Jaipur, The Pink City, is the heart of Rajasthan. It is called ‘Pink city’ due to the distinctive colors of its buildings but the city is vivacious indeed in all ways. The capital city of Rajasthan was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. Since then, the royal city has been a touristy hub of Rajasthan because of its exceptional beauty. Built with the finest Mughal and Rajput Architectural style, Jaipur offers a spectacular beauty to behold. The city is deeply steeped in history and portrays the astounding amalgam of ancient history and vibrant culture. Millions of visitors come annually to visit Jaipur. The prolific tourism of Jaipur makes the city one of the busiest cities in India today. It not like that there are no other beautiful monuments in the world but when it comes to the marvelous architecture embodied with phenomenal embellishment, Rajasthani monuments outdo all. Here, culture, art, and architecture stand side by side. So let’s explore the beauty of this royal city to know about places to visit in Jaipur.
What do you expect on your particular trip? To witness the architectural wonders satiated with heroic history, experience a cheerful culture, learn something new about the bygone days of that city, spend some quality time in a religious place, and to enjoy the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the city, Right? Well, a trip to Jaipur is the answer to all your demands. Here, you’ll find the historical, religious, cultural, and natural beauty in different shades. So, let’s start off and have a look at the places to visit in Jaipur
Amber Fort
Amber Fort is actually the reason of origin of Jaipur. Due to rapidly-growing population and scarcity of water in Amber, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II commissioned Jaipur and made it the royal capital too. Though the fort was abandoned nearly 300 years back, it still remains the one of the major tourist attractions in Jaipur. Located in the rugged hills, Amber Fort is an epitome of a blend of Mughal and Rajputana architecture. Built with red & white marble and embodied with stellar carvings & mirror works, Amber fort spellbinds the visitors at the first glance itself. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Amber Fort, don’t forget to take the fun of an elephant ride. It is one of the beautiful places to visit in Jaipur.
Jantar Mantar
It was also built by the Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and is UNESCO World Heritage site. The king constructed this astronomical wonder to measure the time and track the celestial bodies. It is the largest of five astronomical observations in India. It features the instruments built of stone and brass. Jantar Mantar is more known for its structural design rather than the architectural style.
City Palace
Again an architectural wonder built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. I must say he was intensely inclined towards the architecture. After shifting his royal capital from Amber fort, he made the City Palace the royal residence. Sawai Jai Singh II was highly influenced by the Mughal architecture and it is quite apparent in every structure commissioned by him. This is an unsurpassed fusion of Mughal, European, and Rajput architecture. The Palace is adorned by the striking painting and carvings. There is also a museum inside the palace which showcases a vast collection of royal stuff. A must-visit place in Jaipur!
Albert Hall Museum
Located in the lap of awe-inspiring ‘Ram Niwas Garden’, Albert Hall Museum is one of the oldest museums in India. The museum was built by the Albert Edward, a Prince of Wales, with the purpose of opening an education institution there but the then ruler Madho Singh turned it into a museum and now it is one of the best places to visit in Jaipur. The architectural design of this museum is so exquisite that even one of the greatest writers Rudyard Kipling couldn’t resist lauding it. In this museum, you’ll find all curated content right from the royal costumes, Jewelry, weapons, rare stones, intricate paintings & sculptures, wood crafts metal & stone objects, and many more. This museum really creates an aura of bygone days.
Birla Temple
In Jaipur, there are many great temples but Birla Temple should be in the first place in your list because it is the most popular religious place in Jaipur. This temple doesn’t belong to any Rajput rulers rather it was built by the world-famous industrialists ‘Birla family’ in 1988. Built with white marble and adorned with the captivating carvings of scenes from the ancient Hindu mythology, Birla Temple is an unexcelled example of modern architecture. The quotes from Geeta are carved in the four walls of the temple. Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi are the presiding deities of Birla Temple which makes it one of the places to visit in Jaipur.
Hawa Mahal
The architectural description of Jaipur would remain incomplete if I don’t talk about the Hawa Mahal. Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799, Hawa Mahal is the most prominent landmark of Jaipur. The king constructed this Palace for the royal ladies. At that time, women from noble families were not allowed to go outside and being seen by a common person. So, the king built this palace with 900 small windows through which the ladies can observe the day-to-day life of outside world. It is made of red stones and white marbles are distributed in a systemic way. One of the most iconic palaces to visit in Jaipur and certainly a must-visit place!
Jal Mahal
This floating water palace amidst the Man Sagar Lake is the most picturesque place in Jaipur. The palace, dotted by the majestic Nahargarh Hills in the background, is indeed an utter specimen of Rajputana architecture. If you want to see the real beauty of Jal Mahal, visit in the evening or at the night. A calm evening on the bank of Man Sagar Lake admiring this architectural wonder and feeling the tranquility of ambiances can make you forget every pain.
