Things to do · Jaipur · India
19 best things to do in Jaipur
19 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The essential sights in Jaipur are Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal and City Palace. Of the 19 picks below, 8 are free, 5 work on a rainy day and 6 suit children. Allow about 3 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Amber Fort
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- City Palace
- Time to see the highlights
- 3 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Fort | Amer | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Hawa Mahal | Pink City (Old City) | 1 hour | Low cost |
| City Palace | Pink City (Old City) | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Jantar Mantar | Pink City (Old City) | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Nahargarh Fort | Aravalli ridge | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Jaigarh Fort | Amer | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Albert Hall Museum | Ram Niwas Garden | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Jal Mahal | Amer Road | 30 minutes | Free |
| Panna Meena ka Kund | Amer | 30 minutes | Free |
| Galtaji (Monkey Temple) | Galta hills | 2 hours | Free |
| Birla Mandir | Moti Dungri | 45 minutes | Free |
| Govind Dev Ji Temple | Pink City (Old City) | 45 minutes | Free |
| Johari, Bapu and Tripolia bazaars | Pink City (Old City) | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Patrika Gate | Malviya Nagar and Jawahar Circle | 45 minutes | Free |
| Isarlat (Sargasooli) | Pink City (Old City) | 30 minutes | Low cost |
| Jawahar Kala Kendra | JLN Marg | 1 hour | Free |
| Raj Mandir Cinema | MI Road | 3 hours | Low cost |
| Gaitore cenotaphs | Aravalli ridge | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing | Amer | 1 hour | Low cost |
The 19 best things to do
Castle · Amer
1.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. Highlights are the painted Ganesh Pol gateway, the Diwan-i-Aam hall of public audience and the Sheesh Mahal, whose walls and ceiling are inlaid with thousands of mirror fragments. It is part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan World Heritage site.
Arrive at opening time and walk up the ramp from the lower gate or take a jeep; elephant rides raise serious animal-welfare concerns and are best skipped.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- 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.
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
Palace · Pink City (Old City)
2.Hawa Mahal
The 'Palace of Winds' was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh so that royal women could watch street processions unseen. Its five-storey pink sandstone façade is a honeycomb of 953 small latticed windows, yet the building is only one room deep in places. Inside, ramps rather than stairs lead to the top level, which looks down on Badi Chaupar and across to Jantar Mantar.
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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
Palace · Pink City (Old City)
3.City Palace
The royal palace complex at the centre of the old city mixes Rajput and Mughal styles across a sequence of courtyards. The Mubarak Mahal displays royal costumes and textiles, the Diwan-i-Khas holds two enormous silver urns made to carry Ganges water to London in 1902, and the Pritam Niwas Chowk courtyard has four painted gates representing the seasons, the Peacock Gate being the most photographed. The former royal family still lives in part of the seven-storey Chandra Mahal.
Go early to photograph the Peacock Gate before groups arrive; the separate guided tour of the Chandra Mahal's private rooms costs considerably more and is only worth it for keen interior enthusiasts.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Historic site · Pink City (Old City)
4.Jantar Mantar
Jai Singh II, an accomplished astronomer, built this observatory between 1728 and 1734. Its 19 masonry instruments measure time, track stars and predict eclipses; the Samrat Yantra sundial rises about 27 metres and tells local time to within a few seconds. The site sits next to the City Palace and is a UNESCO World Heritage site in its own right.
Hire one of the licensed guides at the gate or use the audio guide; without an explanation the instruments look like abstract sculpture.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Castle · Aravalli ridge
5.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. Inside, the Madhavendra Bhawan has nine identical suites built for the king's queens, linked by corridors to his own apartment. The fort's cafeteria terrace and the ramparts look straight down on the Pink City and Jal Mahal.
Drive up via the Amer road in the late afternoon, explore the Madhavendra Bhawan, then stay on the ramparts for sunset; arrange your return transport in advance.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- History
- Photo spot
- Kids
Castle · Amer
6.Jaigarh Fort
Jaigarh crowns the hill above Amber Fort and was built in 1726 to protect it, with long walls running along the ridge. It holds the Jaivana, an 18th-century cannon often described as the largest on wheels in the world, plus armouries, water tanks and watchtowers with views over Amber and Maota Lake.
Combine it with Amber Fort on the same morning; a road links the two, and Jaigarh is usually far less crowded.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
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Museum · Ram Niwas Garden
7.Albert Hall Museum
Rajasthan's oldest museum occupies an Indo-Saracenic building designed by Samuel Swinton Jacob and opened in 1887. Its galleries cover miniature paintings, carpets, arms, pottery, coins and textiles, and an Egyptian mummy is a reliable favourite with children. The building is floodlit after dark, when the forecourt fills with families and pigeons.
Visit in the afternoon heat for air and shade, then stay to see the façade lit up at dusk.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- History
- Art
- Kids
- Architecture
- After dark
Palace · Amer Road
8.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. Visitors cannot go inside, but the lakeside promenade gives a classic view with the Nahargarh hills behind, and stalls sell snacks and chai along the waterfront.
Stop on the way back from Amber in the late afternoon, when the light turns the sandstone gold.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Views
- Architecture
Historic site · Amer
1.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. It was a cool gathering place for villagers in summer and is now one of the most photographed geometric scenes in Rajasthan.
