Jaipur Rickshaw Tour: City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar

Three centuries of Jaipur's royal story, told by someone who knows the city

A private guided tour of Jaipur covering City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar, with a local expert guide, air-conditioned vehicle pickup from your hotel, and entry assistance. The guide speaks English or Spanish and walks you through the grand courtyards of the palace, up the five stories of the Hawa Mahal's jharokhas to rooftop views, and across the stone instruments of the UNESCO World Heritage observatory, explaining the history and design of each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. City Palace1h
2. Hawa Mahal1h
3. Jantar Mantar1h

Explore Jaipur's royal heritage

• Visit City Palace courtyards and museums
• Tour Hawa Mahal and climb its five stories
• Explore Jantar Mantar observatory with guide

The experience

The tour starts at City Palace, where you walk through grand gateways into courtyards still partly home to the royal family. Inside Mubarak Mahal you see royal costumes and Pashmina treasures. Diwan-e-Khas holds the world's largest silver urns. Pritam Niwas Chowk has four seasonal gates in different colors: each one a photograph. The guide explains what each space meant in the life of the maharajas, and you can choose to visit Chandra Mahal's interior or view it from outside.

From there the vehicle takes you to Hawa Mahal, the five-story pink sandstone façade with 953 jharokhas (lattice windows) that lets you see out without being seen. You climb through the chambers inside, learning why it was built so royal women could watch street life discreetly. The narrow passages are naturally cooled by the breeze moving through the windows. At the top, you stand above Jaipur's old city with views back to City Palace and across to Jantar Mantar. The guide helps you frame the best shots.

Jantar Mantar is the final stop: a UNESCO World Heritage Site of stone astronomical instruments built in the 18th century. The guide walks you through how each instrument measures time, tracks celestial bodies and predicts eclipses using shadows and angles instead of mechanics. It's a working observatory, not a museum, and the guide demonstrates how the instruments still function. The site is open-air and spread across the grounds, so you move between the different structures at your own pace.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• local expert guide in English or Spanish.
• parking fees at all three sites.
• optional entry ticket assistance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 23 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 20

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by City Palace Jaipur Guide

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide who knows Jaipur's history and can answer questions as you move between sites: the three landmarks connect as a story of royal Jaipur rather than three separate stops. A shared group tour moves faster and costs less. This one lets you linger, ask, and set the rhythm yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the whole Jaipur tour take?

The tour runs between three hours and a full day depending on how much time you spend at each site and whether you add meals or extra stops. Your guide adjusts the pace to match your interests.

What's inside the City Palace that I actually get to see?

City Palace includes Mubarak Mahal with royal costumes and Pashmina textiles, Diwan-e-Khas displaying the world's largest silver urns, and Pritam Niwas Chowk with four seasonal gates in different colors. Chandra Mahal, still home to the royal family, is viewable from outside. Entry to its interior is optional.

Do I climb the Hawa Mahal or just look at the outside?

You enter Hawa Mahal and climb all five stories through the narrow chambers inside, experiencing how the lattice windows cool the palace naturally. You reach the rooftop for views across Jaipur's old city before descending.

What exactly is Jantar Mantar and how does it work?

Jantar Mantar is a collection of 19 stone astronomical instruments built in the 1700s to measure time, track planets and predict eclipses using shadows and geometry. Your guide demonstrates how each instrument functions. They still work today and are used by astronomers.

Is entry to the sites included, or do I pay separately?

Entry tickets are not included in the tour price. The guide offers optional assistance with ticket purchase, and you pay the entrance fees directly at each site.