Jaipur was painted pink (technically terracotta) in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales, and the tradition stuck, giving the old city its distinctive uniform hue, a backdrop for some of Rajasthan's most extraordinary Mughal and Rajput architecture.
Amber Fort and City Palace
Amber Fort, on a hilltop just outside the city, is best visited at opening time, its Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), where a single candle once illuminated thousands of tiny mirrored tiles, is worth lingering over before the tour groups fill the courtyards.
The City Palace, still partly home to Jaipur's royal family, and the Jantar Mantar observatory next door, with its giant stone astronomical instruments, are both walkable from the Hawa Mahal in the heart of the old city.
The Hawa Mahal and Bazaars
The Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, is best photographed from the small café directly opposite its facade, early morning when the light hits the honeycomb of 953 windows directly, the interior itself is comparatively modest.
Jaipur's bazaars (Johari Bazaar for jewellery, Bapu Bazaar for textiles) are organized by trade as they have been for centuries, and genuine haggling is expected and part of the experience.
Recommended Stay · Jaipur · Former Maharaja's Residence
Rambagh Palace
The former residence of Jaipur's maharajas, set in 47 acres of Mughal gardens, with peacocks still roaming the grounds, the single most storied address in Rajasthan.
