Places to visit in Rajasthan and Itinerary suggestions

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Rajasthan with its gracious hospitality, a plethora of striking forts and palaces, colourful markets and fantastic stay options makes for an easy introduction to India. There is a good reason why visitors prefer to visit Rajasthan on their first trip to India. So many amazing places to visit in Rajasthan that freezing a Rajasthan Itinerary is no mean task! Here are suggested Rajasthan Itineraries for 5 days and 7 days to help you finalise your trip. You can extend them to even 10-14 days.

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The land of magnificent monuments and the vast desert.

Rajasthan – India’s largest state by area – is located on the northwestern side of the country. It is my home state and I may be a bit biased. But the Rajasthan destinations, architectural points of interest, local life, good road and rail network all go a long way towards a memorable holiday for anyone.

Your Rajasthan itinerary would involve one or more of the large cities – Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur. But I urge you to combine these with some of the smaller destinations in Rajasthan. There are several to explore: Jaisalmer, Mandawa, Bikaner and Ranthambore to name a few.

Places to visit in Rajasthan: Known jewels

Jaipur ‘The Pink City’

The capital city of Rajasthan is on most travellers’ first-time trip to India. It is also visited by those who are doing the Golden Triangle route – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. This city got the name of ‘Pink City’ since most of the government buildings and old markets are painted a pleasing shade of pink!

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The architecturally captivating Hawa Mahal in the Pink City.

The City Palace, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Wind), Jantar Mantar (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Jal Mahal are the top attractions to visit in Jaipur. Amer palace, located on hills about 11 km from Jaipur makes for a fabulous day trip from the city. This rich ornate palace surrounded by large, imposing fort walls is another UNESCO heritage site. Another impressive fort on the ridge of Aravalli hills is Nahargarh Fort. A trip here late evening offers glittering view of the city lights. There are many places to visit in Jaipur.

How to reach Jaipur: If you are going to Delhi or Agra earlier, then a road trip to Jaipur makes sense. Jaipur is well connected by air and train to Delhi and Mumbai, and also to other key Rajasthan destinations.

Udaipur ‘The White City’

If there is one city where guests are treated like royalty, it is Udaipur. At least if you are staying at a luxury property like we did! This ‘City of Lakes and Palaces’ is one of the greenest in Rajasthan. The white palaces against the backdrop of lakes and greenery puts romance in mind. No wonder the city is considered a delight for couples. 

The City of Lakes and Palaces is green and serene.

The top sightseeing attractions here is the City Palace – don’t miss the gorgeous views of Lake Pichola from the palace. The Vintage Car Museum and Bagore-ki-haveli are fun to visit too. Take a boat ride on Lake Pichola one evening. You will get a view of the City Palace on one side and Jagniwas island on the other.

Monsoon Palace or Sajjan Garh makes for a good day trip outside the city. This 19th century palace is located just outside Udaipur, and offers panoramic views of the city and the area around it. Check this post on more things to do in Udaipur.

How to reach Udaipur: There are daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Dabok airport (also known as Maharana Pratap airport) in Udaipur. Udaipur is well-connected by trains to all the Rajasthan points of interest and several other cities in India including Agra, Delhi and Mumbai. The road network between these cities is also very good.

Jodhpur ‘The Blue City’

The old town of Jodhpur has most houses painted in shades of indigo, perhaps the reason for its name Blue City.

This is my favourite city in Rajasthan. I can’t exactly put my finger on the reason. The imposing Mehrangarh Fort that looms over the city and can be seen practically from anywhere could be one reason. Seeing the Mehrangarh Fort with its expansive courtyards and museums makes for a great half-day trip. You get lovely views of the old town of Jodhpur from various vantage points of the Fort. Add to that other architectural marvels such as Jaswant Thada, Toorji ki baoli (an ancient step welland Clock Tower in the heart of the city and you have a fine day for cultural immersion.

Places to visit in rajasthan, Rajasthan itinerary, Rajasthan destinations, Rajasthan points of interest
The imposing Mehrangarh Fort looms over the old town of Jodhpur.

I love Rajasthani food and have enjoyed it in all cities, big and small in Rajasthan. But the Rajasthani food in Jodhpur is particularly delicious. It is also more spicy, so ask for less chillies if your palette cannot take the heat.

How to reach Jodhpur: Jodhpur is well connected to Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur by trains / roads. There is also flight connectivity from Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur to Jodhpur.

Jaisalmer ‘The Golden City’

Jaisalmer is not really a hidden gem and gets its fair share of domestic and foreign tourists. But it is on the western border and far less connected by road and train than other places to visit in Rajasthan.

This Golden City gets its name because of the stone used in making Jaisalmer Fort and some other buildings in the old town area. But unlike the sanitised and well-kept environ of other Rajasthan Forts, a visit to Jaisalmer Fort – the largest ‘Living Fort’ – is different. There are numerous Havelis or merchant houses with intricate carvings to be seen in the old town. Another interesting place to visit especially during sunset is Bada Bagh, a cenotaph where some of the royals were buried.

Jaisalmer is your gateway to Thar desert.

One of the best experiences to be had outside Jaisalmer is a night in Thar desert. This is a must-do on your Rajasthan itinerary. You can enjoy a camel ride over rolling sand dunes, view a spectacular sunset with an unending horizon in the desert, do sand boarding if you are keen for an adventure activity and sleep under a thousand stars,

How to reach Jaislamer: Till recently, there was no air connectivity to Jodhpur but the flights are few and far in between. The best option to reach Jaisalmer is a road trip from Jodhpur or Bikaner.

