Jaipur is the largest city in Rajasthan and was built in the eighteenth century by Sawai Jai Singh as India's first planned city. Jaipur is a major tourist attraction amongst Indian as well as international travellers. It belongs to the tourist Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. It hosts several attractions like the City Palace, Govind Dev ji Temple, Vidhan Sabha, Birla Temple, several massive Rajput forts and so on. It also serves as a stepping stone for travelers heading to the desert cities of Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer.

Now Jaipur is growing fast and various development projects are being undertaken by the government and private enterprises. The town planning and infrastructure development in Jaipur is quite above the mark relative to many other Indian cities.

Jaipur is often called the Pink City in reference to its distinctly coloured buildings, which were originally painted this color to imitate the red sandstone architecture of Mughal cities. The present earthy red color originates from repainting of the buildings undertaken for a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1876.

History

Jaipur gets its name from its founder Maharaja JaiSingh II (1693-1744) the great warrior and astronomer. He came to power at the age of 11 on the death of his father Maharaja Bishan Singh. Jai Singh’s lineage can be traced back to the Kucchwaha Rajput, clan who came to power in the 12th century. They were long-term rivals to the Sisodia Rajputs who ruled from Mewar. This rivalry led them to ally with the Mughals, and this alliance resulted in them eventually gaining a pre-eminent position in Rajasthan.

Ruling from the magnificent Amber Fort which they built, the might of the Kucchwahas encompassed the kingdoms of Mewar (Udaipur) and Marwar (Jodhpur). After Jai Singh came to power, there was moment of disquiet when he supported Aurangzeb’s son Azam Shah’s bid to the throne. Azam Shah lost the battle of succession to his brother Bahadur Shah, who demanded Jai Singh’s removal and the installation of Vijay Singh to the throne of Jaipur. Jai Singh, not one to take setbacks lying down, formed a formidable front against the Mughals by aligning himself with other Rajput states and reinstated himself.

After the dust had settled, peace reigned and the kingdom prospered and its borders expanded. Jai Singh built the city around the Amber fort to serve as his capital, and the city was named Jaipur, after himself. Much of the credit for Jaipur goes to Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, the chief architect from Bengal who, with Jai Singh’s approval, founded the city on strong scientific principles, laid out according to the Shilpa Shastra, the ancient architectural manual. It remains one of India’s best planned cities.However, expansion meant that the limited sources of water proved inadequate for the city.

After Jai Singh’s death in 1744, his sons squabbled for power and without a monarch, the kingdom became open to invasion and neighboring Rajput states and the Marathas usurped large areas of kingdom. The core, however, remained part of the kingdom, which lasted during British times. As with the Mughals, Jaipur maintained good relations with the British and during the war of independence in 1857 remained loyal to the Raj. Yet, the British gradually began to undermine the independence of the state and exercised greater control over the administration.

In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh painted the entire city pink, traditionally a colour associated with hospitality, to welcome the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) to the city. The tradition has been maintained and today all residents in the old city are compelled by law to preserve the pink colour. Jaipur got the sobriquet of pink city.

Maharaja Ram Singh also built the Ramgarh Lake to supply water to the burgeoning city. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city’s population spread beyond its walls. In 1922, Man Singh II ascended to the throne and it was during his reign that civic buildings like the secretariat, schools, hospitals and other public buildings were built. After independence, Jaipur merged with the states of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner to form the state of Rajasthan. In 1956, Jaipur became the capital of the state of Rajasthan.

Get in

By plane

Jaipur Airport (IATA: JAI, ICAO: VIJP) is situated in the satellite town of Sanganer and offers sporadic (chartered) service to London and Dublin. Flights to  Singapore and Bangkok are available via Delhi. Direct flights to Sharjah, Muscat and Dubai are also available.

Jaipur also has daily domestic air links with many Indian cities such as Jodhpur, Udaipur, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Mumbai and some more.

One plus point for those flying out of Delhi is that the Delhi airport is close to the highway, so you could reach the airport without entering the city.

By train

Indian Railways connects Jaipur from all over the country and is one of the cheapest options. A number of daily trains connect Jaipur to  Delhi, Ahmedabad,  Agra, Mumbai, Jodhpur, Kota, Alwar and Ajmer. Daily connections are also available for Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Kolkata, Jammu, Pathankot, Ludhiana, Kanpur, Roorkee, Haridwar, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur and Bhopal.

