Quick answer
Rajasthan's highlights are Amber Fort in Jaipur, Mehrangarh in Jodhpur, the living fort and dunes of Jaisalmer, and Lake Pichola in Udaipur. Add a tiger safari at Ranthambore, Pushkar's ghats, Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh, and a night in a heritage hotel. Ten days covers the classic circuit; two weeks lets you add Bundi or Shekhawati.
14 things worth your time in Rajasthan
- 01
Amber Fort, Jaipur
LandmarkThe Rajput palace on the Aravalli ridge, with the mirror-lined Sheesh Mahal and the best introduction to Rajasthan's architecture.
2.5–3 hoursAbout ₹100–200 for IndiansBe at the gate at 8 am to stay ahead of tour buses.
- 02
Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur
LandmarkIt rises about 120 m above the blue city and has what many consider the best fort museum in India, run by a private trust.
2.5–3 hoursA few hundred rupees for IndiansWalk the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park below the walls early in the morning.
- 03
Jaisalmer Fort and the Thar dunes
ExperienceA living sandstone fort and a night in the dunes at Sam or Khuri, under a sky dark enough for proper stargazing.
2 daysCamps from about ₹2,500 per person with mealsPut the desert in the middle of your trip; the drive in is long from anywhere.
- 04
Lake Pichola and City Palace, Udaipur
ExperienceA palace complex rising from the lake, a sunset boat past Jag Mandir, and dinner on a rooftop facing the water.
1 dayPalace about ₹300–400; boat about ₹400–1,000End your trip here; Udaipur has direct flights to most metros.
- 05
Tiger safari at Ranthambore
NatureOne of the best parks in India for seeing tigers in daylight, set around a 10th-century fort and lakes.
3.5 hours per safariAbout ₹1,200–2,500 per seat depending on vehicleBook on the forest department's portal as soon as your dates are firm. Core zones close from July to September.
- 06
Pushkar
ExperienceFifty-odd ghats around a holy lake and one of the very few Brahma temples in India, 15 km from Ajmer.
1 dayFreeIgnore 'priests' who press flowers on you at the ghats and then demand a donation.
- 07
Chittorgarh Fort
LandmarkOne of India's largest forts, spread across a 180 m high plateau, with the Vijay Stambha and the palaces of Rani Padmini.
3–4 hoursAbout ₹35–50 for IndiansDo it between Udaipur and Bundi or Ranthambore.
- 08
Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur
Day tripA hill fort with a 36 km wall and, an hour away, a 15th-century Jain temple of 1,444 carved marble pillars.
Full dayKumbhalgarh about ₹35–50; Ranakpur free for Indians, camera feeFit both into the Jodhpur to Udaipur drive.
- 09
Bundi
ExperienceStepwells such as Raniji ki Baori, the murals of the Chitrashala and blue lanes, with a fraction of Jodhpur's crowds.
1–2 daysSmall entry feesPairs well with Ranthambore, about 2.5 hours away.
- 10
Shekhawati's painted havelis
ExperienceMerchant towns like Mandawa and Nawalgarh, where havelis are covered in frescoes of gods, trains and Europeans.
1–2 daysAbout ₹50–200 per haveliFour to five hours from Delhi, so it suits a long weekend.
- 11
Bikaner: Junagarh Fort and Karni Mata
LandmarkJunagarh's palaces are among the best preserved in the state, and the Karni Mata temple at Deshnoke, 30 km away, is famous for its rats.
1 daySmall entry feesA useful overnight between Jaipur and Jaisalmer.
- 12
Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur
NatureA UNESCO-listed wetland with over 350 bird species, at its best with winter migrants from November to February.
Half dayEntry fee plus cycle-rickshaw or guideHire a cycle-rickshaw driver trained as a naturalist; they know where the birds are.
- 13
Mount Abu and the Dilwara temples
LandmarkRajasthan's only hill station, at about 1,200 m, and Jain temples with some of the finest marble carving in India.
1–2 daysFree; no photography inside the templesDilwara admits non-Jain visitors in the afternoon only; check hours before you drive up.
- 14
A night in a heritage hotel
ExperienceSleeping in a converted fort, palace or haveli, from Deogarh and Narlai to Samode, is part of the point of Rajasthan.
1 nightAbout ₹6,000–40,000 a night for a doubleRural heritage hotels are often better value than city palaces.
How many days do you need for Rajasthan?
Rajasthan is India's largest state, and the main cities are 250–350 km apart. With a week you can do Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur comfortably. Ten days adds Jaisalmer and the desert. Two weeks lets you add Ranthambore, Pushkar or Bundi. Trying to do 'all of Rajasthan' in five days means living in a car.
Which circuit suits you?
- Classic first trip (9–10 days): Jaipur, Bikaner or Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, with Ranakpur on the way.
- Wildlife and forts (6–7 days): Jaipur, Ranthambore, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Udaipur.
- Short break from Delhi (4–5 days): Shekhawati and Jaipur, or Jaipur and Ranthambore.
- Relaxed (5–6 days): Udaipur with Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur and a heritage hotel in the Aravallis.
Getting around
A private car with driver is the norm and usually the best value for two to four people. Trains connect the main cities, and overnight services suit Delhi to Jaisalmer or Jodhpur. Flights link Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur with Delhi and Mumbai, with seasonal flights to Jaisalmer. Drives between cities are typically five to six hours on good highways.
Pace beats coverage. One extra night in Udaipur or Jaisalmer adds more to the trip than squeezing in another fort.
Plan the rest
Start with the best time to visit Rajasthan and the Rajasthan trip cost. City guides cover Jaipur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer, and the Rajasthani food guide runs from dal baati to laal maas. For a quote on a private circuit, send us an enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best route for a first trip to Rajasthan?
Is a private car better than trains in Rajasthan?
Do I need to book Ranthambore safaris in advance?
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
