DaylightSunset about 5:36 PM. Daylight is short, so plan the views for the early afternoon.
HappeningPleasant days and cool evenings, and a good time for the full route. Diwali can fall in this month (dates vary), and the Pushkar Fair gathers pilgrims and traders by the lake (dates vary).
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. The trip starts in Jaipur and runs south-west by road, so keep the first evening light.Details
Getting in
Jaipur has its own airport and a main railway station, and many trips reach it from Delhi by train or by road. Traffic in the city is heavy at most hours of the day, so allow for a slow arrival from wherever you land.
The road days
Days 3 and 5 are long days by road between the cities. The highways are busy with trucks, carts and animals, and a short distance on the map can be a long day. Many travelers hire a car with a driver for the whole route and plan little else on those days.
Heat, water and dust
Choose the cooler months. Wear light cotton, carry a hat and a scarf for the dust, and drink only sealed or filtered water. For forts and temples, cover shoulders and knees and wear shoes that slip on and off, because many places ask you to take them off.
First evening
Day 1 begins in the old walled city of Jaipur, so do not plan more tonight than a short walk and a meal. In the bazaars, bargain politely, and smile and walk on if you do not want to buy.
Day 1. Jaipur
3 stops · 15.7 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth the time
Amber Fort
A hill fort of sandstone and white marble above a lake, with courtyards, a mirrored hall and a long ramp up to the gate. Go early, wear shoes with grip for the stone ramps, and take water. The fort is about 11 kilometres from Jaipur, so allow for the road.
Go whenEarly morning, before the heat and the crowds.
Local tip Walk up the ramp if you can, in shoes with grip, because the stone is slippery when polished. Hire a guide only if you want one, and agree the arrangement first.
A palace that sits in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, with its lower floors under the water. It is seen from the lakeside path and is not entered, so it is a short stop to look, take a photo and walk by the water.
Go whenMidday, as a stop on the road, though there is little shade.
Local tip The palace is seen from the lakeside path and cannot be entered. A few minutes by the water is enough, and traders on the path will offer you things.
A crisp, flaky fried pastry filled with spiced onion, eaten hot with a sweet and sour chutney. A famous snack of Jaipur, found at sweet shops and stalls near the old city.
Local tip Eat it fresh from the pan. The chilies in the filling can be strong, so taste a little first.
A fort on the ridge above the city, built in the eighteenth century as a retreat and a lookout, with long walls and quiet courtyards. The road up is winding. Take water, and keep to the paths near the edges.
Go whenLate afternoon, when the heat has dropped.
Local tip Take water, wear shoes with grip and keep away from the unfenced edges. The road up is narrow and winding, so go by car or taxi rather than on foot.
The classic dish of Rajasthan: hard baked wheat balls broken open and soaked in ghee, with spiced lentils and a sweet crumbled churma on the side. Hearty, and a plate to share.
Local tip Many places serve it without meat. Tell the cook of any allergy in plain words, and do not rely on a menu line.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 2. Jaipur, part 2
3 stops · 0.5 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
MorningWorth a short visit
Hawa Mahal
A five-storey facade of pink sandstone with hundreds of small latticed windows, built so the women of the royal household could watch the street without being seen. It is best known from the road outside, and the rooms behind it can be walked through.
Go whenMorning, when the street is quieter and the facade is easy to take in.
Local tip Look at it from the road first, then go in for the rooms and the small windows. The street is busy with traffic, so watch your step and your bag.
The old royal residence in the middle of the walled city, with courtyards, painted gates and museum rooms of textiles, weapons and royal robes. Part of the palace is still a family home, so keep to the open areas.
Go whenMidday, when the museum rooms give some shade from the sun.
Local tip The palace is still a family home in part, so keep to the open courtyards and halls. Look at the painted gates, and take your time with the textile and costume rooms.
A tray of small bowls: lentils, a seasonal vegetable, a dry gram flour dish, curd, bread, rice and a sweet. It is a good way to taste a bit of everything in one meal, in a plain family restaurant.
Local tip Ask for the vegetarian version if you want it. Refills usually come round, so you do not need to order more.
About 2 min walk0.1 km
3
AfternoonWorth a short visit
Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
An observatory of huge stone instruments built in the early eighteenth century by Maharaja Jai Singh II, used to read time and the position of the sun and stars. A World Heritage site, and a good place to wander and read the signs. It is open to the sky with little shade.
Go whenAfternoon, once the day has cooled a little, though there is little shade.
Local tip Read the signs beside each instrument before you walk around it. The stone is hot at midday, so take a hat and water.
Steamed gram flour dumplings in a tangy curd gravy with spices, a dish made for a desert kitchen without much fresh vegetable. Rich and filling, found in simple Rajasthani restaurants.
Local tip The curry is mild to medium. Ask for the chilies on the side if you want less heat.
If it rains. City Palace, Jaipur is covered, so keep it. Move Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar, Jaipur to a dry day if you can.
Day 3. Jaipur and Jodhpur
3 stops · 569.7 kmAbout 7 h 42 min driving
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Jantar Mantar, JaipurAbout 3 h 51 min by car284.3 km
Where Day 2 ended.
