No trip to India is complete without a visit to the bustling city of Jaipur. Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, offers visitors an exciting cultural experience that you will not forget. In this in-depth 2-Day guide to Jaipur, you will learn why Jaipur should be on your must-see list when visiting India.
In reality, the buildings are more akin to a light salmon color. To this day, a law remains in effect requiring the buildings in the Old City to stay the same color.
Jaipur’s nickname, the Pink City, is a bit of a misnomer as the city is not actually pink. Instead, the name comes from the terracotta pinkish paint color used on the buildings in the Old City. For those history buffs, you might be interested to know that the color was chosen as a sign of hospitality to welcome Prince Albert in 1876.
Before we get started with my in-depth 2-day guide to Jaipur, here is a glimpse into the Old City.
2-Day Guide to Jaipur: Everything you need to know!
Where is Jaipur located?
Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan in the northern part of India. Many tourists, like us, stopped in Jaipur as part of our Golden Triangle tour of India. The Golden Triangle includes Delhi, Agra (home of the Taj Mahal), and Jaipur. In the triangle, Jaipur is south of Delhi. If you are short on time, the Golden Triangle is a great way to get a taste of India.
When is the best time to visit Jaipur?
You can visit Jaipur all year long, but it can reach scorching temperatures and get very wet from July through September. If possible, opt to visit Jaipur in the winter (November – March) when the daytime temperatures are milder and the nights are cooler. October is shoulder season and a great time to visit Jaipur if you can tolerate a little bit of heat.
Tip: There are numerous festivals in the winter months. Don’t forget to check the festival calendar before you book your trip. You don’t want to show up when the city is shut down for a festival.
Where should I stay in Jaipur?
There is no shortage of luxury hotels in Jaipur. You have several centrally located options which include:
- Jai Mahal Palace, which sits on 18 acres of beautifully manicured gardens complete with a Jiva Spa.
- The Raj Palace, which is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection.
- Taj Rambagh Palace, the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and is now a Taj luxury hotel.
Just outside of town there are three more luxury hotels, including:
During our visit to Jaipur, we stayed at the Jai Mahal Palace. Our arrival at the Jai Mahal Palace was magical. After a long day of site seeing and hours in the car, we pulled up to Jai Mahal Palace. At night, the hotel is lit up with lights like an oasis in the desert. Once inside the hotel, the lobby offers an inviting place to relax while you check-in.
Images provided by Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur – IHCL
Guest Rooms
The hotel has 94 guest rooms and six themed suites. During our stay, we were able to see both a luxury room and a suite. The luxury rooms have bright blue accents with black highlights in the bathroom. While the bright blue accents and black highlights can be a bit overwhelming, the luxury room is a nice size hotel room. Overall, the luxury rooms offer a terrific value for the size of the rooms, the location in Jaipur, the picturesque grounds, and high level of service.
Images provided by Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur – IHCL
The Deluxe Premium One Bedroom Suite we stayed in was decorated with richer colors. The suite, pictured below, is enormous and includes a casual sitting area, a separate bedroom, a large dressing area, an even larger bathroom with a separate shower and tub, and a bar with another seating area to entertain guests.
The six suites vary in decor. Here is a look inside the bedroom of another suite and the view from just outside the suites overlooking the gorgeous grounds.
Images provided by Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur – IHCL
If you are planning on staying at Jai Mahal Palace, I suggest opting for a suite. The suites are a superior option because the decor is softer and warmer, the size of the suites are massive, and the suites are in a convenient location on the hotel grounds.
Restaurants
The food at Jai Mahal Palace was delicious. We had dinner at Cinnamon and could not have had a better meal and dining experience. The wait staff helped us select a fantastic assortment of delicious dishes. The setting was beautiful and authentic.
Daily breakfast was a treat. I know this might sound odd, but the freshly scrambled eggs were some of the best eggs I have ever eaten. We sat outside both mornings and enjoyed breakfast overlooking the peaceful hotel grounds.
