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Jaipur City, Rajasthan

Jaipur · India

Background

World Heritage since
2019
Type of site
Cultural
City founded
1727

The walled city of Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II. Unlike other cities of the region, set in hilly terrain, it was built on the plain to a grid plan interpreted through Vedic architecture, with colonnaded streets meeting at large public squares called chaupars. UNESCO notes the exchange of ideas between Hindu, Mughal and Western planning, and that the city was designed as a commercial capital whose artisan and trading traditions survive.

The old city's buildings share the pink colour scheme that gives Jaipur its nickname, and the markets, shops, homes and temples along the main streets keep uniform facades. The Jantar Mantar observatory, listed separately, stands inside the walls.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 1727Sawai Jai Singh II founds Jaipur and moves his capital from Amber
  2. 18th c.The grid of streets and chaupars is laid out to Vidyadhar Bhattacharya's plan
  3. 1949Jaipur becomes capital of the new state of Rajasthan
  4. 2019Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Hawa Mahal
    The honeycomb Palace of Winds on the main street.
  2. 2
    City Palace
    The royal palace at the centre of the grid.
  3. 3
    Jantar Mantar
    The giant stone astronomical instruments, a World Heritage site in their own right.
  4. 4
    Johari and Bapu Bazaars
    Jewellery and textiles in the colonnaded bazaars.
  5. 5
    Albert Hall Museum
    Rajasthan's oldest museum, just outside the walls.
  6. 6
    Amber Fort
    The hilltop fort-palace of the Kachhwaha rulers, 11 km north; Wikivoyage advises against the elephant rides.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Start Early
The GoGo guide is at Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort at opening, before the heat and the crowds.
Composite Ticket
One composite ticket covers Amber Fort, the City Palace and several other sights.
The Gem Scam
Wikivoyage warns of friendly strangers who steer visitors into buying gems to 'export'; politely decline.
Metro and Buses
The Pink Line metro and RTDC tour buses are cheap ways around the sights.

Inside the Pink City

From the GoGo Jaipur guide · Open the Jaipur Guide ›

  1. 08:30
    Hawa Mahal45 min
    The Palace of Winds at opening.
  2. 09:30
    Johari and Bapu Bazaars90 min
    Jewellery and textile bazaars.
  3. 11:30
    City Palace90 min
    The royal palace.
  4. 13:15
    Jantar Mantar's Giant Instruments1 hr
    The stone observatory.
  5. 17:30
    Sunset from Nahargarh Fort90 min
    The fort above the city.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Dec–Feb. Very hot (highs 34°C+) in Apr–Jul. Rainy season Jul–Aug.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Aug (193 mm), driest Dec (4 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Jantar Mantar sits inside the walls; Agra's Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri are a long day away, about four hours by road.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 1605 · Wikipedia: Jaipur · Wikivoyage: Jaipur (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Jaipur guide · UNESCO listing