Who hasn’t heard of Jaipur? How many days are required to explore Jaipur is a routine question posed by most travelers. I have been repeatedly inquired to suggest an itinerary for 2 days in Jaipur on the blog. People interested in exploring beyond the standard tourist places can definitely spend 5 days exploring this popular tourist city. First-time visitors should explore must-visit places in Jaipur rather than offbeat places unless their interest dictates otherwise. Two days are enough to explore must-visit tourist attractions of the pink city.

Jaipur Two Day Itinerary

Following Jaipur guide will help you optimize your two-day trip to the pink city as a first-time visitor. Here is a list of places to see and things to do in Jaipur.

Day 1 In Jaipur

 

Explore The Old City Area of Jaipur or The Walled City 

 

 

The walled city area of Jaipur is the original settlement founded by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II. Earlier the city was contained within a 9-meter high wall but over the years with rapid population growth, the city outgrew walled city. There are two ways in which you can identify the walled city area. One, the buildings follow the pattern of a single color – terracotta pink which confers it the name of the pink city. Here is a picture of the walled city area.

Two, there are entry and exit gates called Old City Gates of Jaipur. Before Indian independence, these Jaipur gates would close soon after the sunset and open around sunrise. It is no more a case now. These gates serve as a great reminder of a bygone period.

The walled city area of Jaipur is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here’s how to explore the UNESCO World Heritage area on your own with a heritage walking tour in Jaipur? How to do an amazing self-guided heritage walking tour in Jaipur

You can cover the following places on this day starting with Govind Dev Ji temple, Jaipur City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar which is a solar observatory, and a stroll through the historic bazaar i.e. Johari Bazaar with a bit of shopping thrown in.

Govind Devji Temple Jaipur

An excellent way to set out a day in India is customary with a visit to the temple; a custom followed by the locals is a visit to Govind Devji Temple in Jaipur’s patron deity. Even though the temple is open throughout the day but one can have Darshan of Lord Govind Devji only during the pre-designated slots. You can check the current slots for the day online on their website. Mangala Aarti is definitely the best one to attend but this might be extremely early for you since it starts at 4.30 AM. You can either opt for Dhoop at around 7.30 AM or Shringaar at 9.30 AM. Please note that these timings change as per season. The Jhanki period is half an hour. The worthiest thing to do here is soaking in the atmosphere. Many people claim that the atmosphere at Govind Devji temple is magical. I will leave this for you to decipher. There is a fascinating story about how the idol of Govind Devji reached Jaipur from Vrindavan in UP.  You can follow this story here- The devotees at Govind Dev Ji Temple and Why Jaipur loves Govind Dev Ji?

The prayer hall of Govind Devji temple is one of the oldest and biggest pillar-less temple halls in North India.  Also, the temple building is spire-less which is uncommon in Hindu temples. Here are a few pictures that depict the mood at the temple.

 

Hawa Mahal

The Palace Of Winds or Hawa Mahal looks stunning in the morning with the mellow sunlight illuminating the structure. The area around Hawa Mahal is congested and with metro work in progress, it witnesses traffic snarls throughout the day.

Previously, the mornings offered a good respite from the noise and traffic pollution but these days it is not the case. The ongoing Metro construction work coupled with a stopover of tourist buses results in utter chaos during tourist season. It is customary for the buses heading to Amer Fort to make a pit stop so tourists can capture the sight of Hawa Mahal.

If you are in a mood for exploration, it’s a good idea to check out the building behind the Hawa Mahal facade. You will find the entrance on Tripolia Bazar near Badi Chaupar. Highly recommended for those who love architecture, exploration, and photographic opportunities. Moreover, it is an exclusive way you can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the entire area. Another alternative is to visit Wind’s Cafe opposite Hawa Mahal.

Jantar Mantar

Jantar Mantar, a 300 years old solar observatory has fully functional instruments. The readings from these instruments match closely with modern gadgets. Out of three Jantar Mantar built by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh II in numerous cities, the one in Jaipur is still intact and well-maintained. Although each instrument has an information board, hiring a guide is highly recommended as he can explain how each instrument functions in a more practical way. Another alternative is an audio guide.

Jaipur City Palace

Jaipur City Palace is in the vicinity of Jantar Mantar. What are the things to do and see in City Palace? There are a couple of museums, Instagram-worthy gates to get yourself clicked, and interesting architecture. Have a look at this famed peacock gate in Pritam Chowk in Jaipur City Palace.

