This 72 hour guide will help you navigate through Jaipur, the royal city of India

Jaipur, the Pink City, is one of the first planned cities of India and is on top of most travellers’ list. It is the city that everyone wants to explore, be it the royal palaces or the shopping hot-spots; yet not everyone knows where to start from and how to cover the most Jaipur has to offer.

So if you are looking to explore every nook and cranny of Jaipur and make most of your time, check out the 3 day travel itinerary we’ve created.

Day 1 (The Grand Heritage Experience)

Let your first day in Jaipur begin with a tour of the beautiful city. Exploring the majestic palaces of the Rajput kings and re-live the glory of bygone days. Marvel at the glorious architecture of the city that will tell you tales of Jaipur’s proud past.

But before that.. have a quick breakfast at Art Cafe, a nice and calm spot in the Pink City. We would recommend their Tulsi Tea and Masala Sandwich.

Then, make your way to Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, this gem of Rajput architecture has over 950 windows and extends to the Zenana (Women’s chambers). The palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh to make it easy for royal Rajput women to observe the streets without being seen.

Then, move on to take in every ounce of the city palace, home to the rulers of Jaipur. This palace is a beautiful example of Rajput and Mughal architecture. Make sure to have a look at the intricate wonder that is peacock gate and Pritam Niwas gate.

Later, spend some time marveling at the oldest and the most sophisticated known observatory, Jantar Mantar. Built in 1730, this observatory has large astronomical instruments, one of the largest in the world, that to this day remain absolutely accurate in their calculations.

Take a short break and unwind with a big, authentic Rajasthani Thali (platter) at Khandelwal Pavitra Bhojanalaya and chase it with Ghewar from Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar, both of which are extremely well known.

Once your hunger is satiated, make your way to Nahargarh Fort. Located along the Aravali hills and overlooking a beautiful lake, this formidable structure worked as a defensive wall to the city. Nahargarh or ‘the abode of tigers’ is full of stunning frescoes and beautifully built identical rooms for the many queens the kings had.

The fort is rumored to be haunted by the spirit of the royals who lived here. it is believed that when the fort was being constructed a temple had to be made in the honor of the spirits and only then were the workers able to finish its construction.

After exploring the palace, end the day with a royal meal at Once Upon a Time at Nahargarh, a restaurant located within the fort that will surely blow your mind with its wonderful decor and luxurious feel.

Day 2 (The History and Shopping Experience)

Jaipur’s historic and cultural relevance is huge. The city epitomizes everything that was grand about India’s past. From beautifully built palaces to intricately designed jewelry, Jaipur will surely tell you the story of India’s glorious past.

Start your second day in Jaipur by visiting the Birla Temple in the morning. The stunning temple is carved out of a single piece of white marble and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

After your visit to the serene temple, have a delicious breakfast at Tapri The Tea House. Tapri is a unique joint, that serves the most amazing local food and fragrant teas, have a cup or maybe two, grab some Khaman or bun-samosa and gear up for the day!

Move forward with your historic day by staring at precious artifacts, documents and rare objects that are harrowingly collected and painstakingly restored in the museums of Albert Hall and Amrapali.

Albert Hall Museum as a structure itself is very impressive. Its foundations were laid in 1876 during the visit of Prince Albert Edward of Wales and in his honour.

Amrapali Museum has a number of metal objects ranging from every day things to coat of arms and intricate pieces of jewelry, which were collected from all over India.

After your deep dunk into the history of Rajasthan, its culture and its people, take another step towards the beautiful Jaipur architecture by visiting the Rambagh Palace. Former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, this palace is now a 5 star hotel with a beautiful courtyard and lush garden.

We would recommend having a royal luncheon at Suvarna Mahal, the uber-luxurious restaurant located within the palace premises and feel like royalty.

After having your fill, head towards Bapu Bazaar. Here you can find wonderful Rajasthani apparels, from Mojaris to sarees with gota and leheriya work - everything Rajasthani can be found here.

Then head over to Johari Bazaar for some great silver and kundan jewelry and top off your day with some chilling lassi.

After the shopping extravaganza fill your tummy with delicious local food. There are several small shops and joints within Johari Bazar and they serve the most amazing food ever! Our favorite is the Parantha Shop a small local joint that makes golden, yummy and crispy paranthas which are served with tangy pickles and boondi ka raita.

YUMM!

Day 3 (The Adventurous Royal Experience)

For your third and final day in Jaipur, bring out the adventurer in you and head to Amer or Amber fort.

On your way from Ram Garh Road to Amer Road take a quick 30 minute detour to Jaipur Blue Pottery Art Centre and Maharaniyon ki Chhatriyan. At Jaipur Blue Pottery Art Centre you’ll find the most amazing pieces of pottery colored in the trademark blue of the Jaipur craftsmen. Don’t miss out on exquisite home decor!

Then head to Mahrani ki Chhatri/Maharaniyon ki Chhatriyan, a funeral place for royal women. Here you’ll see many gorgeous looking domed structures, these are cenotaphs that were made in the memory of royal women. They are symbolic of the importance of women in Rajput culture. Each cenotaph is shaped like an umbrella (chhatri in hindi) and is designed according to the personal style and aesthetic of the woman whose memory it represents.

After the short tour grab a coffee from Palm Coffee Shop, Holiday Inn and then, head to Amer Fort.

Located a few kilometers away from the city, this majestic fort was the seat to many rulers of Rajasthan before they moved it to Jaipur due to increasing population and shortage of water. The fort is a thing of beauty. The entry gates themselves are absolutely stunning - Suraj Pol and Ganesh Pol will blow your mind and make you wonder about the kind of craftsmanship that went into building the grand structures.

There is much to admire within the Amer Fort. Do not miss Sheesh Mehal which is adorned with thousands of tiles of mirrors and colored glass on its ceiling and walls. The hall of Sheesh Mahal way designed in such a way that the flame from a single candle can illuminate it completely.

There are several trekking and biking activities organized by various tour groups including 365 Hop’s Heritage Walking Trail where you will experience an informative tour and a lively conversation with the group, onthego Tour’s Private tour that offers a Jeep ride and Zoomz Scooter tour where you can experience the thrill of touring Jaipur on colorful vintage scooters that have side cars!!

Or if you want to feel more like a king, grab lunch at breathtaking 1135 AD, a splendid restaurant within the fort. Do give their Amber Gosht, Jodhpuri Gatta, Thali, Kher Sangri, Biryani and Kesari Jalebi a try and lose yourself in the flavors of Rajasthan!

After the spell-binding tour of the royal palace, have a look at the royal city itself from the sky. As the sun slowly sets on the horizon, make your way to Sky Waltz Balloon Safari and experience the city like never before. Jaipur from the sky will look even more beautiful!

A trip to Jaipur is never complete without a visit to Jal Mahal.

Next head to the Jal Mahal which literally means water palace! The palace which is made of red sandstone is in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. Though five stories high, four stories of the palace remain submerged in water when the lake is full leaving only the top floor exposed. strategically made palace that looks like it is floating on the Sagar lake. Marvel at the reflection of the palace in the lake as dusk settles in.

End your day with a luxurious spread at Jal Mahal-Trident Jaipur, this amazing restaurant is located within Trident Jaipur, a hotel located right across the real Jal Mahal.

Jaipur is full of wonders and you can only explore it completely after several visits, so while you chomp down on Rajasthni luxuries, plan another one!