Long-distance trains arrive from many other major cities including Lucknow, Allahabad, Benaras, Vadodara, Surat, Nagpur, Bilaspur, Raipur, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar,  Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad, Goa, Mangalore, Kozhikode and Kochi.

The most popular option from Delhi is the Shatabdi express which departs New Delhi station at 6:05AM and reaches Jaipur at 10:30AM.

There are three major railway stations Jaipur Junction (main station),Durgapura and Gandhinagar (Jaipur), which is not to be confused with Gandhinagar in Gujarat state. All trains stop at Jaipur Junction and a few trains stop at Durgapura and Gandhinagar stations also. There is a prepaid taxi stand at Jaipur Junction.

By bus

There is an excellent bus service between Jaipur to Delhi by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) with buses approximately every half an hour both sides. non-A/C and AC Volvo bus services are offered. A/C Volvo costs about Rs 600 per seat and the bus is taken through well maintained highway and has good shock absorbers. From Delhi you can board the bus from Bikaner House on Pandara Road next to India Gate. From Jaipur you can board the bus from Narayan Singh Circle or the main Sindhi Camp bus stand. You can also book tickets up to 6 days in advance from both these places. These buses typically take 6 hours (by Volvo) or 6-7 hr by other buses. You can also book your bus (govt.) tickets online at [www.rsrtc.rajasthan.gov.in]. There are also some private bus operators from Dhaula Kuan in Delhi and outside of Sindhi camp in Jaipur. No need to make advance reservations and cost is Rs 150 for a seat and Rs 250 for sleeper on an A/C bus but these buses are taken through bumpy backroads to avoid toll roads and their shock absorbers are not good.

Also note that if you plan to leave from Delhi airport, you can get off the bus at Dhaula Kuan and get an autorickshaw (to the bus stand) or perhaps a taxi from there. You do not need to enter congested Delhi.

Express buses to several cities and towns within Rajasthan (such as Kota and Bundi) are also available.

By car

This is the most popular way of reaching from Delhi. The journey by car from Delhi to Jaipur takes 4-5 hrs. National Highway no. 8 connects Delhi to Jaipur via the industrial township of Gurgaon. The road is excellent is parts and under construction in others. (Do ask about the current conditions on the road as sometimes the journey can take up to 7 hours if you run into traffic in the construction zones)

There are many car rental services in Delhi and Gurgaon which can provide chauffeur driven cars to Jaipur, Car Rental Company offer online Cabs and Taxi Booking facility with the well mentioned chauffeurs.

• Cicerone India Tours, D-227, Tulsi Marg, Bani Park Jaipur - 302016, ☎ +91-141-4016925,9571105333,9571106333,9571107333,  Cicerone India Provides car rental and hire service in Jaipur and other tourist destination in Rajasthan, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Pushkar for intercity trip, sightseeing, pickup and drop facility.  

• Jamuwai Tours and Travels (Jamuwai tours and travels), Gopalbari, Jaipur, ☎ 097 9913 6039 ([email protected]). Jaipur Tour by Car, Starts from Rs. 1000 only. We believe in Atithi Devo Bhava  

• BookCab (book cab), ☎ 080 3000 3000 ([email protected]).

To Do

• Cycling, Art of Bicycle Trips  organizes bicycle tours in and around Jaipur. The tours combine cycling with Indian art, culture and heritage.

• Food Tour in Jaipur, ([email protected]), Explore the cuisine of Jaipur by taking an authentic Rajasthani food tour in the city. You can choose half-day or full-day food tours which cover some must see attractions as well as the best food available in Jaipur city from multiple food joints located all over the city.  These food tours offer food walks, sightseeing, bazaar tours, and visits to some great attractions in one tour package and can be customized according to requirements of the guests on request. 

• Jaipur Tour and Travel, ([email protected]),  English speaking driver with great knowledge of the city, available for full and half day tours of Jaipur. Knows great local attractions and food, and takes the stress out of seeing Jaipur. Rs 1500 for full day car tours. 
• Jantar Mantar, The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh, The Jantar Mantar is an equinoctial sundial, consisting of a gigantic triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis. click for direction Map
• Sky Waltz Balloon Safari, ( [email protected] ) Jal Mahal, Amber Fort, Shiv Vilas and Delhi-Jaipur Road are some places from where you can take this flight. Sky Waltz Balloon Safari is one of the most popular balloon ride operators in Jaipur, organizing guided balloon safari tours on a regular basis.          
• Rajasthani Traditional Clothing Shooping, ( [email protected] )  There are several places where you can purchase Rajputi poshak a royal attire for the women of rajput family wore with pride. list of some best places are chandpol market, johari market, yuvti outlets, Royal Ranisa rajputi poshak, sikar house markte etc.

