Sunshine at 22 degrees, forts glowing at sunset and the best kachori of your life. Here is how to do Jaipur over the Christmas holidays, or in the quiet weeks of January.
At a glance: a Jaipur winter break from the UK
December and January are Jaipur’s best months. Days are dry and sunny at around 20 to 24°C, and nights drop to about 8°C. Fly non-stop from London to Delhi, then four to five hours to Jaipur by train or road, or take a one-stop flight into Jaipur with Etihad via Abu Dhabi. Four or five nights is enough for the forts, palaces and bazaars. It fits the Christmas school holidays, or go mid-January and catch the Jaipur Literature Festival.
Why Jaipur in December and January
Jaipur in summer is brutal. Jaipur in winter is a different city. From late November the heat breaks and the light turns soft and golden. You can walk Amer’s ramparts at midday without wilting, and sit on a rooftop at night with a shawl and a chai.
For UK families, the timing is the real gift. The Christmas school holidays and the grey slog of January are exactly the weeks when Jaipur is at its best.
Month | Daytime high | Night low | What it feels like |
December | About 22 to 24°C | About 8°C | Warm, sunny afternoons. Chilly mornings and evenings. |
January | About 21°C | About 8°C | The coolest month. Dry and bright by day. Jumper needed at sunrise. |
Rain is rare. The one thing to plan around is Delhi fog, covered below.
What to see in Jaipur over four or five days
Amer Fort. A honey-coloured fort on a hill above a lake, 20 minutes from the city. Go early, before the coaches, and take a jeep or walk up. The Sheesh Mahal mirror hall is the moment the children will remember.
Hawa Mahal. The pink, five-storey screen of windows that gives the city its nickname. It is best seen from a cafe across the road, with a lassi.
City Palace. Still home to the royal family, with courtyards, painted gates and a textile museum. Allow two hours.
Jantar Mantar. An 18th-century observatory of giant stone instruments beside the City Palace. Pay for a guide. Without one it is a sculpture park; with one it is astonishing.
Nahargarh Fort at sunset. Drive up in the late afternoon and watch the pink city turn gold below you. Take a shawl; it gets cold fast.
Johari Bazaar. Jaipur’s jewellery street, with block-printed cotton, quilts and bangles in the lanes off it. Bargain gently, and buy your Christmas presents here instead of at home.
What to eat
Rajasthani food is built for cold evenings. Order dal baati churma at least once: wheat dumplings, dal and sweet crumbled churma, eaten with your hands. Have a pyaaz kachori for breakfast, hot and stuffed with spiced onion. And drink a thick lassi in a clay cup, a Jaipur tradition in itself. Travelling with elderly parents? Ask for “less spicy” rather than “not spicy” and everyone eats well.
A 5-night plan that fits the Christmas holidays
For most schools in England, term ends on Friday 18 December 2026 and restarts on Monday 4 January 2027. A trip from around 21 December to 1 January gives you a full Jaipur stay plus time with family in Delhi or Punjab.
Day | Plan |
Day 1 | Land in Delhi, rest, then the afternoon train or car to Jaipur. |
Day 2 | Amer Fort early, then Jal Mahal from the lakeside on the way back. Nahargarh for sunset. |
Day 3 | City Palace and Jantar Mantar in the morning. Hawa Mahal and Johari Bazaar in the afternoon. |
Day 4 | A slow day. A block-printing workshop or cooking class, a long lunch, a rooftop dinner. |
Day 5 | Kachori breakfast, last shopping, then back to Delhi for family time or your flight home. |
Prefer the quiet window? Go in mid-January. Fares usually ease once the school holidays end, and the Jaipur Literature Festival, its 20th edition, runs from 14 to 18 January 2027 at Hotel Clarks Amer. Hotels near the venue fill early that week.
Getting to Jaipur from the UK
Route 1: non-stop to Delhi, then overland. Air India, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly non-stop from Heathrow to Delhi in roughly 8.5 to 9 hours. From Delhi, Jaipur is four to five hours by road or around four by train from New Delhi station. Trains are comfortable and less tiring for older travellers; we can also arrange a car with a driver.
Route 2: one stop straight into Jaipur. Jaipur’s international links are limited. The only Gulf carrier we can confirm today that flies from the UK (Heathrow and Manchester) into Jaipur on one ticket is Etihad via Abu Dhabi. It avoids Delhi altogether; ask us to check your dates.
A word on winter fog. Dense fog in Delhi in late December and January can delay morning flights and trains. Avoid tight connections out of Delhi and leave a buffer day before your flight home. Our homepage today shows Delhi fares starting from £303 per person (the booking link defaults to London Heathrow, one way), checked 11 October 2026, prices change daily. Jaipur hotels, from heritage havelis to family resorts, can be arranged through our hotels page. Flying from the Midlands? See our new guide to flights from Birmingham to Mumbai.
Family, elderly parents, packing and New Year crowds
1. Pack for two seasons in one day
Mornings and evenings need a jumper, a shawl and closed shoes. Afternoons are T-shirt weather. Layers beat one big coat.
2. Expect crowds at Christmas and New Year
The week between Christmas and New Year is the busiest of the winter, with Indian families on holiday too. Book hotels and drivers well ahead, and get to Amer Fort when it opens.
3. Plan the forts around older legs
Amer has long ramps and steps; a jeep up and a slow walk down is kinder. Nahargarh is reached by road, so it is easy for grandparents. Ask us about wheelchair assistance at the airports.
4. Keep children busy between sights
Kite-flying is a Jaipur obsession in January, and a kite from the bazaar is an afternoon of fun on a rooftop.
5. Sort documents early
British passport holders need an Indian visa or OCI card. Apply through the official Indian visa website well before you fly, and check the UK government’s India travel advice. Students and education staff in the UK can save £25 on selected return flights with Latest Offer
Why book your Jaipur trip with Mann Travel?
Mann Travel has been taking families home to India since 2007, and our Southall office has looked after UK travellers since 2019. We specialise in flights and hotels to India from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and we can fit Jaipur into a trip that includes family in Delhi or Amritsar. Our team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, looks after group and family bookings every day, and offers phone and WhatsApp support, so you reach a real person if the fog closes in. Contact us and tell us your dates. Related read: our Taj Mahal winter trip from the UK guide covers Agra, four hours from Jaipur by road.
Let’s take you to the Pink City this winter.
Search live fares to Delhi and Jaipur at manntravel.co.uk/flights or call our Southall team on 0208 099 9900. Ask us to add Jaipur hotels and a car from Delhi.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Jaipur in December and January?
Dry and sunny, with daytime highs of around 20 to 24°C and nights of about 8°C. Bring layers for mornings and evenings.
How do I get from the UK to Jaipur?
Fly non-stop from Heathrow to Delhi, then take the train or a car for four to five hours. Or fly one-stop into Jaipur with Etihad via Abu Dhabi.
How many days do I need in Jaipur?
Four or five nights. That covers the main forts, palaces and bazaars, with one slow day for shopping and food.
Is Jaipur busy at Christmas and New Year?
Yes. The week between Christmas and New Year is the busiest of the winter. Book hotels and drivers early, and visit the forts first thing in the morning.
When is the Jaipur Literature Festival in 2027?
The 20th Jaipur Literature Festival runs from 14 to 18 January 2027 at Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur.
Fares and availability change daily and depend on the airline, date and fare type. Weather figures are long-term averages. Routes, festival and school dates were correct on 11 October 2026 and may change. Always check live prices before booking.
