wanderings in india

Wanderings in India and other sketches of life in Hindostan

430 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2013

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Wanderings in India and Other Sketches of Life in Hindostan Paperback – Unabridged, 20 April 2015

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• ISBN-10 9788129136848
• ISBN-13 978-8129136848
• Edition First Edition
• Publisher Rupa Publications India
• Publication date 20 April 2015
• Language English
• Dimensions 17.78 x 11.37 x 2.52 cm
• Print length 448 pages
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From the Publisher

In Conversation with John Lang

INTRODUCTION

Ever since I came to live in Mussoorie in 1964, John Lang has never been very far from my thoughts.

I have no idea what he looked like, for no photograph or portrait has come down to us; but I feel his presence, and he hovers like a ghost over the hill-station, which he knew so well.

Lang died in Mussoorie in 1864, just over a hundred and fifty years ago; but when I came to live here in

1964, there was no one who had heard of him. He was a forgotten writer, no more than a footnote in the history of colonial India. I had come across a mention of him in Ifor Evans’s A Short History of English Literature —just a line or two to the effect that his novel The Weatherbys and several others had been among the earliest English novels set in India, and that they were satirical portrayals of British social life in this country. Later, I discovered that he was also the first Australian-born novelist ( The Forger’s Wife , 1854),

but no one in Australia appeared to have heard of him either. None of his books were in print; you had to go to the British Museum Library to find them.

Further enquiries revealed that Lang had left Australia under something of a cloud, having fallen out with the establishment over some journalistic improprieties. Like so many others, he sought his fortune in India---and found it!--not as a novelist, but as a successful barrister and newspaper proprietor. He spent his last year in Mussoorie and lay buried here; but as no one had heard of him, no one knew where his grave was located, and it took me several visits to the well-populated Camel’s Back cemetery before I could find his grave under a heavy growth of weeds and clinging ivy. He was only forty-seven when he died, but his fifteen or so years in India had brought him fame, fortune and a certain notoriety.

John Lang built up a successful legal practice in Calcutta, in spite of being at loggerheads with the East India Company. Always an anti-establishment character, he sued the Company on behalf of Jyoti Prasad, a contractor who had been unfairly treated. He won the case for his client, but ended up serving a jail sentence for slandering a senior officer.

Lang then moved north to Meerut, then the Company's largest cantonment, and started an English language newspaper , The Mofussilite, which soon became the leading newspaper in northern India. His legal practice also prospered. Indian potentates came to him with their grievances against the Company. He drew up petitions on behalf of the Ranee of Jhansi (who rewarded him well), Nena Sahib and Others. None of this made him popular with the government of the time, but his caustic pen and editorial fearlessness made him a person who could not be taken lightly.

He also actively contributed to the literary field. On one of his visits to England he had met Charles Dickens, then at the height of his fame. Dickens took a liking to this maverick from the colonies, and invited Lang to write for his magazine, Household Words . When Lang got back to India, he became a regular contributor to the magazine. Most of the chapters in Wanderings in India first appeared in Household Words . It is probably his most interesting and readable work, recording as it does his encounters with the Ranee of Jhansi and others, his journeys in upper India, and his quizzical, humorous look at British social life in cantonments and hiil-stations. His account of a conversation with a near deaf British general, for instance, is hilarious. And his dialogue with Nena Sahib is equally risible.

Lang was in England when the Revolt of 1857 broke out, and he returned to India in 1859 to find that many of his friends, both British and Indian, had perished during the uprising. He sold off his newspaper and retired to Mussoorie, where he married for a second time and spent his last years. He had, for many years, been a member of the Himalaya Club (the building, now a hotel, still stands), and would often stay there; and he had a large house in Landour, where he is said to have died after a party with friends. He was a convivial man, who made friends easily, and was accepted in British social circles in spite of his many jousts with authority. It is a pity that he was forgotten so soon. Hill station records are very scanty. But Wanderings in India brings John Lang to life again. He is everywhere, recounting scandals, mysteries, intrigues, always curious, inquisitive.

We also learn a lot about the times he lived in, and the India of that time. And we learn it from a writer who was without prejudice and conveyed his enjoyment of all that he experienced with great good humour.

