Jaipur is not exactly a children’s playground, but there are a few things that should engage your kid’s interest. There’s a rather large doll museum and a modern planetarium, among the more interesting and kid-friendly attractions. The forts and palaces are mysterious enough to spark their imaginations, and there are plenty of those to go around. One highlight which will surely get the kids giggling is a trip out to the Sisodia Rani Gardens, where they can watch hundreds of monkeys running around like, well, monkeys.

Birla Planetarium
If the usual architectural sights of Jaipur just aren’t doing it for the kids, consider taking them to the indoor Birla Planetarium. They have an entertaining and educational show about the universe and our solar system which uses a modern audiovisual projection machine to create a decent exhibit. Phone: +91 141 238 1594.

Dolls Museum
This highly specialised museum has an impressive collection of dolls from all over the world. All styles, sizes and genres, from antiques to modern stars are displayed in this arguably feminine museum. The Dolls Museum is easily found on Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg road; phone: +91 141 261 9369.

Sisodia Rani Gardens
Just 8kms east of Jaipur are these impressive terraced gardens with their painted pavilions built during the 17th and 18th centuries by the Kachchwaha kings. For the kids, the main attraction will be the Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh, a lovely temple dedicated to Jai Singh II’s queen. Behind the pavilion is a temple dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey god. Every evening at 16:00, hundreds of monkeys appear out of the trees to be fed by the priests, making for a truly chaotic and entertaining sight. The gardens are located on the Agra road; phone: +91 141 268 0494.

Jaipur is simply littered with wonderful buildings, from temples and palaces to monuments and mysterious homes where the harem occupants used to peek out onto the world from behind veiled windows. A handful of decent museums will give you the background information needed to put the pieces together of Jaipur’s history; while its many gardens and bazaars will give you a colourful glimpse at daily life that hasn’t changed much in the last few centuries.

Albert Hall
In the heart of the Ram Niwas Bagh city garden stands Albert Hall, which is home to Jaipur’s Central Museum. For many, the Indo-Saracenic architecture designed by the famous architect Swinton Jacob is the main attraction. Inside, the museum’s collection is a diverse, though somewhat uninspiring, group of random objects depicting the many facets of life in Rajastan. It is located in Ram Niwas Bagh; phone: +91 141 257 0099.

Anokhi Museum
If you get out to the Amber Fort, don’t pass this great little museum by. The unique textile art of Anokhi, which was started just 30 years ago, is an amazing genre of weaving; and this venue has the finest collection in India. Each room displays a different style of Anokhi, after which you can buy authentic textiles in the rather expensive museum shop, or just have a cup of tea in the quaint café. The museum is located at Anokhi Haveli, Kheri Gate, Amber; phone: +91 141 253 0226.

Govindji Temple
Jaipur’s most famous temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and can be found within the sprawling city complex. At the centre of the worship is a revered image of Krishna brought to the city in the 17th century from Brindavan. In an interesting twist, devotees are only allowed to glimpse the statue at seven specific times each day, creating a rather unique temple scene worth checking out. It is located opposite Chandra Mahal within the city complex.

Jaigarh Fort
Overlooking the palaces of Ajmer on a lovely hilltop is this impressive fort, which boasts the largest cannon on wheels in the world, called the Jai Ban. The fort itself is the main attraction, with its many rooms, gardens and panoramic views across Ajmer. The armoury has a great collection of weapons, armour and other implements of war; while the museum has an equally interesting collection of old photographs, coins and other relics from the glory days. The fort is located 15kms from Jaipur near Ajmer; phone: +91 141 263 0848.

Museum of Indology
Undoubtedly the most eclectic museum in Jaipur, this vast and fascinating collection of random objects was the life’s work of Acharya Vyakul, an Indian writer. From the map of India painted on a grain of rice to letters written by Jai Singh, visitors will be dumbfounded by the random items on display in this somewhat dusty but incredibly engaging museum. Phone: +91 141 260 7455.

Old City Market
There is a large concentration of small street markets and vendors in the older section of the city enclosed within a long crumbling wall with seven gates. Jaipur is one of the best cities in Rajastan to shop for the region’s wonderful crafts, such as gems and jewellery, blue pottery, saris and other treasures. Adding to the scene, many of the vendors dress in traditional clothing, giving the bazaar a special atmosphere.

