5 November 2019
Top 10 things to do in Jaipur with children
(A list of 10 of the best things to do in Jaipur written by an 8-year old)
As India travel and tour planners and experts, based in Melbourne, Australia, some of the in-depth knowledge we pride ourselves on is family travel in India and how best to travel with children in India and Sri Lanka. As a family-owned and operated business, we have spent the best part of the last decade living and travelling extensively in India with our own family, and more than two decades planning travel in India for our clients. And as such, our now 8-year-old son often is the first person to test new activities and those activities specifically designed for children in India. He’s our barometer for what might work for children, what’s too far to drive in one day with families, what activities and hotels are best suited for family travel in India, and what are the small things along the way that children love or hate.
One of our favourite places to visit in India time and again is Jaipur. We usually travel to Jaipur – the pink city of Rajasthan – at least twice a year. During this year’s travel, our son kept a travel diary (something we do on every trip) and as part of his homework project we asked him to write a Jaipur travel blog which covered his top 10 things to do in Jaipur.
It is a delight to read what activities he loves in Jaipur, and so we thought we would share it with you in case you are planning a family private tour of India. We thought it might give you some ideas as to what children like to do, hearing it first-hand from a child’s perspective. (Please note, some of the things to do in Jaipur he has suggested are also things we love to do as adults!) To prove these are the tips for travelling in Jaipur for families, we’ve included a photo of his original list to share with you. Below we have outlined his recommendations – in case you can’t follow the writing of an 8-year-old. His tips are in italics, and then we’ve had a few more details about each place too.
We hope you enjoy reading this India travel blog – from a well-travelled 8-year old!
What are the best things to see and do in Jaipur with children?
#1 One of the best things to do in Jaipur is to go to the market and have a mooch around. But you can also go to Jaipur’s most famous Kulfi shop.
Inside the old city of Jaipur you will discover the bustling central bazaar. Discover the small shops and boutiques inside the pink city bursting with wares from copper pots to bangles, jewellery, indigo block printed clothing, trinkets, bags, souvenirs, wedding ornaments and much, much more. If you like to shop and love India’s vibrant bazaars, Jaipur’s central market is one of the best. And when you are there, make sure you stop and refresh yourself with a kulfi – an Indian ice cream made of butter milk and flavoured with pistachios and saffron. Definitely a winner with children (and adults!).
#2 You can also go to Hawa Mahal and see the way it was made.
Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, is an icon of the city of Jaipur. Almost all visitors to the pink city stop to marvel at Hawa Mahal, usually early in the morning when they can take a photo without much traffic. However, not all visitors take the time to go inside Hawa Mahal and look out through the magnificent windows. We recommend visiting inside Hawa Mahal and not just taking a picture.
#3 If you are staying at Samode Haveli you can have an hour or two at the pool. I would suggest doing the Pink Ladies tuk tuk tour on the same day.
Samode Haveli is our favourite place to stay in Jaipur and arguably one of our top places to stay in all of India. This gorgeous boutique hotel is a restored Rajasthani haveli, nestled in a quiet corner of Jaipur. Set around a series of courtyards, with pretty, well-manicured gardens and a very inviting pool, Samode Haveli is an oasis in Jaipur. We often recommend to clients spending 3 or 4 days in Jaipur – there is plenty to see and do in Jaipur – and if you are staying at Samode Haveli, we recommend taking some time to relax and enjoy this gorgeous hotel and its facilities. Spend some time by the pool, indulge in a cocktail poolside, pamper yourself with a massage at the spa and for the little ones, the hotel will take you kite flying on the roof at sunset. An excellent recommendation by the youngster!
Additionally, the Pink City Tuk Tuk tours are a great way to explore some of the city’s lesser-known sights and support local women at the same time. You can start the day early with one of their tours and return to the hotel after lunch for some r & r.
#4 You can visit Amber Fort
Amber Fort is one of the “big” highlight attractions of Jaipur and arguably, one of Rajasthan’s most powerful and impressive forts. Located about 45 minutes outside of Jaipur, Amber Fort will introduce you to the history, the power, the wealth and legend of Rajasthan’s royal past. Ascend the winding fort path by jeep and marvel inside at its impressive Palace of Mirrors and Elephant Gate. (Please note, we no longer offer the elephant ride at the fort to our clients because of animal welfare concerns.) Amber Fort is an incredible attraction and definitely worth visiting in Jaipur. If you start early you can visit most of the fort before lunch, leaving you the afternoon to see some of Jaipur’s other attractions, to do some shopping in Jaipur, or to simply enjoy your hotel.
