Jaipur

Luxury hotels in Jaipur

We can’t think of a single reason why a holiday in Rajasthan would not include travel to Jaipur. And it seems we aren’t alone, judging by the enormous number of accommodation options. In keeping with its majestic character, some of the best hotels in Jaipur are actually palaces. And we’ve selected two. As far as luxury hotels in Jaipur go, you won’t find anything that even comes close to our favourites. One is a sprawling crenulated landmark, whilst the other is a masterpiece of interior design bringing alive the Jaipur boutique hotel scene.

So much to explore

As your driver steers you through the lime plastered pink walls of the old city, you’ll encounter more rickshaws than your senses can process at one time, while tuk tuks (or auto-rickshaws are they are known) loiter, looking for their next fare and the occasional classic car, meticulously maintained, takes a dazzling dawdle amongst the cows which wander the streets and the hawkers sell their wares.

Mixed in amongst this are the polishers, metal workers and stone cutters who have honed their skills over centuries to become top of their trades. A melting pot or what?

Jaipur has a rich pedigree. The City Palace, still home to the current Maharaja, is a fabulous place to spend a few hours with your Yonder guide exploring the many museum rooms, taking in everything from fine tapestries and silken rugs to armour and weapons of war.

Among Jaipur’s classic sights is the Hawa Mahal, or the Palace of the Winds. It’s a unique, five-storey building, looking rather like a honeycomb, attached to the City Palace and constructed in 1799 of red and pink sandstone for the wives of the Maharaja to sit behind screened windows to watch the street scenes and public festivals below.

Just a stone’s throw further is Jantar Mantar, the royal observatory completed in 1734, which contains 19 astronomical instruments of which the sundial is one of the largest in the world.

Fairytale fort

No visit to Jaipur is complete without getting your driver to take you to the fairytale Amer Fort (often referred to as the Amber fort). Jaipur’s star attraction, it is a 30-minute ride outside town. It’s a UNESCO world heritage site castle perched on the top of a hill and without doubt one of the prettiest forts in Rajasthan.

On the way, you’ll pass Jal Mahal, the Water Palace, a classic blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture standing in the waters of Man Sagar Lake on the outskirts of the city.

Out and about

The capital of Rajasthan has it all. There are plenty of exciting places to visit in Jaipur and it is the kind of city where one can easily spend a few days roaming the sites and relaxing in some excellent hotels.

The reputation and workmanship of the Jaipur craftsmen makes the Pink City heaven for those in search of quality metalwork and textiles. The gem cutters, many of whom have shops lining the street outside the Hawa Mahal, are experts in their trades (but have also been known to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists, so beware).

Like every great Indian city, Jaipur’s cricket ground has a special place in the hearts of the locals and there is no way that you’ll visit Jaipur without your Yonder guide pointing it out.  

If you’ve got a hankering to get your driver to park up your air-conditioned limo while you experience a local form of transport, Jaipur is a great place to haggle with a rickshaw-wallah to take a short ride between inner city sites.

Eating and drinking

You’ll be overwhelmed with options for eating out in Jaipur. The Indian cuisine choices are endless, with some decent restaurants on offer. And despite Rajasthan’s associations with royal kitchens, there are also some super tasty dishes that are staples in the poorer desert communities, where fresh produce is less abundant.

Jaipur also has a small selection of Western restaurants where the food is generally good. Somewhat inevitably, however, pasta or pizza in India is not as you know it!

There are some good watering holes, with everything from contemporary urban interiors to Mughal inspired floor seating. The bars, many of which are within the city’s bustling hotel scene,  tend to be busy at the weekends.