Solo Travel in Jaipur

Rajasthan's oldest museum, opened in 1887 in a grand Indo-Saracenic building designed by Samuel Swinton Jacob, in the middle of Ram Niwas Garden. The collection spans miniature paintings, carpets, arms, pottery and even an Egyptian mummy. The building is lit up beautifully at night, when the square in front fills with families and pigeons.

📍Ram Niwas Garden, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302004, India

A vast hilltop fort-palace in Amer, about 11km north of Jaipur and part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk up the ramparts from Maota Lake or take a jeep, then explore the courtyards, the Sheesh Mahal mirror palace and the views of old walls snaking across the hills. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds.

📍Devisinghpura, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India

A 52-minute sound-and-light show held every evening at Kesar Kyari garden on Maota Lake, at the foot of Amber Fort, with the fort lit up behind. The English show starts between about 6:30 and 7:30pm depending on the season, followed by a Hindi show. It's narrated history rather than a party — bring a jacket in winter.

📍Kesar Kyari, Maota Lake, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India

Jaipur's largest park, in the city centre next to the Rambagh Polo Ground, with a long jogging and walking track, gardens and lawns. A giant national flag flies from a tall mast in the park. Go early in the morning or around sunset, when locals come out to walk and the air is cooler, for a calm break from the city traffic.

📍Prithviraj Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India

The palace complex at the heart of the Pink City, part of which is still home to the former royal family. Courtyards lead to museum galleries of textiles, weapons and paintings, and the Pritam Niwas Chowk has four beautifully painted gates representing the seasons, including the famous Peacock Gate. Combine it with Jantar Mantar next door.

📍Tulsi Marg, Gangori Bazaar, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

One of Jaipur's first specialty-coffee roasters, with its original 'Blue' café near Deer Park and a larger 'Red' café on Sarojini Marg in C-Scheme. Beans are roasted in-house, espresso and pour-overs are made with care, and there's an all-day brunch menu. The calm rooms suit a few hours of laptop work away from the old city's bustle.

📍Ground Floor, C-54A, Sarojini Marg, C-Scheme, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302001, India

An old Hindu pilgrimage site in a narrow gorge on the eastern edge of Jaipur, with temples and pavilions stacked around natural spring-fed tanks where pilgrims bathe. Many monkeys live here, hence the 'Monkey Temple' nickname — keep food out of sight. Walk up to the Surya Mandir on the ridge above for sunset views over the city.

📍Galta Ji, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302013, India

The 'Palace of Winds', built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh: a five-storey pink sandstone façade with 953 small latticed windows designed so royal women could watch street life unseen. The best views of the front are from the street or a rooftop café opposite; the entrance is round the back, and you can climb to the top for old-city views.

📍Hawa Mahal Road, Badi Chaupar, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

Rather than a single space, myHQ is a booking platform for day passes and short-term desks at coworking spaces around Jaipur, many of them in central areas such as C-Scheme. It's a flexible way to find fast Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and a quiet desk for a day or a week while you travel. Compare spaces on the site and book before you head over.

📍Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

A palace in the middle of Man Sagar Lake beside the road to Amer, its lower floors submerged so it seems to float on the water. The interior is closed to visitors, so this is a view-and-photo stop from the lakeside promenade, which is free and open at all hours. Early-morning light is best, and it's an easy pause on the way to Amber Fort.

📍Amer Road, Man Sagar Lake, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

An 18th-century astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with around 20 giant masonry instruments for measuring time and tracking the stars. The Vrihat Samrat Yantra is the world's largest stone sundial, accurate to about two seconds. A local guide or audio guide helps make sense of it all.

📍Gangori Bazaar, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

One of the main bazaars of Jaipur's walled Pink City, running south from Badi Chaupar. As its name — 'jewellers' market' — suggests, it's lined with jewellery and gemstone shops, plus textile, block-print and bangle stores and famous sweet shops like LMB. It's crowded and colourful; bargain politely and avoid anyone pushing gem 'investment' deals.

📍Johari Bazaar, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302003, India

A landmark vegetarian restaurant and sweet shop in Johari Bazaar that traces its history back to 1727, the year Jaipur was founded. Locals come for the Rajasthani thali, pyaaz kachori and above all the paneer ghewar, a rich, honeycomb-like sweet. The dining room is old-fashioned and busy — a good stop while exploring the bazaars on foot.

📍Johari Bazaar, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302003, India

A family-run heritage guesthouse in Bani Park, a quiet residential area a short drive from the old walled city. Rooms are decorated in traditional Rajasthani style, and there's a garden, an outdoor pool and an open-air restaurant — a restful base after long days in the bazaars. The family's personal hospitality is a big part of the appeal.

📍D-237 Bihari Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302016, India

A fort on the ridge of the Aravalli hills above the Pink City, built in 1734, with sweeping views across Jaipur — especially at sunset. Inside, Madhavendra Bhawan has a suite of apartments built for the king's queens. Stay on for the view over dinner or a drink at Padao, the open-air café on the ramparts run by Rajasthan's tourism corporation.

📍Krishna Nagar, Brahampuri, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

The former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur, turned into a hotel in 1957 and now run by Taj. Its Mughal-style gardens with strutting peacocks, marble corridors and grand dining rooms make it the city's most regal stay, and non-guests can book a meal or afternoon tea on the verandah to see it. Expect palace prices.

📍Bhawani Singh Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302005, India

A town on Jaipur's southern edge famous for hand-block printing and handmade paper. Artisans carve wooden blocks and print cotton by hand in small workshops, and many offer short sessions where you can print your own scarf or napkin. The Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing in Amer is a good place to learn the history before you go.

📍Sanganer, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302029, India

A long-running restaurant in the grounds of Achrol House, a heritage property in Civil Lines, known for Rajasthani meat dishes such as laal maas (a fiery red mutton curry) and keema baati. There's indoor seating and a popular outdoor courtyard. A good place to try laal maas if you eat meat — ask them to adjust the spice level if needed.

📍Achrol House, Jacob Road, Civil Lines, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302006, India

A rooftop café directly opposite Hawa Mahal with one of the best close-up views of the famous façade — especially at sunset and when it's lit up after dark. It serves a multi-cuisine menu, coffee and drinks, and, as the name suggests, there's a working tattoo studio on site. The entrance is up a narrow staircase from the street, so look carefully.

📍3rd Floor, 30, opp. Hawa Mahal, Badi Chaupar, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India

A branch of Zostel, India's biggest backpacker hostel chain, inside the walled Pink City near Hawa Mahal. Dorms, private rooms and common areas make it easy to meet other travellers, and the bazaars, City Palace and Jantar Mantar are all within walking distance. A practical, sociable base for a first visit to Jaipur.

📍1st Floor, 85-A Rajamal Ka Talab Road, opp. Tourist Police Station, Chandi Ki Taksal, Pink City, Jaipur 302002, India