Things to do in Jaipur | 20 Recommendations from my experiences

Jaipur is a city with the essence of grandness and enthusiasm and is considered as the largest city of Rajasthan. The city was established by Jai Singh II in the year 1727 and it is the first India’s planned city. With plenty of things to do in Jaipur, the city represents itself as a versatile tourist spot and was the capital of former Kachwaha rulers. Jaipur is a place where you get to experience full of royal lifestyle and indulge in a wide range of experiences.

Jaipur city is a perfect tourist spot as it is blessed with marvelous fortresses, peaceful temples, grand palaces, and attractive Havelis. Jaipur doesn’t just have royal building and palaces; the city also has charming attractions, outstanding jewelry, and exquisite handicrafts. This city is also known as the Pink city which makes it unique. The city also has a scenic view of lush gardens and the collection of flowers with remarkable sceneries. All these pleasing destinations make this city must visiting. Here, I bring my favorite collection of things to do in Jaipur which I would recommend.

1. Must admire Jal Mahal:

Interesting architectural concepts which were built by Mughal and Rajput are seen at the Jal Mahal and Water Palace in Jaipur which leaves you admiring them. The Jal Mahal is a fort which looks like a jewel nestled between the Nahargarh hills and located on the Mansagar Lake. It was constructed as a summer holiday resort for the royal families and was also used to host grand parties. Do include this on your list of things to do in Jaipur. You don’t need to visit here separately, as you will definitely pass it. But, do take some time to stop and admire!

2. Shop at the famous bazaars:

Shopping at the famous streets of Jaipur will make you go crazy. In the shopping bazaars, one will get to see the most genuine and traditional Rajasthani jewelry and garments. One can also buy Rajasthani jootis and blue pottery at the Nehru Bazar and mojari shoes and leather products at Bapu Bazaar. Precious gemstones can be purchased at Johari Bazaar, marble sculptures can be shopped at Chandpol Bazaar. Exciting deals are available on souvenirs and colorful handicrafts at MI. Road (Mirza Ismail Road). For the shopoholic in you, this experience is highly recommended out of the things to do in Jaipur.

3. Stay at a heritage hotel:

Tourists get to experience the impressive heritage of Jaipur while they stay at the heritage hotels in Jaipur which is one the pleasant thing one can do in Jaipur. During the stay at the heritage hotel, one gets to live the history and royalty of the Pink City. The heritage hotels in Jaipur have a grand architecture, expansive courtyards, the lush greenery and the peaceful bays of these royal architectures. Stay at the Heritage hotels offers you live like a king and also enjoy the cultural shows, puppet shows, camel rides and horse safaris. Staying at one of the Jaipur heritage stays will be a lovely experience!

4. Experience the wildlife at the Ranthambore  National Park:

Ranthambore National Park is the perfect place for all those adventure lover’s amusement where there you can find a countless range of fauna and greenery. Earlier this was a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur. One can go on a tiger safari at Bakula, trek at the Ranthambore Fort. One can also spot sloth bears at the Kachida Valley. Birth watching tours at the Ranthambore is also a most preferred thing done by the tourist. At the Dastkar Craft Centre, visitors can buy handicrafts. For a wildlife enthusiast like me, visiting Ranthambore was one of my top things to do in Jaipur and around.

You can read my detailed Ranthambore National park experience blog for more details

5. Explore the spooky ruins of Bhangarh Fort

Visiting the Bhangarh fort was certainly one of my most exciting experience near Jaipur. The ruins of this fort conjure up a spooky setup and will have you wondering about the stories that envelope around this fort. Well, just fun, believe the stories and think how would it have been in that historic era. You can read my Bhangarh Fort experience blog for details.

6. Ride across the city by a Jeep Safari:

You can go for a jeep safari across the city which will help you explore the various jungles and forts present here. If you have only a single day to explore the city, then the jeep safari is one of the perfect adventure activity in Jaipur. You would get a chance to ride in a military jeep and view panthers, peacocks, deer, and cobras while having a ride through the jungles, villages, and farms here. Jeep Safari is the great way to experience the rich past of Rajasthan. Most of the jungle safaris begin from the main fort and gateways of the city. A close encounter with the Jaipur city can be experienced very well by this ride. A must do activity out of the various things to do in Jaipur.