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About the author, product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 8129136848
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rupa Publications India; First Edition (20 April 2015)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9788129136848
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8129136848
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 260 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.78 x 11.37 x 2.52 cm
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ India
• #267 in Travel Writing (Books)
• #2,916 in Classic Fiction (Books)

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Wanderings in India

Australian perceptions, rick hosking and amit sarwal.

‘The most pleasing aspect of the book is the wide range of topics covered. It could have emerged as a heavily academically accented text but instead has been skilfully compiled, making it accessible and appealing to most people with an interest in Australian Indian relations.’ Reshmi Lahiri-Roy,  Transnational Literature  (275kb PDF)

‘This is an important, thought-provoking book whose impact goes far beyond its whimsical title.’ Heather Goodall, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies vol. 37 no.2, 2014.   Read the full review

Wanderings in India: Australian Perceptions , sharing its title with a curious and entertaining travel book written by the first Australian-born writer John Lang, is a collection of essays about diverse encounters between Australians and Indians in both South Asia and the Antipodes. The chapters — creative, reflective and academic — meet the objectives of a volume that provide snapshots of the wide range of interests and issues that Australians have shown towards India. Taken as a whole, the chapters represent a range of responses, reactions and experiences that chart the course of the ongoing engagement between Australia and India, between Australians and Indians. While there is something of an emphasis on literary responses, charting the ebb and flow of writers’ reactions to India from the 1850s onwards, this volume also includes historical, political, sporting and other writings about the complex “magnetic amalgams” that link Australia and India.

Rick Hosking

Amit Sarwal

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Abstract history archive description, publication details of only known version earliest 2 known versions of.

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publisher: Rupa
• Published April 1, 2015

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Works about this work.

'The former British hill station of Mussoorie, in the foothills of the Himalayas, affords the visitor two extraordinary views. Facing south, one takes in the seemingly endless Doon Valley, lit up at night by the city of Dehradun. That city is only 36 kilometres away as the crow flies, but it’s also several thousand metres below, should the crow in question plummet. Turn north and the mountains predominate. Indeed, from a certain vantage on Camel Back Road, snow-capped peaks can be glimpsed, several sources of the Ganges among them, through trace elements of cloud.' (Introduction)

'As Victor Crittenden’s painstaking research (Crittenden 2005) has established, the Australian-born writer John George Lang published, either in serial or book form, more than 20 novels, several volumes of short stories, four volumes of poetry and at least two plays. Lang also published  Wanderings in India  (1859), sometimes called ‘a travel book’, and, according to Rolf Boldrewood (Thomas Alexander Browne), one of the best of the lighter descriptions of Indian life ever published. Most of the chapters in  Wanderings in India  first appeared in Lang’s English-language newspaper  Mofussilite  in the mid- to late-1840s in India; when they were republished between November 1857 to February 1859 in Charles Dickens’  Household Words , the travel sketches were offered in eleven parts, with the running title ‘Wanderings in India’. In 1857 Lang was living in London and, with the Indian Mutiny very much in the news, Dickens was eager to publish as much background material as he could find about India While a number of Lang’s pieces had appeared in  Household Words  as early as 1853, the majority were published just after the Sepoy Rebellion, allowing readers to set his sketches and stories against the evolving narrative of India’s first war of independence.In the complete collection that appeared in the 1859 Routledge edition, Lang used many of his  Household Words  pieces and added two new sketches written specifically for the volume, both of which say something about the Sepoy Rebellion and its aftermath.'  (Introduction)

• c India , c South Asia , South and East Asia , Asia ,

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John Lang and Wanderings in India: How the 19th-century British Travelled in the Subcontinent

John Lang (1816-1864), a lawyer and Australia’s first native novelist, was born at Parramatta, Sydney. He later went to Cambridge in 1837 only to qualify as a barrister and return to his home country. In India, John Lang is known for his career as a solicitor, particularly, when he was defending the Rani of Jhansi…

John Lang (1816-1864), a lawyer and Australia’s first native novelist, was born at Parramatta, Sydney. He later went to Cambridge in 1837 only to qualify as a barrister and return to his home country.

