Jaipur makes an excellent base for day trips into the Rajasthani countryside. The Shekhawati region to the north — a triangle of towns containing some of India's finest painted havelis — is particularly rewarding, with Lachhmangarh the easiest to visit as a day trip.
Ajmer and Pushkar together make a full day: Ajmer for the Dargah Sharif (the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, one of the most important Sufi shrines in India), and Pushkar for the sacred lake and temple ghats. The two towns are only 14 km apart and make for natural companions.
Ranthambore National Park, about 160 km southeast of Jaipur, is one of India's best places to see tigers in the wild. This works as an overnight rather than a strict day trip, but some operators run very early morning departures for those determined to do it in one day.