7. Go for a Camel Safari:

Discover the desserts of Jaipur just sitting on the back of the camel. The Camel Safaris are on the list of every tourist which they wish to do in Jaipur. The camels are totally harmless and tamed. One can sightsee the rural regions of this city and later you can spend the night at a campsite. The Camel Safaris duration can vary from a single day trip to 4-5 days trip. As per your budget camera safaris are offered like luxurious camel safari and also budget friendly safaris. Enjoy the Camel Safari, who knows, it might be the best out of many things to do in Jaipur.

Also Read: 8-day Rajasthan itinerary.

8. Cycling expedition at Nahargarh Fort:

One can go for a cycling journey and witness the exceptional combination of Indian as well as European architectural structures at the Nahargarh fort. As per the local legend, Nahar Singh Bhomia was a Rathore Prince and he was not happy with this fort being constructed on his land and further haunted this place. Jai Singh who was constructing the fort later calmed his spirit by devoting the fort by his name. A spectacular feature of this fort is the Madhavendra Bhawan that included 12 similar suites for the queens. These suites were built in such a manner that the Maharaja could visit any one room of the queen’s without letting others come to know. The best thing to do on a Jaipur tour is to discover this fort and have some eatable at the Padao Open Bar-Restaurant which is on the terrace of this fort. This restaurant offers a view of the city with is eye catchy totally. The shooting of movie ‘Rang De Basanti’ was done here.

9. Get to eat the exciting Rajasthani Culture authentic food:

If you are looking to experience the entire Rajasthani Culture, head towards the Chokhi Dhani. At Chokhi Dhani you will get to enjoy the exciting ambiance of this village resort as it also offers puppet shows, Rajasthani folk performances, magic shows, acrobatics, elephant rides, camel rides, boating and much more. The best thing to do in Jaipur is to have the lip-smacking Rajasthani foods at the open-air restaurants here. Most of the restaurants might be catering to vegetarians, but you can definitely find the Non-Veg options and enjoy the Laal Maas, signature dish of Rajasthan.

Also Read: Places to eat in Jaipur

10. Attend the Folk festivals:

What is Rajasthan without the folklore? Attend the festivals in the Pink city where Gangaur and Teej Fair are celebrated with much passion as the Kite and Dhulandi festival. Throw dry gulal (color) at each other while dancing to the tunes of the traditional Hindi folk music. The festivals are hosted at the Khasa Kothi in March every year. The city tour bus also lets you view the colorful celebrations taking across the city. The best thing to do during festivals in Jaipur is to fly kites during the Kite festival at the Man Sagar lake. You get a chance to taste cuisines like ‘Til-Ke-ladu’ and ‘Dal-Ke-Pakoras’ at the fest. Another popular festival in which you can participate is the Gangaur festival which is hosted in the month of Chaitra (March-April). Gangaur festival celebrates the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Women beautify their palm and fingers with henna on this promising day and pray for a blissful married life. Being a part of the Rajasthani culture might just be the top entry in the list of things to do in Jaipur.

11. Witness the Jaipur Literature Fest:

The city Jaipur is not only famous for its forts and bazaar, this historic city is also a place where every year literary giants meet. The Jaipur Literature Festival is among the country’s largest literary festivals which have played host to names like Hanif Kureishi, Amish Tripathi, His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama, Orhan Pamuk, Oprah Winfrey, Salman Rushdie, Stephen Fry, Margaret Atwood and much more. The Jaipur Literature Festival usually takes place in the month of January at the Diggi Palace. At this festival, peaceful Sufi tunes provide the perfect background for charming literary readings and discussions. Most of the dignitaries from the literature world are booked for this event. This is one of the best things to do in Jaipur if you love literature.

12. Go Glamping at the Tree House Resort:

Glamping is now becoming one of the best tourist adventure activity performed in Jaipur. One can do glamping at the Tree House Resort where you also get to experience ultra-modern services. You will get a chance to stay in the ‘nests’ on the Keekar tree that are named with the birds in that area. At this place, you can also witness the ATV rides, camel rides, jungle safaris, tennis courts, bird watching, and enjoy outdoor movies. Staying amidst the beautiful setup in a treehouse can be a wonderful inclusion in your things to do in Jaipur.

