Jaipur was laid out in 1727 on a grid by Sawai Jai Singh II, an astronomer prince who built a working observatory in the middle of his own city. It was painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales and has stayed that colour since. Of the three Golden Triangle cities it is the one travelers most often wish they had given an extra day.

Amber Fort sits eleven kilometres north, above a lake, and is the highlight of any Jaipur day. We do not offer elephant rides up the ramp — the welfare concerns are real, and there is a better version of that morning at the elephant village outside the city, where the animals are fed, bathed and painted rather than carrying people uphill.

In the city itself: the Hawa Mahal's honeycomb façade, the City Palace where the royal family still lives in part of the building, and Jantar Mantar, the observatory, whose largest sundial is accurate to two seconds. Beyond the monuments, Jaipur is where our hot air balloon flights and the Jhalana leopard safari operate — both twenty minutes from the centre.

Common questions

How many days do I need in Jaipur?

One full day covers Amber Fort, the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace and Jantar Mantar. Two days lets you add a balloon flight at sunrise or the Jhalana leopard safari, both of which are early morning and do not fit alongside a full sightseeing day.

Do you offer elephant rides at Amber Fort?

No. We do not use elephant rides at Amber Fort on any tour, because of the animal welfare concerns around carrying passengers up the ramp. If you want to spend time with elephants, the elephant village visit outside Jaipur is the alternative we do offer.

Can I do a day trip from Jaipur to the Taj Mahal?

Yes — Agra is about four hours each way, so it makes a long day but a manageable one. It suits travelers whose itinerary puts them in Jaipur but who do not want to miss the Taj.

What is Jhalana and is it worth doing?

A leopard reserve twenty minutes from central Jaipur with one of the highest leopard densities in India. Sightings are common but never guaranteed — it is a wild reserve, and anyone promising you a leopard is selling you something.

Your guide, in your language

All nine languages, always included

We never charge for a language. Choose the one you want when you book and we assign a licensed guide who speaks it.

English
Hindi
Spanish
French
German
Italian
Russian
Japanese
Chinese (Mandarin)

Staying in Jaipur? Tell us your dates.

We will put together the right combination of tours and activities for the time you have — and price it honestly.