Check out two huge silver urns used by the Maharajah to carry Ganga-Jal during his trip to England, more than a hundred years ago.

Read What makes a walk with Museum Curator’s of Jaipur City Palace unique?

Places To Visit In Jaipur For Shopping

Shopping in Jaipur is incomplete without a visit to Johari Bazar or Bapu Bazar. Bapu Bazar is famous for hand block printed fabrics, bedsheets, and dresses. It is also a popular place for buying handmade Jootis and Mojari in Jaipur.

Alternatively,  you can try shops in front of Hawa Mahal but they are generally pricey being a tourist place.

Johari Bazaar is famous for jewelry, Astro stones, and Sari. It is best to buy from shops that sell to locals and not tourists. This can save you from being swindled.  There are many upmarket stores in Jaipur but none of them are in the walled city area. You can find them in areas like C-scheme, Civil Lines and MI Road; I have reserved to write about them in another post.

 

Jaipur Itinerary for Day One

The best day one Jaipur itinerary would be to start with Darshan at Govind Devji Temple, followed by Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, and City Palace. All these places are within walking distance. Johari Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar are the most popular places to shop & are within a walking distance from Hawa Mahal. If you like to explore more places, you can add Galta Ji temple but you will need an extra  2-2.5 hours including the transit time. I don’t recommend visiting this temple after sunset as you won’t be able to experience its true beauty.

Another highly recommended activity is undertaking a Self-guided heritage walking tour in the walled city.  If you prefer a guided walking tour, read Heritage walk in Jaipur

Day 2 In Jaipur

The Forts In Jaipur

Jaipur is famous for its forts and palaces. You can reach them via Amer Road and it is best covered together in one day saving you significant time. You will be visiting Amer Fort which is actually a palace, and Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort. On your way, you can also enjoy the great view of the water palace – Jal Mahal from the promenade running parallel to the road. Once you are done with these forts you can club either the Albert Hall museum or Chokhi Dhani depending on your energy level and time availability.

 

Start your sightseeing with a visit to Jal Mahal or Water Palace on way to the Amer fort. The entry to Jal Mahal is currently unpermitted because of the long-pending court case of the Jal Tarang project. However, you can surely enjoy a stroll along the promenade running parallel to the road and get your pictures clicked with the Water Palace or Jal Mahal.

 

 

Amer Fort

Amer Fort is one of the most sought-after experiences of Jaipur. Many tourists like to undertake elephant safari and consider it a prime attraction of Amer Fort. Lately, many people are demanding an end to the elephant ride at Amer Fort because of animal cruelty. I have a full post on things to see and do in Amer which is an exhaustive guide.

 

 

 

An offbeat thing to add to your Amer Fort visit is Amer Fort Heritage Water walk.

Jaigarh Fort 

Many foreign tourists give Jaigarh a miss because visiting three forts gets overwhelming. However, Jaigarh Fort is popular among Indian tourists. It is massive and was built to give security to Amer. Things to see here include, Jaivaan, the world’s largest cannon and armory museum. I would like to add one should not miss the cannon foundry which is India’s first & oldest and the stunning views of Amer from the Jaigarh observation point.

 

 

Nahargarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort is one of the most popular places among the locals. It offers a great drive through the winding hill road. Everyone loves the panoramic and expansive views of the Jaipur city. Here is a picture of Jaipur city from a viewing point.

Nahargarh & Jaigarh Forts are on different ends of the same hill. Nahargarh Fort provides a great Jaipur city view; Jaigarh Fort offers stunning views of Amer town.

Nahargarh Fort has a palace section which was added later at the end of the 19th century – Madhvendra Bhawan. You can enjoy some stunning sunset views from Nahargarh Fort. I recommend covering this one in the end. Read my post on sunset from Nahargarh Fort. A couple of new additions have been made by way of a wax museum and modern sculptures in the Madhvendra Bhawan. Padao restaurant is a popular place to have a beer among the locals. An upmarket restaurant “Once Upon a Time” occupies a part of Madhvendra Bahwan.

