Jaipur at a glance:

Coordinates: 26.9124° N, 75.7873° E

State: Rajasthan

Jaipur is the capital of India’s Rajasthan state. It evokes the royal family that once ruled the region and that, in 1727, founded what is now called the Old City, or “Pink City” for its trademark building colour. At the centre of its stately street grid (notable in India) stands the opulent, collonaded City Palace complex.

How to reach Jaipur:

By Air :

Jaipur International Airport is the nearest airport. Cabs are available from the airport.

By Rail :

The nearest railhead is Jaipur railway station. An additional attraction is “The Palace on Wheels” which offers a royal ride to Jaipur. A train journey through the desert is an enthralling experience in itself.

By Road :

Jaipur is well accessible via roadways.

Places to visit in Jaipur:

Abhaneri step well:

Albert Hall MuseumAlbert Hall Museum is one of the oldest museums of Rajasthan. It has a rich collection of various kinds of items such as paintings, carpets, ivory, stone, metal sculptures, colourful crystal works etc.

Amber Fort:

Built on the outskirts of the city, overlooking the now dry Maota Lake, Amber Fort served as the capital before Jaipur. Consisting of large ramparts, series of gates and cobbled paths it is an authentic blend of Hindu and Rajput architecture.

Anokhi Museum of hand painting:

The Anokhi Foundation aims to preserve the centuries-old customs and traditions of the artisans in Jaipur. the foundation has been running a museum, Anokhi Museum of Handmade Paintings, where it exhibits various artifacts in relation to the hand and block printing.

Birla Temple:

Located on an elevated ground at the base of Moti Dungri hill in Rajasthan, the temple is also known as the Lakshmi Narayanan Temple as the Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Narayan), the preserver and his consort Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth.

Chand Pol:

One of the finest specimens of Rajput architecture in Jaipur, Chand Pol offers spectacular views of the famed old bazaar and glimpses of the Rajasthani culture.

Galtaji Temple:

Located around 20 km from Jaipur, this temple is beautifully situated amid trees and hills. One of the jewels of Jaipur, the temple complex encompasses natural freshwater springs and 7 holy ‘kunds’ or water tanks.

Govind Ji Temple:

For Krishna followers, this is the most significant temple in the world after Vrindavan. It is believed that the statue of the deity here looks exactly like Krishna’s form during his incarnation of Earth.

Hawa Mahal:

The Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of Winds, is located amid a busy Johri Bazaar street, crafted for efficient cooling in the olden days. This magnificent piece of architecture consists of 953 windows, or Jharokas, and served the purpose of allowing royal mistresses to view the hustle-bustle of the streets without being seen.

Jaigarh Fort:

The magnanimous Jaigarh fort is situated on the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of the Eagle) named so due to the eagle’s eye view from the fort. Built around 400m above the Amer Fort, it overlooks the Aravali range and the Amer Fort.

Moti Dungri Temple:

Moti Dungri temple is built on a hill above the famous Birla Temple. It is primarily a Ganesh Temple and was built to protect the city. The temple is surrounded by the beautiful Moti Dungri palace, which is an imitation of a Scottish castle.

Nahargarh Fort:

Nahargarh Fort is located about 15km from Amber Fort. It means abode of the tigers. This fort was mainly built as a summer retreat for the Royal family and is connected to the Jaigarh fort.

Ram Nivas Garden:

Stuffed with appealing fountains and dazzling serene pools, Ram Nivas Garden offers a tranquil and calm atmosphere for you to ease out and relax. The pink city has many such lush green gardens which add to its beauty and tranquillity such as Sisodia Rani Palace and Garden, Vidyadhar Garden, Central Park (Entrance near Statue Circle) which are all cool places to hang out.

What to Eat in Jaipur:

Jaipur is the capital of the state in more than one sense. You will find outlets of various cuisines and will never run out of options in the sparkling city. However, the most colourful here will be the local cuisine where several traditional dishes and desserts flourish. These preparations are relished daily by the locals and leave most tourist fascinated. Some of the dishes that you can’t miss in Jaipur include Dal Bati Churma, Missi Roti, Bajre ki Roti, Mirchi Bada, Gatte ki Sabji and Kadhi. The desserts here are very popular and it is almost imperative that you let your taste buds experience these unique dishes. These include Ghevar, Imarti, Halwa, Choorma, Gajak, Moong Thal and more. Though Jaipur has several options for fine dining, one must not miss the street food available. Lanes of Johri Bazaar would be best for the exquisite and local street food ornamenting the cuisine here with an old-world charm that it carries.