Only 24 hours in Jaipur, sounds like a ridiculously small time to even call it a trip but enough time to squash all the fun, sightseeing, shopping, and grabbing grub if you do it right. Jaipur is the desert capital of India and is also called Pink City. This is a place with a royal heritage and modern culture.
Starting from walking through the streets to traveling in a hot air balloon, this city has everything for all kinds of travelers. Most tourists come on a whirlwind tour of Rajasthan if not India and barely have time to tick the points on the information sheets let alone find new hidden gems skipped by many and treasured by few. Our guide aims to make your life easier with a ready-to-use guide to discover Jaipur in 24 hours.
Amer Fort and Palace
The first thing you do after breakfast at your hotel should be making a beeline for the Amer Fort. It would take just 30 minutes to drive from the city center to Amber Fort. A little late and you might realize that the beautiful craftsmanship on the door is partially hidden by the tourist getting their photos clicked. There is an option to take an elephant ride up to the fort which is very popular amongst tourists.
City Palace
Next up is the City Palace & Jantar Mantar where a guide is thoroughly recommended. A lot of buses and other transportation can take you from Amber Fort to City Palace very soon.
The areas of the City Palace which include the Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am, Maharani Mahal & Mubarak Mahal are now largely converted into a museum with exhibits of art, outfits, armory, and other antiques preserved by the Royal Family. Do not miss the display of royal garments and weapons.
Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar, housed in the same complex as the City Palace is an engineering & scientific marvel considering the age and time it was built. It has a lot of sculptures and structures that measure time, track starts, and also predict the eclipse.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, a patron of science and mathematics, in the early 18th century.
Hawa Mahal
A short drive ahead will take you to the Hawa Mahal which is perhaps the most photographed structure in the city and has rows and rows of windows and screens. However now most of the windows are sealed, but the architectural beauty is still the same.
It was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh it was meant to offer privacy to the womenfolk of the Royal household who used to watch the city from the ornate windows and latticed balconies. You can get a panoramic view of the whole city from the top of the palace.
Street Markets
There are a lot of markets in Jaipur catering to the various locally crafted and styled mojdi’s (shoes), embroidered sling bags, bandi jackets, and kurtas. Tripolia Bazaar, Chandpol Bazaar, Johari Bazaar, Kishanpol Bazaar, and Sireh Deori Bazaar are the popular options for street shopping. Starting from blue pottery to precious gemstones, you can find all the exotic things here.
Nahargarh Fort
Knowing what’s on offer and how fast time flies while shopping we would estimate that it would be nearing evening by the time you’re done. The best place to watch the sunset is not one of the widely illustrated sunset points on the information brochure but the Padao restaurant at Nahargarh Fort which is an open-air restaurant with wonderfully arranged seating options providing you the best views of the city.
We will go as far as to say, that after a long tiring day ticking off the sightseeing list, this will be the place you will treasure the most. The city below stretches as wide and far as your eyes can reach and is dotted with tiny buildings of blue, pink, and white.
Chokhi Dhani Village
If you wish for a village-style setting and some authentic Rajasthani dishes, Chokhi Dhani Village is a very popular option and another long drive away. It is an all-you-can-eat restaurant with a Rajasthani village setting with the food served right on your plate.
The restaurant also has different performances like puppet shows, traditional dancers and singers, camel rides, and many more happening simultaneously. It is a wonderful option if with family or even otherwise with enough things happening to keep you busy.
There are a lot more attractions to visit in Jaipur if you can spare a little more time in this city of heritage.
