A Complete Travel Guide to Jaipur - The Pink City

Established in the 18th century by the Rajput ruler Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the city of Jaipur is the capital of the North-Western state of Rajasthan. It was established as the first planned city of India (way before the British established Calcutta) and is known for its unique blend of traditional Hindu architecture with Persian style frescoes. During the British rule in India, the whole city was painted with a pink-ish sandstone color as a welcoming gesture to King Edward VII who held the title of the ‘Prince of Wales’ back then. Hence, Jaipur earned its famous moniker as ‘The Pink City of India’.

The region around Jaipur is known to be a part of the Dhundar region of Rajasthan, which was said to be the stronghold of the Kachwaha Rajput Dynasty. Being located at a close distance from Delhi, the rulers of Jaipur also had strong political ties with the Mughals, which led to the city’s eventual prosperity. Apart from its rich culture and history, Jaipur has also been known as a patron city for arts, architecture, cuisine, music, literature and poetry etc.

When to visit?

Due to its location in the Desert state of Rajasthan, Jaipur enjoys a semi-arid climate, which is hot in summers and chilly in winters. However, being located in a hilly area, the summers in Jaipur are much more bearable than other places in Rajasthan.

Best Time to Visit (November to Mid-March): The winters in Jaipur are a total opposite of the dull and extremely hot summers that the city experiences. The season is marked by an overly pleasant weather and temperatures that range between 25 – 10 degrees Celsius. Although frequent cold waves might be experienced and light to moderate winter clothing is advised. As most of the important festivals like Diwali, Christmas, New Year and Makar Sakranti etc. fall during the winter season, it makes it perfect to experience the rich heritage of Jaipur.
Okay Time to Visit (Mid-July to October): The temperatures during these months stay warm, ranging between 39-25 degrees Celsius. Monsoon is favored by the locals and visitors as it provides a much needed respite from the scorching summer heat. Due to its hillside location, the city is not prone to much flooding during the rains and is open for tourist excursions. However, be ready for pot holes and muddy roads during this season and the dusty winds and humidity might make it a little uncomfortable. The month of October marks the beginning of the festive season and the coming winter season. The weather remains pleasant and great to explore the city’s attractions.
Visit with Caution (Mid-March to June): The summer season in Jaipur is extremely hot and temperatures can soar upto 49 degrees Celsius, during the peak summer months. The city is also affected by the warm, dry winds known locally as ‘Loo’, which makes it a difficult task to explore the city in summers.

How to reach?

Being the capital city of Rajasthan, and the part of the Golden Triangle Tourist circuit, Jaipur is well connected via roads, rail and air to most major cities in the country.

By Rail

Jaipur Junction – Being a major railway junction in Rajasthan, Jaipur junction is connected to almost all parts of the country. Direct trains from all major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Lucknow and Indore etc. are available.
Gandhinagar Junction – Located near Tonk Road, Gandhinagar railway station is a stoppage for several trains from the Delhi route. It links important northern Indian states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh etc. to Jaipur. Gandhinagar can be an ideal stoppage for the visitors coming via Delhi, as it is comparatively less crowded than the main station.
Durgapura Station – Connecting Jaipur with central Rajasthan and central and southern India, Durgapura railway station is a stoppage for several trains running from Mumbai. Trains from Jodhpur, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Indore etc. have a brief stoppage at this station which is another less crowded alternative to the Jaipur Junction. Durgapura station is also in close proximity to the Mansarovar and Malviya Nagar suburbs in Jaipur, making it a convenient stoppage point.

By Road

Jaipur is seamlessly connected to all the major cities of India. Jaipur is connected to major National Highways such as NH8, NH11 and NH12. The Rajasthan state road transport corporation (RSRTC) is a trusted bus service, which connect Jaipur with other cities like Ajmer, Kota, Jodhpur with both AC and non-AC buses. The Sindhi Camp bus depot is located near the city center and the railway station and has buses running for different cities throughout the day. While private buses are also available, they are usually avoided by the tourists due to poor facilities and issues with overcrowding. Buses to various locations are also available from Narayan Singh Circle, Durgapura Bus Stop and Riddhi Siddhi Bus Stop.

By Air

Jaipur International Airport is located at around 10 kilometers from the city center in Sanganer. As several luxury and budget hotels are in close proximity to the airport, it is an ideal and hassle free way to reach Jaipur. Jaipur has connecting flights from major cities such as Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Udaipur. Although it has an international terminal, only flights to Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai are available from Jaipur as of now.

Places To Visit In Jaipur

15 Must Visit Places

10 Should Visit Places

10 Can Visit Places