Private Tour: Heritage Walking Tour in Jaipur - One of India's Most Charming Cities

Jaipur is a planned city built in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh, the Hindu Rajput ruler of the kingdom of Amber, later Jaipur. You will be picked up from your hotel in Jaipur City in an air-conditioned vehicle and brought to the starting point for our Heritage walking tour, Albert Hall Museum, which was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob in the Indo-Saracenic style.

In 1876, the foundation stone was set by the visiting Prince of Wales, Albert Edward. Our next stop is the New Gate and then the lane, where metal making experts reside and still work with the conventional hand instruments, as their forefathers did. The Anant Dev Temple, along Nataniyo ka Rasta is the next attraction of this walk. This sanctuary is more than 250 years old. Turn right inside the city wall into Bapu Bazaar. Brightly colored bolts of fabric, jootis (traditional shoes) and aromatic perfumes make this street a favorite for Jaipur’s women. At the end of Bapu Bazaar you’ll come to Sanganeri Gate and Johari Bazaar, the jewellery market, where you will find jewelers, goldsmiths and artisans doing highly glazed meenakari (enamelling), a specialty of Jaipur.

Continuing north, walk past Jama Masjid mosque, with its tall minarets, then duck through an archway that leads into a bustling half-covered alleyway, sparkling with shawls and saris. The walk will also take you by the spectacular Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) before walking west along Tripolia Bazaar, leading to the Tripolia Gate. This is the main entrance to Jantar Mantar (Observatory) and the City Palace, but only the maharaja’s family may enter here. The public entrance is via the less-ostentatious Atishpol, Stable Gate.

Further west is Iswari Minar Swarga Sal, which is well worth climbing for amazing views of the city. You will be guided through the spice bazaar and flower market, followed by the vegetable and fruit markets. Here you'll be intoxicated by the fragrance of spices such as cardamom, clove or cumin and the sweet fragrances of rose, jasmine and magnolia. After this, there will be a short tea break where you will enjoy 'Masala Chai' (Spiced Tea) sitting on a rooftop local restaurant. Once finished, you will be escorted back to your hotel in your air-conditioned vehicle.