This article contains a lot of interesting and useful information about such a popular tourist city as Jaipur (India). Along with New Delhi and Agra, it is part of the Golden Tourist Triangle of India.
Jaipur is located in the eastern part of the largest Indian state of Rajasthan and is its capital. The city is just 250 km from New Delhi.
Jaipur covers an area of just under 470 km2 and has a population of over 3,000,000. Local residents speak Hindi and Rajasthani, and some speak English.
Interesting fact! Jaipur is named after Jai Singh II, a renowned warrior astronomer who succeeded his father at the age of 11 and founded the city in 1727.
On the one hand, Jaipur is an ordinary noisy and dirty city, like everything else in India. On the other hand, this is the most interesting and most beautiful city in the state of Rajasthan – a real work of art.
A tip! To have time to see the most famous sights of Jaipur (India), you need to have at least 2-3 days left. You won’t be able to see all the most interesting and significant things in a day.In this case, it’s better to choose only one urban area for dating.
Palace complex in the Old Town
On the north-eastern side of Jaipur is its historical part – this is the Old City or Pink City. The name is due to the fact that pink sandstone was used for the construction of houses, although in different seasons and at different times of the day the color of light is different: pink, warm amber, bright orange and even boring pale brownish yellow.
The Pink City, home to most of Jaipur’s historical attractions, is surrounded by a huge battlement. The old city impresses with its regular geometry, which is completely unusual for cities in India: it consists of 9 sectors, each of which has the shape of a regular rectangle. Most of the total area (7 sectors) is residential areas. Interestingly, the residents of each block specialized in a particular field of activity. The City Palace Complex occupies the territory of 2 sectors at once: beautiful parks and courtyards, as well as numerous unique buildings, including the City Palace, the Palace of Winds, Govinda Dev Ji Temple, Jantar Mantar Observatory.
- Entrance fee is $ 5.6 (400 rupees).
- Visits are possible every day from 9: 30 to 17: 00.
City Palace
City Palace was built at the same time as the city of Jaipur: in 1727, Maharaja Jai Singh II settled here. This grandiose structure is an example of a harmonious combination of two architectural styles: Rajput ” Rajasthani “and Mughal”Mughal”.
Now the City Palace is divided into 2 parts. One part is still occupied by the royal family, and the presence of the Maharaja on the territory of the residence is always marked by a raised flag. The second part of the palace is a museum, it is open to tourists.
The museum halls display paintings, national clothing, and several thousand types of weapons. Madho Singh I’s huge clothes are very impressive.
Interesting fact! Among the exhibits there is a special attraction: a silver vessel used to transport water from the sacred Ganges River when going on long journeys. This vessel is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest handicraft item made of silver: it weighs 345 kg and holds more than 4,000 liters.
- An entrance ticket to the City Palace interior costs $ 49 (3,500 rupees), and this amount includes the fee for an individual guide.
- The palace is open to the public daily from 9: 30 to 17: 00.
- Place of interest: Tulsi Marg, Gangori Bazaar, J. D. A. Market, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India.
Govinda Dev Ji Temple
The park in the palace complex hides many different attractions, one of them is the Govind Devji temple. This is not an ordinary temple in our understanding: it looks like a huge marble canopy supported on powerful columns. you can walk on it as well as in the park.
The temple is dedicated to Krishna. It is believed that the idol of the god Krishna, which is installed here, was brought by Jai Singh at the beginning of the XVIII century.
Govind Devji is not just a tourist attraction, but a place of pilgrimage for millions of Hindus. In the evenings, there are services with songs and dances, and tourists can watch them.
Interesting fact! According to tradition, it was near this shrine that the bride and groom first met when their parents announced their engagement.
- Entrance to the palace complex, where Govind Devji is located, is paid, and costs $ 5.6 (400 rupees). You don’t need to pay extra to visit the temple.
- Visiting hours: every day from 9: 30 to 17: 00.