In India, John Lang is known for his career as a solicitor, particularly, when he was defending the Rani of Jhansi against the East India company’s policy of land seizures under the Doctrine of Lapse. He was also a journalist and had established a paper, The Mofussilite, at Meerut. As a novelist, he was associated with books like Too Clever by Half, Clever Criminals, The Ex-Wife , among others.

John Lang spent his final years in Landour, a place close to Mussoorie. Below excerpts, taken from his book Wanderings in India: And Other Sketches of Life in Hindustan , tell us about the life as he experienced in the Himalayas, particularly around Mussoorie.

I have already spoken of a German Baron and a French gentleman whom I met at Agra, and I have said that they, like myself, were travelling in search of the picturesque, and with a view to become acquainted with Oriental character from personal observation.

While staying with my friend at Barnapore, I received a letter from the former, proposing that we should meet on a certain day at Mussoorie, in the Himalaya mountains, and travel into the interior together. I agreed with all my heart; and my friend, the assistant magistrate, was tempted to apply for six weeks’ leave, in order that he might accompany us.

Let me describe these foreign gentlemen. They were respectively about my own age — thirty-two — had seen a great of the world, and of the society at every court and capital in Europe. They were both possessed of considerable abilities, and of the most enviable dispositions; always good-natured and good-tempered; patient and cheerful under those innumerable little difficulties that almost invariably beset a wanderer in the East, or, in fact, a wanderer in any part of the world. They had, moreover, a keen sense of humour; and, each in his own peculiar way, could relate a story, or an incident in his life, in such a manner as to make it wonderfully mirth-provoking. They were men of refined understanding and of very refined manners: take them all in all, they were the most charming companions I ever encountered. They were utterly devoid of vulgar nationalities — of any enthusiastic admiration of their own fatherlands, and would just as soon ridicule the foibles peculiar to their own countries, respectively, as the foibles of a man of any other country. My friend, the assistant magistrate, was also a desirable companion. He, too, was a good-tempered, good-humoured being, with a keen sense of humour, and some wit. He had read a great deal of late years, in that out-of-the-way station to which he had been appointed, and he had profited by his reading.

It was beginning to be very hot in the plains, and my friend and myself were not a little glad when we found ourselves on the road to a colder clime. We drove as far as Deoband in the buggy; and, at three P.M. threw ourselves into our palanquins (palkees), bound for Dehra Dun at the foot of the hills; at which place we arrived at abpit nine o’clock on the following morning, and were deposited — both of us fast asleep — in the verandah of the hotel, kept by a Mr. William Johns, who had been formerly a professional jockey in the North-Western Provinces of India.

So much has been written of Dehra Dun and Mussoorie, that even a brief sketch of these places would be unwarranted in this narrative.

As soon as we arrived at Mussoorie, we began to collect coolies (hill-men), to carry our baggage and stores. We required in all about one hundred and fifty for the expedition, and by the time that we had got these people together, and made arrangements with them, and the guides whom we required, and had laid in our stock of provisions, the foreign gentlemen joined us, and expressed their readiness to start at any given moment. We lingered, however, for two days, in order that they might take some rest, and make the acquaintance of the gentlemen at the club, who, at the instance of my friend, had made them as well as myself honorary members of the institution.

On the third morning, in the front of the clubhouse, our marching establishment was collected, and the one hundred and fifty men of whom it was composed were laden with the baggage and stores. There were tents, the poles thereto belonging, camp tables, chairs, beds, bedding, leather boxes of every kind, containing our clothing, deal chests, containing all sorts of provisions, dozens of cases of wine — port, sherry, claret — beer, ducks, fowls, geese, guns (rifles and others), umbrellas, great-coats, etc., etc., etc. Having seen this train fairly off, we, the four of us, followed shortly after on foot, and overtook them at the Landour Hill, a mountain above nine thousand feet above the level of the sea. We were all in high spirits — including my friend, the assistant magistrate — notwithstanding he put on his lady love’s cloak as soon as we were out of sight of the club, and began to quote in a melancholy but very loud voice, which reverberated through the valleys on either side of us, those glorious lines of the poet Thomas:–

“There is a power

Unseen that rules th’illimitable world —

That guides its motions, from the brightest

Star to least dust of this sin-tainted mould;

While man, who madly deems himself the lord

Of all, is nought but weakness and dependence.

