I am sure I am not the only one that has seen the gate from City Palace in Jaipur all over Instagram for the past year. This palace in Jaipur is even more beautiful than the tales suggest. If you want your Instagram feed to be popping with color and a splash of that tangy Indian spice then step right into my list of the most Instagrammable places in Jaipur.
Need some ideas to get the best photographs while you are in India? Checkout my guide to Indian photography: How to get the best India photographs.
#1 City Palace
This huge palace complex sits right in the middle of the city. It also has some of the most beautiful spots you could ever imagine. The colorful gate below is part of a four gate complex, each gate more colorful than the next.
There are always a couple people waiting for their turn, but they move quickly so you will get your chance to get an amazing picture There is also a shaded courtyard inside the palace complex. This is a much harder one to shoot without getting people in the background.
I suggest if you are shooting at City Place you arrive at the location early morning. Having grown up in India I can assure you that no one is willing to be up that early to see a palace. You will have the place all to yourself!
The whole palace is very colorful so clothes with patterns and white shades will match the best.
#2 Patrika Gate
This famous gate was only recently built but has gained popularity very quickly due to the beautiful architecture. It has different colors on the arches that shoot marvelously in either sunset or sunrise.
A note of advice. There are always a couple shoots going on at this place and the contrast in the arches gets too vivid in the sunlight. Go early in the morning to get all the colors and beat the people.
The gates have a multitude of colors and you might want to opt in for a boldly color outfit so the focus remains on the patterns on the gate.
#3 Hawa Mahal
This is the famous building in Jaipur. The name translates to the ‘Wind Palace’ behind the windows of which the ladies of the court used to sit to watch the market below come to life every day. I would not recommend you going inside the actual structure as it is overcrowded and poses a serious fire hazard.
Instead I recommend going to the front of the building and making your way across the street. There you will find a small alleyway with a staircase that leads to the top of the building right across from Hawa Mahal and here you can get your best shot of the building.
The building faces the north-west so the best time to shoot here is sunset when the rays directly hit the red stone and light up the building. You can dine at the roof top restaurant and get your perfect shot both in one go.
For the Hawa Mahal, the red stone is a good contrast with either a blue or a white dress. This is especially true for the picture I took from the front of the structure.
#4 Amer Fort
One of the top Instagrammable places and the biggest fort in Jaipur this is the first defense of the city. This palace literally has an innumerable number of places to click the perfect picture. From the huge gates at the entrance to the mirror hall and the tiny little pockets of windows each of these pictures come out as completely unique.
There are multiple palaces inside this structure such as the Mirror Palace which has a 1000 small pieces of colored glass that brilliantly reflect the light. There are colorful rooms that used to house the Queens of the city. Lastly, there is a big white courtyards where tiny rivulets fall down stone walls and run thru cut stone in intricate patterns.
There will also be many brightly colored elephants waiting to escort people up and down the steps to the gate of the palace. I do not recommend a picture with them since it is wildly acknowledged that these animals are not treated properly.
The fort has many structures that have their own unique patterns so again you want to opt for block colors in your outfit that do not clash with red stone and white marble.
#5 Albert Museum
This is a popular spot for engagement photo shoots early in the morning. The sun rises right behind the building and light up the entire place which looks gorgeous. What makes this place particularly beautiful is that there are hundreds of pigeons outside the building which make for a gorgeous background.
#6 Bar Palladio
A French inspired bar with white canopied seating set in the middle of a mango orchid. If you are lucky you can expect to see peacocks roaming around as well. It is no mystery that this is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Jaipur and the most gorgeous bar in the city. The walls are covered with patterns and colors that inspire you to sit back and relax within the cool oasis. You will find an abundance of spots to take some amazing pictures here.
#7 Sujan Rajmahal Palace
Sujan Rajmahal is one of the most gorgeous heritage hotels in Jaipur. It’s eclectic designs, popping wallpapers and lush grounds make it the perfect spot for colorful compositions. I haven’t had the chance to go here yet but it’s at the top of my bucket list to stay at Sujan Rajmahal the next time I visit Jaipur.
#8 Nahargarh Fort
This fort is known for its views over the city and the best sunset spot. You will see crowds vying to get the best view of the pink sun as it sets over the Aravali Hills. The fort has a stone wall that runs all around its perimeter for kilometers and its very easy to follow it for a little while to come to one of the secluded spots that you can climb the wall and capture the sun right as it sets in the background. If you have a drone then that will make this even better!
#9 Panna Meena Ka Kund
This is a perfectly symmetric step well just a walk away from Amer fort. It symmetry and the way the sunlight falls makes it a great composition for some pictures. You can ask the guard to let you walk down the steps for some money and take the pictures.
#10 Monkey Temple
This is an ancient Hindu site located 10 kilometres away from Jaipur. It consists of a series of temples built into the Aravali hillside. The temples have lots of amazing opportunity to capture both the architecture and even the monkeys if you are lucky enough to be close to one.
So thats it for the cutest picture spots in this amazing city. I would love to see what locations you guys went to. Leave a comment below if you would like me to tell you the exact places I took the pictures above. I will point those out in a map of the city! Happy shooting!
