How To Spend 2 Days In Jaipur? (2024)
Jaipur is the breathtakingly beautiful capital city of Rajasthan. Fabulous architectural wonders and historical monuments here are the favorite jaunt of travelers. The stunning aura of courtyards, museums, and gardens of these buildings, add life to the town. In fact, this “Pink city” goes way back in history and reminds us of the ruling royal family that founded this town in 1727.
Each nook and corner of Jaipur is bustling with legends and historical references and has a life of its own. Try to keep a minimum of 2 days aside for your Jaipur tryst, if you want to do justice to this “Old City”!
How To Spend 2 Days In Jaipur?
Jaipur Day 1
Actually, two days are not enough to visit all the awesome scenic and historical spots in the “Pink city”. Still, we prepare the two-day itinerary and list the best places you can see here. Hope our suggestions will help you select the best places you can head to in Jaipur.
Jaipur, or the Pink City, is a symbol of royalty in India. The legacy of the captivating monuments, widely spread out lush green parks, palaces and forts, majestic sites of history, spicy eateries, and frenzied streets are a treat for the traveler. “How to spend 2 days in Jaipur?”,;is the question asked by many. In fact, 2 days in this town amidst artistic carvings and decorations fascinate the visitor and etches a place in the memory forever. Hence, there is plenty to do here!
Start the travel list with an urban safari. This is a tour of the roads on the internationally famous “Tuk Tuk”. While you head towards your first destination you can see plenty of monkeys, camels, cows, mongooses, squirrels, pigeons, dogs, and loads of peacocks on the roads and nearby parks. Quite a rage on the Jaipur roads isn’t it? We are sure you would like to be a part of this urban safari for a short while, right?
City Palace:
Right near the heart of Jaipur is the majestic and attractive City Palace. The Palace constructed in 1729-1732, has fabulously adorned courtyards, decorated buildings, and enchanting gardens to woo the tourists. At one time, this was the home of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh and the royal family.
The walls of this Palace may seem high and alarming, but this monument is aesthetically beautiful and probably the best-decorated place in town. The Mubarak Mahal here greets travelers and gives them a grand welcome holding up the royal traditions. Do take permission before you click pictures because there are certain restricted areas.
Hawa Mahal:
Near the City Palace lies the Hawa Mahal. The Palace is constructed on lines of Rajput and Mughal architecture. This building with 5-storeys is constructed as a pyramid and has almost 953 jharokhas or windows in a honeycomb pattern. These windows helped the royal women see the outside view, but stopped others from peeping in at the royalty. Hawa Mahal looks stunningly attractive, with loads of fountains in the front courtyard.
The unique thing is that the palace is constructed in the shape of Lord Krishna’s crown. Also, the Hawa Mahal as the name defines stays cool and windy because the fresh breeze or “Hawa” flows into the Palace. Any sightseeing tour in Jaipur is incomplete without a visit to this Palace built-in 1799, by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh.
Nahargarh Fort:
The literal translation of Nahargarh Fort is the “fort of the Tiger”. This palatial structure was also called, Sudershangarh once. The fort was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh as a retreat in 1734 away from the city. Jaipur is surrounded by the Aravalli Hills and looks up at the spectacular Nahargarh Fort. The Fort, was in fact, used to form a defence ring to protect the locals and royalty because it rises above the town in the ridges of the tall surrounding mountains.
Delicate frescoes and long corridors make the visit super interesting. You can almost hear the sound of the queens and princesses running through these intricate small lanes inside the palace walls.;There are fabulous vantage points around the boundary wall where you can click pictures and admire the nearby bustling neighbourhoods.
Legend says that the spirit of Nahar Singh Bhomia haunts the palace and prevented the castle from being completed. As a result, a temple was opened in his name in the Fort to appease the spirit. History lovers can head to the wax museum and art gallery to learn more about the historical significance of the Fort. But, for this, make sure you reach the area before sunset.
Jaigarh Fort:
Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur hosts Jaivana, the biggest “free-standing” cannon in the whole world. For your information, the cannonball is fired from this “cannon on wheels”, and it fires as far as 40 km away. The cannon has been fired only once in a test round and was never used for a conflict. Also, the crater formed by the throw of the ball had been converted into a lake. This fort was built to increase the safety of the Amber Fort and its inhabitants.
