Read this 2-day itinerary to help you prepare for your trip to India’s iconic Pink City.
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, but more known as the Pink City is a mesmerizing city to visit. Rumour has it they painted the city pink to impress Prince Albert on his visit in 1876, he called it the Pink City and it stuck. Wondering what made them choose to paint the city pink? Pink has been seen as the colour of hospitality. Don't expect the entire city to be pink though, while it is obvious why the city has it's name, it's not pink in entirety.
This is also an important city historically with lots of forts, monuments, and palaces to explore. Jaipur was actually the first planned city in India and was designed in the shape of a mandala. The city is also famous for it's gems, being a jewelry destination from the beginning. There are bazaars full of traditional shops selling wedding jewelry, precious stones and traditional pieces.
When to visit Jaipur?
India differs a bit from South East Asia as it has four seasons instead of two, more similar to Canada. It does have a season that is more hot and dry - summer, and a season that is more wet - monsoon, and then it also has a more cool season - winter and a spring.
The best time to visit would be in fall or winter, as the cooler weather will be more pleasant than the heat of the summer. However, this will be when the most people choose to visit which can increase prices and crowds. The winter is also known for being quite foggy in the mornings, make sure to keep that in mind when planning your photo spots.
How to get to Jaipur?
If you are travelling to India, you most likely will fly in to Delhi, the country's capital. From there it is really easy to get to Jaipur by train. I am sure you have seen pictures of videos of what taking the train India is like...I am here to say that you might just experience that.
When you take the train in India there are several ticket type options. The cheapest option is less than 1CAD and does not have a seat assigned. This is the type of ticket that leads to a crowded train car with people hanging off the doors. This train car will be locked off and inaccessible from the other cars. Since there is no assigned seating, I do not believe they put a limit on how many people can purchase the ticket. The line ups we saw for people to get on these cars were really long and they would really push to get on the train.
I would not call any of the train tickets expensive by Canadian standards, even a sleeper car is less than 20CAD. However, you need to make a reservation well in advance for your ride. Don't show up at the train station and expect to get the next train out. You also want to plan to be there very early. We gave ourselves a one-hour window to get the train in Delhi and we missed it!
We had to take a train from where we were to the main train station, we considered taking an uber but were worried we would get stuck in traffic. This train we took was much more of a local train, there were people hanging off it and goods for selling piles everywhere. It arrived to the train station to pick us up almost 30 minutes late, and then stopped at the second last stop for almost 30 minutes. Thankfully, we were able to book another train for later in the day. We used uber eats to order food to the train station and worked on editing photos.
You can also book a tour if you'd prefer something more catered to you. The Golden Triangle is the most common tour, especially if you won't be there for long. What we did in India was technically a self-guided Golden Triangle. The points that make up the triangle are Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.
How to get around Jaipur?
The easiest way to get around Jaipur, and most of India will be by rickshaw. This is the Indian version of a tuk-tuk, and easily accessible. If you would prefer an air conditioned car in this heat, those can also be hired at a higher price. We found Jaipur to be a bit less walkable than Agra, a big part of that is the size. The tourist attractions are not as close together and transportation is essential for seeing them all.
What to do in Jaipur?
Day 1: Rickshaw Tour
Our first day in Jaipur we chose to do a rickshaw tour of the most famous places. We had met a young driver while leaving the train station the night before, he was very friendly and informative on our drive to the hotel. We made sure to ask for his contact details and negotiated a full day tour of the highlights of the Pink City.
Our first stop was the Patrika Gate, this ornate and symbolic gate is a fun photo spot. Gates in India are not always points of entry and exit, they can be decorative as well. They can be constructed to show the power of a ruler and mark historic events. You need to have a gate on your India itinerary, and I would recommend this one.
The Patrika Gate was built a memorial in 2016 to show the architectural and cultural heritage of the Rajasthan regions. Unfortunately, it was under construction when we went so we couldn't get the full building shot in, check out these shots here to see that.
Albert Hall Museum is another popular spot for photos, it was actually so busy with professional shoots when we went by that it was hard to get photos. This is a popular place for photos since it is often swarmed by pigeons, there are vendors selling bird food so you can attract them. We even saw photographers assistants running around scaring the pigeons to ensure people got photos with pigeons flying everywhere.
This museum was built to commemorate the visit of Prince Albert and is the oldest museum in Rajasthan. It is a great place to see the rich heritage of the area and get souvenirs from local craftsmen.
