Jaipur Holidays — Amber Fort, Pink City & Golden Triangle
Jaipur
Holidays
The Pink City — Amber Fort, the City Palace, bazaars full of gems and textiles, and the heart of the Golden Triangle
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Flight Time
9–10h to Delhi, then 5h by train or 45min domestic flight to Jaipur
Best Time
October to March — cool, clear and perfect for sightseeing
Country
India
Suppliers
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Jaipur Holiday Guide
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is one of India's most photogenic and rewarding cities — a planned city of terracotta-pink buildings, bustling bazaars and magnificent Mughal and Rajput architecture. Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur was one of the first planned cities in India — its grid layout, wide boulevards and uniform pink-painted buildings (ordered by the Maharaja to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876) give it a distinctive character unlike any other Indian city.
The Amber Fort, 11km from the city, is the undisputed highlight — a vast hilltop complex of palaces, courtyards and mirror-inlaid halls that takes at least half a day to explore properly. The City Palace, Jantar Mantar observatory and Hawa Mahal are all within the old city walls. The bazaars of Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar are among the best shopping streets in India.
Jaipur is the third point of the Golden Triangle (Delhi–Agra–Jaipur) and is well connected to both cities by train and road. It is also the natural starting point for a wider Rajasthan circuit.
Average Temperatures
Jan
18°C
Feb
22°C
Mar
28°C
Apr
34°C
May
38°C
Jun
36°C
Jul
31°C
Aug
30°C
Sep
30°C
Oct
28°C
Nov
23°C
Dec
18°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Jaipur
The hilltop forts, royal palaces, ancient observatories and vibrant bazaars that make Jaipur the jewel of the Golden Triangle.
Amber Fort — The Hilltop Masterpiece
The Amber Fort (Amer Fort), 11km from Jaipur on a rocky hill above Maota Lake, is one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture in India — a vast complex of palaces, courtyards, temples and gardens built in pale yellow and pink sandstone and white marble. The Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) is the highlight — thousands of tiny convex mirrors set into the ceiling and walls create a dazzling effect. The fort is best visited early morning; the elephant rides up to the fort are controversial — opt for the jeep instead.
Hawa Mahal — The Palace of Winds
The Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is Jaipur's most iconic building — a five-storey pink sandstone facade of 953 small windows (jharokhas) with honeycomb screens, built in 1799 to allow royal women to observe street life without being seen. The building has no front entrance and no rooms — it is essentially an elaborate screen. The best view is from the street outside, particularly in the morning when the pink sandstone glows in the early light. Climb to the top for views over the old city.
City Palace — The Royal Residence
The City Palace in the heart of Jaipur's old city is a complex of palaces, courtyards, gardens and museums built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century. The Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace) at the centre is still the residence of the royal family — the current Maharaja lives on the upper floors. The Mubarak Mahal (Welcome Palace) houses a textile museum with extraordinary royal costumes, and the Diwan-i-Khas contains two enormous silver urns (the largest silver objects in the world) used to carry Ganges water to England.
Jantar Mantar — The World's Largest Stone Observatory
The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a collection of 19 astronomical instruments built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II between 1727 and 1734. The Samrat Yantra (Supreme Instrument) is the world's largest sundial, capable of measuring time to an accuracy of 2 seconds. The instruments were used to compile astronomical tables and predict the movements of the sun, moon and planets. A good guide is essential to understand what you're looking at.
Nahargarh Fort — Sunset Over the Pink City
Nahargarh Fort on the Aravalli Hills above Jaipur offers the finest views over the Pink City — particularly at sunset, when the terracotta buildings glow orange and gold. The fort was built in 1734 as a retreat for the royal family and is less visited than Amber Fort. The Madhavendra Bhawan inside the fort is a remarkable 19th-century palace with identical suites for each of the Maharaja's nine queens. The rooftop restaurant is a popular sunset spot.
Jaipur Bazaars — Gems, Textiles & Block Printing
Jaipur is one of the best shopping destinations in India — the city is famous for its precious and semi-precious gemstones (particularly emeralds, rubies and sapphires), gold and silver jewellery, block-printed textiles, blue pottery, leather goods and miniature paintings. The Johari Bazaar (jewellery market), Bapu Bazaar (textiles and handicrafts) and Tripolia Bazaar (bangles and traditional items) are the main shopping streets. Visit a block-printing workshop in Sanganer (15km from Jaipur) to see the craft in action.
Ranthambore — Day Trip for Tigers
Ranthambore National Park, 180km from Jaipur (3 hours by road), is one of India's best tiger reserves and an easy day trip or overnight excursion from Jaipur. The park's tigers are famously bold and frequently spotted in daylight, often near the ruins of the 10th-century Ranthambore Fort. Morning and afternoon jeep safaris offer the best sightings — book well in advance, particularly October to March.
Jaipur Cuisine — Dal Baati Churma & Laal Maas
Jaipur's cuisine is among the finest in Rajasthan — dal baati churma (lentils with baked wheat balls and sweet crumbled bread) is the signature dish, laal maas (fiery red mutton curry) is extraordinary, and the street food of the old city — kachori, samosa, lassi and the famous Rawat Mishthan Bhandar pyaaz kachori — is exceptional. The rooftop restaurants of the old city offer both excellent food and views over the Hawa Mahal and the Pink City skyline.
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