9 Places to visit in Jaipur – Explore the best of Pink City

Places to Visit in Jaipur for travellers

As you read you will be well aware of the top 9 places to visit in Jaipur – the rose-hued capital city of Rajasthan known as the “Pink City” is simple yet rich in its culture and traditional values. The city is home to fascinating forts, royal palaces, and vibrant bazaars filled with a wide range of exquisite handicrafts from brightly colored turbans to spectacular jewelry and everything in between.

Famous for its skilled craftsmanship, the game of polo, royal splendor, and spoken English classes in Jaipur, making it the gateway to Rajasthan and a famous destination for travelers. The capital city of Rajasthan is a perfect blend of culture, crafts, and modernization and has well retained its old-world charm.

The following are the places to visit in Jaipur for a tourist

1. Amber Fort Jaipur – The Most visited place in Jaipur

Amber was the former capital and stronghold of the Kachhwaha Rulers from 1037 until the foundation of Jaipur was laid in 1727. The rulers of Amber played a vital role in the Mughal forces which can be perceived from the majestic structure and architecture of the palace whose construction began in 1592 by Mirza Raja Man Singh, one of the nine gems of Akbar and military general of the Mughal army. The present-day structures as we see today were added by the later successors.

The Sheesh Mahal or the mirror palace decorated with Belgian glasses replicates the night sky when candles are lit in the room. Often compared to a women’s Jewellery box the place was reserved for the Dignitaries. The hall of the public audience built out of Red Sandstone was added by Mirza Raja Jai Singh who also constructed the Ganesh Pol which is the main entrance to the royal quarters.

*One can avail an elephant ride to the palace as the royals used to.

2. Palace of the Winds – One of the best places to visit in Jaipur

The most photographed monument of Jaipur, this pyramid-shaped, five-story façade with 953 lattice windows, known as “Jharokha”, that resembles in design of a Beehive. Built-in the year 1799 by Sawai Pratap Singh Ji for the women of the Royalty to enjoy a sense of freedom without compromising with the strict “Purdah System”. Acting as a screen allowed the women of royalty to enjoy the drama of the streets and other various processions of the state without being seen.

These set of windows combine to make a remarkable ventilation system, keeping the palace cool during the hot summers. On the inside is sensational work of colorful mirrors that light up the place in rainbow colors as the sunlight passes through them. From the top one can watch the City Palace and the Jantar Mantar aerial views. The place is wheelchair accessible with ramps going to the top floor. An astonishing piece of art by Lal Chand Usta, the five-story façade is just 8inch in width and has been standing tall since 1799 without any support and is among the list of must-visit places of Jaipur

3. City Palace Museum – A Must visit when in Jaipur

Built by Sawai Jai Singh Ji from 1727 to 1732 this palace is partly converted into a museum and open to visitors, the rest is the residence of the royal family of Jaipur. The city palace museum has on display a rich collection of various artifacts ranging from royal robes to artillery and weapons belonging to the Royals. The city palace complex is a souvenir of the regal past, a perfect blend of Rajput, Mughal, and European architecture. It remained the seat of power until independence and as one enters the palace the place captivates one with its old-world charm and takes you into the times of “Maharaja”

Mubarak Mahal was built in the 19th century by Madho Singh 2nd as the reception center for royal guests, It now houses a Costume Gallery that holds the robes of the former rulers of Jaipur. Chandra Mahal is where the present members of the royal family reside. The most picturesque is the Pitam Niwas Courtyard which houses the famous peacock gate which has an exquisite sculpture of a peacock quite vibrant and alive.

4. Royal Gaitor

Not crowded with people the Royal Gators are the cremation site of the former men of the royal family, built on them are the marble cenotaphs. The two courtyards house the cenotaphs of many former rulers but the most remarkable being of Sawai Jai Singh Ji, the founder of Jaipur, and of Madho Singh Ji II, and another beautiful cenotaph shining white is under construction of Sawai Bhawani Singh Ji the last ruler of Jaipur.

