Best Places to Visit in Rajasthan

Best Places to Visit in Rajasthan, by What You Want From the Trip

Most Rajasthan lists are the same six cities in the same order. That is not much help if you have ten days and a particular reason for coming. This page is organised by what kind of trip you want – forts, wildlife, desert, temples, lakes, crafts or quiet – because that is what should decide your route.

For the city-by-city landmark list, see famous places to visit in Rajasthan.

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If You Have Come for Forts and Palaces

Place Why this one Allow
Mehrangarh, Jodhpur The most imposing fort in India, on a 120 m cliff, with an excellent museum 3 hrs
Chittorgarh The largest fort in India at 700 acres, and the most affecting history 3–4 hrs
Kumbhalgarh 36 km of continuous wall, the second longest in the world 3 hrs
Amber, Jaipur The best-preserved palace interior – Sheesh Mahal, Ganesh Pol 2.5 hrs
Jaisalmer Fort A living fort; people still live inside the walls 2 hrs
City Palace, Udaipur The largest palace complex in the state, on the lake 2 hrs

Route: Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur – ten to twelve days.

If You Have Come for Wildlife

Place What you might see Allow
Ranthambore Tiger. Two safaris, because one is a coin toss. Closed 1 July to 30 September 1–2 days
Jawai Wild leopard in granite hills, outside any fenced park 1–2 days
Bishnoi villages, Jodhpur Blackbuck and chinkara on open ground, unafraid of people Half day
Keoladeo, Bharatpur Over 350 bird species; best November to February 1 day
Khichan Thousands of demoiselle cranes, November to February only 2 hrs
Tal Chhapar Large blackbuck herds on open grassland Half day
Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary Leopard, wolf, sloth bear in Aravalli forest Half day

Route: Ranthambore, Bharatpur, Jawai and the Bishnoi villages – eight to ten days, built around the park calendars rather than the cities.

If You Have Come for the Desert

Jaisalmer is the destination: the fort, the Patwon ki Haveli, and the dunes at Sam or Khuri with a camel ride and one night under canvas. Bikaner adds Junagarh Fort and the camel breeding farm, and Osian has desert-edge temples on the Jodhpur road. Barmer, further south, sees almost no tourism at all.

Go between October and March. The desert is unbearable from April to June and genuinely cold at night in December and January.

If You Have Come for Temples

Ranakpur – 1,444 carved marble pillars, no two alike, and the one temple nobody regrets the detour for. Dilwara at Mount Abu – marble carving so fine it is translucent in places. Nathdwara – Shrinathji, among the most important Vaishnav shrines in India. Eklingji – the deity in whose name the Maharanas of Mewar ruled. Pushkar – the Brahma Temple, one of very few anywhere. Karni Mata at Deshnoke – the rat temple, which is exactly what it sounds like and not for everyone.

If You Have Come for Lakes and Quiet

Udaipur for Pichola and Fateh Sagar, and the one city in Rajasthan people extend their stay in. Mount Abu for Nakki Lake and the only cool air in the state. Bundi for the palace murals and fifty stepwells with nobody in them. Narlai and Dungarpur for villages and small palaces rather than monuments.

If You Have Come for Crafts and Shopping

Jaipur – gemstones, block printing, blue pottery, juttis. Udaipur – Mewar miniature painting and bandhani. Jodhpur and Salawas – dhurrie weaving on pit looms and antiques. Shekhawati – the painted havelis themselves, plus local textiles. Barmer – wood carving and block printing with almost no retail markup.

Buy in the bazaars or direct from workshops. We take no commission on shopping stops and tell any shop that asks.

Choosing Honestly

Ten days in Rajasthan will cover one of these themes well and touch a second. It will not cover four. The itineraries that disappoint are the ones that try to include every famous name, and the ones that work are built around two or three things you actually care about.

Routes and transport: Rajasthan taxi service, Rajasthan tour packages, offbeat places in Rajasthan.

Frequently Asked Questions: Best Places in Rajasthan

Choosing by what you want, how much fits in ten days, and when to go.

What are the best places to visit in Rajasthan?
It depends what you want. For forts: Mehrangarh, Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh and Amber. For wildlife: Ranthambore, Jawai and the Bishnoi villages. For desert: Jaisalmer. For temples: Ranakpur and Dilwara. For lakes and quiet: Udaipur, Bundi and Mount Abu. A list that ignores your reason for coming is not much use.
How many places can I realistically see in ten days?
One theme well and part of a second – or three to four cities properly. The itineraries that disappoint are the ones that try to include every famous name and end up as driving days with sightseeing wedged around them.
Which is the best fort in Rajasthan?
Mehrangarh at Jodhpur is the most imposing and has the best museum. Chittorgarh is the largest and has the most affecting history. Kumbhalgarh has the longest wall. Amber has the best-preserved palace interior. Honestly, they are different experiences rather than a ranking.
Where can I see tigers and leopards in Rajasthan?
Tigers at Ranthambore – book two safaris, because one is a coin toss, and note the park closes from 1 July to 30 September. Leopards at Jawai, where they live in granite hills outside any fenced park, and in the Kumbhalgarh sanctuary.
Which temple should I not miss?
Ranakpur, between Udaipur and Jodhpur – 1,444 carved marble pillars with no two alike, and directly on a road you are likely to be driving. Dilwara at Mount Abu is the other.
What is the best time to visit Rajasthan?
October to March. The desert cities are cold at night in December and January, so pack layers. April to June is severe outside Mount Abu. July to September is the monsoon – green, quiet and cheaper.
Is Udaipur or Jaipur better?
Udaipur if you want to slow down – lakes, a compact old city and the one place people extend their stay. Jaipur if you want forts, shopping and more to do. Udaipur is prettier; Jaipur has more in it.
Where should I go if I have been to Rajasthan before?
Bundi for the palace murals, Shekhawati for the painted havelis, Jawai for leopards, Khichan for the winter cranes, and Narlai or Dungarpur for villages. Our offbeat places page covers these properly.
Where is the best shopping in Rajasthan?
Jaipur for gemstones, block printing and blue pottery; Jodhpur and Salawas for dhurries and antiques; Udaipur for miniature painting; Barmer for wood carving with almost no markup. Buy in bazaars or direct from workshops rather than commissioned showrooms.
Can you build a route around what we care about?
Yes – every tour we run is private. Tell us how long you have and what brought you to Rajasthan, and we will build the route around that rather than selling you a fixed circuit.

Plan Your Rajasthan Route

Tell us how long you have and what brought you to Rajasthan.

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