Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, holds some of India’s most famous gems. After our weeks of working and exploring in Udaipur, entering the Pink City felt like a return to something familiar, even as it was absolutely brand new to me.

As part of India’s popular Golden Triangle (Delhi / Jaipur / Agra), the Rajasthani capital sees hundreds of thousands of visitors in just a matter of months. Its striking colors, exquisite patterns, and endless handmade beauty draws people in from everywhere. The attention is well-deserved; Jaipur holds some of the most beautiful architecture I myself have ever seen.

Our Jaipur Itinerary

There are so many online resources about Jaipur, but even when I was putting together our whirlwind tour, I had to draw from a number of different sources. We had a couple nights in Jaipur after our work trip but still had meetings we needed to attend to (the curse of Zoom-based work), so we set aside a full day to see as much as we possibly could.

We also enjoyed the luxury of hiring a kind guide and driver through our hotel concierge, which I highly recommend if your budget allows it. Our guide Vijay was incredibly knowledgeable and spoke candidly not only about the sites themselves but about life in Jaipur and his lived experience as a local. Furthermore, our driver made it so easy to travel between sites, dropping us off and picking us up with no hiccups at all. The efficiency of transportation is really important if you are trying to see and enjoy all of these sites in just a day!

Morning

Start your day by 7:30AM to catch the best light. If you are visiting during a warm summer month like we are, you’ll also appreciate the chance to wander around before the heat of the day intensifies.

If you are staying close to the center of town (which we recommend), you can visit Hawa Mahal and the Jaipur Flower Market first.

Hawa Mahal

This famous facade was built for women of royalty to be able to see parades and festivities in the streets of Jaipur without being seen. It is simply a facade on one side of the palace, but is absolutely one of the most unique architectural achievements of the time. Also, you should go across the street to one of several cafes or shops that allow you to climb the staircase to view the building at eye level.

Jaipur Flower Market

Not far from Hawa Mahal is this stunning vibrant early morning market. It gives a glimpse of everyday Jaipur, with tons of flowers wrapped in old sarees waiting to be purchased for ritual or decorative purposes. The fragrance of roses, marigolds, and chrysanthemums fill the air along with voices of vendors at work. If you choose to visit the market, make sure to be respectful of the marketplace and stay out of the way of people moving around. Many of the vendors smiled and said hello, and some even gave us flowers as a gift!

Mid-morning: head toward Amer

As the day warms up, take a car toward Amer, where you will see three important sites. Jaipur was founded when the emporor Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II decided to move his capital from Amer. Jai Singh II planned Jaipur with the help of books, experts and architects. When you go to Amer, you’ll get a sense for the eclecticism of Rajput and Mughal styles that the emporor brought with him to Jaipur.

Amer Fort

To see Amer Fort (sometimes called Amber Fort) is to begin to understand the curiosity, creativity, and opulence of Jai Singh II’s kingdom. The Fort itself sits atop a hill, accessible by car or elephant (we’ve heard the elephants are not treated well so recommend going by vehicle instead).

Again, I highly recommend visiting with a quality local guide who can help you understand the purposes of the various rooms and courtyards. Amer Fort has areas that were open to a “public audience” as well as “private audience,” along with chambers for different members of the royal cohort.

Visiting Amer Fort as early as you can is a great way to get photos without too many people. Despite us visiting during off-season there were still plenty of fellow travelers!

Panna Meena Ka Kund (Stepwell)

Stepwells are something of a social media sensation, and this one right next to Amer Fort. This stepwell is 400+ years old and is fully restored. It’s really incredible to see it in person and experience the scale of this literal watering hole— and imagine the community and conversation that would happen there.

Descending the stairs is prohibited, so keep in mind that you’ll have to get creative with how to capture this incredible sight.

Jagat Shiromani Temple

This Hindu temple, also very close to the stepwell and Amer Fort, is often overlooked by visitors. You’ll find carvings of animals and mythical figures along its walls, incredible details and shapes that reflect the way these stories were portrayed over 400 years ago.

Mid-day

As the sun begins to warm Jaipur’s bright pink walls, head back toward the old city for the City Palace. On the way from Amer, you might want to stop brifly at the beautiful Jal Mahal palace, built on the lake.

Jal Mahal

This palace has a long story of being built in 1699 and then numerous expansion and restoration projects. Currently there are no public visitors allowed, but you can admire it from afar.

Jaipur City Palace

This is the major site of the day: the stunning royal palace with famous courtyards, rooms, gates, and chambers. You’ll find the beautiful pink color on the exterior walls and incredible private rooms within, inspired by the royal family’s penchant for collecting aesthetic ideas from around the world. Be sure to pay extra to gain permission to view the private rooms, which include the famous blue and gold-lined chambers that are absolutely breathtaking in person.

If you hire a guide, let them know that you want to see these more private spaces. If you happen to be staying at any of the other royal properties (run by hotel groups), you will gain free admission to these spaces. We had the privilege of staying at Rajmahal Palace — everything is more affordable in sweltering April!— so we were “invited” by the royals to view these rooms.

Late Afternoon: shopping and handmade gifts

Reward yourself after hours of touring with a nap at the hotel or a local lunch. Depending on the amount of time you have spent visiting these sites, you might be ready to relax for a couple of hours before heading out for the other primary attraction in Jaipur: shopping for delightful locally made gifts!

You could spend days and days looking at the shops at various Jaipur bazaars— it’s quite overwhelming. There are multiple bazaars as well; they appear to be distinct on maps but actually blend quite seamlessly.

You may want to start at Bapu Bazaar for the experience and the wander to various other markets that strike your fancy. Bazaars are great for lower-budget items such as accessories, home decor, shoes, and traditional clothing.

Since there is endless shopping to do in Jaipur, here are a few things to be on the lookout for: 

Block print fabrics

Traditional wood block print fabrics are everywhere, and you might even be able to step into a workshop to see how it’s done. In most of these workshops you can purchase everything from lovely kaftan dresses to bedsheets to scarves and pajamas.

Jewelry

Jaipur is internationally famous for its gemstone sourcing and cutting— so there will be no shortage of recommended jewelry shops to visit! Some of them carry quite expensive bridal jewelry, while others imitate the royal kandan style with much more affordable materials. I enjoyed looking at gold-plated earrings from Amrapali!

Modern style design / home boutiques

We really loved venturing out beyond the old city to some stores that came highly recommended! I bought a lovely jamdani scarf at Jaipur Modern (also a lovely cafe and restaurant), and we purchased a few lovely home decor items at Anantaya.

Both of these shops do a lovely job of placing artisan-made items in a more contemporary context. It was so fun to see how these shops curated creative pieces from local artists and villages.

Before you go: Patrika Gate

If you are leaving from the Jaipur airport, make sure to stop at Patrika Gate. It is located relatively close to the airport and absolutely worth a 5 minute stop.

The gate was built in 2016 and represents a more modern take on traditional Rajasthani art and aesthetic. It’s a popular spot so you may have to be patient, but well worth a snapshot for its striking colorful beauty.

A few final suggestions

Jaipur is stunning. It took my breath away, even after several weeks of working, exploring, connecting with friends and eating in Udaipur. It is incredibly worthwhile to visit, even if all you have is one day.

If you’re able to, I recommend staying in as high quality accommodation as is within your budget. This is really helpful for recommendations and finding a guide/driver duo to help you see everything there is to see and learn about the city during your brief visit.

And I encourage you to write your own Jaipur stories, discover the moments off the beaten tourist track to get a glimpse of everyday life in this complex and layered city.