Best Places to visit in Rajasthan

Best Places to visit in Rajasthan: Jaipur, Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pushkar, Ranthambore 

No. of days: 13 days/12 nights

Tour highlights: Forts, camel safari in the desert, camel breeding farm, rat temple tour, boat ride in Lake Pichola, elephant ride, tiger sighting, Rajasthani meal at Choki Dhani, frescoed Havelis,

Day 1 Explore the Pink City- Dive into the bustling streets of Jaipur, painted a captivating shade of pink.

Welcome to the pink city, considered one of the best places to visit in Rajasthan—no sightseeing for the day. Explore the colorful market and have lunch at Choki Dhani, a Rajasthani village-themed resort.

The origins of the beautiful city of Jaipur can be traced back to the eighteenth century, during the reign of Jai Singh II who ascended the Amber throne in 1699. Jaipur today epitomizes the spirit of Rajputana. Despite growing into a bustling metropolis, it retains its character and history – A beautiful fusion of the yesteryears and modernity. Jaipur is popularly known as the Pink City because of the extensive use of the locally abundant pink plastered stone, painted so in honor of the visit of the royal consort of Queen Victoria. Jaipur thrills the soul with its massive forts, magnificent palaces, exquisite temples, and lush gardens.

A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple, and the City Palace Museum.

This “Palace of Winds” ornamental facade is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Its five-story sandstone structure is plastered in pink and encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborated balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built-in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.

Day 2 Jaipur- Unveiling Architectural Marvels

Sightseeing for the day includes Amber Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, etc. You can go for a light & sound show at Amber in the evening.

Day 3 Mandawa – Frescoed Fairytale

Drive to Mandawa (200 km / 4 hrs). Here you see the frescoed Havelis of rich traders of the area who have now moved to metropolitan cities. The City of Mandawa was made a thikana in the middle of the 18th century. There have been earlier references to Mandu Jat as the founder of the Mandawa village. He first established a Dhani (hamlet) and dug a well here, which was completed on Savan Badi 5 Samvat 1797.

Day 4 Bikaner – A Camel Safari Adventure

Drive to Bikaner (200km / 4 hrs). Visit Junagarh Fort (built on plains unlike all major forts of Rajasthan), the camel breeding farm, and the famous rat temple at Deshnok. Bikaner was named after its founder Rao Bikaji in 1488. But long before this, the city was a trade center on the caravan routes from Africa and West Asia. Bikaner’s dominant features are rippling sands and abundant sunshine. The city stands on an elevation, enclosed by a 7 km wall, which can be entered from 5 gates. Bikaner City is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16^th-century fort housing old palaces, temples, and mosques. Founded by Raja Rai Singh the fort is distinguished by its long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies, and aerial windows of varying designs. Also visit Lallgarh Palace, the museum, Bhanda Sagar Jain, and Deshnoke Rat temple.

Day 5-6 Jaisalmer – The Golden City Beckons

Drive to Jaisalmer (355km / 6-7 hrs). See the man-made Gadsisar Lake ( Jaisalmer’s only source of water for a long period ) and the royal cenotaphs at Bada Bagh. The most famous landmark in the city, Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest forts in the world. Built in 1156 AD, the fort is also popularly known as Sonar Qila. Unlike other forts in the country, Jaisalmer Fort is a massive fort with a museum, shops, hotels, houses, and eateries housed within. One of the biggest tourist attractions of the city, it is also a delight for photographers.

Morning visit the fort and the Havelis. In the evening go for a camel safari in the rolling dunes of Sam.

Throbbing in the heart of the Thar, the burnished sandstone, is an intricately molded wonderland in place of barren land, today stands a city of gilded magic. The origins of Jaisalmer go back to the 12th century when Rawal Jaisal abandoned his old fort at Ludarwa and laid the foundation of a new city.

Day 7 Jodhpur – The Allure of the Blue City

Drive to Jodhpur (305 km / 6 hrs). In the afternoon visit the second most considered as the Best Places to visit in Rajasthan & best-preserved fort of Rajasthan -the Mehrangarh fort. Later see the marble cenotaph at Jaswant Thada, known as the Taj Mahal of Rajasthan.  Jodhpur – the stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill. Within the fort, visit Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II around 1899, and Umaid public gardens. Night stay in Jodhpur.

Day 8-9 Udaipur – Lake City of India

Drive to Udaipur (269km / 5-6 hrs), the city of lakes. En-route visit the amazing white marble Jain temples at Ranakpur. Evening free to explore the city on your own.

It is one of Rajasthan’s largest palaces and offers splendid views of Lake Pichola. A must-not-miss experience in Udaipur is the hour-long Mewar Sound and Light Show, it is among the best places to visit in Rajasthan. This regal rendering of the history of Mewar takes place every evening at the City Palace complex. Udaipur is home to some of the oldest temples in India. One of the most popular temples is the Jagdish Temple located in the City Palace complex. Representing the true Indo-Aryan style of architecture.

Sightseeing for the day includes City Palace (don’t miss the awesome crystal gallery), Jagdish temple, and the garden of maids (it was originally built for the maids of the queen who came along as wedding gifts). In the evening go for a boat ride in Lake Pichola.

Day 10 Pushkar – Fair City of India

Drive to Pushkar (300 km / 6 hrs). En route, you may visit the fort of Chittaurgarh. Pushkar is known for its one of the very rare temples dedicated to Lord Brahma (considered the creator of the universe in Hindu mythology). Amongst the grandeur of Rajasthan, discover a unique gem – Pushkar. Lord Brahma – The creator of the world in a search for his abode on earth, performed the supremely spiritual VEDIC YAGNA at Pushkar. It is thus the site of the only Brahma Temple in the world. Blessed with cultural blends, it is the venue for the famous Pushkar Fair, with people coming from all over Asia to buy and sell cattle of breeds from across the world. The consecrated mausoleum of Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer attracts pilgrims from all over the world. A city of Pilgrimage from time immemorial with over 500 temples Ghats Pushkar begets a legacy of timeless architectural heritage. Pushkar radiates an ambiance of peace and spirituality that casts a lure to visit again and again. The Pushkar Fair is among the largest cattle fairs in the world and among the oldest cities in India.

Day 11-12 Ranthambore – Hear the Roar of the Tiger

Drive to Ranthambore (300 km/ 6 hrs).  No safari for the day. Take a rest and have an overnight stay.

Today you go for a morning and an afternoon safari. Ranthambore National Park is one of the biggest and most renowned national parks in Northern India. Ranthambore National Park was established as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955, initially covering an area of 282 km² (109 sq mi). It was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973 and became a national park on 1 November 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary. In 1992, the Tiger Reserve was expanded to include the adjoining Keladevi Sanctuary in the north and Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary to the south along with other forests.

Day 13 Drive back to Jaipur

Best Places to Visit in Rajasthan tour comes to an end, Drive back to Jaipur (176 km / 4 hrs). Hope you return with a piece of extra baggage – a bag full of memories.