There is no doubt Jaipur is a fabulous city. Anyone who has visited Jaipur will vouch for it. Jaipur is a vibrant city and a treat for culture and history lovers. Jaipur has ample attractions and some fascinating weekend getaways, where you can make it within a few hours' drive.
What are the best options for a weekend getaway near Jaipur? Here is the list of tourist destinations to get away from Jaipur for a relaxing weekend. This detailed list of weekend destinations from Jaipur covers adventure, art, and history. Let's explore the list:
Mandawa:
Around a 3-hour drive from Jaipur, Mandawa is a rustic little town in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. Popularly known as the Open Art Gallery, Mandawa is dotted with magnificent frescoed havelis, fortresses, and beautifully paved archways. The quaint old town is the reminiscence of the social and cultural environment of the place from the bygone era.
Mandawa's quirky rustic charms also make it a hot spot for movie shoots and are filled in by media on and off the year. No wonder it is such a draw for foreign tourists, where they take a close peek into the good side of Indian rural life. The town is filled with nice heritage havelis, which have been converted to boutique hotels, and these accommodations themselves are one of the attractions of Mandawa.
Distance of Mandawa from Jaipur: Approx 170 KM
Tourist Attractions in Mandawa: Gulab Rai Ladia Haveli, Bansidhar Newatia Haveli, Hanuman Prasad Goenka Haveli, etc.
Things to do in Mandawa: Walk a tour of the town and its magnificent Havelis, Stay at a heritage boutique hotel, Camel safari, Shop for some unique souvenirs, paintings, and local craftwork
Ajmer/ Pushkar:
At a 3-hour drive from Jaipur, the spiritual city of Pushkar is a favoured destination for thousands of tourists and devotees flocking to Rajasthan. Situated at 510 mt above sea level, Pushkar is surrounded by hillocks on three sides. According to Indian mythology, Lord Brahma believed to be the creator of the Universe, dropped a lotus to the ground and immediately created a lake. He then decided to name the place after the flower, and thus the name Pushkar (which means "blue lotus" flower). The city of Pushkar is home to the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma in the world.
At 15 km distance and on the way to Pushkar, another multi-cultural and spiritual destination is Ajmer. It is renowned for the famous "Dargah Sharif", the shrine of the revered Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti. Being multi-cultural, it attracts even more numbers of devotees compared to Pushkar. Dargah Sharif is also more in the limelight as famous Bollywood stars and celebrities have visited it.
Distance of Ajmer/Pushkar from Jaipur: Approximately 135 KM (Ajmer) and Approximately 146 KM (Pushkar)
Tourist Attractions in Ajmer/Pushkar: Dargah Sharif, Ana Sagar Lake, Pushkar Lake, Lord Brahma Temple, Camel Fair
Things to do in Ajmer/Pushkar: Ana Sagar Lake – Indulge In Boating, Ajmer Sharif Dargah – Seek Blessings, Stroll in the Pushkar market, Watch the evening Aarti ceremony at Pushkar, Hike to Savitri Mata Temple at Pushkar.
Ranthambore:
Located at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges, Ranthambore National Park is one of the best Tiger Reserves in India. It is one of the finest places to view wild animals, especially as they are used to being stared at here. The national park is situated at a three-and-a-half-hour driving distance from Jaipur. If you leave Jaipur on the weekend morning, you will reach Ranthambore before noon.
Ranthambore is full of a variety of nice boutique hotels and resorts. You could enjoy an afternoon jungle safari and another safari the next morning (it is advisable to book the safaris in advance during the high tourist seasons). The park remains closed during the Monsoon season. There is also a world heritage site - Ranthambore Fort- inside the park, which is worth visiting. Numerous water bodies are scattered across the park, which provide relief to the wild animals during the searing hot summer days.
Distance of Ranthambore from Jaipur: Approx 180 KM
Tourist Attractions in Ranthambore: Ranthambore National Park, Ranthambore Fort, Trinetra Ganesh Temple, Surwal Lake, Jogi Mahal
Things to do in Ranthambore: Jungle safaris at Ranthambore National Park, Wildlife photography, Local craft shopping (tie-dye, block-printing, patchwork, etc.) at Dastkar Ranthambore
Bharatpur:
Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Keoladeo National Park is 185 KM from Jaipur and 58 KM from Agra. It was originally a royal hunting and game reserve for Maharajas and the British. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is recognized as one of the world's most important bird breeding and feeding grounds. Thousands of migratory waterfowl visit the park yearly for wintering and breeding. The most common waterfowl are gadwall, shoveler, common teal, cotton teal, tufted duck, knob-billed duck, little cormorant, great cormorant, Indian shag, ruff, painted stork, white spoonbill, Asian open-billed stork, oriental ibis, darter, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper, and green sandpiper. The sarus crane, with its spectacular courtship dance, also lives here. A rickshaw ride inside the park is a very pleasing experience.
On route to Bharatpur, you could also visit Chand Baori, a stepwell built over a thousand years ago in the Abhaneri village of Rajasthan. Extending approximately 30 mt (100 ft) into the ground with 3,500 narrow steps over 13 stories, it is one of the world's largest stepwells and one of the most beautiful. At the bottom of the well, the ambient temperature remains 5-6 degrees cooler than at the ground above. Chand Baori was a community gathering place for locals during the intense summer heat.
Distance of Bharatpur from Jaipur: Approx 185 KM
Tourist Attractions in Bharatpur: Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Lohagarh Fort, Bankey Bihari Temple, Bharatpur Palace & Museum
Things to do in Bharatpur: Birdwatching at Keoladeo National Park, Rickshaw ride in Keoladeo National Park, Village tour
Sariska National Park:
Situated around 107 KM from Jaipur, Sariska National Park circles the 'Siliserh Lake' and 'Jai Samand Lake', home to various crocodiles, water snakes, and different creatures of land and water. This area was a hunting preserve of the Alwar state and was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955.