- Area Information: Jalebi Chowk, Jai Niwas Garden, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India.
Palace of the Winds
On the eastern side of the palace complex rises a five-story palace, which attracts attention with its elegant architecture. This is the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) – the symbol of the Pink City of Jaipur. The palace got its name because of the unique ventilation system: thanks to the special arrangement of windows, the rooms are cool even in extreme heat.
You can read more about this attraction here.
Jantar Mantar Observatory
Jantar Mantar is the largest and best preserved observatory of the 5 built in India by Jai Singh II. In 1948, this landmark was recognized as a national monument of India, and in 2010 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
There are 14 giant structures installed on the spacious open-air site. These are devices that made it possible to determine the time, set the location of celestial bodies, predict eclipses and other astronomical phenomena.
Interesting fact! The sundial standing here is the largest in the world: in diameter, it reaches 27 m. They still show the time fairly accurately.
- Entrance to the Jantar Mantar site is possible from 9: 00 to 17: 00.
- The ticket costs $ 2.1 (150 rupees).
- Jantar Mantar is practically adjacent to the City Palace, address: Tripoliya Bazaar / near entrance to City Palace, Jaipur, 302020, India.
Other attractions in Jaipur
Apart from the legendary palace complex, there are many interesting attractions in and around Jaipur.
Albert Hall Museum
Albert Hall (State Central Museum) is the oldest state museum in the state of Rajasthan.
It is located in a beautiful building, which is built in the Indo-Saracen style and is already a tourist attraction in itself.
Among the exhibits are paintings, handmade carpets, collections of wooden and metal products, weapons, dishes, musical instruments, national dolls.
- The Albert Hall Museum is open from 9: 00 to 17: 00 all days of the week except Fridays.
- The entrance fee is $ 4.2 (Rs 300).
- Albert Hall is located in the Old Town, in the Ram Niwas Garden. Address: Agrasen Hospital Marg / Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur 302004, India.
Temple of the Goddess of Plenty
The openwork Birla Mandir Temple made of snow-white marble looks very airy and solemn. This landmark was built in the twentieth century and has no historical value.
The uniqueness of the temple is that it is dedicated to three leading religions of India at once: Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Three huge domes made in different styles are designed to show the unity of these religions. But inside there is an altar to worship only the Hindu gods.
Next to the temple, as well as on its walls and columns, you can see sculptural images of many historical and great people: Buddha, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Socrates, Zarathustra.
Interesting fact! As in almost all temples in India, it is forbidden to take photos in this Jaipur temple. But surprisingly, it is also forbidden to shoot the temple from the outside. Photos of the building’s facade can only be taken from a distance, being located behind the sign that allows shooting.
- The Temple of the Goddess of Abundance is open every day from 6: 00 to 12: 00 and from 15: 00 to 21: 00, with evening service starting at 18: 00. Admission is free.
- The attraction is located in the southern part of the city: Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Tilak Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302004, India.
Jal Mahal
Jal Mahal, which means Water Palace, stands right in the middle of Maan Sagar Lake. It is assumed that this building was built on the shore of an already existing lake, and after the work was completed, the boundaries of the reservoir were slightly changed. As a result, the structure was standing in the water, as intended by Sawai Jai Singh II.
Jal Mahal consists of 5 floors, and 4 of them are usually under water. There is not a single living space in this building, but only a huge gallery that leads to the roof of the palace. It was for the sake of the roof that this unique structure was built: it had a magnificent garden, among which the Maharaja and his entourage rested while hunting ducks.
The architecture of this red sandstone building is striking: exquisite carved balconies, elegant turrets and columns, beautiful domes and arched roofs, original window openings. The Jal Mahal is a prime example of Rajput and Mughal styles.
The Jal Mahal is closed to the public and cannot be entered. You can see this landmark of Jaipur and take its photo only from the side: from the shore of Lake Maan Sagar or from a boat.