This sacred truth, by sure experience taught,

Thou must have learnt, when wandering all alone:

Each bird, each insect flitting through the sky,

Was more sufficient for itself than thou!”

Our first halting-place was about nine miles from Mussoorie. It was a flat piece of ground, some distance down the southern face of the peak over which the road wound. The place was called Sowcowlee, and here and there were to be seen a few patches of cultivation and a cow-shed. Our course lay in the direction of Almorah, another Hill Sanatorium for the English in India. The tents pitched, and all made snug and comfortable, we threw ourselves down upon our beds, not to sleep, but to take some rest after a long walk. Meanwhile our servants busied themselves in preparing the dinner, for which the exercise and the change of air had given us all a keen appetite.

“Well!” exclaimed my friend (whom in future we will call Mr. West), raising to his lips a bumper of claret, and quoting from the Sentimental Journey, “the Bourbon is not such a bad fellow, after all.”

Neither the Frenchman nor the German understood the allusion; but when it was explained they relished it amazingly. We were rather a temperate party; and after the second bottle of wine was emptied, we caused the glassed to be removed from our small table, and a green cloth spread over it. We then began to play at whist — a game of which we were all equally fond; and, what was of great consequence, we were all equal as players. We did not gamble exactly; bit the stakes were sufficiently high to make either side attend very carefully to the game. The whist over, we each took a tumbler of warm drink, and turned in for the night, and slept, as the reader may imagine, very soundly.

On the following morning, at sunrise, we were awakened, and informed that upon a hill opposite to our encampment there were several large deer. We arose, and went in pursuit of them. After dodging them for some time we came within range, and each of us, selecting his animal, fired. One shot only took effect, and that was from the Baron’s rifle. During our ramble we discovered that there were plenty of pheasants in the locality, and so we agreed to remain for the day, and, after breakfast, see what we could do amongst them. Under the circumstances we should have been compelled to halt, for, as is usual on such occasions, our servants had forgotten several little matters essential for our comfort, if not necessary for our journey, namely, the pickles and the sauces, the corkscrew, the instrument for opening the hermetically sealed tins containing lobsters, oysters, and preserved soups. Amongst other things that had been left behind was the Baron’s guitar, and without it he could not, or would not, sing any of his thousand and one famous German songs. And such a sweet voice as he had! So, while we were amongst the pheasants, five coolies were on their way back to Mussoorie, to bring up the missing articles above enumerated.

Note: If you’re looking to read beyond what John Lang experienced and explore more about the British India, click here .

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Aimless in Banaras: Wanderings in India's Holiest City Paperback – December 16, 2019

While cremating his mother at the famed Manikarnika Ghat, Bishwanath Ghosh pretended he was a writer collecting material for a future book rather than a grieving son—his way of dealing with the last rites. A few years later, he returns to Banaras to write that book.

Plunging into its timeless aura, he roams its ghats and galis, sails through the cool breeze of the Ganga, walks through the heat of funeral pyres. One moment he is observing a sadhu show off his penile strength, in the next he is on a boat with a young woman who has been prophesied to marry seven times; one moment he is in conversation with the celebrated writer Kashinath Singh, who is an atheist, and in the next he is having tea with a globe- trotting priest and a god-fearing doctor ... Ghosh finds a story in every bend as he engages with quintessential Banarasis—their paan-stuffed mouths spouting expletives and wisdom with equal flair—and discovers why they are among the happiest people on earth.

Then one evening at Manikarnika, as he emerges from a temple, wearing ash from the cremation ground on his forehead, he finds a bit of Banaras in himself.

Aimless in Banaras is not only a sensuous portrait of India’s holiest city but also a meditation on life—and death.