(Photo courtesy: Wikipedia)
The park was also known as Sariska Tiger Reserve when it was made a part of India's Project Tiger in 1978. Ironically, the tigers had become extinct in the park by 2005. However, due to efforts by the government and relocating a few tigers from the nearby Ranthambore National Park, the population of the tigers in 2014 was 59, and the number becomes 86 in 2022.
Distance of Sariska National Park from Jaipur: Approx 110 KM
Alwar:
Located 150 km from Jaipur, Alwar is a tourism hub with forts like the Bhangarh Fort and Bala Quila Fort, lakes, nature reserves like Sariska Tiger Reserve, and heritage havelis (mansions). Surrounded by Aravalli hills, Alwar is a pretty city of rich culture and heritage. The majestic fort, beautiful City Palace, and colourful markets make Alwar a very interesting town in Rajasthan. A few fascinating heritage hotels like Hill Fort-Kesroli, Neemrana Fort-Palace, and Dadhikar Fort make a weekend a special experience.
Distance of Alwar from Jaipur: Approx 150 KM
Tourist Attractions in Alwar: Bhangarh Fort, Bala Quila Fort, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Siliserh Lake.
Things to do in Alwar: Spooky thrills at Bhangarh Fort, Wildlife-watching at Sariska Tiger Reserve, Bangles shopping at Churi market
Udaipurwati:
Although not a famous tourist destination, this place is a nice weekend getaway. A small town perched between Aravalli hill ranges is located around 120 KM from Jaipur. The highlight of the destination is the quirky and pretty heritage hotel - Inderpura Resort. It is a very pleasant experience during the Monsoon season when the hills always embrace the clouds.
The lush green forests atop a vast range of Aravallis spread magic that remains unmatched in our busy and crowded city lives. Famous attractions like Nawalgarh and Mandawa are nearby, which can be easily covered on a day trip from the resort.
Distance of Udaipurwati from Jaipur: Approx 120 KM
Shekhawati:
Shekhawati is the region in North Rajasthan comprising districts of Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu, and a part of Nagaur and Jaipur. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, rich Marwari traders and merchants built Havelis (mansions) in this deserted area. They painted captivating murals on the exterior as well as interior walls.
Some famous places in Shekhawati are Alsisar, Mandawa, Nawalgarh, Fatehpur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Chirawa, and many more. The entire Shekhawati region is dotted with lavish and beautiful frescoed havelis. Many of such heritage havelis have been turned into magnificent boutique heritage hotels. It is a lovely weekend getaway experience in one of these heritage hotels.
Sambhar Lake:
Sambhar Lake, India's largest inland salt lake, is located 80 km (50 mi) southwest of Jaipur. 230 sq km in extent at full capacity, the lake receives water from five rivers: Medtha, Samaod, Mantha, Rupangarh, Khari, and Khandela. Being a saline lake, it is the source of most of Rajasthan's salt production. It produces 196,000 tonnes of clean salt annually, around 9% of India's salt production.
Sambhar has been recognized as a wetland of international importance because the wetland is a key wintering area for tens of thousands of pink flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia and Siberia. Jodha Bai married the Mughal king Akbar at Sambhar Lake Town in 1562 CE. It is a beautiful picturesque site featured in many Bollywood movies, like Jodhaa Akbar, PK, Delhi-6, Veer, Gulaal, Highway, and many more.
Distance of Sambhar Lake from Jaipur: Approx 80 KM
Agra:
One of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal is the main highlight of Agra. Agra is located 240 KM east of Jaipur, which takes around 4-5 hours' drive. Agra makes it a perfect weekend getaway from Jaipur. Everyone should see the Taj Mahal at least once in their lifetime.
Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, it is the epitome of love and a jaw-dropping sight. The majestic Agra Fort is also a monument worth seeing. About 35 KM from Agra is another World Heritage site called "Fatehpur Sikri". A city predominantly made of red sandstone, Fatehpur Sikri was founded in 1571 CE by Mughal Emperor Akbar. Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur) and Chand Baori (Abhaneri) can also be visited en route to Agra.
Distance of Agra from Jaipur: Approx 240 KM
Tourist Attractions in Agra: Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itimad-ud-daula's Tomb, Sheesh Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Mehtab Bagh, Kalakriti Cultural & Convention Center
Things to do in Agra: View the Taj Mahal at sunrise, View the Taj Mahal on the full-moon night, Agra Market walk tour, "Mohabbat-e-Taj" show at Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Center
Bundi:
Bundi is a magnificent town around 215 kilometres south of Jaipur, which is hardly 4 hours drive. Located in the southeastern region in a narrow valley within the Aravalli Hills like a small oasis, Bundi is like nowhere else in Rajasthan.
It is renowned for its tourist attractions like forts, palaces, mansions, paintings, and step wells. All these places together make Bundi an amazing weekend getaway from Jaipur. The charms of the town find its mention in literary and cinematic works of many veteran authors and filmmakers, like Rabindranath Tagore in 'False Fort' (Nakalgarh Poem), Rudyard Kipling in his novel 'Kim', and Satyajit Ray in his movie Sonar Kella.'
Distance of Bundi from Jaipur: Approx 215 KM
Tourist Attractions in Bundi: Bundi Palace, Rani Ji Ki Baori, Sukh Mahal, Taragarh Fort, Moti Mahal, Shikar Burj, and Jait Sagar
Things to do in Bundi: Bundi Utsav festival, Shopping at Sadar Bazaar, Admire miniature paintings at Chitrashala (Umeed Mahal), A peak into history at numerous stepwells, Taste the amazing masala tea at "Krishna's Chai" in Sadar Bazaar