• Snow Planet Jaipur, is a summer destination in Jaipur. , Snow Park , Rides & Fun Zones. Click here for map

• Kirana King Grocery Purchase , ([email protected] ), Retailers who can help you to figure out the best product for you.  Home deliver is also available within 2 to 4 kilometer. Almost all the grocery items are available at kirana king store. This brand is working since 2014 in the market. 

See

 

Tickets

It's possible to see the ticket price for each point of interest in the Rajasthan Tourist Government Office website

Composite Tickets

Amber Fort, Jantar-Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall (Central Museum), Nahargarh Fort 5-monument 2-day Composite Ticket for sale at any ticket booth costs Rs 50/30 indian/student and Rs 300/150 foreigner/student.

City Palace and Jaigarh Fort also share a 1-week ticket for Rs 300.

Fairs & Festivals (Upcoming Events)

here is the list of all upcoming festivals & fairs  Click Here

Forts

amber fort

• Amber Fort, (11 km North of central Jaipur, local bus #5 from Hawa Mahal or New Gate), ☎ +91 14 1253 0293.08:00-17:30. This massive fort-palace complex built in hybrid Hindu-Muslim style dates back to Raja Man Singh and was the royal palace of the Kachwahas from c. 1600-1727. The name has nothing to do with the rather pretty pastel yellow colour; instead, the fort is named after the town of Amber, in turn named after the goddess Amba. The main sights within the fort include the Sheesh Mahal, adorned with thousands on thousands of mirror tiles on the walls and ceiling. The fort/palace grounds are sprawling and the information panels (hindi/english) are somewhat limited, so it might be worth getting an audio guide or a real guide. It's a bit of a hike up from the town, and the touristy thing to do is to hitch an elephant ride to the top (in order to get an elephant it is better to to arrive there in the morning, otherwise at midday the elephants are over. But the road that elephants pass is not so long). The elephant riding costs 900 (fixed government price) as of July 5th 2011. The real guide will cost about Rs 70-100 and will also take you to the Rajasthan Kala Mandir (a government operated shop) to buy souvenirs. The guide gets a 2% commission on the items you buy. Also see the Amber Light Show
   below  Rs 25/10 for Indian/student and Rs 200/100 for foreigner/student. Included in the 5-monument Composite Ticket. Camera free. Audioguides Rs 100.  for more detail information you can visit  open street map.  For google map - Map
• Jaigarh Fort, (A 1 km walk uphill from '''Amber Fort''', or Rs 100/200 for motorbike/auto-rickshaw), ☎ +91 14 1267 1848. 09:00-16:30. Never conquered in battle, this was considered the strongest of the three forts in the area. It is best known as the site of the world's largest cannon, the Jaivana, which was test-fired only once — according to legend, despite using only the half the design amount of gunpowder, the cannonball flew 35 km! A better reason to visit the fort, though, are the scenic gardens at the other end and the spectacular views over the Amber Fort and the hills around. The remains of the foundry where the Jaivana (and many more) were cast are also in the fort grounds. Please note, there are multiple board with "no tips allowed" if you have someone bothering you. Rs 35/85 for Indian/foreigner. Included with the 1-week City Palace ticket. Camera Rs 50. Video Rs 200. Automobile Rs 50.   Map
• Nahargarh Fort, ☎ +91 14 1518 2957. The smallest of the three forts, notable primarily for excellent views over Man Sagar lake and the vast sprawl of Jaipur. The fort also houses the (relatively) compact Madhavendra Bhawan palace, although its former splendour is fading fast under a new layer of graffiti and pigeon droppings. Portions of the movie Rang De Basanti were shot at this fort. To go the area where the "Pathshala" song was shot, take a left turn as soon as you enter the fort. An autorickshaw can be taken from the autorickshaw stand in front of the Amber fort and a round trip will cost about Rs 250. Rs 10 entry. Included in the 5-monument Composite Ticket. Rs 35 for Madhavendra Bhawan. Automobile Rs 10.   Map

