A Good Tour

You're best off seeing Jaipur over two days. On one day, see the sights in the walled Old City, entering through Ajmer Gate off M.I. Road to reach the Jantar Mantar observatory and the City Palace. A walk "around the block" through Sireh Deorhi Bazaar takes you to the Hawa Mahal (you can see the back of the facade from the observatory).

On your second day, start early and take a taxi north of town to the Amber Fort and Palace and then go to Nahargarh Fort or Jaigarh Fort —both of these require a fair amount of walking, so leave yourself time to rest. You're best off packing a lunch, or else stop at one of the dhabas (roadside eateries), which are all pretty much the same. If you time your day well, you'll be able to head back into town for some shopping or else head to Chokhi Dhani for some entertainment and dinner. Try to pop in at Kanak Vrindavan Gardens on your return for a short break. A combined ticket (Rs. 400), valid for two days and covering these (except the City Palace) and all other monuments governed by the Archeological Survey of India, can be purchased from any of these sights. The ticket does not cover camera fees, audio tours or the Amber Fort's sound-and-light show.