A cool thing to add to your Nahargarh Fort visit is Nahargarh Fort Heritage Water Walk. Read Nahargarh Heritage Walk – A unique heritage walk in Jaipur

Albert Hall Museum

Albert Hall Museum is located close to Johari Bazaar in Ramniwas Garden. The foundation of this building was laid on 6 February 1876 by Prince of Wales, King Edward VII, which is why it is named after him. The decision to convert this building into a museum was taken much later. It was converted into a museum in 1886 AD. It is not a huge museum, but it boasts of some unique collections. Among the most prized is Egyptian mummy. It is one of six Indian museums having an Egyptian mummy, a privilege very few museums across the world have. Therefore, Albert Hall is considered one of the prominent ones. I suggest you opt for the night tourism plan as it saves you daytime to explore other monuments. Under the night tourism initiative, the Albert hall museum is open from 7 PM to 10 PM. The building is beautiful as it is built in the Indo-Saracenic architecture style which is a blend of Mughal, Rajput, and Gothic styles.

 

 

Chokhi Dhani is a replica of an ethnic Rajasthani village so, one can say it is theme-based dining in a local village setting. They also run a resort in this complex. It is best to visit this place from 7 pm to 10 pm. Chokhi Dhani is 22 KM from the city center and it takes 45 minutes to reach.

What is the best transport to explore Jaipur for a two-day plan?

Don’t hire a cab for day 1 when you will be exploring sites in and around Jaipur City Palace. Opt for either Uber or Ola cab as you only need a drop to City Palace Complex. Alternatively, you hire a tuk-tuk/ autorickshaw or a drop facility by way of a taxi from your hotel. On day two, you will need a dedicated taxi. Taxi is usually available for a full day, 80 km plan. Even Ola and Uber also offers a similar option.

Tourist Scams in Jaipur

Stay away from sweet-sounding deals thrown in by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers. The talk actually begins by tempting you to take to one of the gemstone factories or carpet factories and so on. You will be tempted by cheap prices. At times, the “dealer” will force you with “just have a look” if you refuse. Most factories are tourist emporiums and sell inferior products at astronomical prices. These “dealers” earn hefty commissions on sale to the tourists that they fetch. Drivers are often paid handsome amounts just to fetch prospective buyers. There is no point in “having a look” and wasting your time. Many emporiums have skilled salesman to convert non-buyers into a buyer. You can find many such stories on TripAdvisor forums. People have paid hundreds of dollars for something that costs US$ 1 or 2!! It is better not to get swindled when you don’t understand quality. Some emporiums in Jaipur have even sold replicas as antiques and have been reported even in the newspaper. Tourism is a big business and some people really know how to fleece money from gullible tourists. This is true for every tourist city in the world be in Istanbul, Paris, Rome or Barcelona.

Jaipur Food Places

Places to eat in Jaipur  – There are many popular places to eat in Jaipur. On day one, you can opt to eat at LMB in Johari Bazaar which is popular among tourists or at Baradari in Jaipur City Palace.

 

If you prefer anything beyond these two places, the nearest options are MI Road and C scheme. Note that this will involve significant time and you may have to rework your itinerary. Surya Mahal is a popular fast-food joint on MI Road.

Another popular option to try street food is Masala Chowk which is barely a few minutes away from Johari Bazaar and has some very prominent & old names of Jaipur. You can sample some of the most popular street food in a centrally located place. Now can you beat that?

Read: What makes Masala Chowk so popular?

On day two, there are limited options for places to have lunch. Few tourist-oriented restaurants on Amer Road are the most sensible option but I can’t recommend any. Apart from these, you can find a few shacks style local food joints near Amer Fort.

If you want to try an authentic experience, how about trying a few Chai Bars? Jaipur has cool places that serve Chai – Indian style tea. Tapri Central and Chaisa are both popular among the locals.

Read What tea cafes are popular in Jaipur?

Bar Palladio and Shikaar Bagh are some of the most popular places to unwind after a hectic day in Jaipur. Narain Niwas Hotel near Police Memorial is where you will find both.

Bat Palladio is a place like none other.  Read Bar Palladio|Chic Bar of Jaipur

Shikaar Bagh recreates the days of Raj during the colonial years. It definitely is a great place for food and drinks. Read Shikaar Bagh | Hunting & Yore

 

Missing your daily dose of caffeine?

Try Curious Life Coffee Roasters, the best place for coffee in Jaipur. You can choose the origin of your coffee beans and the method of the brew. The owner has a reputation for being picky and their selection is one of the best in India.

In a mood to experiment with food?

