Exploring Jaipur in a Day
I think my fascination with Jaipur stemmed from a very young age when I would hear stories about palaces, forts, deserts, and camels in outlandish folk tales. So, you can say that I always had deep-seated regard for that place. Now, when I had the chance to go there, I just took it without giving it a second thought. Before the journey starts, I would like to point out that Jaipur packed more magic than what I had imagined in my childhood. Its enriching history, architecture, peacocks, urban safari makes Jaipur an endless pit of awe and entertainment.
While Jaipur does require two or more days to explore, I only had a day on my hand, so I had to cramp up everything in my itinerary. I am not as organized as I sound, so I will divide the entire guide into two halves for convenience. The first would focus on Jaipur, and the rest would be about traveling to Jal Mahal and the Amer Fort.
My Itinerary for a one day Jaipur City Tour
Morning – Jaipur city: Part I
- City Palace
- The Hawa Mahal
- Jantar Mantar
- The pink city walls
Afternoon – Jaipur city: Part II
- Amer Fort
- Jal Mahal (Water Palace)
- Sunset at Surya Mandir
Part I of my one day Jaipur City Tour
I decided to avail a tempo traveler in Jaipur, which I thought would make my traversal less hectic, and it did. I had kept all the historical centers in the first phase of the tour. The intense heat can be the only setback in Jaipur, so keep yourself hydrated. I also found out that all the primary tourist spots were near one another, as the city’s layout was such; convenient to navigate.
The first place on my itinerary was the City Palace. This palatial complex is art redefined with intricately decorated gates, staterooms, and museums. There is a lot to see, but you can quickly crunch it within an hour or so.
The second stop for me was the Hawa Mahal, with its multi-windowed structure that can be best viewed from Sirederori Bazar. The small windows helped the curious wives of the Maharaja to spy without being noticed. The lattice here played a vital feature where it consistently provided cold air inside the staterooms. Hawa Mahal can be wrapped within a solid 45 minutes since its exterior is the only bit worth visiting.
If a tempo is not your thing, then you can also book a licensed taxi in Jaipur, which will help you get local advice if the driver knows their stuff. Anyway, I stepped on to my next stop, which was Jantar Mantar. Jantar Mantar takes time and should only be visited if you have ample amount of time. Also, trivia time: Did you know Jantar Mantar was used by the Mogul’s to predict their future? Apart from that, it is also considered to be the world’s largest sundial.
Part II of my one day Jaipur City Tour
By the time you reach the second part, you’d question yourself as to how you are still functioning in the tiring heat. Well, the secret to that is hydration. Water won’t just cut it, keep fresh juices and coconut water with yourself.
Amer Fort is one of the most important forts in Rajasthan. With its intricate design on marbles to its impenetrable defenses, the fort was my favorite. I ended up spending a lot of time here. Well, if you failed to avail a tempo traveler in Jaipur, booking a taxi to Amer Fort works too. The place is just 7 km north of the Pink City.
While returning from Amer Fort, I made a stop to Jal Mahal, which initially wasn’t the plan. But my driver insisted that I do drop by. This Mahal is an essential piece of architecture since it floats on the still waters of the Lake Sagar. Unfortunately, you can only view it from the banks of Lake Sagar, which roughly took me twenty minutes.
Ending Note
I did not feel like adding this to my inventory, but once you reach the fag end of your tour in the afternoon, watch the sunset over the city from the Sun Temple. The temple provided a panoramic view of the town, and if you are lucky, you can see how the golden light was melting over the city. And, I almost forgot to mention, you can feed the monkeys. Food is the only way to bribe them into being at peace.