Jiva Spa
The Jiva Spa was just what we needed after a few long days of site seeing and jet lag. The Wellness Manager, who was warm and welcoming, guided us through the spa menu and explained the wide variety of unique signature treatments.
Each treatment room is in a separate tent. I know what you are thinking, a tent…how can that be? But these tents are luxurious and spacious. Our tent even had a bathroom complete with a luxurious tub, shower, and restroom.
Our couple’s massage was extraordinary! If you have the time, I highly recommend a visit to Jiva Spa.
Service
The service at Jai Mahal Palace is superb. We have stayed at five-star luxury properties around the world, and the kindness of the staff at Jai Mahal Palace reigns supreme. The hotel staff, at every level (from the general manager to the front desk staff and breakfast chef), went out of their way to make our experience special. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the level of service at Jai Mahal Palace.
Jai Mahal Palace is an excellent choice in this price range. With the hotel’s central location, beautiful grounds, delicious restaurants, and impeccable service, Jai Mahal Palace is a good option while staying in Jaipur.
What Should I do in Jaipur?
Now that you have decided where to stay, the next step is to decide what to do. In this 2-day guide to Jaipur, you have several options to keep you busy.
2-Day Guide to Jaipur: Day One
Bike Tour
Our first morning started bright and early with a private bike tour with Off Beat Masters through the walled Old City of Jaipur. The tour starts early to avoid excessive traffic in the city and the heat.
Our First Stop was for Lassi
The streets were calm and quiet as we started our bike ride towards the Old City. As we entered the Old City, you could see and feel the city start to come alive. We stopped for lassi (a yogurt shake that is good for your stomach) at Lassiwala before heading into the walled city.
The lassi is made fresh and poured into a disposable clay cup, which, as I understand, acts as a filter. With a sensitive stomach, I took my chances and tried lassi. I thoroughly enjoyed the taste, and my stomach was happy to have a smooth cool coating.
Gates of the Walled Old City
Our entry point was through one of the historical gates of the Pink City.
After entering the gate, we rode through the narrow lanes of the city to see how the day traditionally starts in Jaipur.
Hawa Mahal
Our next stop was Hawa Mahal, the “Palace of Breeze.” Our tour guide, VJ, explained that the Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 as an extension to the Royal City Palace of Jaipur to give the royal women a place to observe the processions and activities on the street. The Palace contains small windows allowing the royal ladies to see the excitement down below without being seen by the public.
The Govind Dev Ji Temple
A stop at Govind dev Ji temple is a must. Many people in the Old City begin their day by visiting the Govind dev Ji temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna. The City Palace Complex contains the temple. I didn’t know what to expect because I had never been to a Vaishnava temple. Our visit to Govind dev Ji temple was hands down one of the highlights of our Jaipur bike tour.
Hundreds of worshippers take off their shoes and head to the courtyard, where they begin to pray collectively. During the short service, the level of energy of the crowd was palpable. You could feel the excitement all around you as devotees began their morning ritual during the high-energy service.
After the short prayer service, we were energized and ready for the rest of our day.
Flower and vegetable market
We walked out of the service and headed over to the flower and vegetable markets. The flower market here is unique because in addition to flowers, there are piles and piles of pedals for sale. The color and types of flowers were so vibrant and beautiful.
As our flower market venture ended, our tour of the vegetable market started. I was surprised to see so many women carrying heavy sacks of vegetables on their heads. These women are so strong!
Food
After a little walking and praying, it was time for a snack. We had fritters, also called pakoras from a famous local shop in town. The pakoras were delicious. After a quick bite to eat, I enjoyed the best chai tea in the Old City. Ordinarily, I might not have tried the tea because part of the kitchen is on the street. However, our tour guides assured me it was safe to drink. Plus, there was a long line for tea. Both of these things lead to me try the delightful tea, and thankfully, I did not experience any repercussions!
Bike riding through the Old City
With food in our bellies, it was time to start heading back. We continued to ride through the narrow lanes of the old city, checking out the interesting shops along the way.