Try the vegetarian fine dine experience at Meraaki Kitchen. The menu is curated by Master Chef India winner – Neha Deepak Shah who is also one of the owners. They serve fusion food – popular dishes with a twist. Read Meraaki Kitchen | The best fine dine restaurant in Jaipur.

Also, Try Frazi Cafe. Though not exclusive to Jaipur only, Farzi Cafe has created a big name over a short period with its chain of restaurants having a novel menu and cosmopolitan & stylish interiors. They made the word molecular gastronomy popular in India. Read Farzi Cafe | Farzified

Where to stay in Jaipur?

I have already answered this query in one of my previous posts – Your essential guide for picking the best area for a hotel in Jaipur

 

Why is Jaipur called The Pink City?

It was during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II that Jaipur was painted pink. There is a popular story behind it. Declaration was made that Prince of Wales, King Edward was to visit Jaipur in 1886 AD. The king decided to welcome the visiting dignitaries by painting the town with a single color. Some people say that experiments were conducted by painting different colors in different markets and ultimately terracotta pink was chosen. When the Prince of Wales noticed the color scheme, he exclaimed – Ah! The pink city.  This color scheme was chosen permanently, and that’s how Jaipur was called The Pink City!

Best season to visit Jaipur

November to February is the best season to visit Jaipur due to suitable climate conditions.

How To Reach Jaipur

Jaipur is well connected with trains, buses, and flights with most notable cities in India. Most travelers arriving in India typically choose flying to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. From Delhi, you can opt for train, flight, local or more comfortable AC buses, or hiring a taxi to reach Jaipur. The distance between Delhi to Jaipur is approximately 240 KM. A train takes between 4-6 hours. A road journey will take 5-6.30 hours depending on traffic conditions.

How to reach Jaipur with train

Delhi to Jaipur is best covered by either of these two trains – New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi (train number 12015) and Delhi Sarai Rohilla Double Decker express train (train number 12986). Both these trains have limited stops and are known for running on time. The best way to book tickets for a train is online via the Indian Railways train booking site – IRCTC. Avoid booking tickets via agents unless you are booking through your hotel or leading agencies. There have been instances of scamming tourists while booking tickets through agents. Make note that New Delhi has four railway stations and there are many trains that depart from a  specific station. Most trains stopover at Delhi Cantonment station for a minute or so. This is closest to the airport but can be tricky due to the short stopover.

How to reach Jaipur with Bus

There are many local buses plying between Delhi and Jaipur. You can cover this journey for as low as Rs 200 using Rajasthan & Haryana roadways state-run buses. There are many private operators as well. If you prefer a more delightful journey, RSRTC operates a fleet of Scania/Mercedes Benz/Volvo buses. Check out more details on the RSRTC website.

How to reach Jaipur with Flight

There are a few flights between Delhi and Jaipur. Although the actual flight time is around half an hour, considering the lead & travel time, it takes around 3-4 hours in total. Unless you want to avoid shifting between different modes of transport, flying doesn’t save you time. However, at times, the cost flight is quite low making it an attractive option. If you wish to travel by train, check out the airport link metro train which connects the airport with New Delhi railway station. It is the fastest and cheapest way to travel to New Delhi train station. This train doesn’t connect with Sarai Rohilla, Old Delhi, and Delhi Cantonment railway station.

How to get an Indian SIM Card

The best place to buy an Indian SIM card in Jaipur for a foreign traveler is at the mobile operators’ outlets. Passport is mandatory for procuring a prepaid SIM card in India. Getting one at these outlets is the most convenient and hassle-free in comparison to private-run small shops. Prepaid connections are quite cheap in India and are bundled with calling and 4G data. One of the convenient places to buy Airtel SIM card in Jaipur is at Ganpati Plaza on MI Road and a Vodaphone store at Trimurti Vj point, Ashok Marg, C-scheme. Both these outlets can be reached easily. If you are staying in Bani Park, Vodaphone has an outlet in Crystal Mall.

Which mobile operator to choose for buying a prepaid SIM card connection?

Airtel is one of the leading service provider followed by Vodaphone. JIO and BSNL are also important mobile operators but the former has limited network across India and the latter doesn’t offer 4G connectivity. However, BSNL is the best option if you are also traveling to the Himalayan region. The customer support for BSNL is not worth writing about.

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I am sure that this two-day itinerary blog for Jaipur Trip will help you to explore the pink city in the best way.