Travelling is not something you’re good at. It’s something you do. Like breathing.

GAYLE FORMAN

HOW TO PLAN A BUDGET TRIP TO JAIPUR

Looking for a weekend getaway? Need a break but can’t travel too far? In need for a desperate vacation but are afraid of burning holes in your wallet?

Don’t worry. Here’s how you can plan a budget trip to one of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in India, on a low cost budget. The Pink City is one of the earliest planned cities of modern India, and also one of the most beautiful. It’s a popular tourist destination in India and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ranked as the 7^th best place to visit in Asia, you need to add this marvellous city to your bucket list immediately!

HOW TO GET TO JAIPUR?

You can get to Jaipur by road and air. Since this is a low cost trip, it’s best to stick to travelling by road.

There are buses available every hour from Delhi to Jaipur. The price of the buses vary, they can range from 300-1000 rupees. There are several different trains that run from Delhi to Jaipur and back, that vary in cost as well, but you will have to make prior reservations, especially during the peak season and on weekends, as lots of people travel from Jaipur to Delhi on weekends.

ACCOMODATION:

Accommodation is one major area where money is spent during travelling. There are hostels, hotels and villas available wherein you can stay during your time in Jaipur. Hostels as low as 200 rupees per night are easily available. The average cost for accommodation per day, per person would round off to roughly 780 rupees per day.

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION:

Public transportation like buses and metro run in Jaipur at a fairly low cost, and can help you get to some of the major areas of the cities, at low prices. Local autos and taxis also run at reasonable prices, however you might have to bargain with the auto and local taxi drivers. For short distances, take a rickshaw or an e-rickshaw, which will take you to a nearby destination in 20-80 rupees. Other than that you can easily book and Uber or Ola to get to you destination. The average cost of transportation per person should be around 110-200 rupees per day.

FOOD:

Daal Baati Choorma, Daal Kachori, Pheni, Ghewar, Laal Maas, and Tikkis make up the authentic Rajasthani cuisine that one must try while visiting Jaipur!

As for the cost of food, it averages to 320 rupees per day for two meals, which is quite decent for two full meals. Try booking a hotel/hostel, which offers complimentary breakfast, so that you can save some money there. Even if you do spend lavishly, Jaipur is pretty inexpensive in terms of food. There are a variety of restaurants that have finger-licking delicacies at throwaway prices!

ENTRY COST (TICKETS):

The entry tickets vary in price for Indian Nationals and for foreigners. It is fairly cheaper for Indian Nationals, and even cheaper for students! Just remember to carry your school or college identity card with you while you travel, and get the tickets for as low as 10 to 20 rupees!

PLACES TO VISIT IN JAIPUR:

I’ll be categorising the places to visit in Jaipur in 3 major categories: (1) Historical Sites, Forts and Palaces (2) Temples (3) Gardens and Resorts

(In an upcoming blog post, I will also be discussing the major markets in Jaipur, Jaipur’s handicrafts and specialities, souvenirs you must buy from Jaipur, and finger-licking dishes to try while visiting Jaipur. )

HISTORICAL SITES, FORTS AND PALACES:

Amber Fort: Situated 11 kms from Jaipur, the fort is a principal tourist attraction in the city and overlooks the Maota Lake. It is known for its artistic style elements. Do remember to visit the Sheesh Mahal ( mirror Palace), Jai Mandir and Sukh Niwas, all situated within the palace sanctuary.

City Palace: The palace where the ruler of Jaipur used to reign from. It consists of the Chandra Mahal and Mubarak Mahal and various other buildings located within the complex.

Nahargarh Fort: It is situated in the outskirts of Jaipur and it is beautifully constructed and planned. The fort allows you to see the breathtaking view of the entire city.

Hawa Mahal: The Hawa Mahal is located at the intersection of a main road in Jaipur. It is one of the most famous monuments in Pink City and the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind when they think of the city of Jaipur.

Jal Mahal:  The Jal-Mahal lies within the city and is one of the most peaceful sights to look at. Located within the Sagar Lake, the Jal Mahal attracts visitors from various parts of the world.

Albert Hall Museum: One of the oldest museums in Jaipur, it has various collections of paintings, ivory, carpets, metal sculptures and crystal works.

Jantar Mantar: A UNESCO world heritage site, the Jantar Mantar is the worlds largest stone astronomical observatory. It is located just next to the City Palace.

Jaigarh Fort: Located on top of the Cheel ka teela, this fort was designed by an architect called Vidhyadhar. It reflects the city’s glorious past.

TEMPLES:

Birla Temple/ Lakshmi Narayan Temple: The temple is one of the most famous temples in Jaipur and it is renowned for its fine carvings as well as the delicate work present on the temple walls. The temple is primarily dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Moti Dungri Temple: the temple is built on a hill above the Birla Temple. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha and it is surrounded by the magnificent Moti Dungri Palace.

Govind Dev Ji Temple: One of the most famous Krishna temples in the world. The temple is located within the main city of Jaipur.

GARDENS AND RESORTS:

Chokhi Dhani:  If you want to experience the Rajasthani Village culture, and money is not and issue, then Chokhi Dhani is a must visit. It is located a bit on the outskirts of the city and the concept of this resort is to give you the taste of true rural Rajasthani culture.

Ram Niwas Garden: Ram Niwas garden provides you with a calm environment, which almost makes you forget about the chaos of the city.

HOW TO ADHERE TO A LOW BUDGET?

There are certain points that have to be kept in mind on a trip where the budget is tight. A few simple steps can make huge difference and can help you save money.

1. Carry your own, reusable water bottle. Carry a water bottle with you at all times and fill it up wherever possible. You can save upto 240-320 rupees on a 3 day trip simply by doing this instead of buying a disposable water bottle each time you go out.
2. Carry your student ID card along with you. Museums, Forts and Palaces will give you tickets based on a student fair simply if you show them your ID card. The prices of the tickets drop down substantially for someone who is carrying a student ID card with them.
3. Book a hotel/hostel that provides you with complimentary breakfast. If you hostel/hotel provides you with the first meal of the day, then you’ll only have to spend on the subsequent two meals, thereby saving approximately 300 rupees on a 3 day trip.
4. Bargain! Often, auto rickshaw drivers and local rickshaw pullers quote high prices even to take you to a short distance. Make sure that you know the prices and try to bargain wherever you can. Even while shopping in local markets, try to bargain while purchasing gift or souvenirs.
5. Use apps like OYO, MakeMyTrip, AirBnB, RedBus etc to book your hostel/hotels and your bus rides. You can save a lot of money by booking your accommodation and bus/ train rides using these apps. Furthermore, you can also find something that best suits your needs using there apps.
6. Choose a hotel/hostel that is near the main city. Your place of stay should preferably be close to the main city. That way, it will be easy for you to explore the city as everything will be in close proximity to you.
7. Keep a little bit of ’emergency money’ and try not to use it, until and unless it’s an emergency.

On an average, you should be able to have a wonderful stay in Jaipur in 5000-6000 rupees at the maximum. (inclusive of the travel expenses)

(I will be posting another blog soon, which will be an add on to this one, where in I will discuss the local markets to visit, restaurants and food joins that offer lip-smacking delicacies, Jaipur’s handicrafts and souvenirs that you can buy from Jaipur! Stay tuned!)