Part 3: 2 Days in Jaipur – Royal Palaces, Majestic Forts & Welcoming the New Year in the Pink City
After exploring the Blue City of Jodhpur, it was time to head towards the capital of Rajasthan—the vibrant Pink City of Jaipur.
Journey from Jodhpur to Jaipur
This time, our journey was much more comfortable.
We boarded the Vande Bharat Express from Jodhpur and reached Jaipur around 12 PM.
Unlike our overnight train from Jaisalmer, this journey was smooth, comfortable and right on time.
For our stay, we had booked IBIS Jaipur, located slightly away from the bustling city centre.
After spending almost five days continuously travelling, we desperately wanted a hotel rather than a hostel. We had accumulated quite a pile of laundry, needed some proper rest and wanted a comfortable room before continuing our Rajasthan adventure.
Unfortunately, Jaipur welcomed me with something I hadn't planned for.
The temperature had dropped considerably compared to the previous cities, and by the time we checked into the hotel, I had developed a cold and was feeling feverish.
After taking some medicines, I went straight to bed.
What was supposed to be a short afternoon nap turned into sleeping for almost the entire afternoon.
First Evening in Jaipur
By evening, I finally started feeling slightly better.
We had already booked a bike through Royal Brothers, so after collecting it, we began exploring Jaipur.
Our first stop was the magnificent Albert Hall Museum.
Built in 1887, Albert Hall is the oldest museum in Rajasthan and is an excellent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture—a beautiful blend of Indian, Mughal and European styles.
The museum houses an impressive collection of paintings, miniature art, carpets, sculptures, coins, pottery, musical instruments and even an Egyptian mummy, making it one of Jaipur's most important cultural landmarks.
As daylight faded, the museum looked even more beautiful when illuminated.
Hawa Mahal – Jaipur's Most Famous Landmark
Our next stop was the iconic Hawa Mahal.
Constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, Hawa Mahal is perhaps the most photographed monument in Jaipur.
Its stunning honeycomb-shaped façade features 953 small windows (jharokhas) that allowed royal women to observe the bustling streets below without being seen, while also allowing cool air to circulate through the palace—hence the name "Palace of Winds."
From the outside, it truly is breathtaking.
The intricate pink sandstone architecture perfectly represents Jaipur's royal heritage.
However, if we're being completely honest, we personally enjoyed the exterior much more than the interior. Inside, the palace is relatively simple compared to Rajasthan's magnificent forts and palaces.
Still, standing in front of this architectural masterpiece is an experience every traveller should have.
Dinner & Jaipur's Traffic
For dinner, we stopped at Kebabs & Curries Company.
Their biryani turned out to be one of the best meals we had in Jaipur.
Unlike Jaisalmer or even Jodhpur, Jaipur felt significantly more crowded.
The roads were packed with tourists, local traffic and shopping crowds everywhere.
Since we were visiting during the peak holiday season, just a day before New Year's Eve, traffic jams had become almost unavoidable.
After dinner, we headed back to our hotel early.
Unfortunately, my cold had returned, and I was feeling weak again.
I took another dose of medicine, convinced myself that I'd be fine by morning, and went to sleep.
Day 2 – Amber Fort
Thankfully, I woke up feeling much better.
My voice was still hoarse, but at least I had enough energy to continue exploring.
We prepared some instant vegetable soup in our hotel room, had a light breakfast, and started our day on the bike.
Our first destination was the magnificent Amber Fort.
Located around 11 kilometres from Jaipur, Amber Fort sits proudly on top of a hill overlooking Maota Lake.
There are two ways to reach the main entrance.
Many tourists choose the traditional elephant ride up the fort, while others can simply ride or drive up the hill and park near the entrance.
We chose the second option.
Exploring Amber Fort
Built in the late 16th century by Raja Man Singh I, Amber Fort is one of Rajasthan's grandest hill forts and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
The fort beautifully combines Rajput and Mughal architecture.
If possible, hire a guide.
The stories behind each courtyard and palace make the experience far more meaningful.
Some of the highlights include:
Suraj Pol & Jaleb Chowk
The grand entrance where royal armies once assembled after returning from battles.
Ganesh Pol
One of the most beautifully decorated gateways in Rajasthan, covered with intricate floral paintings and colourful artwork.