1
MiddayA place to walk
Mandore Gardens
The gardens of the old capital of Marwar, north of Jodhpur, with tall red sandstone cenotaphs of past rulers among shady trees. Quiet, green and easy to walk. Wild monkeys live here, so keep food out of sight.
Go whenMorning, when the shade is cool and the gardens are quiet.
Local tip Keep food and bags out of sight, because the monkeys here are bold. Do not feed them or look them in the eye. The cenotaphs are best seen slowly.
About 3 h 51 min by car284.4 km
2
EveningA place to wander
Johari Bazaar
A long street of the old city known for jewellery, silver, textiles and sweets. Walk it slowly in the cooler part of the day, look at the shopfronts and the carved doors, and buy only if you want to. Bargain politely.
Go whenLate afternoon into the evening, when the heat has eased and the street is busy.
Local tip Bargain politely and smile if you walk away. Keep a firm hold of your bag, and drink only sealed or filtered water as you go.
About 13 min walk1.0 km
3
EveningPick your rooms
Albert Hall Museum
A museum in an Indo-Saracenic building in a public garden, with a collection of crafts, carpets, paintings and sculpture. A calm end to a day of forts. Check ahead on its days.
Go whenLate afternoon, as a cool end to a day of forts.
Local tip Choose one or two galleries and let the rest go. Walk around the building in the garden first, and check ahead on its days.
If it rains. Albert Hall Museum is covered, so keep it. Move Mandore Gardens and Johari Bazaar to a dry day if you can.
Day 4. Jodhpur
3 stops · 289.7 kmAbout 3 h 53 min driving
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Albert Hall MuseumAbout 3 h 53 min by car285.9 km
Where Day 3 ended.
1
MiddayWorth a short visit
Jaswant Thada
A cenotaph of thin, polished white marble, built in 1899 for a maharaja and set in a small garden by a lake below the fort. A quiet, cool place to sit. Take off your shoes where asked, and keep your voice low.
Go whenMidday, as a cool pause out of the sun.
Local tip Take off your shoes where asked and cover shoulders and knees. Sit by the lake for a few minutes before you leave.
An eighteenth-century stepwell in the old town, restored, with tiers of carved stone steps going down to a square pool. Easy to miss in the lanes near the clock tower, and a pleasant place to see how the city once kept its water.
Go whenAfternoon, when the light reaches the lower steps.
Local tip The steps are old and can be slippery, so wear shoes with grip and keep back from the edge. It sits in a lane near the clock tower, so ask for directions in the old town.
A curd and gram flour curry served with a thick millet flatbread, a desert staple, often with a spoon of ghee. Plain, filling and very local to Marwar.
Local tip Bajra roti is dense, so one is enough. Ask for the ghee to be left off if you prefer.
A large sandstone and marble palace of the twentieth century on a hill outside the old town. Part of it is a royal home, part a hotel and one wing a museum, so go to see the building and the museum wing. Check ahead on what is open to visitors.
Go whenLate afternoon, once the heat has dropped.
Local tip Most of the palace is a hotel or a private home, so only the museum wing and the public areas are open to visitors. Check ahead on what you can enter.
A dry desert dish of wild beans and berries cooked with spices and curd, with a sharp, pickled taste. A Marwar specialty that sits well beside bread and lentils.
Local tip Order it with a plain flatbread. It can be spicy, so taste a little first.
If it rains. Umaid Bhawan Palace is covered, so keep it. Move Jaswant Thada and Toorji Ka Jhalra to a dry day if you can.
Day 5. Jodhpur and Udaipur
3 stops · 403.0 kmAbout 5 h 37 min driving
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Umaid Bhawan PalaceAbout 11 min by car or transit3.4 km
Where Day 4 ended.
1
MorningWorth the time
Mehrangarh
A fifteenth-century fort on a high rock above Jodhpur, with massive walls, carved palace rooms, courtyards and a museum of royal objects. The old town below is known for its blue-painted houses. Go early, take water and give it half a day.
Go whenEarly morning, before the heat and the crowds.
Local tip Take the long ramps slowly in shoes with grip, and give the fort half a day. Its museum rooms are cool and worth the time, so read a few labels and let the rest go.
The Garden of the Maidens, laid out in the eighteenth century as a retreat for the women of the royal household, with a lotus pool, marble elephants, kiosks and fountains in lawns. Shade is scarce at midday, so walk slowly.
Go whenLate morning, though shade is scarce.
Local tip Walk the lawns slowly, and stop at the lotus pool and the marble elephants. The fountains do not always run, so go for the garden and not for them.
A crisp fried pastry with a savory lentil filling, dunked in a tangy yellow curd and gram flour sauce. A snack that works as a light lunch, found in the lanes below the City Palace.
Local tip Eat it while the pastry is still crisp. The sauce is sour, not spicy, so it is a gentle dish.
About 2 h 48 min by car199.5 km
3
EveningA place to wander
Ghanta Ghar and Sardar Market
The old clock tower of Jodhpur stands in the middle of a busy market square, with narrow streets around it for spices, cloth, bangles and metalwork. A short, lively walk after the road. Bargain politely, and keep your bag close.