The bike tour was one of my favorite tours in India. If you are looking for a bike ride, I highly recommend checking out Off Beat Masters.
Amber Fort and Palace
While in Jaipur, we also wanted to see some of the historically significant landmarks. The Amber Fort is at the top of that list making it an interesting highlight for this guide to Jaipur. The Amber Fort is about a 20-minute drive from Jaipur.
Construction of the Amber Fort began in 1592. There are four impressive courtyards, as well as halls and gardens to see.
The third, and most remarkable courtyard, contains the Diwan-e-Khas or in English, the Hall of Private Audiences. Extraordinary works of art created from mirrors cover the walls. Unlike the Hall of Mirrors in Paris, here, the mirrors form patterns and pictures. When royalty lived at the Amber Palace, the light from a single candle would reflect in the thousands of mirrors and light up a whole room.
The Amber Fort became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013. The Amber Fort has also been featured in many Bollywood movies. During our visit, we watched a movie being filmed!
Tip: The Amber Fort can get extremely crowded in the high season, and it is common to experience lengthy traffic jams as you exit the fort by car. Pack your patience and an extra bottle of water. We got lucky and did not experience the traffic jam, but I hear it can be rough. Our tour guide told us the day before, his clients were not as lucky, and they spent over an hour in traffic trying to get down the hill back to the main road.
Our luck continued as we met a new friend along the way.
Jal Mahal
Jal Mahal, formerly a hunting lodge, is now partially submerged underwater. For those James Bond fans, can you guess which Bond film featured Jal Mahal? Did you guess Octopusy? If so, you’re right!
Since you can only see the Water Palace from the street, it’s a quick stop on either the way to or from the Amber Fort. After a quick picture or two of Jal Mahal and a camel, there is not much else to do at this stop.
2-Day Guide to Jaipur: Day 2
Touring the Old City on Foot
The Old City is quite large, with several different quarters. After our bike tour, we wanted to explore more of the Old City. Because we had just been to the Old City, we thought we could wander around ourselves. We usually love strolling the streets and seeing where the day takes us. However, this was not our day. We somehow ended up in the areas selling pots and pans, tools, and used books. With a city that has so much to offer, we missed the mark on our late morning exploration.
On the bright side, we did get up close and personal with some of the animals roaming the street.
Tip: Visit the Old City early in the day. As the Old City comes alive, cars, tuk-tuks, and people pack the city streets.
Tip: Travel with small bills so that you can easily pay for a bite to eat or pay your tuk-tuk driver.
Tips for getting back to your hotel
Tip # 1
In the future, I would do some research or talk to your hotel concierge to make sure you get dropped off in the area you want to visit. Alternatively, and I think a better idea, you can also take a walking tour through companies like Off Beat Masters.
Tip # 2
Before you leave for your destination, talk to the concierge, and find out a fair price for your return trip. The prices quoted for our tuk-tuk ride were all over the map. We were able to negotiate a reasonable price based on the information provided by our concierge.
Tip # 3
Getting back to your hotel, at least for us, was not easy. Make sure you have a card with your hotel’s name and address. Although many people speak English, not everybody does. Handing the card to your driver theoretically should make the transaction easier.
Even though we had a card with our hotel address on it, our driver had trouble finding it. It’s not like the United States, where an Uber driver puts your address in his phone and maps your destination. Our driver had to stop and talk to a few people along the way before he safely got us to the front gate of hotel. Tuk-tuks were not allowed on hotel grounds at the time of our visit.
Gem Shopping
Gem sales are a big industry India. Those purchasing gems are not just Indian women, but lots of tourists too.
Our stop for lassi (on the bike tour) was next to the Gem Palace, one of the most famous jewelry shops in Jaipur. The royal family has purchased gems from this shop. For fun, we browsed through Gem Palace, but I did not understand all the hype. There are interesting pieces of jewelry, but don’t expect to see the crown jewels.