Maan Sagar Lake, where Jal Mahal stands, is located at a distance of 2.5 km from Jaipur if you drive along the No. 8 Jaipur – Delhi highway. Palace address: Amer Rd, Jal Mahal, Amber, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India.
Monkey Temple
On the northern edge of Jaipur, between two cliffs, there is a Hindu temple complex Monkey Temple (Galta Ji), dedicated to monkeys. The path to it is not easy, you need to go up and down the mountains.
Various sources say that there are between 2,500 and 5,000 monkeys here! They are everywhere: running, jumping, relaxing, combing each other’s hair, extorting food from people. These animals, although impudent, are quite friendly, of course, if they are not teased and not angry.
A tip! You need to be very careful not to become victims of tailed scammers. They carry everything that “does not fit well”: glasses, caps, any bright objects.
Monkey Temple consists of several structures. One of the buildings is located on the very top of the mountain-this is the Sun Temple, from its platform you can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole of Jaipur. There is also a sacred pool on the territory – it is believed that if you swim in it, all your sins will be washed away.
A tip! In Galta Ji, everything is very dirty, there are piles of garbage along the way, and the smells are much stronger than in zoos. In the sacred pool, the water is a muddy green color with a corresponding fragrance. Please note that this place is absolutely not suitable for squeamish people!
Entrance to the Monkey Temple is free. For a fee, you can invite a guide. And one more thing: for people who enter the Sun temple, a local monk ties a red thread on his wrist and draws a red dot on his forehead – in return for his work, he expects donations, and if the fee seems small to him, he will persistently demand more.
Jaipur Forts
On the hills that surround the city from the north and east, there are ancient majestic forts. These are iconic sights of the city, and all tourists consider them a must-see.
A tip! A good solution is to take a rickshaw from Jaipur and drive it along the route “Amber fort – Jaigarh fort – Nahargarh fort”, and then return to the city with it. The entire trip and waiting time will cost $ 10-15 – the amount depends on how you manage to negotiate with the driver.
Amber Fort with Mirror Palace
Amber fort – the richest and most luxurious of all the forts, it is located 11 km north of the city. On its territory of the fort there are incredibly beautiful palaces, pavilions, gardens. Of all this luxury variety, the most fascinating and fascinating is the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace).
In this unusual building there are no windows, light gets inside only through 2 doors and a ventilation hole made in the south wall. But inside it is bright, because the walls and ceiling are completely decorated with mosaics of small mirrors and semiprecious stones. And in the dark, it is enough to light just one candle for lighting.
On one of the marble columns of the Sheesh Mahal is carved a Magical flower, in which various animals are “hidden”. If you try hard, you can see the hood of a cobra, the tail of a fish, parts of an elephant and a scorpion.
- Amber fort and Mirror Palace are open to tourists daily from 8: 00 to 17: 30.
- Attractions address: Amber Fort, Devisinghpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302028, India.
Jaigar Fort
Jaigar Fort is even higher than Amber Fort, at a distance of 15 km from the city. It has a separate entrance – you can get there by taxi, there is no point in walking up the mountain in the heat. Jaigar and Amber were part of the same defensive system, connected by underground passageways.
Unlike Amber fort, Jaigarh fort does not have rich luxurious rooms – it is only a defensive fort (3 km x 1 km area), surrounded by high fortress walls. The main attraction here is the world’s largest Jaivana cannon on a wheeled carriage, which was made by local gunsmiths.
Now the fortress has a museum and an Armory. The museum has an extensive collection of coins and stamps, items and photographs of the Jaipur nobility, models and plans of palaces. The armory offers to inspect numerous swords, shields, muskets, cannons, there is even a cannonball weighing 50 kg.
There are several good viewing platforms, which are connected by narrow corridors laid along the fortress walls. From there, you can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding area and the Amber Fort below.
- Entrance to Jaigarh fort is paid: 2.8 $ (200 rupees). You can visit the attraction on any day from 9: 00 to 16: 30.
- Location: Devizingpura, Amer, Jaipur 302028, Rajasthan, India.
