Itineraries for Your Trip to Jaipur
2 Days in Jaipur for First Timers
When planning my first epic, multi-month backpacking trip around India many years ago, I thought I was most interested in the mountains. I looked forward to heading to Himachal Pradesh after a few weeks on the plains. I wasn’t prepared to be so bowled over by Rajasthan, the great desert state, which became a firm favorite (the mountains were pretty good, too, though).
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is a great place to begin your exploration of the state: it’s easy to reach from Delhi, it’s a big city without being too big, and it’s home to many exquisite palaces, forts, and bazaars, unmissable attractions on any Rajasthan itinerary. Here’s how to spend two days in Jaipur.
Jaipur has a desert climate, so it’s extremely hot between April and August but is quite cool in winter (November–February), so it’s best to visit then.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the ornate 18th-century City Palace, conveniently located in the central city.
Focus on Jaipur’s central city attractions this morning—there’s a lot to see. You’ll soon realize why Jaipur is nicknamed “the Pink City,” although “orange-pink sandstone colored” is more accurate, if less catchy. Don’t miss the Palace of Wind, Jantar Mantar astronomical observatory, City Palace, and Jal Mahal. All are fixtures on guided introductory tours of Jaipur.
In the afternoon, head to Amber Fort, about a 20-minute drive north of central Jaipur. This 16th-century hilltop Rajput fort contains opulent palaces, courtyards, and gardens, with good views across the desert from here. Some tours to Amber also stop at 18th-century Nahargarh Fort, which has even better views of Jaipur as it’s higher up. Nahargarh is a good place to watch the sunset if you want to hang around into the evening.
Indians tend to eat dinner quite late, so there’s time to fit in a pre-dinner rooftop yoga class if you feel like doing some exercise. Then, return to central Jaipur for a Rajasthani dinner. Local cuisine is mostly vegetarian and has been shaped by the desert environment; expect to eat flatbreads with bean and lentil curries, as well as milk- and buttermilk-based sweets.
While traveling through Rajasthan, you may see elephants, and not all of them are kept in humane conditions. Support elephant welfare by visiting an elephant rehabilitation center, where you’ll meet some gentle giants and learn more about them and their role in Rajasthani culture and history.
Jaipur has long been a center of Indian textile production; hand-printed woodblock textiles are a local specialty. If you feel crafty, try making traditional-style textiles during a hand-block printing workshop. Alternatively, hit up Jaipur’s bazaars to shop for textiles and other souvenirs. Bapu Bazaar is an especially good place to look for textiles and handicrafts, and it’s conveniently located in the central city.
In the evening, head to Chokhi Dhani, a “cultural village” that was built to replicate a rural Rajasthani village—but with tourist facilities. It does have a bit of a theme park feel, but it’s a good place to see local arts and entertainment in one place and to enjoy traditional Rajasthani cuisine. The whole family will enjoy visiting Chokhi Dhani for food and entertainment, including folk dances, puppet shows, and Rajasthani music.