With delicate work of carvings on the pillars and the domes presenting an astonishing display of sculpting art in every nook and corner. Rather peaceful and serene place out of the hustle and bustle of Jaipur.

5. Jantar Mantar

Built from 1727 to 1733 the largest stone observatory and one of the five was built by Sawai Jai Singh Ji who was very keen on astronomy. These architectural astronomical instruments are devised by the learned King himself and can compete with modern-day instruments with precision. These devices which measure time, position, and other deciding factors of the sun, stars, and other celestial bodies.
The Samrat Yantra or the Sun Dial provides time as precise as two seconds and is made completely of stone, having a towering height of 22.3 meters. The observatory has more than 20 instruments that measure various aspects of the celestial bodies. A UNESCO World Heritage site Jantar Mantar testifies to the astronomical prowess of the learned King of Jaipur Sawai Jai Singh II.

6. Govind Dev Ji Temple – Best temple to see in Jaipur

During the reign of Aurangzeb, when most Hindu temples and idols were damaged by the Mughal forces on the orders of the fanatic king. This sacred image resembling Lord Krishna for safety concerns has been to a lot of places before finally reaching Amber. As the capital moved to Jaipur, the temple was established in the City Palace Complex and since then has been the deity of the Royal family and Jaipur.
The temple showcases an affair of religion and devotion of people as one can see people dancing and singing in devotion. This temple of Lord Krishna who is the founder of Jaipur regarded as the ruler of the City is visited by thousands of devotees daily and a sight to behold in spirituality. Govind Dev Ji Temple is a must-visit place in Jaipur.

7. Albert Hall Museum 

Built to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Whales – His Highness Albert Edward, the Albert Hall museum was completed in 1887 by English Architect Sir Samual Swinton Jacob. It was the first-ever museum of Rajasthan and it still serves the purpose with various galleries ranging from paintings, artwork, coins, and even a replica of the Egyptian mummy and much more. Surrounding the Albert Hall are beautiful gardens, the city zoo, and an open-air food joint that serves the most famous delicacies of Jaipur. Night adds a charm to the place as the whole building is lit in colorful lights by the dark and brings the monument back to life along with it one can enjoy sumptuous food served by the best eateries of Jaipur.

8. Jal Mahal 

Built by Maharaja Madho Singh in 1750 this palace appears to float in the Man Sagar lake. An avid summer palace as 4 out of the 5 stories of the palace remain underwater and are cooler on the inside. Since one can’t visit the place it’s better to stop while coming back to Jaipur from Amber and take pictures.
It underwent a recent work of restoration fixing the leakage and damping of the centuries-old monument to prevent it from collapsing. From the “Jal Mahal Ki Pal” which is full of locals and tourists escaping from the hustle of the city to cherish the beauty of the Lake, surrounded by the Aravali Mountains and an amazing architectural marvel in the middle of the lake. One can see the terrace garden in the palace which was added by the later generations. A Perfect photography spot with blue waters, a sand-colored Palace, and mountains in the background.

 9. Jaigarh Fort

Built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1726, houses one of the largest cannon on wheels – Jaivan, still intact the cannon is said to have a firing range of more than 20 miles. It served as a military fort and as the royal treasury and is connected to the Amber Fort via a tunnel that was proposed to be used in the scene of an attack, however, it never came into use and is still intact.

The most mesmerizing part of Jaigarh is the Charbagh Garden and the arch overlooking the valley of the Aravalli Hills, the gardens laid out in a perfect manner provide a great photography spot with a perfect backdrop. An imposing citadel with Palaces, an arsenal, a granary, and a cannon foundry where the ‘Jaivan’ was made. One can have bird’s eye views of Amer Fort, the Maota Lake, and the city from here.

These are the must-visit places in Jaipur, for your time in the city don’t forget to visit all of the above-mentioned.

Here are the list of tours taking you to the city of Jaipur.

And a blog post helpful for your next trip – What to wear in India.