Go whenEvening, when the market is busy and the heat has eased.
Local tip Walk a loop of the streets around the tower. Bargain politely, keep your bag in front of you, and drink only sealed or filtered water.
Dinner
Laal maas
A fiery red curry of mutton slow-cooked with red chilies, garlic and ghee, a dish of the Rajput hunting tradition. Many kitchens make a milder or vegetarian dish for guests who ask.
Local tip It is very hot in its traditional form. Say if you want it mild, and tell the cook of any allergy in plain words.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 6. Udaipur
3 stops · 203.1 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Ghanta Ghar and Sardar MarketAbout 2 h 50 min by car202.3 km
Where Day 5 ended.
1
MiddayWorth the time
City Palace, Udaipur
A huge palace complex on the shore of Lake Pichola, begun in the sixteenth century and added to for centuries, with courtyards, balconies, mirrored rooms and museum halls. Go early, and wear shoes you can take off and on.
Go whenMorning, before the courtyards fill up.
Local tip Give it a good half day and follow the signs through the rooms. The floors are polished stone and the stairs are steep, so wear shoes with grip and carry water.
A Hindu temple of Vishnu, finished in the seventeenth century, reached by a steep flight of steps beside the palace. Take off your shoes at the stair, cover shoulders and knees and be quiet while worshippers pray.
Go whenMidday, before the heat is at its worst, or in the early evening.
Local tip Take off your shoes at the foot of the steps and cover shoulders and knees. The stone is hot at midday, so a pair of socks can help. Stay behind the line while prayers are on.
An eighteenth-century mansion on the lake front at Gangaur Ghat, with many small rooms, courtyards and a collection of turbans, costumes and folk arts. Evening dance performances are held here, so check ahead.
Go whenLate afternoon, before an evening show if you want one.
Local tip Choose a few rooms and read the labels rather than rushing through them. The performance is held in the courtyard, so check ahead on the evening.
Dinner
A Mewari thali
A tray of dishes in the style of Mewar: lentils, a vegetable, gram flour dishes, curd, bread, rice and a sweet. A calm, filling dinner on a road day, in a family restaurant near the lake.
Local tip Ask for it with no meat if you prefer. Tell the cook of any allergy in plain words, and do not rely on a menu line.
If it rains. City Palace, Udaipur and Bagore Ki Haveli are covered, so keep them. Move Jagdish Temple to a dry day if you can.
Day 7. Udaipur, part 2
3 stops · 9.7 km
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
AfternoonWorth a short visit
Jag Mandir Palace
A palace on an island in Lake Pichola, with a gateway, gardens and a long history as a royal retreat. It is reached by boat. Check ahead on which boats run and where they land, and wear shoes that are fine on stone.
Go whenAfternoon, as a quiet break on the water.
Local tip Check at the jetty which boats run to the island and where they land, and keep valuables dry. Do not climb on the old walls.
A hilltop palace, also called Sajjangarh, built in the 1880s on a ridge west of the city to watch the monsoon clouds. The road up is steep and winding, and the palace itself is a simple building. Take water.
Go whenLate afternoon, as the heat eases. Check ahead on when the gate closes.
Local tip Go by car, because the road is steep and winding. The palace is simple, so go for the hill and the air, and take water and a hat.
A lake made in the fourteenth century, with the City Palace and old havelis on its east shore and the hills beyond. Walk along the ghats at the end of the road day and sit by the water. Nothing is needed tonight.
Go whenLate afternoon, around sunset (about 5:36 PM), though cloud can hide the sky.
Local tip Walk the ghats and watch the life on the steps. Keep clear of the edge, and wear shoes you can take off easily where the steps are sacred.
A mild white curry of mutton cooked in curd, cream and spices with no red chili, a dish of the royal kitchens of Mewar. Many restaurants offer a milder or vegetarian dish too.
Local tip It is richer and milder than laal maas. Tell the cook of any nut allergy in plain words, since cashew or almond paste is common in it.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. You end in Udaipur, far from Jaipur and Jodhpur, so plan the way out the night before.Details
Leaving Udaipur
Udaipur has its own airport and a railway station, and many flights from it connect through larger cities. Book your way out early, and do not plan to drive back to Jaipur on the last day, because that road is a very long one.
The last morning
Keep the last morning slow: a walk beside the water, a last cup of tea and a check that nothing is left in the room. Ask the hotel if it will keep your bags if your departure is later in the day.
Taking things home
Check your own country's rules before you buy textiles, spices, silver, antiques or anything made from animal products. For anything described as old, ask the shop for its paperwork, since some antiques may not be taken out of India.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Jaipur?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January to February and November to December are the most comfortable months for walking around Jaipur. This plan is built for mid November, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 7 days in Jaipur, planned for mid November. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 0.5 to 399.6 kilometers between its stops, and 715.4 kilometers in all across 7 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
5 days of Holi in Udaipur and JaipurAbout 50 km awayAn easy add-on
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