Rajasthan, known formerly by the name Rajputana or the land of the kings, is the largest state in the republic of India. It covers an area of 342,239 sq kilometers which is 10.4% of India. However despite of its large size it is covered by the Great Indian Desert, Thar. The Thar Desert runs parallel to the Sutlej-Indus river valley. Being located at the forefront of Indian civilization, the state of Rajasthan has seen the age of kings thus, explaining the moniker ‘the land of kings’. Rajasthan houses an amazing display of arts and architecture, courtesy of it being a princely state. Each individual kingdom of Rajasthan has a distinctive style of architecture and arts making it one of the most culturally diverse places in the world. In this article we shall list out the 10 popular places to visit in Rajasthan.
2. Jaipur – The Pink City
Jaipur is the capital of India’s Rajasthan state. It evokes the royal family that once ruled the region and that, in 1727, founded what is now called the Old City, or “Pink City” for its trademark building color. At the center of its stately street grid (notable in India) stands the opulent, colonnaded City Palace complex. With gardens, courtyards and museums, part of it is still a royal residence.
Best time to visit: All through the year, avoid summers for the days are extremely hot. Major attractions in Jaipur: City Palace, Amber Fort and Palace, Jantar Mantar Observatory, Birla Mandir. Things to do in Jaipur: Go for a desert safari, shop for Rajasthani crafts, textiles, and gems
2. Udaipur – The City of Lakes
Udaipur, formerly the capital of the Mewar Kingdom, is a city in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded by Maharana Udai Singh II in 1559, it’s set around a series of artificial lakes and is known for its lavish royal residences. City Palace, overlooking Lake Pichola, is a monumental complex of 11 palaces, courtyards and gardens, famed for its intricate peacock mosaics.
Best time to visit: November to March
Major attractions in Udaipur: Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar lake, City Palace, Jag Mandir, Udai Sagar lake, Jagdish Temple, Monsoon Palace, Swaroop Sagar, Kumbhalgarh fort
Things to do in Udaipur: Boating at Lake Pichola, visiting the palaces, visiting Kumbhalgarh fort, photography
3. Bikaner – For the love of handicrafts
Bikaner is a city in the north Indian state of Rajasthan, east of the border with Pakistan. It's surrounded by the Thar Desert. The city is known for the 16th-century Junagarh Fort, a huge complex of ornate buildings and halls. Within the fort, the Prachina Museum displays traditional textiles and royal portraits. Nearby, the Karni Mata Temple is home to many rats considered sacred by Hindu devotees.
Best time to visit: January-February
Major attractions in Bikaner: Junagarh Fort, Lalgarh Palace, Karni Mata Temple, Laxmi Niwas Palace, Laxmi Nath Temple, Bikaner Camel Festival
Things to do in Bikaner: Attend the Bikaner Camel fest, buy some Usta and Chadwa artefacts and handicrafts
4. Chittorgarh – Birthplace of Maharana Pratap
Chittorgarh is a city and municipality in Rajasthan, northwest India. It’s known for the honey-colored, 7th-century Chittorgarh Fort, a vast hilltop complex with the remains of many temples and monuments. The 15th-century, 9-story Vijay Stambh (Tower of Victory) is built from red sandstone and white marble. It offers city views from the top, and it is lit up at night. Nearby is the Rajput-style Fateh Prakash Palace.
Best time to visit: All through the year
Major attractions in Chittorgarh: Chittorgarh fort, Rana Kumbha’s palace, Fateh Prakash Palace, Rani Padmini’s palace, Kumbhaswamini temple,Kirti Stambha, Vijay Stambha, Kalika Mata temple
Things to do in Chittorgarh: Listen to the folk tales from the villagers, relish authentic Rajasthani cuisine
5. Ajmer – The Holy City
Ajmer is a city in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. South of the city's artificial Ana Sagar Lake is Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the domed shrine of the Muslim Sufi saint Garib Nawaz. Nearby, a 16th-century palace built by the Mughal emperor Akbar now houses the Ajmer Government Museum, displaying armor and stone sculptures. A museum at the Indo-Saracenic–style Mayo College exhibits art and taxidermied birds.
