10 Must-See Sights in Jaipur, India’s Pink City (2023)

India, with its mysterious and exotic charms, is just the sort of country that even a whole lifetime spent exploring wouldn’t be able to suffice. From the majestic Himalayan mountain peaks to charming UNESCO Heritage monuments and even narrow dusty streets lined with Chai Wallahs (tea stalls) and vendors hawking their wares, there is an adventure awaiting at every corner. I’ve been to India thrice now, with each trip being more exciting and awe-inspiring than the last!

On my latest visit, I got to set foot in the beautiful state of Jaipur (a.k.a. The Pink City of India) as part of my tour around India’s Golden Triangle, and guess what? I don’t mean to be biased but with absolutely stunning architecture and pretty pastel colours all around, this city was my absolute favourite! Don’t believe me? Scroll through these top 10 must-see places that will have you falling head over heels and scrambling to book a ticket to Jaipur A.S.A.P.. Scoot* now flies from Singapore to Jaipur four times a week, giving you all the more reason to start packing your bags!

NOTE: I recommend getting a private car and driver to zip you from attraction to attraction quickly, as the locals there know the routes and traffic best. There are plenty of car and chauffeur services for hire, which allow you to tailor your own itinerary too!

1. Amber Fort and Palace

Image credit: Firoze Edassery

Amber Fort (or Amer Fort) is the quintessential must-see attraction when you’re here in Jaipur. Built primarily with red and white sandstone, the fort is a grand example of ancient Indian architecture, as the rulers of that time loved using such materials to build their palaces and forts (think about the Taj Mahal, which was built entirely of white marble!).

Be greeted by the Ganesh Pol Gate as you enter the fort. This gate was built exclusively for the royal families to pass through to their private chambers without being disturbed. This beautiful piece is an artwork in itself, with its intricately ornamented carvings accented in a variety of colours.

If you’re looking for an experience that’s both novel and unforgettable, opt for an elephant ride up to the fort! Do note that these are available only until 11am daily, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid disappointment. If you don’t fancy elephants, a trusty 4-wheel drive option up to the fort is available as well.

Once within the grounds, navigate ancient fort walls, meander past the carefully manicured royal gardens and scale up watch towers or wander through the Hall of Mirrors – which features entire ceilings and walls encrusted with gems to mimic the starry sky at night!

Address: Devisinghpura, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India

Opening Hours: 8.00am-5.30pm, Daily

Entrance Fee:  (adult) INR550 (~S$11.50); (student) INR100 (~S$2.10)

Elephant ride: INR1100 (~S$23) per couple

Image credit: Arian Zwegers

After you’re done with Amber Fort, make a request for your driver to stop by the Jal Mahal (a.k.a. The Water Palace) which sits in the middle of the Man Sagar lake! The ancient palace that was previously used for duck-hunting and Maharaja (Indian royalty) picnics is currently off limits to the public, but it definitely makes for a postcard-perfect photo.

2. Hawa Mahal

Image credit: Karppanta

They certainly don’t call Jaipur India’s Pink City for nothing! With many landmarks dressed in rosy pink hues, every corner you turn will have you feeling like you’re in a whole new world altogether. Did you know that the city was painted pink specially to welcome the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria in 1876 while they were on their India tour? The Maharaja then, Ram Singh, chose pink as it’s a colour that represented hospitality.

One iconic pink monument is the Hawa Mahal, or the “Palace of Winds”. The structure got its name from its lattice-like design and multiple windows which not only allowed the cool breeze to pass through, but also served to allow women of the royal family to observe street festivals while remaining hidden. This was important as they were under the strict rules of Purdah (Persian for curtain). Purdah is a religious and social practice of female seclusion which is common for both Muslim and Hindu communities, and often involves women using a garment to conceal their faces.

Address: Hawa Mahal Rd, Badi Choupad, J.D.A. Market, Kanwar Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

Opening Hours: 9.00am-4.30pm, Daily

Entrance Fee: INR50 (~S$1.10)

3. City Palace

Jaipur’s City Palace is another attraction that’s decked in shades of pastel pink. Feel free to go trigger happy and document all the beautiful pink buildings inscribed with white details and patterns. There are lots of photo opportunities here, so take your time to stroll around the extremely spacious palace complex, which includes a number of stunning palaces and buildings.