The royal family resided here with nearly 10,000 soldiers. Furthermore, the fort is located above the Amer Fort and offers a stunning view of the rocky terrain and the city from the heights. The sunset from the Jaigarh Fort, lying high on the extended Hill of Eagles or Cheel Ka Teela is spectacular. You can also visit the historical museum where you will get to see the displayed royal arms and weapons.
Amber Fort:
People heading to Jaipur have Amber Fort marked as a priority on their bucket list. This citadel, made in 1599, is built in pink sandstone. Also, it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. This castle with perfect architecture seems to spring up from a lake. There is a winding path paving the way to the main courtyard. You can book a room here and connect with the luxurious living of the “Umer Fort” royalty.
Hand-designed Drawings, designs, and arches are intricately etched all over the Fort. Moreover, you don’t have to pay a penny to see them up close because entry to the Palace is free. Colorful designs and beautiful arches spread out throughout the palace. In fact, these make the area dramatic. Traditions, history, stories add to the significance of the incidents related to the Amber Fort. Rather, innumerable legends are bristling behind the walls of this Castle that can keep a visitor occupied for hours at an end.
The Palace has a well-manicured garden immaculately and symmetrically maintained. Moreover, the palace has several underground tunnels, a mirror room, opulent courtyards, and a museum. If you want to continue your escapade, then you have the option of staying the night here. But, it isn’t going to be cheap.;
Ganesh temple:
The Ganesh Temple is right at the top of the mountain and offers an enchanting view from the height. No doubt the huge flight of stairs may steal your breath but watching the sunset behind the mountains is an awesome sight.
Panna Meena Ka Kund:
There are almost 2000 step wells in our country, and out of these roughly 100 are in Rajasthan. Panna Meena Ka Kund is a famous stepwell located near the Amber Fort. In ancient times, people came to this water storage tank to take drinking water, wash their clothes, collect water, and engage in social interactions. This well-preserved stepwell is an architectural marvel that needs perusal, so climb downstairs and look around.
Also called Panna Meena Baori, this water tank is a stone’s throw away from the Amber Fort. It is quite cool, considering the high temperatures outside. The tourists can’t miss out on their regular selfies here, because it makes them a part of an era bygone. This is a stunning historical monument with a rich cultural heritage to mesmerize the onlooker.
Book a place for the night nearby to start your city quest the next morning. Let’s start with the best place to stay in Jaipur. This largest city in Rajasthan has almost 560 hotels and many unaccounted for B&B’s and rest houses. It may surprise you, but nearly all swarm with visitors from different parts of India and the globe. After all, there is so much to see here, you can’t resist a visit. So, make sure you get your rooms booked and tours planned in advance.
Get a room at the Treebo Aroma Residency if you have a limited travel budget, the Royal Heritage Haveli if you want a high-end hotel to retire at the end of the day, or get a booking at the Fairmont Jaipur. The castle-like feel of the hotel will make it a mind-blowing memory of Jaipur. The choice is yours to make because most of the hotels are near the heart of the city.
Day 2 in Jaipur
Jhalana Safari:
While you are in Jaipur, do book a seat on the Jhalana Safari in Malviya Nagar Industrial Area. In this park, spread across about 23 sq km, you can take a close look at leopards in their natural habitat. This leopard reserve and wildlife sanctuary is situated in the Aravallis and offers a close look at many other animals besides leopards. And, you can do all this while “adventure riding” in an open-air gypsy.
Other animals and fauna to spot here are the Jungle cat, migratory birds, jackals, striped hyena, hedgehog, langur, monkeys, Blue Bulls, Neelgai, wild boars, deer, and others. You can see the animals very clearly when you come into the Shikhar Audhi Zone. This three-storey lodge was the hunting arena of the royal family.
The safari starts as early as 5.45 in the morning, and you can board the jeep till 8.15 AM. In the evening, make sure you reach here between 4.30 PM and 7.00 PM if you want to be a part of this adventurous journey. This wildlife sanctuary with about 35 leopards was the hunting area for the royals.
