Half-day tour of Jaipur with heritage walk

On this half-day tour of Jaipur, you will visit the City Palace, The Jantar Mantar which is a medieval observatory and drive past the Hawa Mahal.

Your first stop will be the grand City Palace which lies in the heart of Jaipur. The whole complex is wonderfully laid out with large courtyards, balconies, cupolas, arched entrances and gardens. The architecture is a combination of the Rajput and Mughal style of construction. The museum here displays the rich cultural heritage of the royal family of Jaipur. This is captured through multiple miniature paintings, textiles, garments, books & manuscripts, carpets, palanquins, and weapons, all of which date back to the 15th century.

Your next stop will be the Jantar Mantar. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II had a passion for astronomy. Driven by this, he decided to build five astronomical observatories in different cities of India, one of which lies in Jaipur. The observatory at Jaipur, built in 1728, is the largest and best preserved of them all. The observatory is home to a curious collection of sculptures which enable the calculation of many astronomical and astrological events such as eclipses. Each of these structures was built after a relentless study of books, manuscripts, and discussions on this subject with multiple scholars.

Your tour will also take you on a drive past the Hawa Mahal. Built in 1799, the Palace of Winds is a significant landmark of Jaipur city. The five-storey building is pink in colour and was built to enable the women of the harem to witness the activities of the outside world without being openly seen.

The bazaars between the Badi (Large) and Chhoti (Small) Chaupar (Square) in the old city of Jaipur feature some of the best sights that the city has to offer. You will take a walking tour here, experiencing the labyrinth of colourful alleys where artisans make puppets, bangles, and other local handicrafts. You will visit the jewellery market or Johari Bazaar, explore architecturally interesting havelis (mansions), and stop by bangle shops in Maniharon ka Rasta and the flower sellers near Choti Chaupar.