Travelling to Jaipur and looking for the perfect itinerary for Jaipur? Look no further! This blog post on the best 2 days itinerary for Jaipur in 2021 is the perfect little travel guide to help you check out this beautiful city and fall in love with it. It includes all the things to see, where to stay, where to eat and travel tips. Keep reading to find out Everything you need to know to plan a trip and how to make the best use of your time in Jaipur.
Before proceeding i want to state that this is not a sponsored post. Everything is based on my honest opinion ! Enjoy!
Welcome to the Pink City: Jaipur ! This year (March 2021) I finally got to fulfil one of my long awaited wishes by visiting Rajasthan. And top of my week long Rajasthan Itinerary was travelling to Jaipur. Famous among international travelers as one of the most popular and tourist friendly cities of India, Jaipur certainly won my heart. It is colourful and very beautiful, with a lot of amazing places worth exploring.
Jaipur is a part of India’s famous tourist circuit: the Golden Triangle along with New Delhi and Agra. It is the capital of Rajasthan and is usually the first stop on a Rajasthan trip before you venture deeper into the state like Udaipur , Jodhpur or Jaisalmer. This 2 days itinerary for Jaipur tries to fit most of the beautiful sites that you need to see so that you get the best Jaipur experience. If you have more or less time in hand, scroll down for more itinerary options.
Before getting started with this article, here are some essential resources you will need to plan your trip.
- COVID 19 REQUIREMENTS: Check all the ever changing requirements and restrictions for various nationalities at SHERPA.
- FLIGHTS: Check and compare flight prices using SKYSCANNER or Google Flights.
- ACCOMODATION: Get the best range of stay options at BOOKING.COM and AIR BNB.
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: Get your trip insured in these uncertain times with WORLD NOMADS.
BEST TIME TO VISIT JAIPUR
The best time is November to Early March. The heat is definitely bearable during this season. Be ready for peak season crowds. Summer starts from late March and the intense heat makes sight seeing very unpleasant.
HOW TO REACH JAIPUR
Jaipur is 280 kms from Delhi and a road trip takes approx 5 hours.
- By Flights : Available from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and a few other major cities.
- By road: Jaipur is an easy road trip from New Delhi and a popular weekend getaway for Delhi based travellers. Book a taxi or rent a car for this road trip.
- By Train: Use the IRCTC website/app to book trains from major Indian cities to Jaipur. While trains are cheaper, the time is much longer and I don’t recommend it unless you have plenty of time in hand. Plus train tickets need to be booked much earlier.
IS 2 DAYS ENOUGH FOR JAIPUR?
Like with any other tourist destination, 2 days is never enough. But for most of us who simply cannot afford endless days of vacation, 2 days is pretty decent for a city like Jaipur. I would suggest 2 full days as the bare minimum if you want to follow this itinerary and be able to see most of the stunning attractions on offer. To explore the city at a slow pace, with some much needed pockets of rest and relaxation along with the explorations, I will suggest 3 days. But if you don’t have much time and are looking for a 2 days itinerary for Jaipur, this list should be doable, though your days will be a bit packed.
WHERE TO STAY IN JAIPUR
For all first time visitors to Jaipur, it is best to take the oppurtunity and stay in one of the many beautiful renovated Havelis dotting the city. It will definitely be a unique experience to have in Rajasthan. There are plenty of budget and mid range hotels and Havelis which offer wonderful service.
BUDGET OPTIONS:
- Blue Beds Hostel
- Pearl Palace Heritage Boutique hotel
MID RANGE OPTIONS:
- Alsisar Haveli: We stayed here for 3 nights and loved the place. A great mid range option situated 10 mins from Hawa Mahal. It has beautiful interiors, an in house restaurant, pool and plenty of area for your your kids to play around. Despite being close to the city centre, its like an oasis of calm amidst the hustle and bustle outside the gates.