• Print length 262 pages
• Language English
• Publication date December 16, 2019
• Dimensions 5.51 x 0.66 x 8.5 inches
• ISBN-10 9389152003
• ISBN-13 978-9389152005
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tranquebar (December 16, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9389152003
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9389152005
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.51 x 0.66 x 8.5 inches
• #168,969 in Travel (Books)

About the author

Bishwanath ghosh.

Bishwanath Ghosh, an Indian writer and journalist, best known for his literary travelogues which describe the real essence of India. His most recent book is Gazing at Neighbours: Travels Along the Line That Partitioned India, published in August 2017.

He is also the author of Longing, Belonging: An Outsider at Home in Calcutta (2014), which is a portrait of present-day Kolkata, and the acclaimed Tamarind City: Where Modern India Began (2012), which is a portrait of Madras, now known as Chennai. In 2009 he published the bestselling Chai, Chai: Travels in Places Where You Stop but Never Get Off, which The Telegraph (Kolkata) called "a delightful travelogue with a difference."

http://bytheganges.blogspot.in/

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Wanderings in India: Australian Perceptions

Paperback isbn, pages total, print publication date, usage metrics.

• Social and cultural anthropology
• Sociology not elsewhere classified
• Asian cultural studies
• Asian history

Hi, I'm Charlotte

CHARLIES WANDERINGS

THE BLOG FOR THE ADVENTUROUS TRAVELER WHO LOVES A TOUCH OF LUXURY NOW AND THEN

Asia , BLOG , Citytrips , Destinations , India , JAIPUR · February 26, 2021

14 Unique Things To Do in Jaipur, The Pink City of India

The city of Jaipur was the very first stop on my journey through Rajasthan and as soon as I arrived I completely understood the saying: “You either fall madly in love with India, or you hate it.”

For me it definitely was the first one and a sensory overload happened from the moment I got off the plane.

Jaipur is one of the most photogenic cities in India and there are so many amazing things to do in this vibrant city.

In this guide I’ll tell you everything you need to know based on my own personal experience.

IF YOU’RE PLANNING A TRIP TO RAJASTHAN YOU’LL WANT TO CHECK  MY 2 WEEKS RAJASTHAN ITINERARY INCLUDING 31 OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT IN THIS STATE .

Unique Things To Do in Jaipur, India

Jaipur, also known as the Pink City , is the capital and largest city of Rajasthan. The ‘pink’ of the Pink City is Gerua (or ochre) in which the city was coated during the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1905-06.

It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and is also part of what they call the Golden Triangle of India tourism which also includes a visit to Delhi and Agra. Jaipur is often the gateway to visiting the other cities in Rajasthan such as Udaipur, Jodhpur or Jaisalmer .

As of 2019 the Pink City of Jaipur is also a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site .

How to reach Jaipur

People from all parts of the world come to observe the beauty and to know about the cultural legacy of Jaipur. Since Jaipur is one of the major cities in the country it is very well connected to all other corners of India which leans that there are several types of public transport possible such as by air, bus or train.

On my journey to India I flew from Delhi to Sanganer airport , which is only 10km from Jaipur. As an international tourist you can take connecting flights to Jaipur from both Delhi and Mumbai.

Like I just said there are plenty of national flights connecting Delhi with Jaipur! Once you get down at the airport, hire a taxi or take a bus to reach the main city.

Jaipur is linked with the all the major cities of India through the network of National Highways 8, 11 and 12 to only name a few. Another option is to go by bus which only takes 3,5 hours. There’s a really good bus service provided by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) with the buses at about every half an hour.

Jaipur is well connected by railroad to a ton of different cities in India including Delhi. There are three main railway junctions including Jaipur, the main station; Gandhinagar and Durgapara. Every train stops at Jaipur junction and a few of the trains stop at Gandhinagar and Durgapara.

Why you should visit Jaipur

Jaipur is a city steeped in history and culture where the past comes alive through magnificent forts and colourful palaces. During your visit you’ll get to experience where the maharaja’s used to live.

The streets are buzzing and honestly there is never a dull moment when you look out of your tuk tuk. There’s a mix of cars, motorcycles, chicken and cows all over the place and still no one gets hurt in the process.

The bazaars of Jaipur are known for their Rajasthani jewellery and I myself picked up some stunning earrings along the way!

