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Jaipur Itinerary For One Day| A Local’s Guide To Top Places To Visit

Jaipur itinerary for one day? If you are wondering why a traveler would visit Jaipur for just one day, read on. Jaipur is one of the most popular cities among travelers and tourists in India. It is not surprising as it is a part of the golden triangle consisting of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. The Golden Triangle is the most popular tourist circuit in India. The palaces, forts, Havelis, bazaars, and shopping are a big lure for travelers to visit the pink city. Given the number of tourist attractions, it is difficult to squeeze them all into the Jaipur itinerary for one day. With many destination weddings, business conferences, and conclaves happening in Jaipur, a large number of people visit the pink city on a tight schedule, often they have only 24 hours in Jaipur, leaving little time for sightseeing. Visiting Jaipur and not being able to explore tourist attractions is a letdown. This travel blog on Jaipur will help you with the must-visit places in Jaipur, especially the best Jaipur tourist places. This is a standard Jaipur one-day itinerary that can be customized by travelers to suit their requirements.

Jaipur Itinerary for One Day With Places to Visit

People often get confused with places to visit in Jaipur in one day. This Jaipur travel guide blog will help you with the Jaipur itinerary for one day and must-visit tourist places in Jaipur to visit.

Jaipur Itinerary For One-Day

Here is the itinerary for one day in Jaipur.

Start early with a Jaipur walking tour followed by Amer Fort, and either Hawa Mahal or Jantar Mantar. This should set you free by 1-2 p.m. for a lunch break. To save time, you can have lunch in Baradari, Jaipur City Palace, or The Johri in Johri Bazaar. After the lunch break, visit Jaipur City Palace or Nahargarh Fort.

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Baradari, City Palace Jaipur

How to plan Jaipur for one-day sightseeing

The following is an indicative plan for Jaipur one-day sightseeing. The time and route are indicative. Feel free to plan as per your suitability. The route needs to be customized based on the location of your stay and beyond the scope of this blog on the Jaipur itinerary.

The estimated time required to complete each of the must-visit places in the Jaipur itinerary is as follows:

  • Jaipur Walking Tour– 1.5-2 hours
  • Amer Palace-2-3 hours
  • Hawa Mahal – 10 minutes for a street-side view/ 30 minutes to explore the entire structure.
  • Jantar Mantar – 45 minutes
  • City Palace– 1 hour
  • Nahargarh Fort – 30 minutes to 45 minutes for Madhavendra Palace. This sets you free to spend time at Padao restaurant, and wind your day at your pace!
  • Post-Nahargarh Fort or Jaipur City Palace, you can visit the old bazaar of Jaipur in the walled city for shopping.

TIP! You can avail of a composite ticket for Amer Palace, Nahargarh Fort, Jantar Mantar, and Hawa Mahal. It’s a good deal.

Must-Visit Places In Jaipur In One Day

Jaipur Walking Tour

Jaipur Walking Tour allows you to understand the city differently. This sets the base for exploring the tourist attractions in Jaipur. Why do people go on walking tours? Many people prefer a walking tour because these tours are led by a local who has a deeper knowledge of the city than travel agents who plan a city they have never visited or have only spent a short time in. It is vital that the walking tour leader has in-depth knowledge and is willing to share the same. Many of these walking tours are often led by students who are leading these tours to make extra money. Such tours are not worth your time and money. The Jaipur walking Tour is increasingly becoming a must-do activity in Jaipur. Read more: Everything About Heritage Walking Tour in Jaipur

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Amer Fort

Amer Fort is the most popular tourist attraction in Jaipur and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For this reason, every traveler wants to include this place in their Jaipur itinerary for one day. It is 10 km from Jaipur and it’s a palace and not a fort. Its grandeur is spellbinding. Its architecture is a beautiful blend of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles using both marble and sandstone which are found locally. It was recently included in India’s top 17 iconic tourist attraction by the Indian Ministry of Tourism.