Best time to visit: All through the year
Major attractions in Ajmer: Dargah Sharif, Ana Sagar Lake, Naag Pathar ranges
Things to do in Ajmer: Attend Qawali at Dargah Sharif, offer chadar to the grave of Sufi saint
6. Mount Abu – The Arbuda Mountains
Mount Abu is a hill station in western India’s Rajasthan state, near the Gujarat border. Set on a high rocky plateau in the Aravalli Range and surrounded by forest, it offers a relatively cool climate and views over the arid plains below. In the center of town, Nakki Lake is a popular spot for boating. Close by are the centuries-old Dilwara Temples, ornately carved from white marble and of great spiritual importance.
Best time to visit: All through the year Major attractions in Mount Abu: Nakki Lke, Dilwara Jain Temple, Sunset Point, Wildlife Sanctuary and more Things to do in Ajmer: Elaborately carved temples dating from the 11th century & dedicated to five trithankaras (saints).
7. Jaisalmer – Famously known as the Golden City
Jaisalmer is a former medieval trading center and a princely state in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, in the heart of the Thar Desert. Known as the "Golden City," it's distinguished by its yellow sandstone architecture. Dominating the skyline is Jaisalmer Fort, a sprawling hilltop citadel buttressed by 99 bastions. Behind its massive walls stand the ornate Maharaja's Palace and intricately carved Jain temples.
Best time to visit: September to November and late January to April
Major attractions in Jaisalmer: Jaisalmer Fort, Sam sand dunes, Gadisagar Lake, Tanot Mata Temple
Things to do in Jaisalmer: Attend the Desert festival of Jaisalmer in January – February, take a camel safari to the Sam sand dunes, visit Longewala border
8. Jodhpur – The Blue City
Jodhpur is a city in the Thar Desert of the northwest Indian state of Rajasthan. Its 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort is a former palace that’s now a museum, displaying weapons, paintings and elaborate royal palanquins (sedan chairs). Set on on a rocky outcrop, the fort overlooks the walled city, where many buildings are painted the city’s iconic shade of blue.
Best time to visit: All through the year
Major attractions in Jodhpur: Mehrangarh Fort, the Umaid Bhavan Palace, the Mandore Gardens, the Jaswant Thada, the Kalyana Lake and Garden, the Ghanta Ghar, Sardar Samand Lake and Masuria Hills
Things to do in Jodhpur: Visit the palaces; Mehrangarh fort can’t be missed
9. Sawai Madhopur – For the love of tigers
Sawai Madhopur was built by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh of The Kachwaha Rajputs and was founded in 1763. While the town itself doesn’t have any notable tourist attractions, just two attractions have made this city a must visit place in Rajasthan. They are the Ranthambore Fort and the Ranthambore National park. The Ranthambore forests were the hunting grounds for the Kachwaha Rajputs of Jaipur till the time India received its independence. After independence it was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary and it rose to being a tiger reserve in 1973 and got its national park status in 1980.
Best time to visit: November to February for it is easy to spot tigers at the national park
Major attractions in Sawai Madhopur: The tigers at Ranthambhore National Park, 10th century Ranthambore palace
Things to do in Sawai Madhopur: Go for jungle safari, photography, birdwatching
10. Pushkar – Hosts the largest camel fair in India
Pushkar is a town bordering the Thar Desert, in the northeastern Indian state of Rajasthan. It's set on Pushkar Lake, a sacred Hindu site with 52 ghats (stone staircases) where pilgrims bathe. The town has hundreds of temples, including 14th-century Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, dedicated to the god of creation, which has a distinctive red spire and walls inlaid with pilgrims’ silver coins.
Best time to visit: October-November for the world famous Pushkar Camel Fair
Major attractions in Pushkar: The world famous camel fair, the serene Pushkar lake, and Meerabai Temple
Things to do in Pushkar: Boating in the lake, photography at the fair