The Pink City, laid out in 1727 by a king who was also an astronomer

Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and a standard stop on India’s Golden Triangle. It’s a busy, dusty, colorful place, and its walled center is built of rose-colored stone, which is how it got the name Pink City. Its sights are close together, and most of them tell the story of one man, the king who founded it.

A city planned in 1727

Jaipur was founded by Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, who moved his capital here when the old one became crowded and short of water. Building began in 1727, and the main sites took about four years to complete. The city was planned in nine blocks, two of them for the palace and royal buildings. Jai Singh was also an astronomer, which shows in the layout and in one of its best sights. UNESCO listed the walled city as a World Heritage city in July 2019.

Hawa Mahal

The Hawa Mahal, the “Palace of Winds,” was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh and designed by the architect Lal Chand Usta. It’s said to have been shaped like the crown of Krishna. Its five-story facade is only a thin screen, and it’s covered in 953 small sandstone windows, called jharokhas, set in lattices. They were designed so that the women of the court could watch the street below without being seen. Look at it from across the road in the morning light, when the windows catch the sun.

City Palace

The City Palace, in the middle of the old city, was the royal residence and is a mix of Rajasthani and Mughal styles. Two carved marble elephants guard its gate, and families who served the rulers for generations act as guides. Part of it is a museum, with textiles, weapons and, notably, rare manuscripts on astronomy that Jai Singh collected for his studies.

Jantar Mantar

Beside the palace, the Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory that Jai Singh built between 1724 and 1734. It has 14 major instruments for measuring time, tracking the stars and predicting eclipses, and they’re built as huge stone and masonry structures that you can walk around and climb. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 2010. A guide is worth having here, because the instruments make sense only when someone explains how they work.

Amer Fort

About 11 kilometers from the center, Amer Fort is a hill fort-palace that was the capital before Jaipur. It was begun by Raja Man Singh and enlarged by Jai Singh I and later rulers over 150 years. UNESCO listed it in 2013 as one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Go early, as the approach road and courtyards are crowded by mid-morning.

How many days and when to go

Two days give you the old city, the palace, the observatory and Amer Fort. The cooler months, roughly October to March, are the most comfortable. See our Golden Triangle guide for the route, and our India travel guides and India tours.

Planning Jaipur with Absolute Asia Tours

Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. In Jaipur that means a private guide for the Jantar Mantar and the old city, an early start at Amer Fort, and a hotel inside the walled city or beside it. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. Tell us your dates and we’ll plan from there.

Sources (read in Hindi): Hindi Wikipedia entries on Jaipur, the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, the City Palace and Amer Fort. Last checked November 2026.

Jaipur: FAQ

Why is Jaipur called the Pink City?

It’s a nickname for the old walled city, built in rose-colored stone. Jaipur was founded in 1727.

How many windows does the Hawa Mahal have?

953 small latticed windows.

What is the Jantar Mantar?

An observatory built by Sawai Jai Singh between 1724 and 1734, with 14 major instruments. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How many days do you need in Jaipur?

Two days for the main sights.

Is Amer Fort a World Heritage Site?

Yes, as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, listed in 2013.

When is the best time to visit Jaipur?

The cooler months, roughly October to March.

Photo: Wander-earth, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.