I have often been asked where to watch a sunset in Jaipur and also the best place to watch a sunrise? I have written a few posts on the best sunrise places in Jaipur and you can find all of them listed here. To be honest, I haven’t been able to explore all sunset points in Jaipur because work keeps me occupied in the office during the sunset. Here is all that you need to know about it in this blog on Nahargarh Fort sunset.

Where To Watch The Sunset In Jaipur?

I was lucky to be able to visit Nahargarh Fort during the sunset. With an impending work in the walled city area of Jaipur, I decided to club a visit to Nahargarh Fort along with it.  Nahargarh Fort is famed for great sunset views. Recently, the authorities have created a Jaipur Sunset Point in Nahargarh Fort.

Flashback: I have visited Nahargarh fort on a Sunday during the sunset a couple of years ago. Because of the unmanageable crowd near RTDC Padao restaurant & bar, I made a hasty retreat. Padao Restaurant and Bar is popular among locals to enjoy the Jaipur sunset view. Sundays at Nahargarh Fort is always a bad idea given its popularity among the locals. Here is a picture from that visit- Jaipur city view. Read this article Beautiful sunset at Nahargarh Fort

How to reach Nahargarh Fort?

There are two ways to reach Nahargarh Fort.

• Option 1

Option one is the most popular, through a long winding hill road which starts at the Kanak Ghati.

You need to hire a taxi or Tuk-Tuk to take you to Nahargarh Fort. In both cases, make sure that taxi or Tuk-Tuk need to wait for your return journey. Public transport/ Tuk-Tuk/ taxi is not available at Nahargarh Fort. Ideally, you should be able to hire a Tuk-Tuk-/ auto-rickshaw for Rs 300-600 for return journey+waiting time. A taxi will cost you more. During my recent visit, a few tuk-tuks were available for hire at the fort but they quoted Rs 400 for a drop in Johari Bazaar. What else can we expect with tuk-tuk cartels and a lack of choice?

• Option 2

The second option is an old route meant for the pedestrians starting from the old city area. Probably, it was designed for riding a horse and is a cobbled ramp which takes about 15-20 minutes for a fit person to traverse by foot. It starts at the base of Nahargarh Fort near the Nahargarh Palace Hotel. Nahargarh Road as the name suggests starts from Chandpol Bazar in old Jaipur and ends at the base of a cobbled pathway near Mount road. You can use uber or Tuk-Tuk to reach the base of this cobbled path. This is the least costly way to reach this fort.

The third option is to take a taxi/auto-rickshaw or Tuk-Tuk on your way up and walk back to the base of this fort via the cobbled path. Once you are back on the Mount road you can fetch either Uber/Ola cab or a tuk-tuk to the hotel. You might experience an issue in finding a Uber/Ola taxi or Tuk-Tuk from Nahargarh Road. Hiring an e-rickshaw will be easier. Do expect to pay more for your return journey.

While walking to Nahargarh Fort through this route you can enjoy amazing views of the Jaipur city on one side and Garh Ganesh temple on the other.

 

The pedestrian ramp ends at a gate near Nahargarh Fort sunrise point. The Baori or stepwell near this gate was featured in a popular Bollywood movie Rang De Basanti. Therefore this point is also called Rang De Basanti shooting location.

 

From this point, you need to walk towards the palace entrance for buying an entry ticket. Go straight till you find an intersection and take the road towards your left. Follow the board which directs you to Padao Restaurant.

You will reach the fort gate and need to buy the entry ticket. Walk straight past the palace area of Nahargarh Fort – Madhvendra Bhawan on your left to the opposite end which overlooks Jaipur city.  You will come across Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation’s open-air restaurant in Nahargarh Fort – Padao Bar prior to sunset point. The Padao entry is Rs 100 per person with a complimentary tea/coffee. The tea/coffee is of substandard quality and is best avoided!

 

You can enjoy the panoramic views of Jaipur city from Padao restaurant. Kali Burj is being promoted as Jaipur sunset point by Nahargarh Fort authorities; it near Padao.

Nahargarh Fort is the most famous sunset point in Jaipur.

Is Nahargarh sunset worth a visit?

In my opinion, Nahargarh sunset is one of the best places to witness a sunset in Jaipur. There are other places too but this is the most easily accessible sunset point in Jaipur. Nahargarh Fort is considered as one the most Instagram worthy place to click pictures in Jaipur along with Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort. Read How to explore Nahargarh Fort

Another option to witness a sunset in Jaipur is Sun Temple. The menace of monkeys and the long walk is a dissuader. Read Fascinating Sunset on Sun Temple

Don’t you think Nahargarh Fort is a great sunset point?

Few travel bloggers have mentioned Amer Fort as the best sunset point in Jaipur. Frankly, it falls in the shadow area of Jaigarh Fort, therefore, sunset will not be visible from the Amer Fort.

Here is another sunset point to visit in Jaipur: Fascinating Sunset Point You Absolutely Need To See In Jaipur

Entry Charges

There are no charges for walking up to the Nahargarh sunrise point near Rang De Basanti step- ell or Baori. Charges are applicable only for the entry in the last enclosure having the palace section Madhavendra Bhawan, Nahargarh Fort wax museum, restaurant Once upon a time and Padao bar. Entry to this section of Nahargarh Fort is Rs 50/per person for Indians and Rs 200 for foreign tourists.

Do note that Nahargarh Fort is very popular among locals especially during Sundays, public holidays and the days when it rains! It is never a good idea to visit Nahargarh Fort during such times.

History

Nahargarh Fort was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century. The palace section, Madavendra Bhawan was however built much later by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II in the 19th century. Many people call Nahargarh Fort an abode of tigers. This is incorrect. Although the word Nahar means tiger it certainly doesn’t mean that it was home of tigers. This is a story cooked by a few guides who had little knowledge about this place. When some of the tourists started mentioning this on online forums and blogs, it became popular the world over by this name. The basic purpose of building a fortification at this site was to provide the defense to Jaipur city.

Tips & Suggestions

If you are returning from Nahargarh Fort using the cobbled pedestrian ramp, do make sure that you are carrying a flashlight. Although the walkway is safe it is best to avoid walking alone; having a company to walk along is safer. It is best to leave a bit early from Nahargarh Fort in the daylight. If you prefer to stay till late, I suggest you pre-hire a cab/ tuk-tuk/ auto-rickshaw for your return trip.  Drink and drive cases are commonly reported on the Nahargarh Fort road. Speeding bikes and cars is another menace. Accidents on Nahargarh road are rampant.

The mobile network is available throughout the cobbled pedestrian ramp but it may be an issue in many places if you are using the hill road.

Do not visit the overpriced Nahargarh Fort wax museum. It tries to replicate Madame Tussaud experience but most visitors have reported it as a rip-off. It is a private venture with the space being leased out by the government.

I have heard mixed reviews of Nahargarh Fort restaurant Once Upon A Time. It’s an upmarket restaurant.

Instagram and blogs are full of pictures with travelers walking/sitting on the ramparts of Nahargarh Fort. It certainly not safe to do so. Being an old construction, the ramparts are damaged in some sections which haven’t been repaired in a long time. There have been cases of tourists falling off leading to death. For your safety, it is important not to climb or walk over ramparts. A few comments & likes on Instagram is not worth the risk!

Check out –  Most Popular Sunrise Points in Jaipur  and Fascinating Sunset Point You Absolutely Need To See In Jaipur

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