- Suryya Villa Jaipur
- Laxmi Palace Heritage boutique hotel
LUXURY OPTION:
1. Umaid Bhawan
2. Rambhag Palace
3. The Oberoi Raj Vilas
Select your accomodation using BOOKING.COM our favourite site.
WHERE TO EAT IN JAIPUR
Jaipur is famous for it’s street food and you should most definitely try a few. Here are some of them.
- Pyaaz Kachori at Rawat Misthan Bhandar
- Masala Chai at Gulab ji chaiwala
- Kathi Roll at Al Bake
- Pav Bhaji at Pandit’s
- Lassi at Lassiwala
- Shrikhand at Falahar
- Kulfi Faluda at Bapu Bazaar
GETTING AROUND IN JAIPUR
For this jam packed 2 days Jaipur itinerary, it would be really best to hire a car or booking an uber rental to save time and see all these attractions on offer. If you have more time on hand, you can make use of public transportation (bus, tuk tuks) to get between sites.
PLAN A TRIP TO UDAIPUR WITH MY TRAVEL GUIDE. INCLUDES
- THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT
- ITINERARIES TO SUIT YOU
- HOTEL OPTIONS FOR ALL BUDGETS
- WHERE TO EAT
- TIPS AND MUCH MORE !
THE BEST 2 DAYS ITINERARY FOR JAIPUR
To follow this 2 days itinerary for Jaipur you need 2 FULL days in Jaipur, meaning you have to reach the city the previous night. 2 full days will let you hit all those beautiful Instagram worthy spots.
In every one of my itineraries, i always try to include a sunrise and a sunset mission. I feel experiencing a stunning sunrise or sunset in a new place makes the trip extra special and memorable. If you hate early wake up calls, skip the sunrise.
For this Jaipur itinerary, i included all the spots that i felt were essential to give you a feel of the real Jaipur experience: cultural sites, bazaars and little oases of calm too. These are ‘must sees’ in my opinion! Of course you can tweak according to your convenience and choice, but i am very proud of this little 2 days itinerary for Jaipur that i had put together during our visit. I truly believe it is the best Jaipur Itinerary for 2 days !
I have also listed below other Jaipur itineraries for different time durations: Jaipur itinerary for 1 day and a Jaipur itinerary for 3 days along with a few day trip options. If you are visiting Jaipur for that duration, scroll below and take a look to find one that suits you !
DAY 1: SUNRISE, FORTS AND TEMPLES
SUNRISE AT AMER FORT WALLS
Your first day in Jaipur will start with a very early morning wake up call to catch Jaipur’s most stunning sunrise at Amer Fort wall. This stone wall that runs all around Amer Fort, is 36 kms long and the 3rd longest wall in the world. There is no entry fees but it does involve climbing 400+ stone steps to reach the top for all those magnificient views. You might be huffing and puffing by the end but those views are gonna make up for it.
TIPS
- Since this is a sunrise mission, you have to reach the top of the wall by 6am. Look up the sunrise time on Google and plan your visit.
- This one is definitely not for families with children, elderly citizens or those with medical/knee problems. If you belong to any one of these categories, give it a skip and head directly to Amer Palace at 8am to begin your day of sightseeing.
AMER/AMBER FORT
After completing your sunrise mission, head down, have a cup of tea from the seller and cross the road to Amer Palace. The opening time is 8AM so it perfectly syncs with the sunrise plan. Make sure to allocate at least 2-3 hours for exploring the palace.
Amer(also known as Amber) Fort is the major tourist attraction in Jaipur. It was actually built as a mini town within the fort walls, overlooking Maota lake. The fort is massive and divided into many different sections with their own entrance and exit. Here are the most impressive parts that you should not miss:
- Suraj Pol (Sun Gate): This is the main entry that faces east. Royal victory processions used to be held here earlier.
- Jaleb Chowk: the first main courtyard where soldiers used to assemble.
- Sila Devi Temple: Located on the right side of the Jaleb Chowk is this small temple dedicated to Sila Devi, the family deity of the royal family.