Palaces

Jal Mahal, Jaipur

• City Palace, (Inside the old city, close to New Gate and Hawa Mahal). An imposing blend of traditional Rajput and Mughal architecture. It is a vast palace complex occupying nearly one-seventh of the Pink City. It was originally built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. The complex is divided into a series of courtyards, sprawling gardens and buildings. It is home to several palatial structures like the Chandra Mahal, (home to present Maharajah of Jaipur), Mubarak Mahal (housing a textile museum), Diwan-e-Khas (or Hall of Private audience housing the two largest silver vessels in the world, which are duly mentioned in the Guinness book), the Diwan-e-Aam ( or Hall of Public Audience) and the gateway Ridhi Sidhi Pol (with four small doorways decorated with motifs depicting the four seasons). Rs 300, which includes also a 1-week entrance to Jaigarh Fort.   

• Jal Mahal (Water Palace), (On the way to Amber Fort). A Rajput style architectured palace sits in the center of the Man Sagar lake. The lake is often dry in the winter, but summer monsoons frequently turn it into a beautiful lake filled with water hyacinths. Free on the 18th of May, as well as the Observatory and wind palace.  

Temples

• Govind Devji Temple - For Vaishnavites, particularly followers of Lord Krishna, this is the most important temple in the world after Vrindavan. Lord Krishna presiding in the temple were brought to Jaipur from Vrindavan during Mughal rein. According to popular legend, Lord Krishna's idol in the temple looks exactly like Krishna's form while his incarnation of Earth. It is located at Jainiwas Gardens, Jalebi Chowk, in the same campus as City Palace.

• Moti Doongari temple is located in the center of Jaipur city. This Temple is the main center of religion for Jaipur people. Moti Dungri is basically a small hill, which means Pearl Hill. There is a Temple and a Palace on this hill. Moti Dungri temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and it is said that at the time of building this city, this temple was constructed first to protect the city.

• Lakshmi Narayan Temple (aka The Marble Temple) (Birla Temple), (below the well known Moti Dungri fort). is a relatively new temple made of white marble with beautiful carvings. It covers a vast area in Jaipur city and is built in a contemporary manner. Birla Temple is completely constructed with finest high quality white marbles.

• Akshardham Temple (at Vaishali Nagar)

• Jain Mandir (Shivdas Pura) 15-16 km from Jaipur, is a Jain temple in Shivdaspura and is well known as “Bara Padampura”. This temple comes under district Jaipur. Temple is a unique place of miracles and is famous in north India for its very beautiful statue of God Padamprabhu (The 6th Teerthankar for Jain’s). God is sitting in a crossed leg seating posture. Height of the statue is 2 ft 4" and statue is made of pure white stone. Statue was appeared while digging for foundation of a house.

• Galtaji is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site situated 10 km from Jaipur on Jaipur-Agra highway near Sisodia Rani Garden. The main temple here is temple of Galtaji in constructed in pink stone. The temple has a number of pavilions with rounded roofs, exquisitely carved pillars and painted walls. The temple is surrounded by natural springs and reservoirs that are considered holy .There are also seven tanks or kunds here.

• Galwh Bagh (aka The Monkey Temple) and Suriya Mandir (aka The Sun Temple) are located on the Eastern edge of the city. Both locals and tourists come here to feed the surprisingly tame monkeys, use the temples, and enjoy the views. You can climb to the top of the hill and then down into the valley to see the Monkey Temple, all the while enjoying the company of countless monkeys, goats, and other animals. At the top of the hill, you turn right to reach the Sun Temple for one of the best views of the city, especially at sunset. Monkey food is available for purchase at the bottom of the hill. The Temples are free, but local religious people may ask for donations (optional) and there is a Rs 50 charge for using a camera.

MonumentsJantar Mantar

• Jantar Mantar, (very close to the City Palace.), ☎ +91-141-261-0494, . 9:00 a.m-4:30 p.m.. This UNESCO world heritage site is the largest of five astronomical observatories build by Maharaja Jai Singh during the period 1727-1734 in north India. The observatory consists of fourteen major geometric devices (or yantras in Hindi) for measuring time, predicting eclipses, tracking stars in their orbits, ascertaining the declinations of planets and determining the celestial altitudes etc. There is signage providing elaborate explanations for the use of each device, and guides can be hired to provide much the same information in a more digestible format. The audio guide at the observatory is fairly expensive, goes in a confusing order around the astronomical devices, but goes into a lot of detail about the site and the science of the instruments in the observatory.. The observatory, the water and the wind palace are free on the 18th of May.