#5 Go to Anokhi or Jaipur Modern for lunch
Our son is a great eater and loves Indian food. So when we travel in India as a family, the meals are pretty easy as he will happily eat dal and rice every day and generally loves all Indian food. However, if we are on the road in India for longer stretches, he does really look forward to a pasta or more Western meal. Who doesn’t? Jaipur has some wonderful modern cafes and restaurants where you can have a break from Indian and grab a decent coffee. Two of our favourites are Anokhi Café and Jaipur Modern – where you’ll often find us for lunch when we are in Jaipur. We love Anokhi’s salads, burgers, pastas and their delicious cakes and coffees. The same applies at Jaipur Modern – the pesto pasta and quinoa menu there are welcome meals after a few weeks of rich north Indian cuisine.
#6 Spend a night at Bishanghar Fort
I would definitely say our son has an eye for the good life! Recently we were fortunate enough to stay a night at Alila’s luxury Fort Bishanghar outside of Jaipur. This magnificent property has been newly restored and allows guests to stay inside a grand Rajasthani fort that has been lovingly and meticulously converted into a luxury stay. Dine on their rooftop restaurant and savour mouth-watering Rajasthani meals. We had their set menu of several courses prepared in the traditional style pots in hot sand. It was outstanding. There are several great activities to experience here including village walks, bike rides and a local artisan tour and the hotel boasts great facilities such as a very inviting pool. A great place to stay and unwind and to experience life in a Rajasthani village during a tour of north India. Classic Rajasthan is one of our suggested itineraries that includes Jaipur in north India.
What are the best places to visit in India with children?
#7 Go to Bagru about 50 minutes outside of Jaipur
If you like hands-on activities when you travel and are interested in textiles, then one great activity to do with children in India is to take a block printing class. Bagru is the heart of block printing near Jaipur and is less than an hour by vehicle, so can easily be done as a day trip during a stay in Jaipur. My son loves this type of activity and the recent block printing workshop we did at Bagru was excellent. Discover the village of Bagru and the process of block printing with a short guided village walk and then try your hand a making your own block printed piece using the traditional wooden carved blocks and a range of colours. We made tote bags and scarfs that we brought home with us. A great activity for children in Jaipur and a welcome break from sightseeing.
#8 You can go to Tapri Tea for chai
Ok, so not everyone is going to let their kids drink chai, but yes, we do. And Tapri Tea in Jaipur serves one of the best chais we have ever had. Head to their rooftop café in Jaipur and order the saffron chai – delicious! It comes served with individual packet of a few biscuits. If you haven’t had a chance to savour India’s famous chai this is a great place to do it. The café serves a range of snacks and lunch items and is a great place to see how the new middle class young Indians spend their time – sipping chai and hanging out. Like we said to begin with, recommended by an 8-year-old but perfect for mum & dad too who might like to just sit and have a great cuppa for a minute.
#9 Visit Anokhi Museum
Jaipur is packed with things to see and do – it is one of those places you can easily spend 3 or 4 days. If you are interested in textiles or want to build on what you have seen and learnt at Bagru, make a quick visit to the Anokhi Museum to find out more about the tradition of textile making and printing in Jaipur.
#10 You can go to the Albert Hall Museum
One of Jaipur’s best known museums, if you don’t have time to visit Albert Hall – at least make the time to drive past and see this architectural beautiful museum.
If you are planning to travel in India with your family, this is a list of some of the things you can see and go in the much-loved city of Jaipur, Rajasthan with children. This list was prepared by our 8-year-old son after a recent visit to the city. You can see his original list at the top of this blog. We like to test all the activities we include in our custom made India itineraries, and that includes our options for travelling with children in India.
To find out more about family travel in India, contact one of our India travel specialists at mail@indiaunbound.com.au
You might like to read our other travel blogs:
Tips for travelling with children in India and Sri Lanka
Top things to do in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary with children
Great places to stay in Kerala with children
We have recently created the following itinerary for family travel in south India – Kerala Family Holiday. We can also create a personalised family holiday in north India which includes Jaipur to suit your family.
Some of our suggested itineraries that include a visit to Jaipur include Quintessential Rajasthan and North India In Depth
Contact India Unbound in Melbourne, Australia to start planning your India family holiday. Phone toll free from anywhere in Australia on 1300 889 513.