- Ganesh Pol: This is one of the most beautiful structures in the palace. It is a 3 level structure with frescoes that leads to the inner parts of the palace. Above the gate is the Suhag Mandir which has latticed windows for the royal ladies to watch functions.
- Diwan-e-Aam: This is the Public audience hall that is also the second courtyard. It is entered via stairs from the first courtyard itself and is built with a double row of columns.
- Third Courtyard: This is entered only via Ganesh pol and functions as the private chambers of the royal family. There is plenty to see here. On one end, there is Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) filled with glittering coloured glass panels and multi mirrored ceilings. On the other end, there is Sukh Niwas (Hall of Pleasure) that is decorated with marble work. In between these 2 buildings is the beautiful Mughal Gardens.
- Fourth Courtyard: This houses the living quarters of the Zenana (royal family women) as well as the Palace of King Man Singh 1. This is the oldest part of the entire complex and took 25 years to be completed. The exit from this palace leads to the town of Amber, which is a heritage town with many palatial houses, temples and mosques.
TIPS:
- Entry Fees: Rs 25 (Indians); Rs 550(foreigners); special discounts for students.
- Timings: 8am-5pm
- I will definitely recommend that you hire a guide here. The complex is vast and there is so much history in each place. We took a guide here and found it really helpful as he manouvered us through the entire area and told plenty of interesting stories. Guide charges range from Rs 300-1000.
- DO NOT use elephants to ride upto the fort entrance. Use cars or walk.
After exploring Amer Fort, you can check out 2 other sites that are situated nearby.
- PANNA MEENA KA KUND: This ancient stepwell (locally called as Baoli) was built in the 16th century and is pretty popular among instagrammers. Stepwells are very common in North India and were a method of rain water harvesting during those times. The stepwell has a series of criss cross pattern of steps. TIPS: Entry Free. Climbing down the stairs into the well is prohibited. A guard is posted there most of the day to ensure this rule is followed.
2. JAGAT SHIROMANI TEMPLE: Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this temple has a beautiful architectural style. Entry Free but there is a camera charge of Rs 25 for taking pictures.
HAWA MAHAL (PALACE OF THE WINDS)
This 5 storey palace designed in the shape of a honeycomb is one of Jaipur’s iconic tourist sites. There are 953 small windows decorated with intricate lattice work that were originally meant to help the royal ladies look at the functions in the street below without leaving home. Though you can enter the palace, the best image of Hawa Mahal is from a couple of cafes across the street. And that is where you will also proceed to have your lunch.
TIPS: The 2 cafes for the best view of Hawa Mahal are Wind View Café and Tatoo Café. You have to order something to be able to take pictures from their rooftop balconies. I choose the Lebanese wrap and Mango Lassi at Tatoo Café and it was filling enough to keep me going for another few hours of sightseeing.
After lunch, you can choose to rest or head over to another famous temple.
GALTAJI TEMPLE/MONKEY TEMPLE
This temple actually consists of a series of temples built within a mountain pass and lies around 10kms east of Jaipur. The temple complex is set around a natural spring and the water flows down while filling 7 holy ponds where pilgrims can take baths. One of the temple here, Sita Ramji temple is locally known as the monkey temple due to a large population of rhesus monkeys who inhabit the area and have also been featured in National Geographic.
The last stop of your first day will end in watching the sunset at one of Jaipur’s beautiful sites: Gaitore Ki Chhatriyan.
GAITORE KI CHHATRIYAN
These are the crematorium grounds of the Jaipur royal family and a great place to enjoy some peace and tranquility away from the main city. The most impressive chattri is of Sawai Jai Singh. Manny photographers head here to capture the beautiful architecture and take in the city view.