Raj Mandir
This ostentatious cinema is one of the best in the country, and no trip to India is complete without a trip to the cinema to catch the latest Bollywood blockbuster along with a packed and boisterous crowd. As one of India’s major pastimes, going to an Indian movie is an experience in itself, and the Raj Mandir is simply overflowing with people. You can always watch the audience if the Hindi movie gets too dull. The Raj Mandir is located on MI road; phone: +91 141 237 9372.

Jaipur is a royal city, so it’s used to serving up food fit for a king. Visitors will find little has changed in this department and should be quite pleased with the variety and quality of the cuisine in the Pink City. The culinary traditions of Jaipur are naturally influenced by its desert environment. Dried legumes such as lentils and corn appear more often than rice and vegetables, and the food is a little more spiced than in other regions of India.

The main local staple is probably dal baati churma, lentils with wheat-flour dumplings, and is widely considered to the be speciality of Jaipur and Rajastan. Dal is lentil curry, and forms the basis of many Indian dishes; baati is round bread stuffed with a filling, similar to a roti; mawa kachuri and ghewar, both delicious sweets; mirchi bada, an amazing snack similar to samosas. These all, along with the many different kinds of chapattis, are also not to be missed. A good way to go the first couple of times is to get a traditional thali, a large platter served with a sample of many dishes and condiments.

Nearly every kind of cuisine can be found somewhere in Jaipur, from North and South Indian to Chinese and continental dishes. The street and bazaar food can also be very tasty, so indulge your appetite during your visit. The cold yoghurt drink, lassi, is also a speciality in Jaipur. Stop by Lassiwalla for arguably the best of these beverages in town.

For shopping, it’s hard to beat Jaipur. Few other cities in India offer the range and quality of shopping found in the Pink City, so be prepared to fill those bags. Vendors comes from other cities around the country to buy wholesale items such as jewellery, textiles, pottery, rugs and shoes. Jaipur’s shopping is still basically divided up among the original nine districts, each specialising in a particular craft. If you really want to explore a certain product in depth, then you should focus on the neighbourhood it comes from. However, most shops keep a range of goods that should be enough to satisfy your needs.

The Old City’s Johari Bazaar is the place to go for gemstones and jewellery. Beyond Zarawar Singh gate lies Chameliwala Bazaar, where you can find some of the city’s finest silverwork, tribal, ornamental, and traditional Kundan jewellery. Ajmer road is literally lined with factories and showrooms selling Jaipur’s famous blue pottery, as well as antiques and hand-blocked prints. Bapu Bazaar is a good area to shop for textiles and traditional camel-leather shoes called jootis. Since Bapu Bazaar is pedestrianised, it’s definitely one of the most pleasant areas to casually shop in Jaipur.

There is virtually no outdoor recreation to be had in the city of Jaipur, but there are number of decent national parks, a couple of lakes and nice gardens within easy striking distance should you feel the need to get out and walk around in a quieter environment. The desert figures dominantly in the natural scene around Jaipur, and the sand dunes are certainly one of the great wonders of this part of India.

Bharatpur-Keoladeo Ghana National Park
If it’s birds you’re after, this is the place to go. This 2,600 hectare wildlife preserve is within easy driving distance of Jaipur, and is home to one of the largest concentrations of birdlife in all of Asia. 

Ramgarh Lake
This huge artificial lake is the most popular watery picnic spot around Jaipur. The ruins of the temple of Jamwa Mata and its old fort lend a nice touch of romantic background to the natural scenery.

Ramgarh Polo Grounds
Located between the lake and the Aravalli hills are Jaipur’s polo grounds, which are widely considered to be the finest in India. If you’re visiting at the right time of year, you may be able to catch a match of Rajastan polo.

Ranthambhore National Park
This amazing park is one of the few places left in North India where you are nearly guaranteed to see a tiger. In addition to being a major tiger preserve, the park also boasts India’s largest and most diverse collection of wildlife, which lives among the rugged landscape. Naturally, the park also features a handful of historic temples, forts and palaces, including the Ranthambhore Fort, for which the park is named.

Sariska National Park
A couple of hours from Jaipur is this impressive national park where you can see Rhesus monkeys among the many creatures who roam its expansive grounds. A number of historic monuments and temples from the era of the Maharajas of Alwar are also scattered around the wildlife park, adding another dimension to the place. Jeep safaris and a new luxury resort lodge ensure that you can tour the park in style.