Tap Into Culture: Jaipur Literature Festival 2025

The 18th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival is bringing in a burst of culture, intellect, and fresh ideas in the first week of February. Hosted annually at the Hotel Clarks Amer, this festival is a must-visit for readers, writers, debaters, academics, and anyone who reads and thrives on engaging with thought-provoking discussions. The themes for this edition are “Fractured World” and “Crime Fiction,” emphasising on global discourse, with over 300 speakers presenting in 13 languages. A chance to explore diverse perspectives and compelling topics remains at the heart of the literary festival hosted in a city seeped in rich culture and heritage. How to make the most of it this time? Follow along as we tell you all about what you can’t miss this year!

Jaipur Literature Festival

Talk of the Town

With over 300 speakers—think Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, authors, and global thinkers—JLF is bringing the best brains under one (very festive) roof. Co-directed by literary icons William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale, the festival is a love letter to literature and a melting pot of cultures, languages, and ideas. A few talks we’re attending:

• Shakespeare’s Sisters: How Women Wrote the Renaissance: by Ramie Targoff, brings to light the powerful voices of Renaissance women writers who broke through societal constraints to craft enduring literary legacies. Through themes of love, politics, spirituality, and power, Targoff uncovers the resilience of these trailblazing women who shaped literary history. In conversation with Katy Hessel.
• The Incredible Gravity of Being: Theoretical physicist Claudia de Rham’s latest book, The Beauty of Falling, weaves through the captivating forces of gravity while blending personal stories of flight and exploration with groundbreaking scientific discoveries. From Einstein’s theories to her pioneering work on “massive gravity,” she reveals the elegance of this fundamental force shaping our universe and lives - with entrepreneur Mukesh Bansal.

• Threads of Song: Acclaimed musician Shekhar Ravjiani, celebrated lyricist Swanand Kirkire and singer Pavithra Chari, combine their musical geniuses in an interactive session where words and emotions become the heart of a brand-new song. In the course of an hour, threads will be picked from the audience and transformed into lyrics and melodies, offering a unique glimpse into the creative process of what goes into making a song.

Festival Bazaar

The Festival Bazaar at JLF is a vibrant, must-visit space for handmade and artistic products. Think fashion accessories, garments, footwear, home décor, jewellery, and even stationery—all infused with an intrinsic artistic value. Whether you're a collector or just window shopping, a few must-visit stalls for art lovers this year are- Adi Ujala, Anam Husain, Fatfatiya, and Khwabidah.

Music to Your Ears

Let your marathon of ideas begin with music that calms the soul. Catch morning classical tunes featuring The Carnatic Quartet, Niloy Ahsan and Vidya Shah among others for a soulful start each day of JLF’25.

Art Installations

The venue features several art installations. For the Jayshree Periwal International school, the festival has been providing a global platform to budding artists to showcase their work for years. Fine arts has been championed at JLF for over 10 years where Indigenous and mainstream urban contemporary artists have been presented.

• The Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Trust: A long-standing festival collaborator, the Trust will present innovative artworks created by students and art groups across Rajasthan. These installations will reimagine the state's cultural and monumental heritage.

• Gond Artist Ram Singh Urveti: As the Artist in Residence, Ram Singh Urveti, one of the masters of contemporary Gond art, will unveil a specially commissioned 8 x 12 foot painting at the festival's Durbar Hall venue. He will also create live artwork during the festival, offering attendees an intimate look at Gond art in the making.
• Vicky Roy: The renowned photographer who has explored all 28 states and 8 union territories of India will showcase over 20 impactful images from his Ability in Disability series. This collection documents the lives of individuals with disabilities across India, celebrating their strength and perseverance.
• Veer Munshi: An award-winning artist, Veer Munshi, a native of Kashmir, creates profoundly personal work that reflects Kashmiri turmoil and anguish. Munshi will present a striking installation at the festival's entry point inspired by Kashmir's traditional papier-mâché and kalamkari motifs.

Grab a Drink

Wrapping up the day but looking for new spots to discover in the city? We have a couple of must-visit places lined up for you:

• Writers Bar, Raffles Jaipur: Since the 19th century, the Raffles brand has enjoyed a long legacy of writers like Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad frequenting its Writers Bar. The powder-blue, high-ceilinged bar draws its influence from the Chhavi Niwas at the City Palace. It is adorned with books from floor to ceiling and accessible via a cinematic winding staircase. Like secrets hidden in a palace, wine cellars are concealed behind leather-bound books. As an ode to the Pink City, the Writers Bar created the Jaipur Sling cocktail, which is made with heritage liqueurs from Rajasthan.
• 1835, Sawai Man Mahal: One of the latest additions to the Pink City's palatial scene is the Taj’s Sawai Man Mahal, located next door to the iconic Rambagh Palace. Stepping into the bar in Sawai Man Mahal, aptly named 1835, feels like being whisked back to an era when ordering Scotch was an aristocratic and literary deed. The design is a nod to the upscale bars of Ireland and England, with warm, inviting interiors, polished wooden floors, and maple wood bookshelves.