24 hours in Pink City of India – Jaipur

On a Sunday of a long weekend, while going back home, I booked a flight for Jaipur and my partner joined me from Kota. Dressing up in a cotton Indian suit at the airport with a backpack was an unusual combination but I had no other option. Pune airport was less crowded, rain showers outside and the city was no less than a hill station. It was magical!

Rajasthan is quite close to my heart and so is the capital city of this beautiful state. It has mountains, lakes, age-old forts, colors, a rich culture, a variety of food, and more. It is also a perfect place to explore with the family.

Upon landing at Jaipur airport, I booked a cab for Patrika Gate located nearly 2.5 Km from the airport. This place recently got a lot of attraction from tourists, locals, and photographers.

Our One Day Itinerary for Jaipur

1. Patrika Gate

Spend 20-30 minutes admiring and ogling the artwork at the Patrika Gate. It is usually crowded on weekends and public holidays. It is open 24*7 but the best time to visit is when Sun is up and there is decent light inside the gate.

• No entry fee.
• Located at Jawahar circle.
• Also a pre-wedding shoot spot.
• Add an hour or two to get the perfect Instagram-worthy picture.
• Book a cab and head to Galta Ji, aka the Monkey Temple to see a series of natural pools amidst mountains, a short hike in the Aravalli mountain range, and a holy dip in the sacred Kund.

2. Galta Ji, The Monkey Temple of Jaipur

An ancient Hindu temple located at a distance of 10 Km from Jaipur city with a few natural pools amidst the Aravalli mountains.

• Visit during monsoon or winters – lush green mountains and kunds filled with water.
• No entry fee.
• Safe to visit during daylight.
• It is a beautiful site but the waste is not managed properly. One can contribute a little by bringing back their waste to respective hotels and leaving no footprints.

3. Chokhi Dhani – A special village

• Get an insight into Rajasthani culture and tradition within a few hours at Chokhi Dhani. The entry fee varies from INR 800/- to INR 1200/- per person depending on the tourist season. This fee includes dinner and other free activities – Mehndi, magic shows, pottery experience, etc.

• Try to reach before 4:00 PM, take tickets and take a stroll in the village during daylight.
• Dance to the Rajasthani folk music, get amazed by magic tricks, and eat some snacks.
• There are 4 to 5 places to enjoy food – buffet, the traditional way with Bajot at two to three settings. Our favorite is Ghoomar Jeeman.
• Eat dinner early to avoid long queues at the dining place.
• Wear comfortable footwear as you will walk for hours exploring the village and dancing.

Some Tips and Information

• The temperature is high during the daytime except in winters, keep yourself hydrated and prefer loose cotton clothes over skin-fitted jeans, etc. Don’t forget caps/ scarf etc.
• The peak season to visit Rajasthan- is November to March.
• An auto driver can smell a tourist from miles away so bargain till a fair point and follow the same tip while shopping.

Where to stay in Jaipur?

The capital city of Rajasthan has hundreds of hotels to choose from. Here are my favorites.

• Budget option – Zostel.
• Medium range haveli like hotels – There are some Havelis near Railway station.
  • Umaid Bhawan Palace, Vimal Heritage, Samode Haveli, The Vijayran Palace
• Luxurious stay – Rambagh Palace, Alila Fort Bishangarh, The Leela

We had visited Jaipur during a long weekend and most of the hotels were packed up with tourists. Luckily, we got a room at Vimal Heritage near Railway station.

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