Jaipur is far enough from Delhi to feel like a real trip and close enough for a weekend. The city’s old walled centre — the Pink City — and the forts on the hills around it are best seen early, before the heat and the tour buses arrive.
Getting there
The road trip is about 280 km and roughly five hours. Fast trains from Delhi take four to five hours and drop you close to the city centre. Take a train on Friday evening or very early Saturday to get a full first day.
Day 1: Amer and the hill forts
- Amer Fort — start at opening time. The climb up from Maota Lake takes about 15 minutes; jeeps are an alternative. Don’t miss the Sheesh Mahal, the mirrored hall.
- Jaigarh Fort — above Amer, known for the Jaivana cannon and wide views.
- Nahargarh — end the day here for sunset over the city.
Day 2: The Pink City
- Hawa Mahal — the famous honeycomb façade is best photographed from the cafés across the road in the morning.
- City Palace — still partly the royal family’s residence, with museum galleries of textiles and arms.
- Jantar Mantar — the 18th-century astronomical observatory beside the City Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The bazaars — Johari Bazaar for jewellery, Bapu Bazaar for textiles and mojris. Bargaining is expected.
What to eat
Try pyaaz kachori and mirchi vada for breakfast, and a Rajasthani thali with dal baati churma for lunch. Lassi in a kulhad is a Jaipur staple.
Good to know
A composite ticket covering several major monuments saves money if you plan to see most of them. Carry water and a hat — the forts have little shade. Agree auto and taxi fares before starting, or use app cabs.
