Jaipur – Your Guide to India’s “Pink City”

  Amber Fort Palace: Probably the most iconic fort in Jaipur, you must plan a visit to Amber Fort Palace. The palace was once the primary residence of Jaipur’s Rajput rulers. Now the palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, the palace is featured in multiple Bollywood movies, highlighting the unique blend of Rajput (Hindu) and Mughal (Islamic) design styles. Given this is such a popular attraction, I highly recommend a tour that includes transportation. Considering it’s popularity, the entrance line is always massively long and the guide can wait in line while you wander around and visit the next attraction. 

 

Hawa Mahal: Translated to the “Wind Palace,” this iconic facade faces the main streets of Jaipur. Although it looks like a full building, in reality this pink structure is really just a wall. It was historically used for the royal women of Jaipur to watch events and gatherings in society since royal women could not show their faces in public. I recommend just viewing the structure from the outside because the inside is simply chambers where the women would stand. 

City Palace: City Palace, the current estate of the royal family of Jaipur, serves as an active venue for cultural and political events. Meanwhile, tourists can purchase tickets at the gate to see the beautiful gates, guest house, event halls, and textile museum.

Jantar Mantar: Jantar Mantar, a collection of astronomical instruments built by Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, is located right next to the City Palace. These instruments, among the largest of their kind, were built in the early 18th century and because of this, are still used today by astronomy students and visited by loads of tourists every day.

  Albert Hall: Constructed as a welcome gift for Prince Edward VII of Wales during his visit to Jaipur in 1876, Albert Hall is a beautiful structure that stands alone in a center square of the city, beautifully lit up at night. As a result, it now serves as the state museum of Rajasthan. Although we didn’t go inside, we viewed the hall from the outside.

Birla Mandir: Another highlight while in Jaipur, one should definitely visit Birla Mandir, a beautiful Hindu temple constructed solely of white marble. Dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, it is one of many Birla Mandirs in India. Visitors are required to remove their shoes, maintain silence inside, and, finally, refrain from taking photos.

Patrika Gate: Our Jaipur guide described Patrika Gate as “built for Instagram,” but to clarify, that does not take away from its beauty and worthiness as a tourist attraction. The gate is a recent construction based on the seven original gates that were used to access Jaipur, as it was originally a walled city. Another important note is it was named after the powerful news company “Patrika,” the gate was built as a photo opportunity for visitors.

Gaitor Ki Chhatriyan: Just a short drive outside of Jaipur’s city center, Gaitor Ki Chhatriyan houses a collection of tombs for Jaipur’s royalty, each dome or chhatri being a beautiful piece of architecture. Although one might think of it as a sad place, these memorials to past royals are stunningly beautiful, making it one of the most peaceful places I have ever visited.