Hidden Gems in Jaipur Beyond Hawa Mahal

Everyone goes to Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Amer Fort, and they should. But the Jaipur saves that people talk about afterwards are often the smaller places, the ones a creator found and you kept.

Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Panna Meena ka Kund

A centuries old stepwell near Amer Fort, with criss crossing stairs on all four sides. It is small, quiet in the early morning and endlessly photographed. Combine it with Amer, and be respectful of any rules about walking on the steps.

Galta Ji

A temple complex tucked into a gorge in the hills east of the city, with natural water tanks and a lot of monkeys, which is why many people call it the monkey temple. The walk up from the city side gives a view back over Jaipur.

Patrika Gate

At Jawahar Circle, a gateway painted inside in bright patterns and murals of Rajasthan's cities and traditions. It is newer than the forts, and one of the most photographed places in the city. Go early or late for softer light and fewer people.

Nahargarh at Sunset

The fort on the ridge above the city is worth the drive just for the view: the whole of Jaipur below you, turning gold and then lighting up. Take a jacket in winter, it gets cool up there.

Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Jantar Mantar

Right next to City Palace, a collection of giant astronomical instruments built in the 1700s, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It looks like a sculpture park until you learn what each one measures. A guide or the audio tour makes it much better.

Turn the Gems Into a Route

The hard part with hidden gems is that they are spread out. Galta Ji is east, Nahargarh is north, Panna Meena is out by Amer. Save them to Wanna Try and they land on your own map, so you can see which ones belong on the same morning. Ask it to plan your Jaipur trip and it groups them for you, with the travel time between stops.