On our way to Amer Fort, we couldn't resist stopping at a step well. This unique wells were once prevalent in Rajasthan to collect water in the dry months. They are designed so that no matter how full or empty they are, the water is accessible. They became an integral part of the culture, with a social aspect as people could sit and chat while doing their chores. There are around 2000 step wells in India currently although they are no longer in use. Some sit dry, while others are kept full for more of a tourist attraction.
Amer Fort or Amer Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and you can't miss it. The fort is built from red and pink sandstone atop a hill, with beautiful carvings done throughout. While there has been a structure in this location since 967, this fort was built in the 16th century and improved upon for hundreds of years. The complex is surrounded by a large wall, the third-largest in the world. Guards would have paroled along the wall to protect the royals within.
After Amer fort, our guide suggested we visit a heritage textile factory. India is well known for it's fabric printing and clothing making. We were able to see how they use stamps and ink to press the designs onto fabric. We did try on some clothes after, but did not make any purchases. If you are looking for a unique souvenir, this is something you should consider. You can choose from a number of designs and select the fabric you like and they will custom make your clothing as fast as you need. When we said we were leaving soon, they offered to have the clothes made and dropped at our hotel by the next morning!
I mentioned earlier on that Jaipur is known worldwide for it's jewelry industry so of course we had to make a stop at a store. We were able to visit the stone cutters in their work shop and watch them work. Coming from the jewelry industry, this was definitely interesting to me! The shop our driver took us to was a more high end one, it was a beautiful store with lots to choose from. While I was tempted to get something extravagant, I went with a more local piece. I purchased a beautiful Kyanite ring and elephant earrings.
We were expecting a busy day and that we might not be able to visit everywhere we had selected, yet somehow we had free time. Our driver suggested we visit Royal Gaitor since it was close and inexpensive. This place is considered one of the more hidden gems of the area and is much lesser known. We had the place mostly to our selves and were able to get some good photos. Since we were not planning to go there, we did not know the history of it. I went home and researched what the place was and it is actually the tomb of the first king of Jaipur. The Chhatri or semi-open canopies are made from white marble with beautiful carvings. The carvings tell the story of the Kings life, they are full of elephants, horses and warriors since he fought many wars.
Our last stop of the day was to watch the sunset at Nahargarh Fort. Hilltop forts are common in Jaipur and this one has the best panoramic view of the city. Historically, this fort was used by the royal families as a vacation home, for hunting and relaxing. It is a scenic drive up to the fort, the view increases little by little as you go and there are wild peacocks running around the forest.
After Amber fort and Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort is the third hilltop fort in Jaipur and is an ideal place for enjoying the panoramic views of the city. Located at Aravalli Hills, it offers the most striking views of Jaipur’s scenic landscapes. While it wasn't an exceptional sunset, the area is quite smoggy, it was a unique view of the city.
Day 2: Self-guided Tour
Our second day in Jaipur was a self-guided walking tour of the inner city highlights. The first stop was the city palace in heart of the city. If you've been wanting to experience the pink of the city - this is it! Construction stated on this architectural monument and functioning palace in 1727 and took several years. The royal family still lives in the City Palace so only certain sections are open to the public. You can explore several courtyards, a museum and see the beautiful gates. We did hire a guide for our visit as there are no signs and we didn't want to miss out.
The City Palace is also a fantastic place to get some shopping done! You can visit textile and souvenir shops and see artists at work. The prices are known for being a little higher here, but you can bargain. We met a local artist who showed us some of his work and made Kiki a little drawing to take with him.
Another iconic pink building you should visit is the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds) or Women's Palace. Only a short walk from the City Palace, and in a prime lunch and shopping district. This 5-story honeycomb style building has an astounding 953 windows or jharokhas. The building was designed in a very specific manner with a specific purpose. When the building was built in the 1700s, women were not to be seen in public without their husband. Women would wear veils or avoid going outside. This building was constructed to give royal women a place to safely watch the outside world without being seen.
Buildings like this were not uncommon at that time, since this was a common belief. The elite class would dedicate their funds to buildings like this. The windows were not only to give an unobstructed view of the outside, but to ensure airflow. The buildings were constructed in commonly used area, so if a ceremony was done and the men were on the streets, the women could be safely above. You can pay a fee to visit the inside, and see the luxury the women enjoyed.
Bonus:
Don't forget to eat, eat, and eat! The food here is divine, affordable and you need to try as much as you can. The water in India is not known for being the cleanest, so you do want to be a little careful here of what you eat. I would recommend taking probiotics in advance of your visit and drinking only bottled water.
If you're not comfortable with spicy food, just ask your waiter what they recommend. We adored Chana Masala (chickpea curry) and Dal Makhani (lentil curry), and of course all the fresh naan.