13. Explore the Jaigarh Fort

Visit the Jaigarh fort and make it mandatory in your things to do in Jaipur list. You will get to see Jaivana, one of the biggest cannons in the world! Admiring the size of that beauty is a great experience in itself. Apart from the impressive canon, you can also visit the museum and take a time leap back to the past.

14. Try the hot air balloon ride:

Float over the Jaipur City in the hot air balloon and witness the attractive views of the palaces and forts settled among the Aravalli ranges. You get to adore the colors and sounds of the city from up above. The hot air balloon rides are many popular things to do in one day at Jaipur and usually are conducted two hours prior the sunrise and two hours prior the sunset. Many of the hot air balloon rides can manage to take up to 8 tourists and begins from Amber Fort. Catch that amazing view of the Jaipur city and revel in a very highly recommended entry in the list of things to do in Jaipur.

     15. Try the Flying Fox at Neemrana:

One can add an additional thrill to their Rajasthan tour by doing the exciting activity of Flying fox in Neemrana. Neemrana is one of the perfect places that is celebrated for its skill driven exercises which will be the perfect one for you. You can feel the adventure as you fly high above and experience the astonishing sight from a different viewpoint. For adventure enthusiasts, trying this activity will be a memorable one from all the things to do in Jaipur.

     16. Visit the spectacular Birla Mandir:

Just below the Moti Dongari Hill is the beautifully structured Birla Mandir, which was built by the Birla Group of Industries, India. The mandir has been totally carved with white marble and has three domes at the head which depict diverse approaches to the religion. The Temple was built in 1988 and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi. The temple built with pure white marble glows at night and is undoubtedly an elegant eyesight for the visitors. You can skip this if you are not a big fan of admiring architecture and temples.

Also read: How to plan your Jaipur trip?

    17. Bagru Block Painting Workshops:

Bagru is a small town in Jaipur and is very well know for the artistic creation of printed fabrics using detailed impressed in wood. One can adore visiting the artisan’s town to experience the everyday routine of a few group of local residents in Rajasthan. If you willing you can get yourself involved in the activities conducted after observing the method deeply. If you want to learn something new in life you can try doing a professional textile printing. The house of the local residents is active with the trade, you can take part in the learning classes conducted at those houses. This experience will be a very close encounter with the cottage industries and artsy side of Jaipur. A highly recommended inclusion in your things to do in Jaipur for art lovers.

        18. Ramgarh Lake:

Ramgarh Lake is located nearly 35 km far from the main area of Jaipur. It is the magnificent lake that offers the tourist a chance to spend some enchanted time with their loved ones. This lake flows in Sanganer is a peaceful destination which will surely take you away from the noisy tourist crowds of the main city. You will get a chance to appreciate the real beauty of this lake as you get pampered with the pleasing experience of boating. The area near the lake is also a perfect destination to just relax and enjoy a trip or even try doing fishing. You might not include this lake in your list of things to do in Jaipur if you think you have seen better lakes.

19. Live performance at Jawahar Kala Kendra:

The focus of all the art lovers during a visit to Jaipur is at the Jawahar Kala Kendra as this a place which is traditional and classical art forms are showcased. Most of the evenings you get a chance to experience the heritage of Jaipur with a remarkable show. Almost everyday the place is on which some seminars, workshops, shows, and paintings.

20. Witness the Vintage Car Rally:

The city Jaipur in month February has a different glimpse of royalty. This is the period when the ‘Rajputana’ Sports Car Club host a classic and vintage car rally with the association of the department of tourism. At this rally, you get to see over 100 vintage cars which all come together to travel along the roads of the Pink city. Most of the almighty cars which are displayed depict the era of the Maharajas who ruled over Jaipur long back in 1923. Attending the Vintage Car Rally is a must thing to do in Jaipur for all the car enthusiasts. The rally starts from the Jal Mahal Palace and ends at the Castle Kanota. For vintage car lovers, you cannot possibly miss this out of your things to do in Jaipur.

I hope you liked my recommendations. Have you already been to Jaipur? Let me know which all experiences did you have there!