Nahargarh Fort
Of the 3 fortresses built by Jai Singh II, Hahargarh fort is the smallest, most difficult to reach (stands tallest) and abandoned, least visited.
Part of the building has already become ruins, and another part has been recently restored. There is access to the roof of the fortress, where there is a good restaurant with a view of the city.
Recently, there is another attraction on the territory of the fortress: the Jaipur Wax Museum. It features more than 35 wax and silicon statues dedicated to sports, Kollywood, and folk heroes of India.
- Hahargarh Fort is open from 10: 00 to 18: 00, admission costs $ 1.4 (100 rupees).
- Place of interest: Krishna Nagar, Brahamperi, Jaipur 302002, Rajasthan, India.
Best areas of the city to live in
The level of service in hotels in Rajasthan is much higher than in other states of India. In addition, many hotels are located in old mansions (haveli).
Jaipur consists of several districts that have their own characteristics in terms of tourist accommodation.
- Pink city. There are very few hotels, and there are no cheap ones at all.
- Bath Park. The largest number of hotels, including inexpensive ones, is concentrated here. In high season, you can find a room for two for $ 8 per night. In 3* hotels, a double room costs an average of $ 45 per day, in 4* hotels- $ 55. Bani Park is located near the central railway station (5-10 minutes walk to the nearest hotels) and from the Pink City with its attractions (up to 5 km).
- Amber Fort. The area is located near the eponymous landmark, 7 km from the railway station, and less than 3 km from the Old Town. This area is also good for accommodation and is popular with tourists. The price of double rooms in high season starts from $ 12 per night, the average price of a room for two in a guest house is $ 30 per day.
- Vaishali Nagar. There are also many decent and inexpensive hotels here, but the area itself occupies the western part of the city and therefore it is far from all the attractions from here.
A tip! When planning a trip to India for the holidays, it is better to book accommodation in advance, for example, at Booking. If the trip is planned at a different time, it is preferable to look for suitable options on arrival: so you can bring down the price by 20-30%.
Jaipur City Transport
The city’s transport system is well developed: there are buses, taxis, auto rickshaws. There is even a metro, but only one line with 9 stations, and not in tourist places.
Bus routes connect almost all urban areas, for example, bus number 2 runs between the railway station and the City’s Palace Complex, bus number 5 goes from the Old Town to Amber fort. There are frequent buses, which end around 21: 00, and tickets cost $0.15.
Taxis and auto-rickshaws are best suited for trips to tourist attractions. You only need to specify the cost of the trip in advance. Taxi drivers and auto rickshaws start attacking tourists as soon as they get off the train or bus. As a rule, they literally impose” their ” hotels, and it is worth a huge effort to explain to them where to go and negotiate a normal price. The correct solution is to order a taxi or auto-rickshaw for prepayment – such services are available at the car and railway station, their prices are fixed.
A tip! You can call the hotel in advance, from there transport will be sent to the car or railway station at the agreed time.
If you want to take care of the environment, you can use a bicycle rickshaw service. A short trip will cost $ 0.5.
To/from the airport
There are no bus routes from the airport, which is 12 km from Jaipur. Only a taxi will take you to the city center for $ 6-9. There are Pre-paid Taxi kiosks right in the airport building – a pre-paid taxi service.
Jaipur City Weather
Rajasthan is considered one of the most hot and arid Indian states. In Jaipur, the following seasons can be distinguished::
- Summer (March-June) is the hottest period when the air can warm up to +45 °C during the day. As in the whole of India, it is hottest in May – this month the night temperature is kept at +30 °C.
- Monsoon (July-September). Daytime temperatures drop to +30…+35 °C, and rain is rare.
- Winter (October-March). During the day it is very comfortable, from +20 °C to +27 °C. It is even cool at night, up to +10 °C.
The best time to travel to Jaipur (India) is from October to March. Quite comfortable weather for traveling and exploring the sights of Rajasthan.
