The Top Things To Do And See In Jaipur

| Credit @ Kirti Kalla on Unsplash
Sameer Ghurye

Jaipur is a desert city steeped in history, architecture and folklore. Capital of the Rajasthan state in India’s north-west, the area is home to the Rajput warrior clans known for their bravery and hardiness. The city has all the exotic elements of India encapsulated in a single panorama, from lavish palaces and unique architecture to rustic people and noisy bazaars, with camels and elephants thrown in for added measure.

The Ivory Fort and Amber Palace

The Ivory Fort and Amber Palace

Jaiva Cannon Cannon | © Lifesgood/Flickr

Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort

The Jaigarh fort, built by Sawan Jai Singh II, is a guardian to the city of Jaipur and the Amber Fort. Built to protect the royal palace and fort of Amer, the two are connected by underground passages built centuries ago. The fort houses ‘Jaivana’, the world’s largest cannon on wheels and is largely intact despite centuries of harsh weather. It also houses several palaces, an armory and gardens and has the reputation of having never being conquered by invading armies.

Jaigarh Fort, Above Amber Fort, Jaipur

Hawa Mahal (Palace of Wind)

Building

2.hawa_mahal_
© Manudavb / WikiCommons
Adjoining Jantar Mantar and on the opposite side of the City Palace lies Hawa Mahal, an architectural marvel of passages and balconies facing old Jaipur’s main thoroughfare. It was built of pink sandstone primarily as an observation point for processions travelling along the road below, as women from the royal family were not allowed to be seen in public in those times. The bustling bazaar opposite the Hawa Mahal houses a myriad of shops selling everything from trinkets to glass bangles, home décor pieces to carpets. Definitely worth a visit for the shopaholic in search of unique merchandise.

Jal Mahal

Building

The palace Jal Mahal at night, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India | © photoff/Shutterstock
© photoff / Shutterstock
The Jal Mahal, or Water Palace, is located in the middle of Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur. Having undergone significant restoration, the palace looks beautiful in the evenings, with multi-coloured lights decorating the entire structure. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed inside the palace at present. A similar structure in Udaipur has been converted into an ultra-luxury hotel, which makes this example in the Red City the more untouched and historically intact.

Anokhi Museum of Handblock Printing, Store and Café

Museum

This little gem of a place lies partly hidden in the by-lanes near Amber Fort, and is a place not to be missed. Located in a restored haveli or palace, the museum showcases samples of the traditional art of block printing for which this region is famous, along with the culture and history that surrounds this art form. Efforts are being made to preserve this ancient and unique art through education and promotion, and artists as well as tourists are invited to dive into the variety and uniqueness of the place. Garments created using the method are available in the adjoining Anokhi store.

Gem Palace

Jaipur is known as the city of gems, where a variety of precious and semi-precious jewelry can be found. The Gem Palace is reportedly Jaipur’s oldest jewelry outlet, and the family prides itself on being the craftsmen that supplied the erstwhile royal family with many of their fabled pieces. The Gem Palace also offers a variety of traditional motifs made using jewels, created using semi-precious stones from the surrounding area.

Gem Palace, Shop No.348, MI Road, Jaipur, +91 141 237 4175

Thali House

To get a taste of authentic Rajasthani cuisine, visit the Thali House where you can eat a complete meal for less than $2. The taste is simple and rustic, and not too spicy (unless you ask!). The place is separated into two levels, the lower one where thali or fixed meals are served is more spartan and functional in décor, while the upper level is air-conditioned and diners have an extensive a la carte option. The place is purely vegetarian and is crowded at mealtimes. Don’t forget to try the dal baati, a speciality made of unleavened bread and lentils and served with a sweet side dish called churma.

Thali house, Sindhi Camp Bus Stand, Station road, Jaipur, +91 93145 02531

LMB – Lakshmi Misthan Bhandar

Hotel

LMB – Lakshmi Misthan Bhandar

To taste authentic sweets and savories, try out Lakshmi Misthan Bhandar or LMB as it is popularly known among the locals. It serves a variety of dishes, snacks and desserts, and is immensely popular. The variety of dishes is fantastic but be sure to pack some of their paneer ghewar (a sweet made from cottage cheese, flour and sugar) to carry home with you. The restaurant tends to be crowded and serves a standard Rajasthani thali with some snacks. The sweets, however, are the real talking point of this place.

LMB, 98-100, Johari Bazaar, Jaipur, +91 88901 13632

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Winter Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

X
Edit article