When is the best time to visit Jaipur

Jaipur is located in a semi-desert regio, which has three distinct seasons : a warm dry winter, an unbearably hot spring/summer and a brief but intense monsoon season. I went in May which is part of the unbearably hot summer and I tell you, they’re not exaggerating.

There were times when we started exploring Jaipur in the early morning and by 7am the temperature had climbed up to 40°C. It’s no wonder we had to seek refuge in the AC during the day and that at times discovering all of these beautiful places in Jaipur felt like a struggle.

The winter months (November to Februari) are the best time to visit Jaipur and also the rest of Rajasthan for that matter. The weather is dry, sunny and warm. Due to its desert climate it does get chilly in the evenings so don’t forget to bring a jumper with you!

Where to stay in Jaipur

Luxury trip.

• Fairmont Jaipur – Built in the tradition of the region’s grand Mughal palaces, this majestic hotel offers the best in modern amenities and truly is a royal destination.
• Rambagh Palace – This hotel is known as the ‘Jewel of Jaipur’ and is the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
• Samode Haveli  – An urban oasis in the historic walled city of Jaipur, Samode Haveli is a traditional Indian mansion set in a verdant garden.
• Samode Palace – Located a little outside of Jaipur but one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen.

BUDGET TRIP

• Umaid Bhawan – Heritage Style Hotel – A stunning 4 star hotel once crowned as one of the best hotels in Jaipur!
• Umaid Mahal – Heritage Style Hotel – A Jaipur heritage style hotel providing true Rajasthani hospitality in Jaipur.
• Jaipur CM-A Luxury Boutique Hotel – Located in Bani park and offering a more modern twist to your stay in Jaipur.

14 Awesome Things To Do in Jaipur

1. amer fort.

Amer Fort, also known as Amber Fort, is located about 11km from the city centre and it’s one of the most popular things to do in Jaipur ! Therefore I recommend you to visit it as early as possible in the morning.

The entrance to the fort is a little higher up and a narrow road will lead you to the main gate. The best way to reach the top is to simply walk, while you’re at it you’ll burn off some of that naan bread! To my horror I saw a lot of people choose to go up to the fort by means of an elephant. This is one of the most unethical things you could ever do and I truly hope you won’t.

For elephants to behave in such a way they had to be tortured from a very young age and the carriage on their back alone is way to heavy for them to carry.

If you would like more insight into this topic please visit this article of mine – How to visit an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary .

When it comes to visiting the fort we did hire a local guide on the spot. There are so many hidden corners to this fort that it would be a shame to not see everything.

And this way you support the locals and you learn a thing or two about the history and culture of Amer.

TIP – In the evening there’s a beautiful light and sound show.

• Opening Hours – 8am to 5.30pm and 6.30pm to 9.15pm
• Entrance fee – INR 500
• Duration – 2 to 3 hours
• Other activities close to Amer Fort – Panna Meena ka Kund, Nahargarh Fort, Great Wall of Amer

MAKE SURE TO READ MY FULL GUIDE ON VISITING AMER FORT FOR A LOT MORE DETAILS & PHOTOS – AMER FORT IN JAIPUR, THE COMPLETE VISITING GUIDE .

2. Nahargarh Fort

Nahargarh Fort is one of the best forts in Jaipur and stands on the edge of the Aravalli Hills, overlooking the Pink City. Along with Amer Fort and Jaigarh Fort it once formed a strong defence line.

But these days the Nahargarh Fort is mostly known as one of the best places to see the sunset in Jaipur and so we did on our first evening in India! We jumped in one of the Tuk Tuk’s in front of our hotel and after bumpy ride of about 30 minutes we arrived at the entrance of this magnificent fort. We settled on a return time with our driver and he would wait for us outside of the fort.

The view over the Pink City was absolutely mesmerising and at one point I had to pinch myself to believe I was actually sitting there, in the middle of India!

I climbed up the wall to get a better view, me being a midget and all, but always be cautious when doing so. The locals and the guards are not a fan of this so I would actually advise you to go a little more down to have more privacy .

