourists and lower prices.
Between June and October there is the monsoon season. It can actually be very pleasant time to travel around the region. Of course, there might be some rains that can ruin your plans for the day. But it is also quite refreshing. It is still warm though.
Winter in Jaipur is between October and March. It might be perfect time for exploring the city. During day it can be really hot, but still pleasant. Early mornings and nights are actually a bit chilly. Make sure you have something warm to put on. Especially for tuktuk rides.
TIP: Jaipur offers many incredible hotels and areas to stay, making it hard to choose the perfect spot. Planning a trip and deciding where to stay in Jaipur can feel overwhelming, so research in advance is always a good idea. This way, you’ll make the most of your time and avoid unnecessary travel delays.
9 Top things to do in Jaipur
1. Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal means Palace of Winds. It’s wonderful salmon pink color is breath taking. It’s the most recognizable building in the city! We loved this place soo much! We came here during day but it was very busy. It is the main tourist attraction so you can definitely expect lots of people. There are shops on the street and merchants keep persuading you to go inside. We found it a bit annoying. We decided to come back early in the morning to enjoy it to ourselves. And it worked! There was just a few other people.
Make sure to visit Tattoo caffee right across the street. It’s a wonderful rooftop restaurant with great view of Hawa Mahal. And their food is so scrumptious! We had waffles and smoothie bowl and we couldn’t get enough! Of course, it is a bit more expensive that average local restaurants but definitely worth it!
DID YOU KNOW? It is actually not possible to go inside. And it’s also not so interesting like from the outside.
2. Bapu Bazaar
Bapu Bazaar is actually right around Hawa Mahal and surrounding streets. You can get many different things here. There are clothes, shoes, leather bags, textiles, jewellery, kitchen equipment… Everything. And best thing is it’s very cheap! They offered us pants for 100 rupee! But some locals told us it is not the best quality. But I loved those clothes so much!
3. Sunset at Nahargarh Fort
Price: 200 rupee (no need to go inside)
Opening hours: 10am – 5:30pm
Nahargarh fort is a great place to enjoy sunset or sunrise. You can go inside for 200 rupee. We decided just to stay outside! After visiting Mehrangarh fort in Jodhpur we felt like we had enough of forts. We are not big history fans anyway. But surrounding walls are so worth it! You can get up there directly by tuktuk or taxi from the city or you can walk up. The cobbled walkaway (map) will take you there in 15 minutes. The views are just stunning. And there is no entrance fee to get to the sunset spot (map). It can be accessed any time of the day.
4. Patrika Gate
NOTE: There is no entrance fee or opening hours. It is just a gate in the middle of a roundabout.
Patrika gate is actually a bit far from all the other attractions. It will take you around 20 minutes by tuktuk from the city. Definitely come early in the morning to avoid the crowds. It is very small and you will for sure want to take some photos without crowds of people. Its architecture took our breath away. There is just so many details, structures, shapes and colors! We could stay there all day!
5. Galta Ji (Monkey temple)
Price: 100 rupee
Opening hours: 5am – 9pm
We weren‘ t so sure about coming here. It is quite far from the city in a remote area. We had nothing else to do so we came. And I gotta say it was the best decision ever! The entrance was only 100 rupee per person I think. This area actually consists of multiple temples. Their architecture is not that stunning. Anyway, that’s not the main reason to visit this place. We only came because of the 700 monkeys living here. There were so many of them! Everywhere! Some more scared, some a bit braver and agressive. You can even feed them and get them to climb on your back.
For Hinduists this is a very sacred place. People come here from whole India. They believe the stream running down from hills is sacred. Indians visit this place only to take a bath in this holy water. It was very interesting to witness their culture and practices.
TIP: Keep your staff in a bag. Monkeys are good at stealing. And don’t forget to dress properly.
6. Raj Mandir cinema
The only reason why we wanted to visit Indian cinema is the atmosphere. We’ve heard people actually sing, cry out loud and basically express all their emotions. It’s completely different than in Europe, where you are requested to be quiet all the time. We chose Raj Mandir cinema in Jaipur for this experience. The interior is just wonderful. It has so many nice decorations and it all feels fancy. There is even a curtain!
Unfortunately the only movies playing those days were horror and thriller movies. We were a bit disappointed since nothing special was happening and we couldn’t understand a word. The movies are mostly in Hindi with no subtitles. Later one guy told us that we could experience this atmosphere we expected on a comedy. Anyway, this cinema is one of the most beautiful cinemas we have ever seen! Definitely stop by!
7. Panna Meena stepwell
NOTE: There is no entrance fee or opening hours.
Stepwells are very famous attraction across whole India, mainly northern parts of the country. In the past they were used for different religious or cultural purposes. In Hinduism water is considered sacred so it was also their way of praising it. The irony is that water in most stepwells is very contaminated, dirty and green.
This one was no different. Panna Meena stepwell can be found in Amer area, a few km behind the city. You can combine this visit with Amer Fort. Getting here by tuktuk is very easy. The symetric architecture of the stepwell is mesmerizing! And you are also surrounded by hills which gives it a completely different feeling. There is one small Hindu temple behind, too. Unfortunately, you can’t walk down the steps at all. There are guides protecting the area.
Come earlier in the morning to avoid the crowds. It is quite popular place.
8. Jal Mahal
Jal Mahal is also known as the Water palace. It is a very nice structure right in the middle of a lake. We only made a quick stop here on our way to Panna Meena stepwell. There is not much to see. You can only take pictures from the outside from lake’s shores. Unfortunately there is no boat service and it is not possible to enter Jal Mahal. We were here in the morning when there was a mist, probably smog above the lake. The best time for a visit is sunrise or sunset, when the colors of the sky are pink and orange. It gives it completely different look.
9. Amer Fort
Price: 500 rupee
Opening hours: 8am – 5:30pm
We are not big history fans and these types of attractions are not for us. We didn’t go inside the fort. We only stayed in the village area and admired the fort from afar. Anyway, you can go inside for 550 rupee if you want. Right along the main road there is a great viewpoint right next to a lake which is under the fort. Definitely make a stop here, too!
Map
That would be all from our stay in Jaipur. We loved this city so much! If you have ever been here or if you know about any other hidden spots we didn’t have a chance to discover, do let us know in the comment!
Where to stay
Jaipur offers many incredible hotels and areas to stay, making it hard to choose the perfect spot. Planning a trip and deciding where to stay in Jaipur can feel overwhelming, so research in advance is always a good idea. This way, you’ll make the most of your time and avoid unnecessary travel delays.