Named the ‘Pink City’ after the rose-coloured sandstone that was used to craft its impressive buildings and monuments, Jaipur is one of the most popular destinations among visitors to India.
Its picture-perfect scenery is something you won't want to miss capturing so ahead of Good Housekeeping's exclusive tour of magical Rajasthan, we've picked the must-take photos while in this beautiful city and the stories behind the shots...
1. Amber Palace and Fort
The intricate Amber Palace is decorated in marble and housed within the Amber Fort, and guides are on-hand to lead you through the gardens and museums that lie inside. As well as offering fascinating histories, this vantage point boasts incredible views of the surrounding countryside.
Top tip: Step inside the hall of mirrors, Sheesh Mahal, to feel like a Hindi movie star. The royal family used to live within these walls.
2. City Palace
Home of the royal family, this city landmark is dripping in style and opulence. Its interiors combine elegant hand-painted walls with painstakingly intricate tilework and offer a glimpse of the luxurious lifestyles enjoyed by the Rajput royalty. You’ll find a collection of artefacts housed in museums and galleries, from photography to royal armour and textiles.
Top tip: Look out for two impressive sterling silver urns that can hold up to 4,000 litres of liquid in each!
3. Hawa Mahal
Just at the edge of the City Palace lies the five-storey Hawa Mahal, known as the 'Palace of Winds' and built in the shape of Hindu god, Krishna’s crown. Recognisable by its 953 small jharokhas (balconies), hundreds of small windows built into the palace’s facade look out like eyes and capture the imagination of photographers who visit from all over the world.
Top tip: Put yourself in the shoes of a royal lady and observe the world pass by through the windows of the palace - you’ll have views over the bustling streets but passers-by are unlikely to spot you.
4. Street shopping
India wins over so many travellers’ hearts for its fantastic fabrics, aromatic perfumes, semi-precious jewels and natural dyes. Take a trip into some of Jaipur’s bazaars for quintessential Rajasthani goods, including coloured ghagra gowns, embroidered jhola bags and gorgeous gems and jewels.
Top tip: For precious stones fit for a queen, head to jewellery market Johari Bazaar; for bargaining practice you should try the bustling Bapu Bazaar.
5. Jantar Mantar
This ancient astronomical observatory was once used to map sparkling constellations in the sky - perhaps an inspiration to the jewellers, market sellers, dressmakers and builders of Jaipur. Located opposite the City Palace, it’s not to be missed.
Top tip: Mirroring the heavens above are the manicured gardens below, wander through various observation points and admire the diligent work that goes into its upkeep.
6. Gem Palace
As Jaipur is the city of gems, it’s only right that there’s a gem palace within the city. Considered to be Jaipur’s oldest jewellery outlet, the Gem Palace once supplied the royal family with their luxurious pieces.
Top tip: Admire the fine goldwork and sparkling pieces at your leisure and accept the help of a welcoming shop assistant - they have a depth of knowledge and plenty of experience in the trade.
Join Good Housekeeping on a tour of the tigers and temples Rajasthan, visiting many of these magical spots, and extend your holiday with a visit to Kerala including a wonderful houseboat stay.
WE EARN A COMMISSION FROM PRODUCTS PURCHASED THROUGH SOME LINKS IN THIS ARTICLE.
The clever travel essentials you never knew you wanted
LAY-N-GO Cosmo make-up bag
Selfridges
£29
Lay out all of your make-up in one place and quickly pack it up again with the ultimate cosmetic bag for travellers. There’s even a pocket to store your jewellery.
Take control of the sound in your holiday environment with this USB-charged machine that masks noise which can disturb sleep or concentration through its sound options, including bright white noise, deep white noise or gentle surf.
Ideal for sleeping in dry hotel rooms, this portable dehumidifier secures over a water bottle to add moisture to the air.
Not just trendy-looking cabin luggage, this smart case uses a lithium ion battery so you can charge your phone on the go. It's a great gift for the traveller in your life, too.
...And you can keep tabs on your bag with this intelligent little tile that you pop into the luggage tag and attach to you case before tracking it with your phone. It makes for a great travel gift, too.
Inflatable, foldable and lightweight, these blow-up hangers are ideal for packing in your suitcase, as you never know if there will be enough in your hotel wardrobe.
Comfortable to wear on the plane, in the car or in your hotel room when noise stops you from sleeping, these earplugs use sound reduction filters and feature personal volume control.
If you're not staying in a fancy hotel with a Nespresso coffee machine in your room or just want to enjoy your favourite brew whenever and wherever you are on holiday, this portable espresso machine will come in handy.
Washing your clothes on holiday is now quick and easy with this portable washing machine. Just add your clothes, water and a drop of washing liquid, seal tight and rub for a few minutes on the internal, flexible washboard before rinsing.
The ultimate baggage compressor, this little device sucks up all the extra space in your luggage within minutes by easily compressing your clothes in a vacuum bag so you can buy more and pack more.
Designed by a former flight attendant who watched endless passengers struggle to sleep on flights, this travel pillow with a three-way support system helps keep your head, neck and chin completely supported while you snooze.
Keep your valuables close with this silk pouch you simply snap over your bra strap. The small pocket is great for stashing your money and credit cards.
This easy-to-use steamer is a the perfect alternative to carrying a travel iron. It's harmless to even delicate fabrics and will remove creases and unfresh odours.
Just what you need for packing light on a beach holiday, this lightweight and water-resistant blanket can be used for picnics too and features weights at each corner to stop it being blown away.
For when the in-flight pillow just won’t do, this mulberry silk pillow with a matching sleep mask was created to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness and durability
Want to be a more organised packer? These nifty cubes help you pack your clothes neatly while providing compression so you can fit more into your case. Genius!
A great gift for the business traveller who has everything, this hard case will protect a shirt from creasing and is lightweight and compact enough to pack in a laptop bag or backpack.