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Amer Fort Elephant ride is one of the most highly coveted experiences of this medieval fort.  There are many things to see here and it takes a minimum of 45 minutes to complete the tour of the palace section. Don’t miss Ganesh Pol, Sheesh Mahal, Sukh Mahal, and Zenana.

Do read the complete guide to Amer Fort in this post The only guide you will ever need for Amer Fort.

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Tourists taking a tour of Amer Fort, Jaipur

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Amer Fort is the most popular tourist attraction in Jaipur?

Amer Fort Timing: The Amer Fort is open between 8 AM and 5 PM. It opens under Amer By Night from 7 PM to 10 PM.

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Foreign tourists entering the palace in Amber Fort, Jaipur

Jaipur City Palace 

Jaipur City Palace is a royal abode; the residence of Jaipur royalty. It was built by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II. Descendants of the royal family still reside in City Palace. However, some of its parts are open for tourists to explore. It’s located right in the heart of the city, close to Hawa Mahal.

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Things to see in Jaipur City Palace include beautiful courtyards, painted gates, and museums. Not to be missed are Mubarak Mahal and Pritam Niwas. The four gates of Jaipur City Palace in Pritam Chowk are popular among travelers. These gates are among the most photographed areas of the City Palace. The four gates are Peacock Gate, Leheriya Gate, Lotus Gate, and Rose Gate.

Read What makes a walk with Jaipur City Palace unique?

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Beautiful gates of City Palace, Jaipur

Jantar Mantar

It’s a must-see visit place and should be a part of your Jaipur itinerary for one day; it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. Jantar Mantar is one of the one-of-a-kind solar observatories in the world! It was built by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II in 1738 AD and is still fully functional. The instruments are still precise.  It has the world’s largest sundial. Math and astronomy piqued the interest of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. He did extensive research on the works of Portuguese and Arabs in the field of astronomy before building Jantar Mantar. Jantar Mantar is part of the Jaipur City Palace complex, but it is run and maintained by the government department and it offers entry through composite tickets along with Amer Fort and Albert Hall Museum.

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Overlooking Jantar Mantar Solar Observatory, City Palace, Jaipur.

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Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal is synonymous with Jaipur. It’s unique in terms of its design & beauty; an architectural marvel. It is popular around the world as The Wind Palace and was built in 1799 AD by Lal Chand Ustad, commissioned by Maharajah Sawai Pratap Singh. This iconic building is five stories tall and features 953 windows! It served as a screen for the royal women as they watched the processions or life on the street. It would be a crime to not include it in the Jaipur itinerary for one day.

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Hawa Mahal is one of the most photographed tourist attractions in Jaipur.

The facade of the Hawa Mahal is its backside! The entrance to the building is from the opposite side. If you have time, explore the entire structure. However, If you are short on time, a selfie with Hawa Mahal will do!!

Read – Exploring Hawa Mahal

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Hawa Mahal.  Jaipur. Surely, one of its kind!

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Read: Hawa Mahal- Face of Jaipur

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Tourists at Hawa Mahal, a famous tourist attraction in Jaipur.

Nahargarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort is extremely popular among the locals, especially the youth. Nahargarh Fort Sunrise and Nahargarh Fort Sunset experience are highly sought after. The fort covers a huge area and overlooks Jaipur City. It’s been restored beautifully. Madhavendra Palace is its main attraction and contains 12 identical quarters. It was a residential complex for Queens designed in a way that King could access any of them discreetly. While a lot of tour planners do not include Nahargarh Fort in the Jaipur itinerary for one day, I think otherwise. Read more about this fort in this post How to explore Nahargarh Fort

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Madhvendra Palace is one of the major attractions at Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur

The Stepwells of Nahargarh Fort are incredibly popular among visitors. In fact, one of the famous Bollywood movies Rang De Basanti was filmed at Nahargarh Fort Baori.

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Things & Places to Add to Jaipur One Day Itinerary

There are two more places you can add to the above Jaipur travel guide itinerary if you have already seen any of the listed places. This would not form part of Jaipur’s itinerary for one day for the first-time visitor going by the conservative plan, most travel agents suggest.

