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Holi in Jaipur: the temple Holi and the colour day
The day India drowns in color
Jaipur keeps two Holis: a temple Holi of flowers and colour at Govind Dev Ji in the City Palace complex around Holika Dahan, and on the colour day a free Tourism Department party with folk music on the lawns of Hotel Khasa Kothi. By the central holiday list the bonfire and the colours fall on 22–23 March 2027; Rajasthan’s own list can put them a day earlier, so check it when it comes out.
Jaipur keeps two Holis: flower Holi at Govind Dev Ji in the City Palace complex around Holika Dahan, and on the colour day the Tourism Department's free party on the lawns of Hotel Khasa Kothi.
Where to watch
Hotel Khasa Kothi lawns: the Tourism Department's Holi on the colour day, with dry gulal, folk musicians and dancers (Ghoomar, Kalbelia, Chakri). Free, no booking; in 2023 it ran 11:00–14:00.
Govind Dev Ji temple, City Palace complex: the temple's Holi with flowers and colour, to devotional and folk songs. Free; timings follow the darshan schedule, which changes on festival days.
The walled city: the colour morning in the bazaars and lanes, winding down by early afternoon.
Free viewing
- The Tourism Department's Holi on the Khasa Kothi lawns (free, no booking)
- Govind Dev Ji temple during its Holi darshans
- The walled city's bazaars on the colour morning
Two Holis in one city
The first is at the Govind Dev Ji temple, inside the City Palace complex. The temple plays its Holi with flowers and colour to devotional and folk songs, around the day of Holika Dahan; the last time it followed the midday Rajbhog darshan. Entry is free, and timings follow the darshan schedule, which changes on festival days, so check it at the temple the day before. That evening the Holika Dahan fires are lit across the city.
The colour day itself has two sides. In the walled city the bazaars and lanes fill with gulal and coloured water from the morning, and things wind down by early afternoon. For a calmer, organised version, the Rajasthan Tourism Department holds its Holi on the lawns of Hotel Khasa Kothi, off MI Road, a short ride west of the walled city: dry gulal, folk musicians and dancers performing Ghoomar, Kalbelia and Chakri. It is free with no booking, and has run from late morning to early afternoon (11:00–14:00 one year).
Safety and etiquette
Holi in Jaipur is a public street festival. The points below come from the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advice for India and the India GO guide; for the city in general see Jaipur safety.
- Your no counts — “Bura na mano, Holi hai” (“don’t be offended, it’s Holi”) is about play, not about ignoring boundaries: a polite “no, thank you” still counts.
- For women travellers — The FCDO notes that female travellers often experience verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men. In the colour-morning crowds go with people you know and agree a meeting point; the Tourism Department’s event at Khasa Kothi is an organised alternative to the lanes.
- Bhang and drinks — Bhang, a drink or sweet made from cannabis leaves, often appears at Holi. India’s narcotics law, the NDPS Act, leaves the leaves out of its definition of cannabis and states regulate bhang, while ganja and charas are banned; the FCDO notes that possessing even small amounts of illegal drugs can bring a minimum sentence of 6 months. Bhang’s strength is unpredictable, and the FCDO warns of spiked drinks and food: don’t accept food or drinks from strangers.
- Colours — Use herbal gulal; cheap chemical colours irritate skin and eyes. Rub coconut oil into skin and hair first, keep your mouth closed in the thick of it, and put the phone in a zip-lock bag.
- In the temple — Govind Dev Ji is a working temple: the FCDO asks visitors to respect local dress codes at religious sites, and the darshan order is set by the temple.
- If something goes wrong — The all-in-one emergency number in India is 112; more in emergency numbers and is India safe.
Getting there, where to stay, when to book
Rooms are the easy part: in recent years Jaipur’s hotels have been busy at Holi but not sold out. Trains and flights are harder, because Holi is peak travel across North India.
- Book trains first
Book trains as soon as the 60-day window opens and the room two to four weeks ahead. From Delhi about twenty trains a day run to Jaipur Junction, a Vande Bharat among them, and the station has its own metro stop; more in how to get to Jaipur.
- Stay walkable
Stay in or near the walled city: the havelis of the old city, or around MI Road and C-Scheme. Govind Dev Ji and the bazaars are walkable, and on the colour morning autos and cabs are scarce until the afternoon.
- Arrive the day before
Arrive on the day of Holika Dahan or earlier: the temple Holi and the bonfires are that day, the colours the next morning. One night is the minimum, two are better.
FAQ
When is Holi in Jaipur?
By the central holiday list Holika Dahan and the colours fall on 22–23 March 2027. Rajasthan’s state list can put the colour day a day earlier, so check it when it is issued.
Where to celebrate Holi in Jaipur?
At Govind Dev Ji temple in the City Palace complex for the flower Holi around Holika Dahan, and on the colour day either in the walled city’s bazaars or at the Tourism Department’s free Holi on the Khasa Kothi lawns.
Is the Tourism Department Holi in Jaipur free?
Yes. It is free with no booking, with dry gulal, folk music and dance on the lawns of Hotel Khasa Kothi.
What are some famous Holi celebrations in Rajasthan?
Sources (3)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.