10 Unforgettable Places to Visit in Jaipur, India

Hailing as the capital of the Indian State of Rajasthan, Jaipur is one of three cities throughout India that are a part of what is called the 'Golden Triangle' (cities popular among tourists.)

The beautiful architecture and pink painted avenues make this city unique. With the perfect weather and the surrounding hills and mountains, it's no wonder Jaipur was ranked by Condé Nast as the 7th best place to visit in Asia!

With over 3 million inhabitants, Jaipur is a fairly large city, chock full things to see and do. The architectural tours, fantastic food, shopping, palaces, and gardens allow visitors to immerse themselves in the local culture.

Jaipur is chock full of beautifully designed palaces and forts. This is one of the many reasons the city is much loved by tourists. Traveling throughout Jaipur allows tourists to see a number of architectural wonders.

City Palace, located in the old city area of Jaipur, is a huge complex made up of gorgeous courtyards and perfectly manicured gardens. What makes City Palace special is that the buildings on the grounds show a blend of two types of architecture: Rajasthani and Mughal.

One of the most stunning views at City Palace is of the peacock gate at the Pitam Niwas Chowk (the inner courtyard.) At the inner courtyard, there are four gates, each representing a different season. The peacock gate represents autumn, the lotus gate represents summer, the green gate represents spring, and the rose gate symbolizes the winter season. These beautiful gates are excellent examples of the workmanship done at this palace.

Hawa Mahal, known as the Palace of the Winds, is another beautiful in Jaipur. Because of its location next to the City Palace, there's no reason to miss out on this architectural wonder! The design of this palace features intricate patterns on the windows and screens. The Hawa Mahal, in all of its architectural glory, is one of the most recognized buildings in Jaipur. An interesting fact about this palace is that upon construction, winds used to flow through its openings, giving it the name 'Palace of the Winds.' Sadly, the wind no longer flows through the palace.

On the edge of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking Jaipur, is Nahargarh Fort. Visitors to the fort can see the beautiful views it offers of the city and visit the cafe to enjoy a picnic. The best time to visit the fort is just before sunset. The view of the sun setting in Jaipur is stunning. Afterward, as the night falls, the fort is lit up in beautiful lights offering yet another spectacular view.

Located 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Jaipur is Amber Fort. This is another must see for visitors. Amber fort is a huge, yet gorgeous complex containing elements of both Mughal and Hindu architecture, making it very unique.

There are a number of palaces in the area as well as gardens and temples which makes it a great place to spend an entire day! Amber Fort itself is situated on Maotha Lake and offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.

Jaipur's museums are absolutely amazing. There are a large number of museums here, but two of them are absolutely spectacular and must be mentioned.

Albert Hall Museum, the oldest museum in Rajasthan, features a huge collection of artifacts including wood carvings, paintings, crafts, and other types of art. The museum is located due south of the Old City area of Jaipur.

Jantar Mantar is reason enough to travel to Jaipur. This observatory has a number of architectural structures that are used to observe space. These structures, dating to 1734, allowed scientists to measure time, predict eclipses, track stars, and more!

Adventure is easy to find in Jaipur. There are a number of short treks that originate here, including a trip to the Temple of Galtaji. A holy pilgrimage site, Galtaji is located approximately 10 kilometers outside Jaipur.

The Sun Temple is built on the highest peak visible from Jaipur, but the real fun is deep in the gorge in another temple. There are three sacred pools in this almost ruinous place where visitors can swim. At one time, men and women each had their own pool and the third was for the holy monkeys. Now, men and women are allowed to swim in the same pool.

Outside the city, in the foothills of the Aravalli mountains, lies a jungle where visitors can go on a safari while riding on the backs of elephants. On the Dera Amer Elephant Safari, tiny villages and ancient monuments can be seen. Living in the jungle are a variety of animals including antelope, jackals, and even panthers (although panthers are rarely seen by visitors on the safari.)

Those looking to have a more relaxing trip to Jaipur may enjoy the wide variety of shops in the city.

There are also a number of popular markets including the Gem Palace, Amrapali, and Chameliwala Market. Jaipur is known for its beautiful crafts, which include jewelry.

Whether you head to one of Jaipur's bustling markets, swimming at Galtaji, or touring the numerous palaces, there are tons of places to visit in Jaipur (and things to see!) The wide variety of activities here make Jaipur the perfect place for just about anyone!