Patrika Gate

Patrika Gate at Jawahar Circle is a visual treat for art lovers and those seeking a visual tour of Rajasthan. Read more in this Patrika Gate guide – Patrika Gate | A snapshot of Rajasthan patrika-gate-jaipur-rajasthani-interior-elements

Gaitore

Royal Gaitore has cenotaphs of the erstwhile rulers of Jaipur. It is one of the offbeat places in Jaipur. Of late, it is attracting travelers for Instagram-worthy pictures. Read more about Why visiting Royal Gaitore is a fascinating experience?  royal-gaitore-jaipur-history-kachhawa-rajput

Bar Palladio

Bar Palladio is one of the best places to spend your evening. It has beautiful decor and ambiance. Read everything about this great hangout place Bar Palladio Jaipur| The Chicest Bar in Jaipur  bar palladio

Shopping Places in Jaipur For One Day Itinerary

Jaipur is a popular shopping destination offering a huge variety in all that it offers. Here is a quick shopping guide to include in the Jaipur itinerary for one day.

  • Johari Bazaar for Jewelry, Sari, and street shopping with roadside vendors picture of johari bazaar jaipur
  • Bapu Bazaar for hand block print fabric and clothes, Jootis, bangles, salwar suits, and bedsheets.

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    Shops at Bapu Bazar, Jaipur
  • Sirehdyodi Bazaar near Hawa Mahal for touristy stuff especially fabrics, clothes, and footwear if you are short of time and can’t visit other bazaars in Jaipur. For many travelers, this is the only choice they have for shopping in Jaipur.Hawa Mahal market sirehdyodi bazaar jaipur
  • Tripolia Bazaar for metal utensils and brass items

Jaipur Travel Guide – Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few frequently asked questions on Jaipur travels. These frequently asked questions are not exhaustive and you might have more questions. You can reach out to me by posting a comment and I will try to answer your queries.

Is One Day Enough for Jaipur?

If you want to visit the must-see places in Jaipur, one day is enough for Jaipur. The only exception is during the peak tourist season like the New Year holidays when the city gets clogged with a large number of travelers and visitors. With careful planning and starting early, one can easily visit must-visit places in Jaipur in one day. This one day Jaipur itinerary blog will help travelers plan well and include must-visit places in Jaipur.

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How Can I Plan One Day In Jaipur?

Even though I have listed places to visit in Jaipur as well as shopping places in Jaipur in this blog, I suggest one should plan according to what suits the situation. There are many factors to consider like the season you are visiting Jaipur, which area in Jaipur you are staying in, and the tourist season. I generally suggest not to plan ambitiously. I have been advising travelers on how to plan a Jaipur itinerary.

What to do in Jaipur for the full day?

It is difficult to generalize Jaipur’s full-day itinerary for everyone since we are unique and our choices & preferences vary. I always suggest places based on interests and travel style. You can pick the places listed above in this blog on Jaipur in one day.

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What Is the History of Jaipur?

Unlike many other cities in India, the history of Jaipur dates back less than 300 years. Jaipur was founded in 1727 AD by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II and it is one of the few planned Indian cities, popular the world over as the Pink City. Initially, Amber or Amer was the capital of this region called Dhundad. The history of Amer as a capital of this region dates back to the 10th to 11th centuries. It is at a distance of 11 km from Jaipur. The need to shift the capital to Jaipur arose because of the increasing population of the Amer town and the scarcity of land. Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II wanted to grow his capital into a great trading hub, therefore, he decided to build a new one close to Amer. He consulted several astrologers and city planners before finalizing the layout of the city.

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The layout of Jaipur was guided by the ancient art of Shilp Shashtra. After the founding of Jaipur, he invited leading traders, Brahmins, and artists from all over the country to settle in his new capital. This explains why even today Jaipur is a leading center for Jewelry, handblock print fabrics & clothes, and handicrafts.

Why is Jaipur called the Pink City?

