Within the city of Jaipur are a number of interesting sights.
The first is the city palace and museum, dating from the early 18th century and belonging to the ruling Jaipur family. The palace houses a textile museum, armoury and art gallery, with some stunning pictures showing the pageantry and pomp of life as an aristocrat. The palace can get busy with tour groups, but if you wait for only a few minutes, the group will have rushed on to something new.
Just outside the city palace is the Jantar Mantar, or observatory, built under the instructions of the astronomer King Sawai Jai Singh, in 1728, which has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The observatory requires a competent explanation, but with a good guide, you will really appreciate the complexity and detail which was needed to construct this amazing piece of work. The sun dials are accurate to within two seconds and are corrected for the local time in Jaipur, which is some minutes different from Delhi. In addition, there are a dozen structures which fix the position of the sun in each of the astrological signs. Astrology has always played an important part in Hindu life and is still used today before any business, political or marriage arrangement is undertaken.
The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, lies adjacent to the main road between the city centre and Amber, the former capital. The five storied structure was built in 1799 for the women of the royal entourage to observe the pageants passing along the streets below. The building is only one room deep, and is therefore only a façade, rather than a palace. You can not actually enter the building but you can stop on the roadside to view the Palace and take photographs if you wish.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our India specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Evening bazaar, crafts and cuisine in Jaipur
Jaipur is widely considered by many as the craft capital of India. You will see busy craftsman in their workshops on this guided walk, sample culinary delights and mingle with the locals.
Half day excursion of the Amber Fort Palace
Within Jaipur there are a number of interesting sights, including Amber Fort on the rugged ridge of the Aravalli hills, overlooking a large lake.
The Old Bazaars of Jaipur
You will be able to see craftsman working on some fine forms of local art like Zardozi embroidery, Gota work, Kinari, silver ornament work, and precious and semi-precious stonework, all taking place in these old bazaars of Jaipur.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
