Jaipur Travel Guide: Highlights of the Pink City

The Rajasthan region is the most touristic in India and is often the first approach to this very special country. It must be said that its colorful cities and monumental temples are very attractive.

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, has many wonderful places to visit, from its Palace of the Winds to the majestic Amber Fort and the little-known Surya Temple, there is something for everyone!

Amber Fort visit

Amber Fort is one of the top attractions in Jaipur. It is located about 15km from the heart of the capital. On the road, do not miss the magnificent temple of Jal Mahal, literally “Palace on the Water”.

Back to Amber Fort, it is one of the most beautiful fortresses in Rajasthan and the former capital of the region.

The visit is worth the detour, it is an architectural gem and the view from the top of the fort is incredible.

In addition, it is possible to go up to the Fort on the back of an elephant in the morning.

A word of advice, if this does not suit you, opt for the visit in the afternoon when there are less tourists.

Close to Amber, one can also find a Baori (Panna Meena ka Kund), an ancient stepwell.

Close to this Baori, the temple of Jagat Shiromani and its beautiful statues deserves a look. One can easily devote a good half day to visiting all these places in Amber.

Visit of Jaipur, the pink city

You should devote at least a whole day to visiting the capital. The unmissable place is undoubtedly the City Palace, located in the center of Jaipur.

The heart of the palace is transformed into a museum (textiles and weapons in particular) and the esplanades which surround it open to the public.

Near the palace, the astronomical observatory or Jantar Mantar is made up of huge measuring instruments.

Each instrument has a particular functionality and is accompanied by a panel.

It is also possible to take a guide to discover the secrets of the place and these mysterious devices.

Now head to Hawa Mahal, the photogenic Palace of Winds, symbol of Jaipur.

To photograph it from the front, you have to go to the east side of the palace, from the street.

The visit is also worth the detour and takes you to the top of the palace for a panoramic view of the city.

Other temples are worth a look (Govindji in particular) but it is interesting to visit the Bazaar near the Palace of the Winds.

Jaipur is indeed famous for its crafts (textiles, carpets, stone, …) and it is always enriching to observe the bubbling life around the Indian markets.

Jaipur has a vibrant night life with many restaurants and bars. There are also many good hotels in Jaipur for all kind of budget, making the city a great place to spend a few days.

Surya Temple

The discovery of the Surya temple located about ten kilometers from Jaipur is for me a real bonus if the capital has no more secrets for you.

We leave the crowds of the city to escape into a valley where magnificent almost abandoned temples are nestled.

The area is invaded by many monkeys that will accompany you along the visit. You can easily stroll for more than an hour on this site, along the basins fed by a spring.

It’s a real breath of fresh air allowing you to cut through the incessant horns of the capital and a good transition for the rest of the trip.

Garh Palace and Taragarh Fort in Bundi

South of Jaipur awaits the peaceful town of Bundi with its blue walls and monumental palace.

Unmissable, the palace and its fort overlook the blue city.

This huge monument can be visited with the help of a guide who knows the history of the place like no one else and allows you to enter certain rooms normally closed to visitors.

The anecdotes of our guide, his photos and his advice accompanied us for almost two hours in this immense labyrinth.

The architecture so specific to the palaces of Rajasthan and the paintings made from stones, turquoises and lapis Lazuli are the main attractions of the place.

It is a pity that this palace, at the heart of a succession dispute, is abandoned, but it gives the visit a privileged side, like the impression of entering a sanctuary.

The visit ends with the magnificent garden of delights or Chitrasala from which we have the most beautiful view of the city.

At the foot of the palace lies the town of Bundi, its bazaar can be reached in barely a quarter of an hour.

The streets come alive as you approach the market, you stroll through the streets with blue walls discovering a range of very specific trades.

Indeed, from the spice merchant to the hairdresser through the repairer of musical instruments, Indian daily life unfolds before our eyes.

The bazaar district is made up of jewelers on one side, textiles on the other and finally the fruit and vegetable market and its local products.

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