Jaipur has to be one of the most beautiful cities in India. It has such a majestic presence and around every corner was something beautiful. Udaipur is often touted as the most beautiful city and I have to say I was unimpressed (Maybe if you can afford to stay at the palace in the middle of the lake it might live up to its reputation!). Jaipur on the other hand blew me away.
GENERAL INFO
Getting there and away: We took the train to Jaipur from Agra which takes 4 hours. Agra-Jaipur-Delhi is a common tourist route (The Golden Triangle).
When you arrive in Jaipur, you can get a prepaid autorickshaw or taxi from the station to your accommodation.
We left Jaipur on an overnight train to Jaisalmer.
Overnight train is a great way to get around if you are short on time. I love that you can save money on a night of accommodation (Such an easy money saving hack!) and also save time on your journey. A flight may technically be faster but when you include waiting time at the airport and the journey to/from the airport you have usually wasted at least half a day. Yes you don’t exactly get a great nights sleep but you can make up for that the next night when you are in your nice, comfortable hotel bed.
Accommodation: We stayed at Zostel Jaipur which was in a great central location handy to all the attractions. We had a private room here which was clean, tidy and modern. Plus bonus points as the staff let us shower in the shared facilities and hang out in the common room after we had checked out (before our overnight train to Jaisalmer). However, you had to have your shoes off around the hostel which I was a bit grossed out by in areas like the shared bathrooms. The floors were cleaned regularly though.
Food: There are plenty of restaurant options in Jaipur. Our top pick is Bar Palladio which is a very high end and ridiculously overpriced Italian bar and restaurant. The food is divine, the drinks are spectacular and the decor is stunning. Its worth the splurge.
We also had a nice meal at Hotel Sweet Dream which is right in the thick of the action. Their rooftop terrace was a nice oasis away from the busy streets below and the food and drinks were affordable.
I would avoid Ganesh Restaurant – we went there on a recommendation and although the location sounded amazing (its on the rampart of the old city) you were really just eating outside on a concrete wall – there was no view of anything. The toilet (men only – there was no toilet for the ladies) was pissing off the side of the wall – right above where dishes for the restaurant were being washed on the street below.
Top Tip: Allow for some extra time in Jaipur to just wander or do something spur of the moment – we found we didn’t have time to appreciate all it had to offer. Wander the bazaars and haggle like crazy (You want to end up with the item for less than half of the price that the shop owners offer it for), pop into random bars and restaurants or tag along with someone you meet to where they are going. Jaipur has surprises around every corner and this is the spot in India to be spontaneous.
DAY 1
Take the bus to Amer (Amber) Fort from Badi Chopar (the roundabout next to Hawa Mahal). This will take 40 minutes. There is a lot to explore at the fort – keep an eye out for the secret tunnels and the view from the fort back over the winding pathway in. It goes without saying but I am going to say it anyway – please don’t ride the elephants up. It’s cruel. Allow 5-6 hours for a round trip to the Fort.
If you have some time left over in your day, I would suggest exploring Royal Gaitor. It’s a beautiful little park full of intricately carved cenotaphs. It was a nice relaxing spot to wander and take some nice photos. Its central so you can probably walk there from where you are staying.
DAY 2
Spend your second day in Jaipur exploring within the city. The can’t miss attractions are:
- City Palace
- Hawa Mahal
City Palace is absolutely stunning. A Highlight is the beautiful ornate set of four doors (two are pictured below). I highly recommend getting an audio guide here so you know what you are looking at – there is a lot to explore.
Hawa Mahal is the ‘Palace of the Winds’. A beautiful building designed so that the royal ladies could discreetly look down at the goings on in the street below. It can be a little hard to find the entrance as it is at the back of the complex. From the intersection that is on your left as you face the Hawa Mahal, turn right, then take the first right again through an archway.
If you have some extra time you can visit Jantar Mantar. This is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. Don’t bother with the audio guide (its not great). You could hire a guide to explain the instruments if you want. I definitely don’t consider it a must see but its interesting if you have the extra time.
I would love to go back to Jaipur and explore more – let me know in the comments below if you have any other suggestions of how to spend time in Jaipur!
Erika xx
THE ONLY ERIKA IN THE VILLAGE 