If you go to Gem Palace, be aware that it is a tourist destination. Local guides hangout outside and will strike up a conversation to try to convince you to buy a tour or visit other less expensive jewelry stores in Jaipur. Be on guard as you enter and exit the store.
We also went to a massive gem shop on our way back from the Amber Fort. I thought the stop was interesting because I learned a little bit more about the gem trade, and the jewelry was beautiful. Even though it was a tourist destination, I did not feel pressured to buy anything, which was refreshing. Plenty of people do purchase gems in Jaipur through.
Tip: If you plan to shop for jewelry in Jaipur, do your research beforehand and talk to your concierge to make sure you are shopping at a reputable store.
Guide to Jaipur – Additional things to do
With a couple of days in Jaipur, there is only so much you can squeeze in and still enjoy yourself. My in-depth 2- day guide to Jaipur provides for a quick, but comfortable pace. For us, it was nice to slow down a bit and relax. If you have more time to spend in Jaipur, you can try some of the activities below.
- Visit the Nahargarh Fort, also known as the Tiger Fort, at sunset for a specular view of the city.
- Visit the Patrika Gate, the most colorful gate in Jaipur. Since this is close to the airport, try to stop on your way into or out of the city.
- See a movie at the Raj Mandir movie theatre on Bhagwant Das Road (by M.I. Road). We rode past the theatre on our bike tour, but it was too early to go inside.
- Stroll through Central Park.
- Visit Jaipur City Palace. We were lucky enough to see who we think were members of the royal family in the garden while we were at Govind dev Ji temple.
- Stop at the Jantar Mantar to see the world’s largest stone sundial.
- Tour the Albert Hall Museum.
- Take a bike ride in the villages surrounding Jaipur.
- Go for a hike on the fortress wall around the Amer Fort.
- Have a drink at Steam, an old renovated train hidden on the lush gardens of Rambagh Palace.
- Extend your stay and spend a couple of days at Ranthambore National park where you can go on a tiger safari.
I hope you enjoyed my in-depth 2-day guide to Jaipur! Did you visit other places in Jaipur that are not on the list above? Share your tips below with The Trav Nav readers.
You can learn more about traveling in India in my Taj Mahal Insider Tips post and recommendations for where to stay in Agra with views of the Taj Mahal.
You might also enjoy my posts about unique things to do in Marrakesh, things to do in the Atlas Mountains, and a spotlight on my day trip to the Atlas Mountains.
Thanks for visiting and safe travels!
I visited Jaipur in 2015, and your post brings back really fond memories of my time there! I went in May when it was scorching hot and instead of staying in a luxury hotel, we opted to stay in a guest house where there was no air conditioner and the fan was questionable. But lovely, lovely post!
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your expeirence. We can learn so much from our fellow travelers.
Great stuff …
Thanks so much, Jupiter!
We’ve never considered visiting, but your guide left me wanting to wander. I wish your video was longer as I wanted to see more, so awesome to watch! Thanks so much for sharing!
So excited to hear you enjoyed the post and the video!
Felt like a deja vu! Rajasthan has always been one of my favorite vacation destinations till date for its history, rich culture, heritage, vibrant colors all around and not to forget the food! You have covered the tiniest of tiniest details on Jaipur. Wonderful blog!
Thank you!! It sounds like you had a great time in Jaipur too! I hope the post brought back fond memories.
I cannot wait until we can all head back out and explore the world! Jaipur is now definitely on my list – beautiful! Thank you so much for all of the helpful information.
I am looking forward to seeing more of the world too! I am so happy to hear that you added Jaipur to your must-see list after reading my post!
The flower market looks like a dream! Definitely a selling point for me.
The flowers were so bright and vibrant. Truly beautiful!
I hope more people subscribe to your site. It is so in depth and informative.
Thanks Betty!! Your comment is so nice and appreciated! I strive to provide comprehensive information to help with the travel planning process and love hearing you find the information useful. It means so much to me!!