Exploring Jaipur by Bus – Stations, Routes, Fare

When a destination is located in India’s largest state, there’s a wealth of challenging and exciting experiences for tourists. Jaipur, the capital city of the Indian state Rajasthan is home to some of the most beautiful forts, gardens, architectural wonders, delicious food, and cultures; and exploring Jaipur by bus can’t be more exciting when you know which routes to take, how much to spend, and where to board the bus from and where to get down.

With a population of over 3 million which further looks more than that because of tourists, Jaipur aka the Pink City of India relies heavily on buses, taxis, and auto rickshaws. If you are a first-timer in Jaipur, and are planning to explore Jaipur by bus, there are certain things which you should definitely know before you venture out. Although Jaipur is famous for offering a royal treatment to visitors, buses here are economical and direct. They offer unmissable insights into local life and often give you a glimpse of some of the most beautiful yet unexplored places.

Arriving in Jaipur by Bus

Jaipur’s Sindhi Camp Bus Stand is the point where most of the buses from different Indian cities end their journey. This is a government-regulated bus stand that remains functional 24x7. The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) runs many AC and non-AC buses from this bus stand. However, for local sightseeing, you will need to step out of this bus stand as the buses that reach here or start from here are mostly interstate and intercity buses. So if you’re coming to Jaipur by bus from Delhi, Agra or any other city, Sindhi Camp Bus Stand would be the point where your journey to Jaipur will end. As you step out of the bus stand, you will see a large number of offices of private bus operators. From there, you can board private luxury and non-luxury buses for other cities.

Operators and bus types

• Exploring Jaipur By City Bus

Since your goal is to visit the best places in Jaipur, local buses are the most affordable and often the fastest options to explore the city. The RSRTC operates Jaipur City Transport Service Limited (JCTSL) buses. These buses are colored differently (Red, Pink, Green, Yellow, Violet, etc.) to notify passengers about their routes. However, you’ll see the red buses inside the city premises and they will take you anywhere in the city.

There are around 30 routes that Jaipur city buses cover and there are over 200 bus stops across the city. The buses are color coded to help the passengers know which bus stops and routes a bus covers. Based on the distance and demand, the buses are frequently available between all the major stops. Finding a bus to travel across the city won’t be an issue as the government runs around 300 buses from 3 depots. These buses are used by over 160,000 passengers daily.

Jaipur City Bus

Private Bus, Jaipur

• Exploring Jaipur by Private Buses

The government of Rajasthan has authorized many private bus operators to provide bus facility to passengers. These buses are available at almost all places in Jaipur, however they are unorganized and do not follow a fixed schedule. These buses are mostly crowded, poorly maintained, and a journey in these buses can turn out to be a nightmare for the first-timers. As these buses are not governed properly by any authority, travelers should not expect the receipt of payment in such buses. Although there are some private bus operators that follow schedule and provide good services, you will rarely find them in this huge city.

Routes, Stations, and Bus Fare

The government-owned city buses are available in two classes - low floor non-AC and low floor AC. The Jaipur city bus fare starts from Rs. 7 for up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) and can go up to Rs. 40 for a journey up to 50 kilometers (31 miles). City buses in Jaipur are well-maintained and ticketing procedure is simple. You can board the bus and can buy tickets instantly from the bus staff. Unlike private buses, you will be given a ticket for your journey.

Private buses also charge people almost the same amount as the government-owned city buses. The good thing is that fare doesn’t fluctuate and remains the same every time. However, one must be careful about the safety of their belongings as these buses can get crowded quickly and you may not even find a place to sit.

If you’re exploring Jaipur by bus, make sure to plan your journey in a way that you can reach your hotel before 11 PM. Most of the buses, both private and government-owned, stop around 11 PM and taxis and auto rickshaws are the only options available at late night. In the morning, you can catch a bus as early as 5 AM.

Some of the Major Bus Stops & Nearby Attractions:

• Sindhi Camp Bus Stand: Jaipur Junction Railway Station (1.5 kilometers)

• Badi Chaupar Bus Stand: Hawa Mahal (100 meters), Jantar Mantar (500 meters), City Palace (500 meters), Govind Dev Ji Temple (1.5 kilometers), Bapu Bazaar (2 kilometers), Chaura Rasta Market (1.5 Kilometers), Johari Bazaar (200 Meters), Albert Hall Museum (2.5 kilometers).

• Jal Mahal Bus Stand: Jal Mahal (200 meters), Amer Fort (4 kilometers), Jaigarh Fort (5 kilometers), Nahargarh Fort Road (2 kilometers).

• Transport Nagar: Galtaji Temple (2 Kilometers), Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple (4 kilometers), Birla Temple (4 kilometers), Pink Square Mall (1.5 kilometers).

Jantar Mantar

Birla Mandir

When in Jaipur, you can easily piece together a travel plan. A flexible schedule and savvy route-planning can not only help you save money, it will double the fun of exploring Jaipur by bus. Choose the right time, equip yourself with some street smarts and your journey will be as amazing as the Pink City.