Tigers and forts: Jaipur and Ranthambore

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: Jaipur → Ranthambore

Ranthambore · Jaipur to Ranthambore, Train to Sawai Madhopur ~2–2.5h (car ~3h)

• Jeep (gypsy) tiger safari · 3.5 h. Six-seat jeeps run morning and afternoon in assigned zones; book on the Rajasthan forest department's official portal as soon as slots open, with the same ID you will carry. Tiger sightings are never guaranteed — two or three safaris improve the odds.

Local tip: Six-seat jeeps run morning and afternoon in assigned zones; book on the Rajasthan forest department's official portal as soon as slots open, with the same ID you will carry. Tiger sightings are never guaranteed — two or three safaris improve the odds.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Explore Ranthambore

Ranthambore

• Canter (open bus) safari · 3.5 h. Twenty-seat open trucks are cheaper and easier to book at short notice, but noisier and less flexible than a jeep.
• Ranthambore Fort and Trinetra Ganesh temple · 2.5 h. The UNESCO-listed hill fort inside the reserve can be visited without a safari permit by road from the main gate; Wednesday is the busy temple day.
• Dastkar crafts centre and village visit · 1.5 h. A women's craft cooperative selling block prints and embroidery, near the park road.

Local tip: Twenty-seat open trucks are cheaper and easier to book at short notice, but noisier and less flexible than a jeep.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Explore Ranthambore

Ranthambore

• Birding at Surwal lake · 2 h. Winter brings flamingos, cranes and ducks to the lake outside the park; best Nov–Feb.

Local tip: Winter brings flamingos, cranes and ducks to the lake outside the park; best Nov–Feb.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Depart from Ranthambore

Ranthambore

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