Visit right after Amber Fort in the morning, when the steps cast sharp shadows; respect any staff instructions about where you may stand.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- History
Religious site · Galta hills
2.Galtaji (Monkey Temple)
About 10 km east of the centre, a pink-sandstone complex of temples and pavilions is built into a narrow gorge, where natural springs fill a series of sacred tanks used for bathing. Troops of macaques live around the site, giving it its nickname. A path climbs to the Surya Mandir (Sun Temple) on the ridge, with views back over the city.
Go in the late afternoon and walk up to the Sun Temple for sunset; keep food out of sight because the monkeys snatch it.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Photo spot
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Religious site · Moti Dungri
3.Birla Mandir
This white-marble Hindu temple, dedicated to Lakshmi and Narayan and completed in 1988, sits below the small Moti Dungri hill. Its carved exterior includes figures from many faiths, and the stained-glass windows inside depict Hindu scriptures. It is especially beautiful when lit in the evening.
Combine it with the Ganesh temple at the foot of Moti Dungri next door; shoes are left at a counter outside.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
Religious site · Pink City (Old City)
4.Govind Dev Ji Temple
Jaipur's most beloved Krishna temple stands in the City Palace gardens, where the deity was brought from Vrindavan by the founding Maharaja. Several times a day the curtains open for darshan and the hall fills with devotees singing and clapping, which makes it one of the best places to experience everyday devotion in the city.
Time your visit for one of the darshan sessions and stand at the back of the hall; keep phones away during worship.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
Market · Pink City (Old City)
5.Johari, Bapu and Tripolia bazaars
The old city's covered arcades are still organised by trade. Johari Bazaar is the jewellers' street and home of the LMB sweet shop; Bapu Bazaar sells block-printed fabrics, embroidered mojari slippers and quilts; and the lanes off Tripolia Bazaar, notably Maniharon ka Rasta, are lined with workshops making lac bangles over charcoal.
Bargain politely and walk away from any 'export gem' deal; shops that pay commission to guides and drivers inflate their prices.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Photo spot
Architecture · Malviya Nagar and Jawahar Circle
6.Patrika Gate
Built in 2016 at the entrance to Jawahar Circle, this gateway has a long arcade whose every pillar and ceiling panel is painted with scenes of Rajasthan's cities, festivals and crafts. It has become one of the most photographed spots in Jaipur and is close to the airport.
Go just after sunrise for empty corridors; it fits neatly into a trip to or from the airport.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Art
Viewpoint · Pink City (Old City)
7.Isarlat (Sargasooli)
This slender seven-storey tower rising above Tripolia Bazaar was built in 1749 by Maharaja Ishwari Singh to mark a military victory. A narrow spiral ramp leads to the top, which gives a bird's-eye view of the old city's grid, the City Palace and the forts on the ridge.
Look for the small entrance in the lane behind the shops of Tripolia Bazaar; it is far quieter than Hawa Mahal.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Off the beaten path
- History
Gallery · JLN Marg
8.Jawahar Kala Kendra
Architect Charles Correa based this arts centre, opened in 1991, on the nine-square plan of the old city, with each block dedicated to a planet. It hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary and folk art, theatre and music, and its courtyards and café are a calm break from the bazaars.
Check the noticeboard at the entrance for free evening performances and craft fairs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Free
- Off the beaten path
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Experience · MI Road
9.Raj Mandir Cinema
Opened in 1976, this single-screen cinema has a meringue-pink, Art Moderne interior of curving balconies and coloured lights. Watching a Hindi blockbuster here, with the audience cheering the hero's entrance, is a Jaipur institution even without understanding the dialogue.
Buy tickets a few hours ahead for evening shows at weekends, and choose the upper-tier seats for the best view of the auditorium.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- After dark
- Kids
- Architecture
Historic site · Aravalli ridge
10.Gaitore cenotaphs
At the foot of the Nahargarh hills, the royal cremation ground holds the carved marble and sandstone chhatris (domed cenotaphs) of Jaipur's maharajas, including Jai Singh II. The setting is peaceful and rarely crowded, with fine stone carving on the pillars.
Stop here on the drive to Nahargarh or Amber; the morning light is best for the carvings.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Museum · Amer
11.Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing
A restored haveli in Amer village houses this small museum devoted to Rajasthan's block-printing tradition. Displays explain carving, dyeing and printing, and craftspeople often demonstrate the process, sometimes letting visitors print their own piece of cloth.
Pair it with Panna Meena ka Kund, a few minutes' walk away, after visiting Amber Fort.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | City Palace, Albert Hall Museum, Patrika Gate and Jawahar Kala Kendra |
| History | Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar |
| Views | Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Jal Mahal |
| Outdoors and nature | Jaigarh Fort and Galtaji (Monkey Temple) |
| Food and markets | Johari, Bapu and Tripolia bazaars |
| After dark | Albert Hall Museum, Birla Mandir and Raj Mandir Cinema |
| With children | Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Albert Hall Museum |
| On a rainy day | City Palace, Albert Hall Museum, Jawahar Kala Kendra and Raj Mandir Cinema |
What to book ahead
- 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.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Jaipur?
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.
+What can you do for free in Jaipur?
Jal Mahal, Panna Meena ka Kund, Galtaji (Monkey Temple), Birla Mandir and Govind Dev Ji Temple. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Jaipur when it rains?
Head indoors to City Palace, Albert Hall Museum, Jawahar Kala Kendra and Raj Mandir Cinema.
+What is there to do in Jaipur at night?
Albert Hall Museum, Birla Mandir and Raj Mandir Cinema are best after dark.