Jaipur Highlights
A curated tour of Jaipur's most iconic forts, palaces, observatories, and bazaars — the Pink City of India and a UNESCO World Heritage City, part of the Golden Triangle with Delhi and Agra.
Trip Stops
- 1
Jaipur's most photographed icon — a five-storey honeycomb facade of 953 intricately latticed windows ('jharokhas') built in 1799 from pink sandstone. It was designed so royal women could watch street processions unseen from behind the screens. The top three floors are just one room wide, making the whole structure essentially an elaborately decorated screen wall. Sunrise is the best time to visit — the light turns the sandstone amber-gold. Entry also gives access to a small museum inside.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- 2
The grand palace complex at the heart of Jaipur's old walled city, built by founder Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II starting in 1727. A stunning fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture spread across sprawling courtyards, gardens, and galleries. The royal family still lives in a private section — making it one of India's few palaces with a living royal resident. Don't miss the two massive silver urns (Gangajali) in the Diwan-e-Khas — each holds 4,000 litres and are listed in the Guinness Book as the world's largest silver vessels.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- 3
A UNESCO World Heritage Site right next to City Palace — the world's largest stone astronomical observatory, built between 1728–1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Its 19 giant geometric instruments can measure time to within two seconds, track celestial bodies, and predict eclipses — all without a single lens or telescope, using pure geometry and shadow. The Samrat Yantra sundial stands 27 metres tall and was so accurate it served as Jaipur's official time signal until 1944, with a cannon fired from Nahargarh Fort to mark noon.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- 4
The beating commercial heart of the old walled city — Johari Bazaar ('Jeweller's Market') is Jaipur's most famous street, lined with centuries-old gem and jewellery shops for which Jaipur is world-renowned as a global hub for gemstone cutting and trading. Nearby Bapu Bazaar is the place for handmade leather mojari shoes, lac bangles, block-printed textiles, and Rajasthani puppets. Stop for pyaaz kachori (crispy onion-stuffed pastry) or kulfi falooda at the street stalls — essential Jaipur street food.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- 5
Rajasthan's oldest museum, housed in a magnificent Indo-Saracenic building completed in 1887 — a blend of Gothic, Mughal, and classical styles that was designed to host the Prince of Wales on his India tour. Its collection spans Egyptian mummies, Rajasthani miniature paintings, textiles, weapons, carved ivory, and a remarkable pottery collection tracing Indian craft from ancient times. The building alone is worth a visit — its exterior detail is among the finest Indo-Victorian architecture in India. Located in Ram Niwas Garden.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- 6
One of Jaipur's most hauntingly beautiful sights — an 18th-century palace that appears to float in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, framed by the Aravalli hills on all sides. Four of its five storeys are submerged; only the top floor is visible above the waterline. It was originally built as a hunting lodge and later expanded by Maharaja Madho Singh I. You cannot enter the palace, but the lakeside promenade at sunset is magical. The lake is also a wintering ground for migratory birds.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- 7
The crown jewel of Jaipur — a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched on a forested hill 11 km from the city, overlooking the shimmering Maota Lake. Built from amber-tinted limestone and sandstone, the fort's Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) is breathtaking: thousands of tiny convex mirror mosaics set in coloured foil, designed so a single candle would illuminate the entire room like a starlit sky. The approach up the cobbled ramp, with the lake below and walls snaking up the hillside, is one of the most cinematic arrivals in India.
📍 Amer, Rajasthan, India
- 8
The formidable military fort crowning the ridge directly above Amber Fort — connected to it by an underground passage. Built primarily as a weapons foundry and military stronghold, it houses the Jaivana Cannon: when built in 1720, it was the world's largest cannon on wheels, with a barrel 6 metres long. It was test-fired only once — the cannonball landed 35 km away. A 3 km network of thick red-sandstone walls encloses palaces, a stepped well, gardens, and panoramic views across the Aravalli hills.
📍 Amer, Rajasthan, India
- 9
The third fort in Jaipur's legendary defensive trio, built in 1734 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II on the edge of the Aravalli Hills and originally named Sudarshangarh. According to legend, construction was plagued by the spirit of a Rathore prince named Nahar Singh Bhomia, until the fort was renamed and a temple dedicated to him built inside. Its Madhavendra Bhawan — nine identical suites for the king's queens, each connected by a corridor to the king's central suite — offers an intimate glimpse into royal domestic life. Best visited at sunset for the panoramic view over Jaipur.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- 10
A dazzling all-white marble temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, built in 1988 by the Birla industrial family at the foot of Moti Dungri hill. Three domes symbolise the three religions of India — Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity — and the walls are carved with scenes from Hindu scriptures alongside quotations from Socrates and Christ. Beautifully illuminated at night, it offers a serene contrast to the ancient forts. Free entry; remove shoes before entering.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- 11
An ancient pilgrimage complex of Hindu temples, pavilions, and sacred kunds (natural spring-fed water tanks) tucked into a narrow gorge of the Aravalli Hills, 10 km east of Jaipur. The site dates back over 1,000 years and is home to hundreds of rhesus macaques — hence the nickname 'Monkey Temple'. The natural springs are believed to be holy; devout Hindus come to bathe in the kunds. The hike through the hills to the hilltop Surya Mandir (Sun Temple) offers sweeping views over Jaipur. Best visited early morning before the heat.
📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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