• Opening hours – Every day from 10am until 10pm. I would not attempt to hike down after 10pm cause Nahargarh Fort is located within a nature park that’s full of wild animals. And yes, there are tigers around Jaipur!
• Entrance fee – INR 200
• Duration – 1 to 2 hours

RAJASTHAN IS FILLED WITH STUNNING FORTS & PALACES AND I WROTE A DETAILED GUIDE WITH TONS OF PHOTOS & DETAILS – THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FORTS & PALACES IN RAJASTHAN

3. The Great Wall of Amer

Climbing the Great Wall of Amer is one of the most fun and free things to do in Jaipur ! It gets its name from its impressive length and as a reference to the Great Wall of China. But no one knows exactly how long the wall is.

Unfortunately a big chunk of this masterpiece is crumbling down fast but so far the local government only paid attention to the segments that are visible to the public and tourists. This could lead to loss of more than 50% of the wall in total.

The best place to climb up the Great Wall is right across from the entrance of Amer Fort. There’s a small staircase that will lead you all the way up and I can guarantee you that you’ll have an amazing view over the Aravalli Hills and Amer Fort! It’s a steep way up and in May it was pretty brutal because of the heat but like with everything in India it was worth the struggle!

TIP – A lot of people confuse the Great Wall of Amer with the Jaipur Wall. These are not the same structures and the Jaipur Wall protected the wall city area of Jaipur.

• Opening hours – 24/7
• Entrance fee – Free

4. Panna Meena ka Kund

Panna Meena ka Kund, also known as the most Instagrammable stepwell is actually also a hidden gem in Jaipur . This peculiar place is located only 10 minutes driving from Amer Fort and that’s why most tourists completely forget about it.

If you’re into photography then this architectural masterpiece has to be on your list of things to do and see in Jaipur. The zigzag structure of the stairs in combination with the water bassin below lends itself to some incredible photo ops.

The stepwell is protected by local guards to keep a close eye if you’re following the rules. As of recent it is not allowed to walk down the stairs anymore, this to preserve the monument en due to the fact that a lot of accidents happened over the past years. I can imagine people running up and down, taking selfies and maybe even falling over into the bassin.

During my visit in 2018 it was “allowed”. We asked the guard if it was possible to go down and he told us that for INR 100 we could have 10 minutes but only when there’s no other people around.

• Opening hours – 7am to 6pm
• Duration – 30 minutes

5. Monkey Temple

That one time in India where we hiked up another mountain in the blistering heat to simply realise there was a parking lot right in front of the entrance of the temple. Then again this way we also passed by the Sun Temple which was actually my favourite part!

The Monkey Temple, also known as Galta Ji, is a large Hindu complex located about 10km from the city centre of Jaipur . It’s not hard to see where it gets its name from. The temple is literally lined with monkeys and none of them are afraid of tourists! If you’re brave enough to feed them be prepared to get robbed as well.

• Opening hours – Every day from 5am until 6pm
• Entrance fee – Free but there is a camera fee of INR 50
• Duration – 1 hour

6. Hawa Mahal

Hawa Mahal is a pink palace in the heart of the Pink City and you can’t visit Jaipur and not see this magnificent building.

When I was doing my research for my trip to India I came across several images of this structure and I got so fascinated by it! It was crazy to discover in real life that it’s not much more than a beautiful facade in the middle of a busy street. There’s a small sidewalk in front of it with a fence but the best view is from across the street in one of the rooftop bars .

Hawa Mahal means the “Palace of Winds” and it has 953 small windows that were built to keep the wind on blowing through the palace so it would cool off.

Another legend actually states that Hawa Mahal was constructed by the Maharaja as a separate complex for the ladies of his harem. For each lady there was a window through which they could watch the daily life unfold down below.

• Opening hours – Every day from 9am to 5pm
• Things to do around Hawa Mahal – Visit the City Palace of Jaipur or go shopping in the Pink Bazaar.

7. Patrika Gate

The Patrika Gate is another one of those unique things to do in Jaipur . A couple of years ago its popularity blew up on Social Media but besides that it’s not visited by a lot of tourists.

It’s a beautiful and colourful series of gates located at the start of the Jawahar Circle park .

