Jaipur long weekend

Day 1: Arrive in Jaipur

Jaipur

• Hawa Mahal and the old-city bazaars · 3 h. See the façade from a café terrace opposite, then climb inside. Walk on through Johari Bazaar for jewellery, Bapu Bazaar for block prints and mojris, and Tripolia for brass and lac bangles.

Local tip: See the façade from a café terrace opposite, then climb inside. Walk on through Johari Bazaar for jewellery, Bapu Bazaar for block prints and mojris, and Tripolia for brass and lac bangles.

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Jaipur

Jaipur

• Amber Fort and Panna Meena stepwell · 3.5 h. Go at opening time and walk or take a jeep up — skip the elephant rides. Amber is on Jaipur's two-day composite ticket (about ₹300 for Indians; foreigners pay more), which also covers Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall and Nahargarh.
• City Palace and Jantar Mantar · 3 h. The royal family still lives in part of the palace; the Pritam Niwas courtyard's four peacock gates are the photo stop. Jantar Mantar's giant instruments are next door — a guide makes them make sense.
• Albert Hall Museum by night · 1.5 h. Rajasthan's oldest museum, lit up after dark; it stays open into the evening.

Local tip: Go at opening time and walk or take a jeep up — skip the elephant rides. Amber is on Jaipur's two-day composite ticket (about ₹300 for Indians; foreigners pay more), which also covers Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall and Nahargarh.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Explore Jaipur

Jaipur

• Nahargarh Fort sunset · 2.5 h. The ridge-top fort looks over the whole city; stay for the lights. Jaigarh Fort, with its giant cannon, sits on the same ridge.
• Block-printing workshop at Sanganer or Bagru · 3 h. Print your own scarf with a family of printers; the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing near Amber is a good primer (closed Mondays).
• Jal Mahal viewpoint and Galtaji (monkey temple) · 2.5 h. Jal Mahal is seen from the lakeside promenade only. Galtaji's temple and tanks sit in a gorge east of the city, with monkeys everywhere — keep food out of sight.

Local tip: The ridge-top fort looks over the whole city; stay for the lights. Jaigarh Fort, with its giant cannon, sits on the same ridge.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Depart from Jaipur

Jaipur

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.