   

• Hawa Mahal (Palace of Breeze). Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Singh as part of City Palace. It was an extension of the Zenana(women) chamber. It's purpose was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen. It is a five storey high red sandstone structure complete with over 950 windows. The breeze (or hawa in Hindi) circulates through these windows giving the palace its name. Free on May 18th. Rs 50. Included in the 5-monument Composite Ticket. Camera free.  
• Iswari Minar Swarga Sal, Chandpol Bazaar near City Palace (Look for the big tall tower near Tripolia Gate. The entrance is not from the main street, but is around the back of the shops. You can get there from the alley that’s 50m west of the minaret along Chandpol Bazaar, there's also an entrance near the City Palace, which is 50m west of Tripolia Gate and 200m east of the minaret.). There is an alternative to the minor that's open 24/7. Just across the other side of the road (Chandpol Bazaar) from the minaret is a shopping complex with stairs up to a rooftop area where you can get basically the same view as from the minar. To get there, go through the arched gateway almost opposite the minar, then as soon as you get to the courtyard, look to the left for a metal spiral staircase and keep climbing until you reach the roof, walk around the corder to the next set of stair and go up another floor until you know you can't go any higher. Indian/foreigner Rs5/10, camera/video Rs10/20.  

• Gatore Ki Chattriyan, (In the walled city area named Brahmpuri, the foothills of Nahargarh Fort).This is a royal cremation site of the royal rulers of Jaipur. It does not get many visitors, making it an oasis of calm and peacefulness in the frenetic city center. Many beautiful architectural details are carved into these buildings. Very worthwhile to visit.  

Gardens

• Ram Niwas Garden

• Zoological Garden

• Sisodia Rani Palace and Garden

• Vidyadhar Garden

• Central Park (Entrance near Statue Circle)

Museums

• Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, (Kheri Gate, Amber), ☎ +91 141 2530226, . A beautiful clean museum dedicated to the traditional art of hand block printing textiles, this museum is housed in a recently restored heritage haveli tucked into the back streets of old Amber. Small cafe, clean toilets, small shop, friendly staff & a printer & block carver demonstrating their crafts every day. 

• Central Museum (Albert Hall). Included in the 5-monument ''Composite Ticket''.  

Activities and entertainment

• Visit the bazaar in the city centre. An evening visit is a complete assault on the senses - the colours, the sights, the sounds and the smells. There are different specialist zones, whether it's food, flowers, textiles, carved statues or plumbing. While you should always be wary (read up about gem scams thoroughly before arriving and be particularly cautious if approached by guys slightly too eager to hang out and go for drinks etc, as this can often be the beginnings of a very widespread scam which at best will waste your time and at worst cost you thousands), be sure not to completely close yourself out to the locals as one of the highlights of Rajasthan is the chance to interact with the friendly people. It is not unheard of to be invited to homes for dinner, parties, and even weddings as many middle class young people are curious of foreigners and genuinely very hospitable as is the open culture of the region (which you will not find so widely in Delhi/Agra).
• The Amber Amber Fort Sound and Light Show, Lower Amber Fort, ☎ +91 14 1270 9162 ([email protected]). 7 PM - 8 PM.Experience the history, culture and life of Amber through this spectacular show. Amitabh Bachhan narrates the story of Rajasthani kings with a script written by Gulzar. Don't forget the mosquito repellent. The light show can be watched from outside the fort, but the sound won't be audible from there. Rs 100.  

