The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
History,  India,  Wildlife

Exploring The Sights Of Jaipur 

December 14, 2025 /

The city wall of Jaipur, visible from all around the city, is not your normal city wall by any means. Rather than the remaining sections being deep within a congested sprawl the likes of which one might see in many cities, this is an undulating major construction which circles the city some distance from its outer limits, following the contours of the land even where the inclines become steep and the peaks become seemingly inaccessible. It is in its way rather reminiscent of a scaled down version of the Great Wall Of China.

View from Amber Palace, Jaipur, India
View of the wall from Amber Fort

Our three days in Jaipur are spent exploring many of its notable sights. Rather than trot out endless facts which can be found via a quick Google, below is a brief description of each, with (mild) apologies for any lack of detail. Michaela’s photos do a better job, anyway….

Hawa Mahal, Palace Of Winds

Almost without doubt Jaipur’s most famous building, it’s something of a surprise to find this unusual yet majestic palace housed in just another street of madness rather than in a regal plaza. Constructed from red and pink sandstone, its latter day more obvious pink finish is said to emanate from an order by Maharaja Ram Singh in anticipation of a visit by British royalty in 1876, when many of Jaipur’s major buildings were given a makeover in that colour. It is from this event that Jaipur earned its “Pink City” nickname…though, incidentally, we’ve come across different accounts of which royal visitor was thus received.

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India
Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India
Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal is a uniquely striking building, its oversize pyramidal facade resembling a giant pink honeycomb, complete with no less than 953 windows. It’s actually the breezes whistling through these multiple apertures which give the palace its name. Behind the illustrious frontage the palace is a labyrinth of passageways and chambers surrounding a small but attractive courtyard where fountains dance in the breeze, but in truth the joy of Hawa Mahal is viewing its remarkable facade from a short distance away – climb one of the dimly lit stairways between the shops opposite and grab a table at a rooftop cafe for uninterrupted views.

Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India
Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India
Hawa Mahal

Like Jaipur as a whole, Hawa Mahal is a tourist hotspot, though on today’s evidence the vast majority of visitors to the city are from across India rather than from further afield. Colourful and elegant sarees abound.

Jal Mahal, The Water Palace

Beautifully positioned out in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, Jal Mahal gives the illusion of a floating palace, its inverted image shimmering in the waters below. With two floors on its eastern side completely submerged when lake waters are at their highest, Jal Mahal is under constant threat of irreparable damage and in need of never ending repair and maintenance. It’s survived since 1699 though so those repairs have obviously been successful.

Jal Mahal, Jaipur, India
Jal Mahal
Statues by lake near Jal Mahal, Jaipur, India
Statues by lake near Jal Mahal, Jaipur, India
Statues near Jal Mahal

Inaccessible to the public and largely today the domain of cormorants, this ostentatious representation of Rajput architecture houses rooftop gardens with sizeable trees visible from the lakeside vantage points.

The Step Well, Panna Meena Ka Kund

Standing looking down into the Step Well is kind of mesmerising. Built of course as a way of storing natural water for the massed population of the city, its ingenious design provides access and platforms regardless of the water level, via symmetrical staircases which play tricks on the eyes.

The Stepwell, Panna Meena Ka Kund, Jaipur, India
The Step Well

Amer (or Amber) Fort & Palace

A tuk-tuk ride from the centre – followed by, advisedly, a jeep up the long steep hill – the Amer complex is a fascinating, rambling place, proudly sitting atop the highest hill and dominating the skyline. Once one is within the vast area covered by the fort, the opulence and wealth of its creators is absolutely obvious. Walking around its rambling structures we are constantly wowed by its detailed, ornate architecture.

Amber Fort, Jaipur, India
Amber Fort
Amber Palace, Jaipur, India
Amber Palace
Amber Palace, Jaipur, India
Amber Palace
Amber Palace, Jaipur, India
Amber Palace, Jaipur, India
Amber Palace, Jaipur, India

Amber Palace, Jaipur, India
Amber Fort
Amber Palace, Jaipur, India
Amber Palace

Jantar Mantar

A remarkable place for many reasons, Jantar Mantar owes its existence to Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, whose fascination with astronomy attracted leading lights from the world of science to graduate to Jaipur to assist in its creation. Permanent structures measure the movement of planets and star constellations, monitoring passing seasons and keeping time to an accuracy of seven seconds. Although many of the on-site descriptions are too esoteric for us to fully comprehend, Jantar Mantar leaves the visitor in awe of both the knowledge of earlier generations and the determination to bring such major idealistic projects to fruition.

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India
Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India
Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India
Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India
Jantar Mantar

Cenotaph

Hidden from the bustling city, the burial site of royalty is an absolute haven of peace, as well as affording expansive views back across the city.

Cenotaph, Jaipur, India
Cenotaph
Cenotaph, Jaipur, India
Cenotaph
Cenotaph, Jaipur, India
Cenotaph

Albert Hall Museum

Set in an imposing position above a wide, open apron, the museum features displays and artefacts from around the world and from different eras, though for us we found the examples of local specialist artwork probably the most fascinating section. By the way, the many photographs on the internet of the Albert Hall reflected in a pool out front are deceptive and must have been taken on a rainy day: the water was merely a puddle on the paved frontage.

Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur, India
Albert Hall Museum

The Monkey Temple (Galta Ji)

Our last call and an unusual temple in a fabulous setting above the city, delicately placed between the rocky cliffs of the mountains where a surprisingly strong water source cascades through the centre. The endless and considerable supply of fresh water has for centuries been seen as miraculous, hence the siting of the temple – the water thus considered sacred. Judging by the visitors today, pilgrims from across India still come to douse themselves in the revered pools. Its nickname comes, of course, from the huge numbers of macaques who have made this lovely setting their home.

The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
Monkey Temple
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
Monkey Temple
Ladies taking a dip, The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
Ladies taking a dip in the sacred waters
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
Fun with the monkeys

The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
Monkey Temple
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India
The Monkey Temple, Galta Ji Temple, Jaipur, India

Once again, apologies for any brevity of detail, but it would take far too lengthy a post to do justice to the many worthy sights of Jaipur. Clearly a destination city for visitors from across India, Jaipur is an absorbing city with multiple layers of character, from breathless manic activity to places of meditative serenity.

Oh, and our Ayurvedic massage wasn’t bad either. Jodhpur next….

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