Jaipur is definitely one of more engaging cities in North India, and offers quite a few things to see. Granted, nearly all of them are structures, and old ones at that. However, if you’re a fan of architecture, or love majestic forts and mysterious palaces, then you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied during your visit to Jaipur. The Pink City also has one of the best bazaar scenes in the region, adding a bit of cultural interaction to your architectural wanderings.

Ajmer Fort
This naturally fortified structure sits at the top of the Aravalli hills, and is truly an imposing, grandiose sight. After entering through the Sun Gate, visitors can explore the many palaces, temples, pavilions and gardens which make up the beautiful complex of the fort. You can easily spend a day lingering in the many buildings of the fort, but it’s one of the most popular attractions in Jaipur, so either come as early as possible or prepare to deal with a bit of crowd and noise. Weekends are especially busy, but weekday mornings are pleasant and cool. The fort is located 11kms north of Jaipur in Ajmer; phone: +91 141 253 0293.

Armoury
Next to the first courtyard in the City Palace sits the royal Armoury. Even if you’re not a fan of warfare or weapons, you’ll want to stop by this impressive little museum to see its amazing collection of beautiful yet deadly swords, daggers and other implements of war. Mughal history is full of fighting, and many of the pieces in this collection were used by past emperors. Located in the City Palace.

City Palace
Jaipur’s main attraction is a major highlight indeed. More like a mini-city than a single site, the City Palace incorporates several of Jaipur’s architectural wonders and deserves at least one return visit, especially at dawn or dusk when the lights really turn on the magic. Inside the complex is the magnificent Palace of Wind, the Govindji Temple and most of the city’s best bazaars. The family who last ruled Jaipur still lives in the Moon Palace, but the inner and outer courtyards have been turned into museums. Several courtyards, Halls of Public Audience, and the Armoury are each highlights on their own. From the lovely Peacock Courtyard you may even catch a glimpse of the royals in their seven-storey palace high above.

Diwan-i-Am
One of the two Halls of Public Audience in the City Palace, this small but intriguing museum has an amazing collection of rare old photographs from the golden eras of Jaipur. Its exhibits of miniature paintings, manuscripts and traditional carpets are also well worth the visit. Diwan-i-Am is located in the City Palace.

Gaitor
At the foot of the imposing Nahargarh Fort lie the marble cremation platforms of Jaipur’s past rulers. A lovely walled garden encloses the white marble chhatris, or cenotaphs, of kings and emperors, some of which are particularly ornate and beautiful. Gaitor is located 6kms from Jaipur at Nahargarh.

Galta
This sacred pilgrimage site lies along the road to Agra and has the only temple dedicated to the Sun God in all of India. Galta is a pretty little gorge with dozens of natural pools fed by a spring that tumbles out of the rock face. These pools are considered holy and are surrounded by a number of temples where the water emerges from the rock. Galta is located 10kms from Jaipur on the road to Agra.

Hawa Mahal
The Palace of the Wind is the gem of the City Palace complex, and one of the most photographed structures in India. The five-storey classic structure has 593 windows on its façade covered by latticed-stone screens, one for each of the women in the Maharaja’s harem. The idea was that the royal ladies could watch city life below without being seen, as that is taboo. Visitors can now tour this amazing house and its museum, which is located in the City Palace; phone: +91 141 261 8862.

Jantar Mantar
The massive stone instruments of this 18^th century observatory were built by the legendary Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, renowned as a brilliant mind of his time. The enormous sun dial is as accurate today as it was 200 years ago, so try and visit on a sunny day to fully appreciate the genius of its creator. This medieval observatory is the world’s largest, and although you may not understand the purpose of all the stone and marble monuments, the guided tour will show you the light. It is located near the City Palace; phone: +91 141 261 0494.

Mubarak Mahal
Also known as the Welcome Palace, this is the reception centre of sorts for the massive City Palace complex. Within this first courtyard, visitors can get a feel for the layout of the complex and check out the palace’s excellent collection of textiles and traditional costumes, which include many royal outfits. Mubarak Mahal is located in the City Palace.

Catch a Bollywood flick at the Raj Mandhir Theatre. As you’ll soon discover, watching Bollywood films is a major pastime in this country, and the Raj Mandhir is Rajastan’s busiest movie theatre. There are always massive crowds of Indians waiting to get into the next movie, creating a hectic but somewhat surreal scene. It’s best to book your tickets well in advance to avoid the lines; then you can sit back across the street at the coffee shop and watch the action. The movie itself will surely be interesting, but simply going to the movie will be the most memorable experience. Located on MI Road; phone: +91 141 237 9372.

Catch the greatest sunset around at Nahargarh Fort. This is arguably the best spot in Jaipur to watch this daily spectacle. The Pink City really turns on the hues when the sun goes down, and from the lofty perspective of Nahargarh Fort you can see the whole of Jaipur turn into a tapestry of twinkling diamonds. Located about 15kms from the city; phone: +91 141 514 8044.

Find romance at the lovely village of Samode. One of the nicer daytrips from Jaipur is to Samode, about 40kms from the city. The Samode Palace is a real stunner, and its two Halls of Public Audience are among the finest in Rajastan, yet not many tourists make the effort to come out here. You can have a cup of tea in the luscious courtyard, then head down to the fairytale village itself for a bit of shopping and dining.

Immerse yourself in Jaipur’s traditional culture at the Chokhi Dhani. This five-star ethnic resort makes a great place to stay for a night or two, but it’s the evening cultural entertainment that is the main attraction. Live folk music and folk dancing is backed by an amazing all-you-can-eat banquet of local dishes. Later on you can take an elephant ride, camel ride or get hauled around by an ox in a wooden cart. You don’t have to stay at the hotel to enjoy the fun, but it’s shame to have to go back to the city after the entertainment and feasting. Located 18kms from Jaipur along the Tonk-Jaipur Highway.

Join the monkeys at Sisodia Rani Gardens. Along the road to Agra is this lovely, tranquil oasis of terraced gardens built by the kings of Kachchwaha in the 18th and 19th centuries. Beautifully painted pavilions dot the landscape, and at the back of the gardens is a set of steps leading up to the Temple of Hanuman, the monkey god. Each evening at 16:00, the priests come out to feed the monkeys, resulting in an absolute free-for-all involving hundreds of monkeys trying to get their share. It’s great fun located 8kms east of Jaipur; phone: +91 141 268 0494.

See where all the amazing textiles come from at the village of Sanganer. A great excursion from Jaipur is a trip out to the traditional textile village of Sanganer, just 16kms from the city centre. Not only is this old town an interesting site in its own right, but it’s the best place around to see how Jaipur’s block-printed textiles and handmade paper is created. Watch how it’s done, then pick up some fabric at super prices.

Wander the bazaars of Jaipur’s Old City, and transport yourself back in time. Within the crumbling walls of the City Palace lie some of Jaipur’s oldest and most interesting markets. There are several bazaars to explore, and each one is like unravelling another layer of an onion. The heady aromas of spices mix with elephant dung, smoke from open fires and sweet fragrant tea being brewed. It can be an overwhelming experience, but that’s the point. It’s a bazaar! The shopping is great and the snake charmers are beyond belief. Jaipur’s bazaars are the real deal.