• Raj Mandir Theatre. The dazzling neon-lit exterior doesn't quite prepare you for the stunning art-deco-India-style interior. An experience in itself, and another "don't miss." Once known as the best movie theater in India, and still the best in Rajasthan, it offers an overwhelming experience. From the pushing, shoving, and general chaos in the ticket line, to an audience that laughs, cries, cheers, claps, and consistently talks through the entire film, the Raj Mandir provides an insight into Rajasthani culture. The movies themselves are always interesting; Masala movies are action, drama, mystery, suspense, and epics all wrapped into one single movie, teeming with dances and obligatory wet sari scenes, and unabashedly lifting generous amounts of plot devices from Western movies. The theater-goers are very friendly and genuinely curious about overseas visitors who come to the Raj. Expect to answer many questions about country of origin and movie likes and dislikes, as well as take photos of theater-goers themselves with their mobile phones. Don't be put off by "House Full" notices at the entrance. The box office opens again a nominal 45 minutes before the next performance, and there are usually tickets available. Box seats at Rs 120 go first, so it's worth going early to avoid disappointment. Shows at 6:30PM and 9:30PM. A great place to meet locals, with the nearby McDonald's as a central congregation spot.

• Nad Sadhna [nadsadhna.com]. Provides a platform to learn Indian Music (Vocal, Instrumental and Dance) from an experienced musician.

• B.M. Birla Auditorium and Convention Centre is located at the heart of Jaipur. This auditorium is spread over 9.8 acre, that includes a computer centre, interactive science museum, an information processing centre, library, a processing planetarium, eight research division, a dissemination cell and an auditorium. Auditorium has the capacity of 1350 people to seat and it is among the largest auditoriums of India. This auditorium is built up to international conference standards.

Sleep

Free

Home-stay for musicians, artists and movie makers- Want to record songs and make a few videos of the music and cooking workshops which I conduct. I play Indian primitive instruments and write some music but lack technical knowledge of the recording and edit process. If your a musician or have camera and edit skills then you can help with my music and video bit. If your some other kind of artist or posses some skill then you can help me with a few other projects I am working on or will start in near future. At the moment there is an old bicycle which is in process of getting new life arty style and some urban organic terrace/home farming. In short if you have a skill and want to exchange that for free accommodation and food then please do contact via the links given below. Can email [email protected] for more info or can Telephone +91-9414076951

Budget

• La Premier Spa Resort & Hotel, opposite to Amber fort, La premier is a well reviewed 3 star hotel with 50 rooms, multi cuisine restaurant and pool. Address o the hotel is Near Nai Mata Mandir, Delhi-Jaipur Bye Pass, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302028. Check in and out time is 24 hours and you can contact them at Phone:099507 81888 or mail at [email protected] and their website is http://lapremiersparesort.in/
• ZOSTEL, 18, Opposite ESI Hospital, Civil Lines, Sodala Jaipur, Jaipur 302006, ☎ Chetan: +91 96865 55013 or [email protected]. First of its kind hostel in India. Extremely clean, hygienic place. Perfect for the solo backpacker, or the bunch of friends on a weekend getaway. Right way to explore Jaipur would be to talk to the guys who run this place. The staff is not only knowledgeable and nice, they are extremely cool and so is the whole ambience of this hostel. Absolutely awesome place. Priced at Rs. 349 ($6 at current exchange value).

• Atithi Guest House, 1 Park House Scheme (opposite All India Radio), ☎ +91 141 2378679, +91 141 2379496 ([email protected]). checkout: 12:00. A nice, modern and very clean hotel a few minutes from the Pink City. Has a simple restaurant, laundry service, internet Rs 30/hour and wifi Rs 100/day. Full of foreign travellers. Be careful of rickshaw/taxi drivers - they don't get a commission here so may try to bring you somewhere else. 

• Bhim Vilas,  Family run guesthouse located in the heart of the city, with 8 A/C rooms. The service is friendly and it is also excellent value for money. A/C Double Rooms Prices [June 2012]: from 1800 Rs to 2,850 Rs. Breakfast & Taxes included.  

• Chit Chat Guest house , D-160 Kabir Marg, Bani Park. ☎ +91 141 2201899, +91 2202843  [email protected]. Rs 300/person single, double room Rs 500/day (hot/cold shower). Airport/rail station/bus station pick up available, nice restaurant.

• Explorer's Nest,  ☎ +91 99 28517801, +91 141 2376173,  Bed & breakfast provided by a couple who are fond of meeting travellers and guiding them about their city. The house has ethnic decor and is situated at a quiet place 5min walk from the center. The whole atmosphere is that of personal care and warmth. Owner Arvind is always there to help, the rooms have A/C and you can use wifi. Rooms Rs 600-800/night.