Diwan-e-Aam
The Hall of Public Audience, where kings addressed common people and heard public grievances.
Diwan-e-Khas
The Hall of Private Audience, reserved for meetings with royal guests and important dignitaries.
Sheesh Mahal
Perhaps the most famous attraction inside Amber Fort.
Thousands of tiny Belgian mirrors decorate the walls and ceilings. It is said that lighting just a single candle could illuminate the entire hall through countless reflections.
Sukh Niwas
Designed with an ancient cooling system where water flowed through marble channels, naturally cooling the palace during Rajasthan's scorching summers.
Every section of Amber Fort showcases incredible craftsmanship and reminds you how advanced Rajput architecture was centuries ago.
Jal Mahal
After leaving Amber Fort, we rode back towards Jaipur city.
On the way, you'll find the beautiful Jal Mahal sitting gracefully in the middle of Man Sagar Lake.
Although visitors cannot enter the palace, it remains one of Jaipur's most picturesque landmarks.
We stopped for a while, clicked plenty of photos and simply admired how peaceful the palace looked floating on the calm waters.
City Palace – Jaipur's Royal Residence
Our next stop was the magnificent City Palace.
Even today, a part of the palace continues to be the residence of Jaipur's royal family.
There are two ticket options available.
The standard museum ticket (around ₹400) allows access to the museum and selected palace sections.
However, if you're looking to visit all the famous Instagram-worthy courtyards and royal rooms, you'll need the Royal Grandeur Tour, which costs around ₹4,000.
Although expensive, it includes a guided experience through the palace's most exclusive sections.
Some of the highlights include:
Pritam Niwas Chowk
Perhaps the most photographed courtyard inside City Palace.
It features four beautifully decorated seasonal gates representing Peacock (Autumn), Lotus (Summer), Green Gate (Spring) and Rose Gate (Winter).
Chhavi Niwas
A stunning blue-themed hall decorated with intricate mirror work and royal paintings.
Shobha Niwas
Known for its elegant gold decorations and luxurious royal interiors.
Sri Niwas
One of the royal residential sections showcasing antique furniture and beautiful architectural details.
The guided tour concludes with refreshments before leading visitors through stores selling traditional attar (perfume), handcrafted jewellery, colourful bangles and luxurious Pashmina and Pashmina-style shawls.
Even if you don't buy anything, it's interesting to see the craftsmanship.
Jantar Mantar
Located just a few minutes' walk from City Palace is the famous Jantar Mantar, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, it houses the world's largest stone sundial along with several astronomical instruments that were centuries ahead of their time.
Once again, having a guide greatly enhances the visit because understanding how each instrument works makes the entire place much more fascinating.
Nahargarh Fort at Sunset
After grabbing a few local snacks from roadside stalls, we rode towards Nahargarh Fort.
By the time we reached, the sun was beginning to set.
The timing couldn't have been more perfect.
Watching Jaipur slowly light up from the fort overlooking the entire Pink City was one of the most beautiful sunsets we witnessed during our Rajasthan trip.
If you're visiting Jaipur, try to keep Nahargarh Fort for the evening.
The panoramic city views alone make the journey worthwhile.
Johari Bazaar & Patrika Gate
If shopping interests you, Johari Bazaar is the perfect place for authentic gemstones, Kundan jewellery, silver ornaments and traditional Rajasthani craftsmanship.
We skipped it this time because shopping wasn't really on our agenda.
While entering and leaving Jaipur's city centre, you'll also pass the famous Patrika Gate near Jawahar Circle.
Its colourful painted corridors have become one of Jaipur's most Instagram-famous photography spots.
Unfortunately, because of heavy New Year traffic and huge crowds, we couldn't stop for pictures.
Maybe next time.
Goodbye Jaipur… Hello Udaipur!
By evening, we returned our bike to Royal Brothers and headed back to the hotel.
We ordered dinner in our room, packed our bags, and called it an early night.
The next morning, we would leave Jaipur behind and begin the final leg of our Rajasthan journey.
Our next destination was Udaipur—the romantic City of Lakes, famous for its shimmering lakes, magnificent palaces and timeless royal charm.
Little did we know, it would become one of our favourite cities in all of Rajasthan.
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