Jaipur wasn’t always pink ever since it was founded. The color pink was chosen when Edward Albert, the Prince of Wales was visiting Jaipur in 1876 AD. India was then a British colony. The king of Jaipur, Maharaja Ram Singh II thought it would be a welcome gesture to paint the city with a single color, not knowing that this shade of pink would stay on forever. Before choosing this shade he got all markets painted in different colors as an experiment but ultimately, the color pink was chosen. The “Jaipur Pink” is a terracotta pink.

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Jaipur Travel Tips

Tips for Amer Fort

If you want to avoid the rush at Amer Fort, you can Amer Fort at night. Amer is open for tourists between 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. called Amer By Night.

Tips for Jaipur City Palace

The best time to visit the city palace is post-lunch, you don’t have to walk around much. It’s located very close to Johari Bazar, so commuting is not a hassle. Don’t miss two huge silver urns made by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II to carry the holy water of river Ganga during his trip to England in 1902. Each of them weighs 345 Kg!!

Tip for Jantar Mantar

Don’t forget to hire a guide!! Without a guide, it’ll be difficult for you to understand how each instrument functions. It takes 30-45 minutes to complete the tour of Jantar Mantar.

Tip for Hawa Mahal

There are 953 windows in Hawa Mahal called Jharokhas in the local language! By the way, all the shops around Hawa Mahal sell tourist-oriented stuff like garments, bedsheets, souvenirs, etc. You will find only commercial quality in these shops. Bargain hard before you seal a deal else head to places that locals buy. Read the Jaipur Shopping Guide. The only shop worth recommending is Gulab Chand Prints. It is a famous shop selling hand-block-printed fabrics near Hawa Mahal and a trusted place in Jaipur for Sanganeri hand-block-printed fabrics, salwar suits, dresses, and shirts.

Tip for Nahargarh Fort

The palace section closes at 5 p.m. Visit Nahargarh Fort at around 4-4.30 p.m. After visiting the Madhavendra Palace section, head to the open-air Padao restaurant and enjoy the sunset & city views. The restaurant is run by RTDC – Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. It serves only beer and snacks. Amazing views are the best way to end your Jaipur trip. It won’t be a problem if you wish to leave at 7 or 9 PM. Do note that no public transport services or taxis are available for your return trip from Nahargarh Fort. Arrange for your pick up well in advance or ask for the cab to wait for you.

If you love watching the sunset do read this post on Nahargarh Sunset

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Ain’t this beautiful? Best sunset point in Jaipur at Nahargarh Fort

Feel free to tinker around with this Jaipur travel itinerary of places to visit in Jaipur in one day. This Jaipur travel guide is not valid for the summer months (March to June) when the scorching heat makes it difficult to explore tourist attractions in Jaipur during the daytime. I’m sure this travel blog will help you explore pink in the best way. 

181 thoughts on “Jaipur Itinerary For One Day| A Local’s Guide To Top Places To Visit

  1. This is a great comprehensive guide to Jaipur. I love architecture and the buildings look so beautiful. My husband and I have talked about going to India at some point in the future, and visiting Jaipur should definitely be on the list.

    Like

  2. I’m taking note of all of your Jaipur travel posts. Many of my husband’s co-workers travel to India for work, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he travels there one day (along with me 😉 ). As usual, your photos are amazing and your posts are very informative. Great post!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I can see why people would like to travel to Jaipur – your pictures are beautiful! We are in Minnesota – USA. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Beautiful photographs! I’ve been to Amer fort thrice – it’s so beautiful! But, on my last visit, I was sad to see they had closed off most of the rooms due to vandalism. I really wish people would have more respect for our history and culture!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Indeed, that’s sad. I have already posted few pictures and even a post to raise this issue. It’s a persistent problem across all monuments in India. It’s unfortunate that our youth instead of being bold enough to express their feeling to the person chooses walls. You should read of my post – Why our attitude towards heritage needs to change?

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  4. No one can tell better than a local guy from Jaipur telling you about his experience.

    The places you have mentioned are quite good.

    And Jaipur never fails to amaze hope to come here soon

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I plan to go to Jaipur after attending my friend’s wedding in Bangalore this December. Thank you for the amazingly well put itinerary. Super excited to see it all…

    Liked by 1 person

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