Bucket list experience:
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
When Maharaja Jai Singh II shifted his capital from Amber in around 1727, he laid the foundations for a meticulously planned city – Jaipur. City Palace lies at the heart of the Old City, a stirring complex of palaces, halls, courtyards and pavilions embodying the power and stature of one of Rajasthan’s leading royal families.
The glitz and glamour are tempered by various displays, from a quirky collection of carriages and palanquins to an astonishing armoury.
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Destination Guide >You can’t miss the palace in the heart of the Old City. Although a guide isn’t essential, you’ll learn more about the palace and its history by using one. Choose between an audio guide (fun even for children) or a personal guide. Both can be arranged at the entrance; rates are fixed and reasonable.
It’s open all year round, seven days a week. Try to avoid May and June, when it can be ferociously hot and uncomfortable.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[1.5 miles]
A beautiful boutique hotel combining heritage and romance in an atmospheric corner of the Old City.
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Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[2.1 miles]
Characterful and charming heritage hotel in central Jaipur – a haveli, or mansion, originally built for a wealthy noble family. Excellent value for money.
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Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[3.4 miles]
Formerly the Maharaja of Jaipur’s palace, this superb heritage hotel boasts luxurious and characterful rooms, coupled with impeccable service and charming gardens.
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Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[8.1 miles]
A top-end, spacious reinvention of a Rajput fortress with beautiful gardens spread over 32 acres, with accommodation in elegant Maharajah-style tents or luxurious villas.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
India
India’s cultural essence combined with its most iconic sights and greatest bucket list experiences, all distilled into one compact, diverse and vibrant region.
Rajasthan, India
Rajasthan’s state capital is a compelling blend of huge hillside forts, extravagant palaces, bustling bazaars, memorable heritage hotels and almost comically thronged streets.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[0.4 miles]
Designed to lend seclusion to ladies of the royal court, the intricate lattice-screened and salmon-pink facade of the Hawa Mahal, or ‘Palace of Winds’, is among the most iconic of Jaipur’s buildings.
Best for ages: 13+ | £1
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[0.7 miles]
Vibrant Johari Bazaar encapsulates the city’s reputation as India’s main gemstone and jewellery centre, with artisans’ workshops dotting its lanes and alleys.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[1.8 miles]
One of India’s most famous and flamboyant cinemas, it remains a Jaipur landmark and often screens movies to a full house.
Best for ages: 18+ | £1 | 90+ minutes
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India[7.2 miles]
One of Rajasthan’s great maharaja fortress-palace complexes, dating back to the 16th century, set amidst a spectacular backdrop of stark hills.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.
