- Month
- Late January
- Where
- Jaipur
- Scale
- About 300 speakers, around 200 sessions
- Duration
- About five days
When it happens
The festival takes place over about five days in late January, when Jaipur's winter weather is cool and dry. Exact dates are announced several months ahead, so check the official schedule before you book travel and hotels, which fill quickly during festival week. Flights into Jaipur are also busier than usual.
What to expect
Sessions run in parallel on several stages, mixing talks by well-known authors with panels on new books, literary criticism and translation. Many discussions move well beyond literature into current affairs and social questions, and debates can be lively. Between sessions there are book launches, signings and chances to meet writers, critics and publishers informally.
Because Indian and international speakers share the stage, the festival has become an important date in the global books calendar and a useful platform for new voices.
- Author talks and panel debates
- Book launches and signings
- Sessions on history, politics and society
- Music and cultural events in the evenings
Tips for attending
Register online in advance; entry to the day programme has usually been free, though some special events are ticketed. Arrive early for popular sessions, as the main lawns fill up. Wear layers, since mornings and evenings in January can be chilly, and carry a water bottle and a small bag for any books you buy.
Combining it with a Jaipur trip
Most sessions run through the day, so it is easy to spend mornings at the festival and afternoons at Amber Fort, the City Palace or the old bazaars of the Pink City. We can arrange hotels, airport transfers and a car for sightseeing around the festival dates.
Where to experience it
Plan it with us
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will build the route, book the car, driver and hotels, and send you a clear quote.