• Hotel Kalyan (2 star hotel approved by the Indian Tourism Office,Govt. of India) (=), Hathroi Fort, Ajmer Rd (1 km from railway station, 13 km from the airport),☎ +91 141 2368355,  checkin: 12noon; checkout: 12noon. 2 Star hotel with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Free parking and pickup is available from the train station and central bus stand.Very nice hotel with a silent and relaxing atmosphere.Restaurant is nice with mouthwatering dishes.Good and helping people in the hotel. From Rs 800-2,900.

• Hotel Ramsingh Palace , B-2, hathi babu ka bagh, kanti nagar, Bani Park. ☎ +91 141 4005191 ,. double room Rs 1100/day (hot/cold shower). Comfortable beds, each room comes with LCDTV with all channels. Walking distance to the train station and central bus stand. Airport/rail station/bus station pick up available, multi-cuisine restaurant.

• Hotel Shikha, , ☎ +91 141 4031212, . The only hotel in Jaipur that is opposite to the deer park in c-scheme. Budget accommodation Rs.1500 to 2500. Also the only hotel with Cafe Coffee Day lounge in the Premises. Great value and unbeatable location. Very popular with foreign tourists.

Mid range

• Hotel Shalimar, Vanasthali Marg, Sindhi Camp,Jaipur ☎ +91 141 5106215/6. 3 star equivalent hotel, Centrally located near Railway and Bus Station. Renovated clean air-conditioned rooms From Rs 1,400. With Wi-Fi, Bar, Hot Water, Power Backup etc

• Milestone 251, Hotel Milestone 251 jaipur ☎ +91 96107 1000, [email protected]. 3 Star Comfort Hotel located near to Railway Station in Bani Park area.

• Hotel Meghniwas,  ☎ +91 141 2202034, [email protected]. Single and double rooms from Rs 2,000. It also has a swimming pool open to non-guests for Rs.200.

• Hotel Umaid Lake Palace, Kalakho, Post Office Kalakho (13 km from Dausa on the Jaipur-Agra national highway. 70Km from Jaipur & 160Km from Agra.), ☎ 91 98 29546226 ([email protected]), . Designed in the traditional Rajasthani style Double Room prices [June 2012]: from 1400 Rs..  

• Sumati Villa, 7, Shubham Enclave, Jamnalal Bajaj Marg, (near Civil Line Crossing), ☎ +91 141 5140965,+91 141 5125176, +91 98 29055772, A budget guest house located in the heart of the city. situated near bus station, railway station, airport, shopping complexes and cinema hall.

• Hotel Mandakini Nirmal, Subhash Nagar Shopping Centre, ☎ +91 141 2280211,  29 guest rooms with cableTV, direct-dial phone, refrigerator, and broadband internet access. Conference room that can hold up to 200 people, and a complimentary pick-up service from the nearest airport and railway station.

Splurge

Jaipur has an excellent selection of expensive places to be treated like a maharaja for a day or two, most of which are many times booked a year in advance. Though the list is endless, a few of them are:

• Naila Bagh Palace (Heritage home hotel), Moti Doongari Road, Jaipur-302004, Rajasthan, INDIA (Landmark), ☎ +91 141 260 7492([email protected]), checkin: 12noon; checkout: 12noon. Heritage home built in 1872 by the Prime Minister of Jaipur (Late Thakur Fateh Singh ji of Naila), presently owned and managed by his 7th generation descendants. It is surrounded with sprawling gardens and open spaces on all sides; the large front courtyard provides ample seating space for our visitors along with providing a calm and serine ambience. One of jaipurs oldest heritage buildings and home the erstwhile Prime Minister "Thakur Fateh Singh Ji". Surrounded with gardens and open spaces on all sides, large front courtyard provides ample seating, antique chandeliers, original frescos, colonial furniture and a heritage of family history on display. Swimming pool, modest gym, wifi in some areas. From Rs 4,950 Breakfast included, taxes excluded. [June-2012]. During low season is applied a minimum of 20% discounts (check website).  

• Fort Madhogarh (Village Madhogarh), Tehsil Bassi, ☎ +91 142 928 1141 ([email protected]),  This beautiful fort is situated in the middle of the villageand on top of the hill. Rooms prices [June 2012]: Single: 2500Rs. Double 3000Rs., Suite 3500Rs. Tax excluded.  

• Village Sanjharia, Before Toll Gate, Via Vatika City/Thikaria, 22 Milestone, ☎ +91 93 1407 7093 ([email protected]),