Nahargarh Fort
Perched high above in the Aravalli hills, overlooking the Pink City, Nahargarh Fort is probably the finest testament of Hindu architecture. It was built strategically as a defense citadel in 18th century. Inside the fort, you can see the unrivaled artwork, embellishments, and craftsmanship of Rajputs. If you’re a camera-addict and never miss a chance to capture the fascinating sunset views, keep your camera handy here. The backdrop of imposing Aravalli hills really draws an enchanting canvas of nature here. From Nahargarh Fort, don’t forget to visit Jaigarh Fort which just at 15-minutes’ drive and one of beautiful places to visit in Jaipur.
Sisodia Rani ka Bagh and Vidyadhar Garden
These two are the adjoining gardens in Jaipur which render a surreal beauty to behold. Sisodia Rani ka Bagh was built in 1728 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh for his beloved Queen Sisodia Rani. Filled with lush greenery, utter stillness, multi-hued flowers, Sisodia Rani ka Bagh is a symbol of love. The adorned walls of garden depict the immortal love of Lord Shri Krishna and Goddess Radha through the lifelike paintings. Contagious to Sisodia Rani ka Bagh, there is Vidyadhar Garden. This garden has its own beauty. Don’t forget to explore this one of the beautiful places to visit in Jaipur .
Chokhi Dhani: One of the Places to visit in Jaipur
This is no brainer that Rajasthan has the most vibrant and colorful culture in India. The best thing about Rajasthani people is that they adhere their culture & traditions without caring about the world. So, if you want to be a part of this culture or want to get in colors “of Rajasthani culture, head to Chokhi Dhani which is an ethnic village. Here, you’ll witness and feel the real Rajasthani culture. From the shopping to restaurants, there is only and only authentic Rajasthani items. In Chokhi Dhani, there is always a festive and cheerful ambience. Indeed a must must-visit place in Jaipur!
Bapu Bazaar and Johri Bazaar
Can a trip really be completed without doing lots of shopping, especially a girl’s trip? No? Well, that’s why here I have mentioned the two best street markets of Jaipur. Bapu Bazaar and Johri Bazaar are the shopper’s delight. Here, you’ll get ornamental Rajasthani items. From ornate jewelry to traditional dresses adorned with gemstone & mirror work, lac bangles, striking handcraft items, decorative home décor stuff, and to the royal Rajasthani Jootis, you will find everything. If you really want to explore these two markets, carry a heavy wallet. Though here the prices are very reasonable, you can run out of money because every single item of these markets will urge you to buy it.
Best Places to Eat in Jaipur
If a cuisine is related to a particular culture and region, it becomes more special than the ordinary cuisines. If we talk about Rajasthan, you’ll find so many special cuisines. I mean to say Rajasthan has many its own cultural dishes which can make anybody go bananas over them. If you don’t have enough money to relish the Rajasthan meal in a five-star hotel, don’t worry. You still can have this pleasure, in fact, better than a five-star hotel. Yes, I’m talking about street food markets. Have a look at the best street food markets in Jaipur.
- Chokhi Dhani
- Bake Hut
- Niro’s
- Laxmi Misthan Bhandar
- Khandelwal Dhaba Purana Wala
- Spice Court
- Lassi Wala
- Pol Bar
Best Time to Visit Jaipur
You can visit the royal capital of Rajasthan throughout the year. There are so many places to visit in Jaipur. If you want to do only sightseeing of Jaipur, visit anytime the most suitable to you. But if you want to witness the real Jaipur and want to get in the colors of Rajasthani culture, visit between the months of December to April because most of traditional Rajasthani festival such as Kite Festival, Jaipur Literature Festival, Elephant Festival, and Gangaur Festival fall during this these months. At this time-period, the whole Jaipur gets drenched in the colors of happiness and exhilaration.
How to Reach Jaipur
Getting Jaipur is very convenient by all means. You can explore places to visit in Jaipur very easily. Whether you’re going by air, rail, hired vehicle, or your own car, you can reach Jaipur easily because it is well-connected to the major cities of India. Jaipur International Airport and Jaipur Railway Station are the most approachable halts. To explore the entire city without any hassle, you can hire a city bus or hop-on-hop-off service which specially serves the tourist and is very convenient.
The list of must-visit places in Jaipur doesn’t end here. We have just mentioned just the most prominent and not-to-be-missed places in Jaipur. The city has a lot more to offer you. Come and explore!!