Rajasthan has always been a state of colours. The most prominent ones being blue, pink and gold each representing the 3 main destinations in the state. The three cities are Jodhpur for blue, Jaipur for Pink and Jaisalmer for gold respectively. Jaipur is the most famous of the three cities and also happens to be the capital of Rajasthan. Jaipur is a perfect mix of culture, history, royalty and modern urbanism. It is a perfect place for a fulfilling getaway. It is one of the most preferred staycation and weekend getaway destination from Delhi. In this article, we will delve into the different places you can visit and explore in a 2-day sightseeing trip to Jaipur.
Jaipur has been a famous destination for weekend getaways in the north-central part of India. Jaipur is located at about 4 hours drive from Delhi or Agra. The city is also frequented by the people of the neighbouring states on Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh etc. It takes about 8 hours via road from Lucknow or Kanpur and takes about 11 hours from Ahmedabad or Indore. The advantage of being in India is that the train facilities are vast and connect from any point to Jaipur multiple times in a day. The ease of accessibility and the rich experience makes it one of the best weekend getaway destinations in this part of the country.
Before we dive into specific attractions and experiences, let us get a sense of some of the basic details for the 2 day trip in Jaipur. Jaipur is a big city and will need more than 2 days to experience it completely. Whilst Jaipur has more than 12 to 15 top highlights to be visited, I would recommend you to pick and choose the places that you would personally like to visit and that would make your vacation all the more memorable. I would recommend you to hire a cab at your disposal for 2 days or hire a car to drive on your own. You can also do it on the bike, but I would recommend a car as it is safer and gives you protection from the scorching heat of the sun. On both the days, you can have breakfast and start your exploration leisurely at about 8 Am to 9 Am. If you are someone who likes to explore the city in the early mornings, I would for sure recommend you to do so. Now let us look at some of the most famous attractions in Jaipur for you to visit during your vacation to Jaipur.
The Amer Fort, which is located in the Amer region of Rajasthan near Jaipur is one of the most famous tourist spots in Jaipur. The fort is one of the most famous forts in Rajasthan and among the most visited places in and around Jaipur. The fort is preserved in the best of the conditions possible and is a significant historical structure in India.
The Amer Fort or the Amber fort as it was called was established in the year 1592 AD. The Amer fort was built by Raja Man Singh and was dedicated to Lord Amba, their Mother Goddess. The Amer Fort was important in the reign of King Akbar, as Raja Man Singh was one of his trusted associates.
The Amer Fort is located at a distance of 13 km from the Jaipur Railway junction. It would ideally take you about 2 hours to explore the fort. The fort is open from 8 Am till 5:30 Pm, and this is a perfect spot to start your day of explorations. It costs only Rs. 25 for the Indians and the famous elephant ride costs 550 Rupees.
The Hawa Mahal is the picture of Jaipur for the rest of the country and the world. This crown-shaped building put Jaipur on the world tourism map and is used by the Jaipur and Rajasthan tourism board for tourism promotional activities.
The Hawai Mahal or the Palace of Winds as it is famously called was constructed by the famous king Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the year 1799. It was built as a continuation of the city palace. The monument was built by the famous architect Lal Chand ustad and the inspiration for the outer facade was the crown of Lord Krishna. Hence the exterior of the Hawai Mahal, resembles that of a crown. The monument was built using red and pink sandstone and follows the Rajputana style of Architecture.
The Hawai Mahal is open from 9 Am to 4:30 Pm and costs Rupees 10 for the Indians. The visit will take roughly about 30 to 45 minutes. Post your visit make sure to grab some local delicacies in the restaurants nearby.
Jantar Mantar is one of the most famous astronomical observatories in India. It is one of the five astronomical observatories in the country followed by Delhi, Varanasi, Mathura and Ujjain. It features the worlds largest stone sundial and is also declared a Unesco world heritage site. The Jantar Mantar is located near the city palace and Hawai Mahal in Jaipur.
It was built in the year 1738 by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh. Mantar means calculation and that is what the name of Jantar Mantar is derived from. The observatory was functional only for 7 years and later stopped as the calculations were not accurate. It was later restored in 1901 and was declared as a national monument in the year 1948. Jantar Mantar is one of the prides of our country and is one of the most historic places to visit. Especially for kids.
These were some of the top highlights that one should visit whilst visiting the beautiful city of Jaipur. Apart from this Jaipur is also home to spots like the Jaigarh Fort, Srijagat Siromaniji Temple, Jal Mahal, Khole Ke Hanuman Ji Temple, Birla Mandir etc. Reach out to the destination experts at Pickyourtrail for exciting deals for your Staycation.