TIPS:
- ENTRY FEES: Rs 30
- TIMINGS: 9.30 AM-5 PM
DAY 2: COLOURFUL GATES, MORE PALACES AND MUSEUMS
Fortunately your second day in Jaipur does’nt require an insane wake up call, so you can sleep in (a little bit!). Today’s first stop will be one of Jaipur’s most Instagram popular Places: Patrika Gate (Jawahar Circle).
PATRIKA GATE
Patrika gate is one of Jaipur’s newest gates and was constructed in 2016. It is actually the entrance gate of one of Jaipur’s biggest park: Jawahar Circle. The outer façade itself is very beautiful, an elaborate pink gate looming over everything. Inside the gate is a corridor with columns and arches. The walls and roof are decorated with colourful art showcasing Rajasthani culture.
TIPS: Timing: If you want to take pictures without too many people around, it’s best to arrive in the morning around 7-8am. The park usually has joggers around. Entry Fees: Free
JAIPUR CITY PALACE
The city palace was established in 1727 around the same time as Jaipur city by Maharaja jai Singh II. Today it houses a museum and is the home of the Jaipur royal family. The palace complex consists of several courtyards, pavilions, gardens and temples. Some of the most important parts that you have to visit are:
- Govind Dev ji Temple
- Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of Public audience): this hall modelled along Mughal styles has multiple arches, marble columns and a beautiful ceiling.
- Diwan-e-Khaas: Located in between the public and private areas, this hall is used today for many ceremonial events and religious functions. One of the special things about this hall is the presence of 2 huge vessels made of sterling silver and weighing 340kgs each.
- Pritam Niwas Chowk: this is the inner courtyard that has 4 incredibly beautiful gates that represent the 4 seasons. These gates that have take over Instagram are: Peacock gate for Autumn, lotus gate for summer, Leheriya (waves) gate for spring and Rose gate for winter.
- Chandra Mahal: this 7 storey building has some very pretty rooms like Rang Mahal with coloured glasswork and Chavi Niwas with it’s blue and white decorations.
- Mubarak Mahal: this beautiful building with it’s intricate carvings was initially built to receive foreign dignitaries. Today it houses the textile museum, library and a couple of offices.
- Arms and Armour Gallery
- Painting Gallery
TIPS:
Now the ticket pricing of the City Palace is a bit complex with various categories of prices and inclusions. Night time entry tickets are also available. It’s best to visit THIS OFFICIAL SITE to get the latest updated prices and information.
NOTE: The basic ticket will give you access to most of the famous parts including Pritam Chowk with those famous doors.
It’s best to hire an official guide who can explain the history while also taking your pictures. Prices around Rs 200-500.
Make sure to check out the painting gallery near Mubarak Mahal where artists sit and showcase their art. You can buy Rajasthani artwork from here while supporting local artisans. We ended up buying a ‘miniature painting’ from a renowned artist.
ALBERT HALL MUSEUM
This is the oldest museum of Rajasthan as well as the state museum. The architecture is really beautiful and the outer area is a popular photo spot. An Egyptian mummy is the main attraction here.
TIMINGS:9am-5pm and 7pm-10pm (Night time entry)
ENTRY FEE: Rs 40 (Indians); Rs 300(Foreigners); Discounts for students. Night time tickets: Rs 100 for Indians and foreigners.
The last stop on this 2 days itinerary for Jaipur is a stunning sunset at Nahargarh fort.
SUNSET AT NAHARGARH FORT
The Nahargarh Fort built in 1734 was actually constructed as a place of retreat above the summit of the city. It also formed a part of Jaipur’s defence along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh fort. Today, Nahargarh is known for its beautiful sunset which attracts plenty of tourists. ‘Nahargarh’ literally means abode of tigers and though there are no tigers found today, it is surrounded by a dense forest that is part of the Nahargarh Biological park.
The fort houses Madhavendra Bhawan (the in house palace), Diwan-e-Aam, Jaipur wax museum, Sheesh mahal and a sculpture park. There are a couple of in house restaurants: Padao and Once upon a time in Nahargarh. The grounds are extensive and involves a fair amount of walking. The sunset spot is one of the highlights and it does present a beautiful view of the setting sun.