One important building is the Chandra Mahal palace (recognisable as the yellow building with the Indian flag raised), which is a place of royal residence. However, the ground floor is open to the public, as it is currently used as a museum which showcases different artefacts that were used by the royal families themselves!

(left) Diwan-I-Am; (right) Patterned ceilings of Diwan-I-Am

In the middle of the complex lies the Diwan-I-Aam, better known as the Hall of Public Audience. It is now an art gallery which features marble flooring, decorated ceilings and domed patterned “doorways”.

(left) Interiors  of palace; (right) details of peacock decorated door

Be it colourful patterned walls and pillars or even pretty decorated gates and doors, such as one that’s affixed with models of peacocks and their colourful tails – there is just so much to see and explore at the City Palace compound, with every nook and cranny holding treasures that are just waiting to be discovered!

Address: Jaleb Chowk, Near Jantar Mantar, Tripolia Bazar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

Opening Hours: 9am-5pm, Daily

Entrance Fee: INR500 (~S$10.50)

4. Panna Meena Ka Kund

Consisting of alternating faded pink and yellow stairs, the Panna Meena Ka Kund, or Panna Meena Stepwells, are an exceptionally interesting architectural sight. In India, stepwells are usually used as social meeting places, where people would gather and chit-chat while drawing water or to even go swimming in the pool below.

The most unique charm and mystery of the Panna Meena Ka Kund that usually confounds tourists is that it is nearly impossible to use the same set of stairs to climb up and go down, since its symmetrical design and structure is so confusing. Yet, locals are able to do it easily without batting an eyelash! How mindblowing is that?

Address: Amer, Rajasthan 302028, India

Opening Hours: –

Entrance Fee: FREE

5. Jantar Mantar

Image credit: Arian Zwegers

Astrology enthusiasts, this is for you! Unbeknownst to the clueless tourist, a bunch of strangely shaped geometrical structures and spheres may appear to be, at best, some unique phenomena of sorts. Perhaps the stonehenge of India? Possible, except that the Jantar Mantar is much more than an interesting placement of objects!

Housing 19 architectural astronomical instruments, the Jantar Mantar is every meteorologist’s dream come true. It features masonry, stone and brass instruments that were designed using ancient astronomy principles of Hindu and Sanskrit texts. Believe it or not, these instruments are proved to be accurate even until today!

Image credit: Marcin Białek

The instruments measure time, predict eclipses as well as locate different stars. There is even a clock that tells time according to where shadows fall, ultimately ascertaining the position of the sun!

Address: Gangori Bazaar, J.D.A. Market, Kanwar Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

Opening Hours: 9am-4.30pm, Daily

Entrance Fee: INR200 (~S$4.20)

6. Jaigarh Fort

Image credit: Acred99The view from Jaigarh Fort | Image credit: Star Dust H

Jaigarh Fort is one of the favourite spots for viewing Amber Palace and the Aravalli hills below. Although its walls and ramparts are pretty impressive, tourists flock here mainly to see the Jaivana cannon, since Jaigarh Fort was the centre of artillery production for the Rajputs (a caste associated with warriorhood).

The Jaivana cannon was the world’s largest cannon on wheels at its point of manufacture in 1720. Although it looks huge and menacing, the cannon was never actually used in real battles since there was never really a need to do so. It was, however, actually fired once in its life, with a charge of 100 kilograms of gunpowder that shot a 50 kilograms ball over roughly the distance of 35 kilometres.

Address: Gangori Bazaar, J.D.A. Market, Kanwar Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

Opening Hours: 9am-4.30pm, Daily

Entrance Fee: INR200 (~S$4.20)

7. Nahargarh Fort

A stone’s throw away lies another fort that’s equally worth visiting – the Nahargarh Fort. Together with the Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort, the Nahargarh Fort was also part of the city’s defence system.

Filled with lots of different stairways alleys and secret passages to take, brace yourself for some confusion as you will always find yourself in a different part of the fort with every turn you make!

