Rajasthan Travel Guide
How to plan Rajasthan's forts, palaces and desert without spending the whole trip in a car.
Four cities, four characters
Jaipur, the pink city, is busy and grand, with Amber Fort and the City Palace. Jodhpur sits beneath Mehrangarh, one of India's most impressive forts, with blue houses below. Jaisalmer is a golden sandstone fort on the edge of the Thar, still lived in. Udaipur is softer — lakes, palaces and sunsets.
Pushkar and the desert
Pushkar is a small holy town around a lake, with one of the few temples dedicated to Brahma. A night near the Sam dunes outside Jaisalmer adds the desert to your trip.
Distances are real
Rajasthan is a large state. Jaisalmer to Udaipur, for example, is a full day's drive. Plan fewer places with more time, or use a flight or overnight train to cut a long leg.
Where to stay
Rajasthan is famous for heritage hotels in converted palaces, forts and havelis. They range from simple to very luxurious and are worth at least one night.
When to go
October to March is the season. Winter days are comfortable; desert nights can drop close to freezing. April to June is extremely hot.
Good to add
Ranthambore for a tiger safari, Chittorgarh or Kumbhalgarh for more forts, or the Golden Triangle if Delhi and Agra are also on your list.
Travel conditions, permits and timings change. Check current rules before you travel — we confirm them in every quotation.
