3 days in Jaipur

Day by day

1. Day 1: Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort

   Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Panna Meena ka Kund, then Albert Hall Museum in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Amber Fort

      Begun by Raja Man Singh I in 1592, Amber (Amer) Fort climbs a hillside above Maota Lake in a series of courtyards, halls and gates of honey-coloured sandstone and marble.

   2. Late morning

      Jaigarh Fort

      Combine it with Amber Fort on the same morning; a road links the two, and Jaigarh is usually far less crowded.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dal baati churma

      Rajasthani thali restaurants across the city and at Chokhi Dhani's village-style dinners on Tonk Road.

   4. Afternoon

      Panna Meena ka Kund

      A 16th-century stepwell a short walk behind Amber Fort, where criss-crossing flights of steps descend symmetrically on three sides to the water.

   5. Evening

      Albert Hall Museum

      Visit in the afternoon heat for air and shade, then stay to see the façade lit up at dusk.

2. Day 2: Hawa Mahal and City Palace

   Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar, then Birla Mandir in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hawa Mahal

      The best view of the façade is from the rooftop cafés directly across the road in the early morning, when the sun lights the front; the entrance itself is at the rear of the building.

   2. Late morning

      City Palace

      The royal palace complex at the centre of the old city mixes Rajput and Mughal styles across a sequence of courtyards.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Laal maas

      Long-running non-vegetarian restaurants around MI Road and heritage-hotel restaurants; ask for the spice level before ordering.

   4. Afternoon

      Jantar Mantar

      Hire one of the licensed guides at the gate or use the audio guide; without an explanation the instruments look like abstract sculpture.

   5. Evening

      Birla Mandir

      Combine it with the Ganesh temple at the foot of Moti Dungri next door; shoes are left at a counter outside.

3. Day 3: Nahargarh Fort and Gaitore cenotaphs

   Nahargarh Fort, Gaitore cenotaphs and Jal Mahal, then Raj Mandir Cinema in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Nahargarh Fort

      Built in 1734 on the ridge directly above the old city, Nahargarh is the best place to watch the sun set over Jaipur.

   2. Late morning

      Gaitore cenotaphs

      Stop here on the drive to Nahargarh or Amber; the morning light is best for the carvings.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Pyaaz kachori

      Rawat Mishthan Bhandar near Sindhi Camp is the most famous; sweet shops across the old city fry them each morning.

   4. Afternoon

      Jal Mahal

      This five-storey palace appears to float in Man Sagar Lake on the road between the city and Amber; when the lake is full, the lower floors are under water.

   5. Evening

      Raj Mandir Cinema

      Buy tickets a few hours ahead for evening shows at weekends, and choose the upper-tier seats for the best view of the auditorium.

Before you go

• Amber Fort: Tickets can be bought at the gate, but the state composite ticket, which also covers Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh and the Albert Hall, saves queuing if you plan to see several sites.

If it rains

• Swap in Jawahar Kala Kendra (JLN Marg): Check the noticeboard at the entrance for free evening performances and craft fairs.
• Swap in Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing (Amer): Pair it with Panna Meena ka Kund, a few minutes' walk away, after visiting Amber Fort.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Pink City (Old City) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Bani Park ($$) suits budget, families, quiet stays and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.5 hours in December to 13.8 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Jaipur
• 2 days in Jaipur

Questions travellers ask