Jaipur is one of Rajasthan’s princely cities that overflows with a rich history, charming culture, and deep tradition. Known as India’s ‘Pink City’ and a UNESCO World Heritage City, Jaipur is regarded as a sight to behold by many travelers. And if you want to explore the offerings of this historic city in a day, you should know that Jaipur completely allows you to do so. Want to know how? Read our guide on a 1 day walking tour of Jaipur where we’ll cover some of the best places to visit.
Places To Visit On A 1 Day Walking Tour Of Jaipur
Route: Albert Hall Museum – Old City – Hawa Mahal – City Palace (Jaipur) – Jantar Mantar – Tripolia Bazar.
Jaipur Walking Tour Distance: Approximately 7 km.
Tour Duration: Around 5-6 hours.
Albert Hall Museum
Start your tour with a little history lesson about Jaipur and for that, there’s no better place than the Albert Hall Museum to learn from. Constructed in 1887, this structure was once used as a platform to showcase the talented craftsmanship of local artisans. Although it continues to do so, this museum now holds an even greater significance to the city of Jaipur.
What you’ll marvel at, even before entering the museum, is its typical Indo-British type architecture. You’ll notice many umbrella-shaped domes, placed at different intervals on the roof of the museum along with complex designs done with such finesse. Looking at such revival-style architecture will never go out of style and it’ll be something that will always be cherished.
A sprawling garden welcomes you when you enter the main gate of Albert Hall. Once you make your way through that green pasture, you enter the main hall that’s filled with a plethora of Persian paintings and murals. But, that’s just one section of the museum. The entire structure boasts 16 galleries, holding various artifacts belonging to the royal family of Jaipur. So take your time, go through each gallery, and immerse yourself in Jaipur’s rich history.
Things to do here: There are a variety of artifacts to take a peak at over here. The Egyptian mummy is by far the most visited artifact since many can’t travel to Egypt to see what a mummy looks like. In addition to that, you have various forms of Jaipur’s blue pottery put on display along with intricately designed carpets, figurines, and sculptures.
How much time to spend here: 45 minutes.
Old City
Jaipur got its “Pink City” nickname due to the many buildings that were painted pink when the Maharaja welcomed the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria in 1876. To get a better glimpse of the pinkness, walk along the bustling street of M.I Road, and you’ll reach the historic pink gates of the Old City.
There are three separate gates, which are spaced around 500 m apart from each other, that act as main entry points to Old City. Their names are as follows: Ajmeri Gate, New Gate, and lastly, Sanganeri Gate. Enter any of these gates and you’ll come across Old City’s vibrant bazaars selling all sorts of items for the average shopaholic. So, be prepared to keep your wallets and purses loaded with money.
The bazaars of Old City come with a distinct charm and offering that you’ll love. The first bazaar you’ll encounter is the Nehru Bazaar, which is situated just between Ajmeri Gate and New Gate. Although the chaotic area sells a monument of perfumes, trinkets, and all sorts of colorful fabrics, this bazaar is known for its traditional jootis. Just be sure to bargain well to get the best price!
If you’re searching for souvenirs to take home at a wholesale rate, then walk to Bapu Bazaar, which lies between New Gate and Sanganeri Gate. Here Jaipuri items such as ornaments, textiles, and shoes all come with an affordable price tag, and you can also try bargaining to get prices even lower.
Things to do here: Old City is the best place for affordable shopping. Apart from that, the pinkness that Jaipur is known for comes from the structures of this location.
How much time to spend here: 1 hour.
Hawa Mahal
Once you have satisfied the shopaholic in you, walk a few meters down and you’ll find Hawa Mahal, one of Jaipur’s most elegant and prestigious palaces. Constructed by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799, this palace is a testament to the finest Rajput architecture, and many from far and near come to marvel at this feat.
You’ll notice the numerous green-tinted windows adorning the Mahal, complementing the pink and red sandstone of the structure. Those tiny windows were put so that the women of the palace could observe daily life on the street without them being seen. Talk about a perfect camouflage! In total, there are 935 windows spread across 5 levels of the palace, although you might not get time to see all of them. However, keep this fun fact in mind!
Although you can observe the marvel from the street, you’ll get a better understanding of what the palace holds once you enter it. Many will think that the front portion of the palace is the main entry, but actually, it’s in the back. There are directions put up on the street to get you to that rear part of the monument, or you could just ask a local and they’ll guide you. The entry fee to the palace is INR 50 per head.
Things to do here: Explore the magnificence of the Hawa Mahal that the finest Rajput architecture offers. Head to any of the Mahal’s tinted windows and get a bird’s-eye view of the neighborhood. Enjoy walking from one story to another through the well-maintained ramps and enjoy the coolness of the stone-carved screens.
How much time to spend here: 45 minutes.
City Palace
Located at a short distance from Hawa Mahal, you’ll come across another historic monument named City Palace. This massive structure has a perfect combination of Rajput, European, and Mughal influences and hosts many smaller palaces and other sights. Frankly, you might need the entire day to view everything thoroughly.