The fun part about visiting the fort here is that you get to traipse the roof terraces of Nahargarh Fort where you can take in an aerial view of the surroundings and get a closer look at the domes and ridges of the roof.

The fort was also home to Madhavendra Bhawan, which comprised housing for the royalty. Within, you will find many “apartment-styled” suites which were built for the king and his queens. Step into the shoes of royalty as you travel back in time while walking through these hallways of the fort… How grand it all must’ve been!

Address: Krishna Nagar, Brahampuri, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

Opening Hours: 10am-5.30pm, Daily

Entrance Fee: INR50 (~S$1.50)

8. Albert Hall Museum

Image credit: Steven dosRemedios

Although the Albert Hall Museum may look like just another opulent white marble temple from the outside, this monument holds a totally different significance altogether. The foundation stone of the Albert Hall was laid in honour of Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales, when he visited Jaipur in 1876.

The building was then made into a museum of Industrial Arts which exhibited products of local craftsmen, in an attempt to keep current local craftsmen inspired with the finest examples of artwork and handicraft. By building a museum that displayed handicraft, it also helped drive the importance of preserving traditions and of artisans.

Today, it is recognised as a place where traditional Indian architecture and craft is appreciated and honoured. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’d like to take a closer look at Indian art and culture!

Address: Krishna Nagar, Brahampuri, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

Opening Hours: 10am-5.30pm, Daily

Entrance Fee: INR200 (~S$4.20)

9. Galtaji Temple (Monkey Temple)

Image credit: Famous places in India

I’m not monkeying around with you when I say that there is a Monkey Temple in Galtaji, which is only a 40-minute drive towards the outskirts of Jaipur. Galtaji is an Indian pilgrimage site that houses a series of temples, which are built into the hills that surround Jaipur itself.

The area is surrounded by sacred kunds (pools) which are fed by natural spring water from the top of a hill. Visitors and pilgrims bathe in such kunds when they are here, as the waters are considered to be auspicious. Aside from blessed pools, another famous attraction here is the Hanuman temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu monkey god (could this explain the mysterious presence of monkeys crowding the area?)

The Galtaji is a mesmerising place where visitors can take their time to admire ancient architecture and waterfalls – but make sure you steer clear of the monkeys there as they do like to wreak havoc and cause trouble!

Address: Galta Ji, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302031, India

Opening Hours: 5am-9pm, Daily

Entrance Fee: FREE

10. Samode Palace

Samode is a village that is about 1.5-hour car ride out of Jaipur, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting it – especially if you have a day or two to spare. I took a day off to explore it and had absolutely no regrets! Be greeted by expansive front gardens lined with trees and trimmed bushes as you pull up to the front of the cheery yellow heritage hotel front.

Did you know that Jaipur has a unique initiative which converts palaces into hotels – so that they will be well taken care of and properly restored as the years go by? These “palace hotels” will thus continue to be appreciated by many since they are being converted into accommodation! The Samode Palace is one such example of a heritage hotel.

Once you enter the alluring palace building, your friendly guide will take you on a private tour to gape in awe at the gorgeously decorated rooms and interiors. With walls and ceilings that are all splashed in colour from top to bottom and hand painted with various details, patterns and paintings, a walk through the halls will simply leave you speechless! You will also pass through a Room of Mirrors where surfaces are plastered with real semi-precious and precious gemstones that glisten and sparkle in the sunlight. It’s such an utterly enchanting sight that pictures won’t do justice.

Don’t worry about how to get the best pictures because your guide will show you secret spots on where to pose and how to shoot for stunning photos! I definitely recommend staying for lunch as well, as you can take more time to explore the area after you’re done.

Address: Village Samode, Tehsil Chomu, Jaipur, Rajasthan 303806, India

Opening Hours: Call beforehand to check if there is a private event (+91 1423 240 014)

Entrance Fee: INR1000 (~S$21)

Indeed, with friendly locals and glorious sights in all of its blush pink splendour, Jaipur is truly a city that cannot be missed when one is in India. If you plan on touring around India, trust me when I say that Jaipur is the perfect place to start. Enjoy and Namaste!

*Scoot will no longer fly direct to Jaipur with effect from 10 Mar 2018.

Brought to you by Changi Airport Group.

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