Places to visit in Rajasthan: Off-beat destinations

Bikaner

If you are looking for true-blue Rajasthani hospitality and the best preserved fort in a small town not on the tourist circuit as yet, Bikaner would not disappoint.

Places to visit in rajasthan, Rajasthan itinerary, Rajasthan destinations, Rajasthan points of interest
The beautifully preserved Junagadh Fort is a must-visit in Bikaner.

Junagadh is definitely one of the most beautiful forts I have been to in Rajasthan. The modern city of Bikaner has developed around the fort. The Fort contains palaces, pavilions and Hindu temples. Rampuria havelis (merchant houses) on Heritage road are another attraction to visit in Bikaner. 

How to reach Bikaner: Bikaner has good road connectivity from Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. There are not-so-frequent flights as well from Delhi and Jaipur.

Mandawa

If you are looking for a smaller, off-beat destination in Rajasthan, consider the Shekhawati region. Mandawa, part of the Shekhawati region, is best known for its stunning havelis. These are merchant houses with lovely decorations that beckon the past. Grand mansions, baoris (step wells), forts and shrines are scattered all over the Shekhwati region. A stay in Mandawa makes for a pleasant small town experience filled with colour, mythology and ancient tales.

Colourful frescoes galore!

How to reach Mandawa: Mandawa is connected to Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner by road.

Ranthambore

One can’t blame you if your ‘fort-ed’ out after a few days in Rajasthan and want a different experience, especially if you are a wildlife and nature enthusiast. One of the prominent national parks in the country and important for tiger conservation is set up near Sawai Madhopur. There are many stay options from heritage properties to glamping sites near the national park to budget options not too far from the park.

For wildlife enthusiasts!

How to reach Ranthambore: You can reach there by road or train. Jaipur is the closest airport.

Rajasthan Itinerary for 5 days extending upto 2 weeks

The starting point of these Rajsthan Itinerary suggestions is mostly Delhi or Jaipur. You should look at spending 2 to 3 nights at each destination depending on the pace you want (perhaps 1 night would suffice at the smaller points of interest in Rajasthan like Mandawa and Bikaner).

Itinerary 1: Options to extend the Golden Triangle route (see map 1)

Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Udaipur – Jodhpur: One option of extending Golden Triangle circuit of Delhi – Agra – Jaipur is to visit 2 other cities in Rajasthan, say Udaipur and Jodhpur. This would make for a Rajasthan itinerary for 7 days. This is best suited for couples and families who are seeking more luxurious stays, cultural immersion and easy connectivity via flights.

Delhi – Agra  – Jaipur – Mandawa – Bikaner: If you are looking to extend the Golden Triangle circuit with further smaller and off-beat locations for cultural immersion, my recommendation would be to add Mandawa and Bikaner. This is best covered by a road trip from Delhi and would be a Rajasthan itinerary for 3 to 5 days.

Delhi – Agra  – Jaipur – Ranthambore: If you wish to extend the Golden Triangle with a wildlife experience, you could take a train or a road trip from Jaipur to Sawai Madhopur and finish off the trip with a stay for 2/3 days at Ranthambore National Park.

 

Itinerary 2: Classic Cultural Triangle (see map 2)

Jaipur – Udaipur – Jodhpur: The classic Cultural Triangle route would showcase the main places of interest in Rajasthan – again suited for travelers who want the cultural highlights and flight connectivity. This classic route would make for a Rajasthan Itinerary for 5 days, 7 days or even 10 days, depending on the time spent in each city.

 

Itinerary 3: Beautiful Gems (see map 2)

Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Jaisalmer: This would be a mix of large and small destinations in Rajasthan, and is best done via trains or a rental car. This is best suited for a 7 to 10 day itinerary for Rajasthan.

 

Places to visit in rajasthan, Rajasthan itinerary, Rajasthan destinations, Rajasthan points of interest
The intricate carvings of havelis / merchant houses in Jaisalmer.

Itinerary 4: The full circuit (map 3)

Mandawa – Bikaner – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Ranthambore – Jaipur: Cover several points of interest in Rajasthan if you have 2 weeks to spend.

Note: All photos in this blogpost have been sourced from Pixabay.


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There are so many amazing places to visit in Rajasthan that freezing a Rajasthan Itinerary is no mean task! Rajasthan destinations, architectural points of interest, local life, good road and rail network all make for a memorable holiday. #india #rajasthan #rajasthanitinerary #placestovisitinrajasthan #luxuryholiday #familyholiday
There are so many amazing places to visit in Rajasthan that freezing a Rajasthan Itinerary is no mean task! Rajasthan destinations, architectural points of interest, local life, good road and rail network all make for a memorable holiday. #india #rajasthan #rajasthanitinerary #placestovisitinrajasthan #luxuryholiday #familyholiday

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Author: Shweta Singhal

Hi! I am Shweta, the zest behind this blog . I play several roles – parent to a 6-year old, adventure enthusiast, travel blogger, generally open to trying out new things in life. Besides travel, I love books and theatre and art. I would love to hear from you; do drop a comment. Join me on Instagram / Twitter @zestinatote.

6 thoughts

  1. The pictures are amazing and the brief background you gave for each of the places is great. Found the post very informative. Thanks.

      1. Ah okay. Nevertheless you have experienced the amazing canvas that this place is. So hopefully you have the pictures right there embossed in your mind which is more important. We can always find pictures on the internet. I hate people who spend time and attention clicking a zillion pictures instead of experiencing the beauty of a certain place.

        1. I like to do both, spend time imbibing the atmosphere at a new place and take some nice photos. Like you said, it’s imp to get the images embossed on mind. Plus take a few good shots. These were all family holidays and I don’t have too many decent shots.

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