Day 1 in Jaipur – First Impressions of Rajasthan 🚗✨

This Jaipur itinerary for 1 day is perfect for those planning a self-drive travel experience in Jaipur. From iconic landmarks like Hawa Mahal to authentic food at LMB, this guide covers everything including costs, parking tips, and travel advice.

Landing in Jaipur felt like stepping into a completely different rhythm of India — slower, warmer, and drenched in history. This was our Day 1 Rajasthan itinerary, and we chose to explore it our favourite way — self-driving. We travelled in the last 2 weeks of September and the weather felt hot in the mornings and cool, pleasant in the evenings.

In this blog:

- Jaipur arrival & self-drive tips
- LMB food review
- Hawa Mahal guide
- City Palace visit
- Cost breakdown
- FAQs

Arrival in Jaipur & Self-Drive Car Pickup

We landed at Jaipur International Airport from Bangalore in the morning.

Instead of booking cabs, we picked up a self-drive car directly from the airport, which gave us complete flexibility for the trip ahead. We booked an XUV 500 since it was 4 adults and 2 kids with luggage for 11 days.

🚗 Self-Drive Tips (Very Important)

Book in advance (local rentals but talk to them beforehand)
Inspect the car and take photos/videos before driving
Download offline Google Maps
Prefer automatic cars for city driving
Carry your DL + ID proof

💰 Cost Estimate

Self-drive car: ₹5000/day(can be less if you choose a hatchback)
Fuel (Day 1 city use): ₹500 – ₹800

Hotel Check-in & Freshening Up

After checking into our hotel and settling in, we headed straight to experience what Rajasthan is truly famous for — its food.

Lunch at LMB – Iconic Rajasthani Meal 🍽️

We went to Laxmi Misthan Bhandar (LMB), one of Jaipur’s most legendary restaurants located in Johari Bazaar.

What We Ate

Dal Baati Churma
Buttermilk (Chaas)
Dal Kachori

Food Experience

The dal baati churma was everything you expect from a traditional Rajasthani meal — rich, indulgent, and deeply satisfying.

Baati: crispy outside, soft inside, soaked in ghee
Dal: flavourful panchmel dal
Churma: sweet, crumbly, and perfectly balanced
Chutney: garlic, spicy chutney elevated taste of the meal

Dal baati churma at LMB Laxmi Misthan Bhandar Jaipur

The buttermilk was refreshing and essential to balance the richness.
The kachori was nothing like we had tasted before! Yummy stuffing inside but crispy on the outside.

💰 Cost

Approx ₹600 – ₹900 for 2 people

🚗 Parking Tip

Parking near LMB is tight and crowded
Best option: park slightly away and walk 5–10 mins
Avoid peak hours (1–3 PM)

Hawa Mahal – Jaipur’s Most Iconic Landmark 🏰

Post lunch, we walked to Hawa Mahal.
This five-storey structure with hundreds of tiny windows (jharokhas) was built for royal women to observe street life without being seen.

Travel Tips

Best visited: Morning or late afternoon for photos
Entry ticket: ₹50 (Indians)
Most people view from outside — worth stepping inside for views
Guides available but we skipped.

🚗 Parking Tip

No direct parking
Use parking near Badi Chaupar / City Palace area

City Palace Jaipur – Royal Heritage Experience 👑

Next, we visited the City Palace Jaipur, located just minutes away.
This palace beautifully blends Rajput and Mughal architecture and is still partially home to Jaipur’s royal family.

Highlights

Peacock Gate (must-see for photos)
Grand courtyards
Royal costumes & artifacts

Travel Tips

Guides are available. I would recommend a guide here since they tell about the history of the place and give a lot of information. We paid ₹500 for 4 adults and 2 kids. The guides charge on the number of people.

💰 Entry Cost

₹300 – ₹700 depending on sections
Special tickets for premium areas available

🚗 Parking Tip

Dedicated parking available nearby
Easier to park here than near Hawa Mahal
Closer to walk from Hawa Mahal