Things to Do in Jaipur: The Complete Guide

Jaipur, the Pink City and capital of Rajasthan, is a feast of hilltop forts, sprawling palaces, colourful bazaars and rich food. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages groups the best things to do in Jaipur by interest, so you can shape the trip you want and shows how it slots neatly into the Golden Triangle alongside Delhi and Agra, most often as part of a Golden Triangle tour.

I was born in Delhi and in more than 11 years guiding the Golden Triangle for Experience My India I have taken travellers through Jaipur more times than I can count. Here is the honest, practical version.

Things to do in Jaipur at a glance

Explore Jaipur's forts

Jaipur's forts crown the Aravalli hills and are the highlight for many visitors:

• Amber Fort: the magnificent hilltop fort and palace, with the mirrored Sheesh Mahal and grand courtyards, the must-see of the city.

• Nahargarh Fort: perched above Jaipur for sweeping views, especially beautiful at sunset.

• Jaigarh Fort: the rugged fort above Amber, home to Jaivana, once the world's largest wheeled cannon.

Amber also hosts an evening light and sound show that brings its history to life, a lovely way to end the day.

Visit Jaipur's palaces and landmarks

The heart of the Pink City is a cluster of royal landmarks:

• City Palace: the still-royal complex of courtyards, museums and the striking Chandra Mahal.

• Hawa Mahal: the iconic five-storey "Palace of Winds," with its honeycomb pink facade, best photographed in the morning light.

• Jal Mahal: the romantic water palace sitting in Man Sagar Lake, viewed from the shore.

• Albert Hall Museum: the grand Indo-Saracenic museum, the oldest in Rajasthan, glowing at night.

See the Jantar Mantar

One of the most fascinating things to do in Jaipur is to visit the Jantar Mantar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest of India's historic stone observatories. Built in the 18th century, it holds giant astronomical instruments, including the world's largest stone sundial, which still tells the time with remarkable accuracy. A guide really helps here to make sense of the extraordinary instruments.

Shop in the Pink City's bazaars

Jaipur is one of India's best shopping cities, famous for its crafts:

• Johari Bazaar: the historic jewellery market, for gemstones and traditional pieces.

• Bapu Bazaar: textiles, mojari juttis and Rajasthani handicrafts.

• Tripolia Bazaar: lac bangles, brassware and local wares.

• Signature buys: blue pottery, block-printed fabrics and precious and semi-precious stones.

Bargaining is expected in the bazaars, so shop with a smile and take your time.

Taste Jaipur's food

Rajasthani food is hearty and distinctive and Jaipur is the place to try it:

• Dal baati churma: the iconic Rajasthani dish of baked wheat balls, lentils and sweet churma.

• Pyaaz kachori and street snacks: best from the city's legendary sweet shops.

• Ghewar: the disc-shaped festive sweet, especially around Teej.

• Laxmi Misthan Bhandar: the famous LMB in Johari Bazaar for sweets and thalis.

Experience Rajasthani culture

To feel the spirit of Rajasthan, add a cultural experience:

• Chokhi Dhani: an ethnic village resort on the edge of the city, with folk dance, music, camel rides and a traditional thali dinner.

• Block printing and craft workshops: hands-on sessions in the surrounding villages.

• Puppet shows and folk performances: a colourful window into local tradition.

Discover Jaipur's temples, gardens and photo spots

Beyond the big sights, Jaipur has gems worth seeking out:

• Birla Mandir: the serene white marble temple, lovely in the evening.

• Galtaji: the temple complex in the hills, known as the Monkey Temple.

• Panna Meena ka Kund: the geometric stepwell near Amber, wonderfully photogenic.

• Patrika Gate: the vividly painted gateway at Jawahar Circle, a favourite for photos.

Combine Jaipur with Delhi and Agra

Jaipur is one corner of the Golden Triangle, India's classic first-timer circuit with Delhi and Agra. It is about 270 km from Delhi and about 240 km from Agra, so the three link easily into one trip. Pair your Jaipur days with the capital, using our things to do in Delhi guide and with the Taj city, using our things to do in Agra guide.

A sunrise at the Taj is the perfect midpoint of the circuit, so many travellers add a Sunrise Taj tour on the Agra leg and there is plenty more around that city in our tourist places near Agra guide.

When is the best time to visit Jaipur and how many days do you need?

The best time to visit Jaipur is October to March, when the weather is pleasant for the forts and bazaars. Summer from April to June is very hot, often above 40 degrees and the monsoon is humid. Winter also brings colourful festivals, from the kite festival in January to the Jaipur Literature Festival.

For how long, two to three days is ideal: one day for Amber and the nearby forts, one for the City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and the bazaars and a third for culture, temples and shopping at a relaxed pace.

Travel tips for things to do in Jaipur

• Visit Amber Fort early to beat the heat and crowds and see Nahargarh at sunset.

• Photograph Hawa Mahal in the morning, when the light hits the facade.

• Hire a guide at Jantar Mantar to understand the instruments.

• Bargain in the bazaars and look for blue pottery and block prints.

• Try a Rajasthani thali and the local sweets.

• Plan Jaipur as part of a Golden Triangle trip with Delhi and Agra.

Want a Jaipur trip built around what you enjoy or a full Golden Triangle planned end to end? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Plan your trip with us

Jaipur shines when the forts, palaces, bazaars and food are woven into a smooth plan and that is what we do, the timing, the transport, a licensed guide and the cultural evenings, so you simply enjoy the Pink City.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. Explore the full circuit with our Golden Triangle tours, browse our wider Delhi Agra Tour Packages or add a relaxed Taj stay with an Agra overnight tour.

Related guides

• Delhi day tour: a full day across the capital.

• New Delhi tour: the imperial landmarks of New Delhi.

• Old Delhi tour: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk.

• Taj Mahal to Agra Fort distance: the two great Agra monuments.

Experience My India has personally hosted 50,000+ travelers and the service he leads is rated 4.9 from 2,600+ reviews, operating since 2015. Delhi Agra Tour Packages is a unit of Experience My India.