TIMINGS: 10am-5.30 pm
Entry Fees: Rs 50 (Indians); Rs 200 (Indian tourists). Additional entry fees required for Sheesh mahal and Wax museum.
ALTERNATIVE ITINERARIES FOR JAIPUR
JAIPUR ITINERARY FOR 1 DAY
If you only have 1 day in Jaipur, follow this Jaipur 1 day itinerary to make the best use of your time.
- Start the day at 7am with a colourful photoshoot at Patrika gate
- From there, head straight to Amer Fort at 8am and spend a couple of hours exploring the palace. This i feel is the best palace in Jaipur and is not to be missed.
- Then head over to the Jaipur city palace and click all the instagram worthy pics you want.
- Have lunch at one of the cafes opposite Hawa Mahal and kill two birds with one stone.
- Following lunch, you can head over to Albert hall museum.
- You can end the day with a sunset at either Gaitore ki Chattriyan or Nahargarh Fort.
JAIPUR ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS
With a 3 day itinerary, you have plenty of time to explore the city.
- Follow the 2 days itinerary for Jaipur in a more slower and relaxed manner.
- Apart from that, add a visit to Jantar Mantar which will be a delight for astronomy buffs.
- Check out Jal Mahal, a wonder palace in Man sagar lake which has 4 of its 5 storeys submerged in water with the topmost floor giving a floating appearance.
- Spend an evening at Choki Dhani, a tourist spot that showcases the best of Rajasthani culture with folk music, dancing, puppet shows and delicious Rajasthani food.
DAY TRIP OPTIONS FROM JAIPUR
If you have more time to spend in Jaipur, you can consider a few day trip sightseeing options.
- Ajmer: Home to the famous Ajmer Sharif Dargah, this spiritual city is located 153 kms from Jaipur.
- Pushkar: Famous for it’s annual camel fair that is held in winter, this charming city is a great day trip option. Pushkar also has the only Brahma temple in India.
- Ranthambhore: Home to the famous national park that houses tigers, Ranthambhore is not really for a day trip but rather for a couple of days. It also has forts, lakes and temples.
- Bharatpur and Sariska: if you are a bird lover, look no further than these 2 parks especially during winter whem migration happens.
TRAVELLING DURING THE PANDEMIC: THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
- With the pandemic still present, it is highly important for you to take safe decisions. Look up the latest updated travel advisory and rules regarding testing and quarantine. Do not travel if:
- You have not been fully vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine. Protective immunity starts around a fortnight after receiving the second dose.
- You have children or senior citizens at home.
- You live in a shared space with others.
- There are high number of cases while you are planning your trip and local restrictions.
If you do not fall in any of the above categories and plan a trip when the time is better.
- Make sure to wear a mask at all times
- Practice social distancing as much as possible
- Sanitise your hands all the time
Just to make it clear: We travelled during mid March 2021, when the cases in India were pretty low and Rajasthan was very safe. We had received both the vaccine doses before our trip and we live alone.
I think i have covered pretty much everything in this travel guide with the best possible 2 days itinerary for Jaipur. Hope you find this blog post informative and helpful for planning your future Jaipur trip. Comment below if you have any extra questions. Happy planning!
MORE BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS IN INDIA
MEGHALAYA: Explore one of India’s most beautiful states which abounds in gorgeous waterfalls, stunning lakes and tons of natural scenic beauty all around! Read my Meghalaya Travel Guide Here.
UDAIPUR: Explore one of India’s most colourful and charming cities which has beautiful lakes, stunning sunrise spots and the second largest palace in the country. Read my Udaipur Travel Guide Here.
DARJEELING: Plan the perfect romantic escape to one of India’s most famous hill stations which has incredible mountain views, an old vintage toy train and mouth watering food choices! Read my Darjeeling Travel Guide Here.
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