The Pink City of Jaipur was founded in 1727 AD and they occupied its perimeter with the Jaipur Wall and 8 gates. Now, Patrika Gate is being represented as the ninth gate of Jaipur . 

8. City Palace

The City Palace of Jaipur is one of the most important landmarks in the Pink City ! Upon visiting I highly recommend you to take the full tour! This way you don’t just see the courtyard but also all of the other beautiful rooms!

The City Palace was established at the same time as Jaipur itself and it’s one of the most beautiful places to visit. The royal complex is made up of a series of gardens, courtyards, and buildings, one more colourful and luxurious than the other.

As a photographer you have to know that it’s not allowed to use a tripod inside of the palace grounds and to bring in your camera you have to pay a fee of INR 50.

• Opening hours – Every day from 10AM until 6pm (last ticket at 5pm)
• Entrance fee – INR 700 but if you want access to all of the rooms which I highly suggest the price is INR 2500 which also includes a guide.
• Duration – 2 hours

9. Caffé Palladio

Caffé Palladio is the perfect spot to have lunch after a busy day of exploring the city of Jaipur! It’s one of the most beautiful restaurants in Jaipur and the Art Deco vibes are splendid.

Caffé Palladio belongs to the same owner as Bar Palladio . Another stunning restaurant but one where I didn’t have a good experience at all. We had made a reservation to have cocktails and dinner at Bar Palladio and of course I brought my camera with me. Upon arriving the manager then told me that to enter with my camera I had to pay INR 3000. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and after going into a discussion we decided to leave.

I have heard from several other bloggers that they were allowed to take photos inside with their smartphone for free. I have no idea why at Bar Palladio they made such a fuss about a regular camera. But I wanted you to know before you make a reservation!

The service at Caffé Palladio however was impeccable and the vibe here was way more relaxed!

• Opening hours – 10am to 7pm
• Things to do around Caffé Palladio – Visit Albert Hall Museum

10. Albert Hall Museum

The Albert Hall Museum is the oldest museum in the entire state and functions as the state museum of Rajasthan . It was built in 1876 and originally intended as a concert hall. Its name comes from the Victoria and Albert Museum of London due to the similarity in building style.

These days there are 16 galleries in total inside of the museum, all showcasing the beauty of Indian culture.

• Opening hours – 9am until 5pm
• Entrance fee – INR 150

11. Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Jaipur. It’s a water palace located in the heart of the Man Sagar Lake.

As a visitor it’s not allowed to enter the palace but you can admire its beauty either from the shoreline or by boating on the lake!

12. Rambagh Palace

Rambagh Palace is now one of the most beautiful hotels in Jaipur but it used to be the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.

If you’re not a guest it’s not possible to visit the hotel but you can make a reservation for afternoon tea or dinner.

13. Jaigarh Fort

Jaigarh Fort is one of the most famous and renowned forts in Jaipur and still it is often overlooked by a lot of tourists. Therefore it’s one of the more unique things to do in the Pink City !

Jaigarh Fort, also known as Victory Fort, is 3km long and is connected to Amer Fort by subterranean passages and considered as one complex.

• Opening hours – Every day from 10am until 5pm
• Entrance fee – INR 100

14. Royal Gaitor Cenotaphs

The Royal Cenotaphs are another unique places to visit in Jaipur and are simply stunning to photograph.

Located on the Nahargarh foothills these stone monuments are intricately carved and beautifully displayed. It’s here that the former Maharaja’s of Jaipur found their final resting place.

Royal Gaitor is still one of those hidden gems so make sure to quick before it becomes too famous.

• Opening hours – Every day from 9am until 5pm
• Entrance fee – INR 50
• Things to do around Royal Gaitor – Nahargarh Fort, Jal Mahal and Amer Fort.

I loved the architecture in Jaipur so much that I couldn’t stop taking photos! You can find my absolute favourites now in my print shop!

PIN IT FOR LATER

Charlotte Lint is the founder, main photographer and writer of Charlies Wanderings . She has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice. She is an expert on writing insightful hiking guides and creating unique and efficient travel itineraries . Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.

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