But, the most spectacular part of this palace is the Peacock Gate, which is located in the courtyard called Pritam Niwas Chowk. You’ll surely take your time and breathe in the complex design done on the gate with such finesse, that words fall short to describe it. It’s a belief that this marvelous gate pays respect to Lord Vishnu and the autumn season. So once you’re at this point, you might want to say a few prayers to the deity.
You’ll also find Mubarak Mahal, one of City Palace’s smaller palaces. Now converted into a museum, this small palace’s architecture has a lot of European tones since the Maharaja used to welcome many foreign visitors back then. Once you enter the palace, you’ll see many ancient artifacts belonging to the royal family such as Pashmina shawls, apparel, and robes.
Tickets to City Palace start at INR 200 per head.
Things to do here: In addition to the above monuments, some other visual feats that you can visit here are Chandra Mahal, Bagghi Khana, the armory (Maharani Palace), Diwan-e-Khaas, Govind Dev Ji Temple, and Diwan-e-Aam (Sarvato Bhadra).
How much time to spend here: 1 hour.
Jantar Mantar
Once you have had your fill soaking in the wonders of City Palace, head over to Jantar Mantar, which is a 3-minute walk from the palace. Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, a famous mathematician and astronomer, this astronomical observatory is the biggest and most well-maintained one among the five others across India. Around 19 fixed instruments are on the campus of Jantar Mantar and all of them are an expression of the academic knowledge posed at the end of the Mughal period.
Each sculpture has a distinct feature and might look a bit odd to you at first glance. But each structure has its function. There are guides around the Jantar Mantar area that you can hire to explain what each structure does. The biggest structure is the sundial, and looking at this instrument is a good way of learning to read time in a period where there were no watches.
The ticket to enter this historical location is INR 50 per person.
Things to do here: You can stroll around the courtyard and learn about the technology used to study the stars. Some other interesting instruments you can glance at Jantar Mantar are Kranti Vritta Yantra (measures the longitude and latitude of the stars), Jai Prakash Yantra (an instrument that simulates images of the sky), and Rama Yatra (measures the altitude of the sun).
How much time to spend here: 30 minutes.
Tripolia Bazar
Visit Tripolia Bazar to end your walking tour of Jaipur. Known as one of Jaipur’s oldest markets, this bazar has a good range of colorful lac bangles, necklaces, chokers, and earrings. The best part is they’re affordable, and you can bargain too. Apart from that, the market sells the finest Jaipuri carpets and rugs, which you can buy to decorate your home.
The unique element of this market is that the names of the lanes here after products or professions such as Maniharon ka Raasta, Tikkiwaalon ka Raasta, Nataniyon ka Raasta, etc. If you have shopped till you dropped, then you can walk to Namkeen waali Gali. That’s the gastronomy portion of the bazaar where you’ll come across a wide variety of sweet shops. Some famous outlets you should try out are Shankar Namkeen, Ashish Namkeen, and Shri Agarwal Namkeen.
Things to do here: You can shop in any of the streets of this bazaar. After all the shopping, stop at Namkeen waali Gali for some snacks.
How much time to spend here: 45 minutes.
Here Are A Few Tips For Your Walking Tour Of Jaipur
- Jaipur is a warm city, not because of its climate, but also due to the constant combustion left by traffic. Carry enough water and wet wipes with you for your walking tour.
- While you’re shopping in any bazaar, don’t settle on the first price you get. Always bargain! Vendors tend to hike their prices above normal rates and try to gain a huge margin, especially with tourists. So, use your gift of the gab or bring someone gifted with it.
- When visiting the palaces, beware of pickpockets! Ensure that you always have cash kept in two places: one in your bag and the other in your wallet/purse.
- After your walking tour and when it’s time to go home, we suggest that you use an Uber/Ola to get back to your place. Local taxis tend to overcharge and try to gain an exorbitant profit from tourists. For short distances, use a rickshaw.
Summing Up
These are some of the best places to cover on your 1-day walking tour of Jaipur. You’ll love this city as it offers so much vibrancy to travelers and history buffs. With its numerous markets, palaces, and monuments, we can safely say that you’ll never run out of sites to explore in Jaipur.
FAQs
Can We Go Inside Hawa Mahal?
Hawa Mahal is completely accessible, but the main entrance is at the rear end of the palace. There are many sign boards on the street to get to the entrance of the palace, or you could just ask any local for directions and they’ll gladly point you to the place.
Which Are Some Most Visited Places In Jaipur?
Some of the most visited places in Jaipur are Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Old City, City Palace, M.I Road, Albert Hall Museum, and Tripolia Bazar.
How many days in Jaipur is enough?
You only need two days to spend a pleasant time in Jaipur with your family and friends.
Is Jaipur good for shopping?
Jaipur is famous for tie dye, block prints, and handloom stuff which makes the pink city a paradise for shopaholics.
What is the old name of Jaipur?
The old name for Jaipur is ‘Jeypore’.
What is the famous food of Jaipur?
Dal and baati churma is the speciality of Jaipur, you will find these two dishes in every restaurant.