Albert Hall Museum:
Albert Hall Museum exhibits fabulous;Indo-European architecture with many archways, towers, and spread-out courtyards. This museum showcases sculpted arches and embellished domes that delight the visitor and is very similar to the design works of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. The travelers can’t take their eyes off the Egyptian Mummy from the Ptolemaic Epoch here. Albert Hall Museum also hosts metalwork, weapons, lacquer work, jewelry, sculptures, arms, zoological objects, scientific exhibits, miniature paintings, oil paintings, and much more.]
The Statue Circle
This is one of the most popular places in Jaipur and nearly half of the people residing in town cross this monument daily because of its central location. The Statue circle has exquisite marble carvings, beautiful gardens, and fountains to add to the beauty. A huge statue of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in white marble is placed centrally at the Statue circle as a mark of respect to him.
In the evenings, the travelers and locals gather here for fun times. There are plenty of lip-smacking spicy foods available here, and the fabulous lighting makes the area enchanting as night approaches.
Jal Mahal:
The water palace or Jal Mahal stands proudly in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. This regal building has many tales and stands tall amongst the stately Aravalli hills, opulent forts, and divine temples. Interestingly, the first floor of the Jal Mahal goes inside the water when the lake is up to its brim.
This building has 5-storeys and was constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II in the 18th century. Also, the Mahal has a beautiful terrace garden and a majestic pavilion. Some people say Jal Mahal was the ideal refuge for the royal parties given by queens. Whereas others say it was the hub for young princes and their duck-hunting expeditions. So, hire one of the traditional boats available to take a close view of the palace.
Jantar Mantar:
We are sure you must have heard about Jantar Mantar, the world-famous observatory in Jaipur. A visit to this town is incomplete without a stop-over at this popular historical monument called “Magical instrument”. It’s a well-known fact that the Jaipur maharajas were excellent planners, architects, and scientists. Besides calculating the exact time, the Maharajas could predict monsoons, track the position of the sun, identify eclipses, and work out the distance of the Moon, sun, and stars.
The Jantar Mantar holds many tales of the fabulous astronomical and scientific prowess of the Rajput kings. This observatory is a compilation of fourteen geometric tools and out of these, the largest is the Samrat Yantra- also referred to as the largest sundial worldwide.;
The best-preserved and largest Jantar Mantar is in Jaipur. It’s not easy to construct this huge astronomical structure to perfection because of the advanced scientific calculations used for its construction.
Till today, amateurs interested in astronomy head to Jantar Mantar for understanding astronomical intricacies. Excellence in astronomy was displayed undoubtedly by the maharajas of Jaipur and has provided our country global recognition. Four other towns in India, namely, Ujjain, Delhi, Varanasi, and Mathura also have the Jantar Mantar observatories.
Gaitore:
As we know, most of the royal families have an afterlife resting place. About 15 km away from Jaipur, towards Ajmer lies Gaitore, the cremation ground for the courageous and gallant kings of Jaipur called “Gaye Ka Thor”. This royal resting ground of Jaipur contains tombstones or Chhatris of all the Maharajas of Jaipur excluding one, Maharaja Sawai Ishwari Singh. He was the only one cremated in the City Palace.;
The cenotaph of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II is captivating. His Chattri has delicate peacock carvings done on white marble, and this shows the dynamic and lavish living conditions led by the past kings and royalty. These tombstones or cenotaphs depict the lifestyle and homes of kings when they were alive.
Gemstones:
Well, your visit to Jaipur is not complete if you haven’t picked some precious and non-precious gemstones? The city displays exquisite jewels and artificial jewelry sold by the same families for decades and generations. With fabulous products, glorious rocks, and glittering gems to check through, you can retire peacefully for the day!
The best way to get around town is to ride the old-fashioned rickshaws. Get a rickshaw for the whole day, grab a bike to reach the scenic spots in town, or zoom around in a private taxi here. Actually, getting a guide to inform about historical details and legends is a great idea.
Jaipur is the hub of exquisite paintings, colorful shopping arcades, intricate carvings, and a plethora of scenic spots with historical significance. This makes it the most visited tourist jaunt in Rajasthan.
The Jaipur visit is incomplete without a quick glance at the Isarlat the victory tower, Raj Mandir Cinema, Galtaji, Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh, Birla Mandir, Chokhi Dhani, and the Kanak Vrindavan Valley. Why don’t you plan super fast stopovers here so that you don’t miss anything?