The Pink City
Jaipur
The capital and the usual first stop. Its walled city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, laid out in 1727 around bazaars painted terracotta pink.
- Amer Fort
- Hawa Mahal
- City Palace
- Jantar Mantar (UNESCO)
- Albert Hall Museum
Travel guide
Rajasthan, from the people who live here
Forts on desert ridges, palaces on lakes, tigers, camel fairs and folk music: where to go, when to go and what to know, from a newsroom that covers all 41 districts.
Weather right now
Jaipur
31°C
20° / 31°
Udaipur
31°C
20° / 31°
Jodhpur
34°C
22° / 34°
Jaisalmer
35°C
23° / 35°
Bikaner
34°C
21° / 35°
Pushkar
31°C
22° / 31°
Plan your trip
Choose how long you have, the month and what you enjoy. You get a route round Rajasthan in the order most travellers follow.
Your 8-day route
Days 1–2 · 2 nights
JaipurAmer Fort · Hawa Mahal · City Palace · Jantar Mantar (UNESCO) · Albert Hall Museum
Days 3–4 · 2 nights
UdaipurLake Pichola · City Palace · Jag Mandir · Fateh Sagar · Kumbhalgarh Fort (UNESCO)
Day 5 · 1 night
JodhpurMehrangarh Fort · Jaswant Thada · Umaid Bhawan Palace
Days 6–7 · 2 nights
JaisalmerJaisalmer Fort (UNESCO) · Patwon ki Haveli · Sam dunes · Gadisar Lake · Kuldhara
- Day 8: travel onward or home
Also worth a look: Ranthambore, Pushkar & Ajmer, Bikaner
Rajasthan is large: moving between far-apart cities takes most of a day. Trains and a hired car with a driver are the usual ways.
A suggested route from our guide, not a booking. Check transport and opening times before you go.
Ask a local
Ask anything about travelling in Rajasthan. The answer comes from this guide, today’s weather and our reporting.
Answers are written by AI from our guide and stories. For visas, fees and timings, check the official sources.
When to go
Best time to visit
October to March
Warm, sunny days and cool nights; desert nights in December and January can be cold. The busiest season, with most festivals and fairs.
Hot season
April to June
Very hot: desert cities are often above 40 °C. Plan early mornings and evenings, or the hills at Mount Abu.
Monsoon
July to September
Rain turns the hills green and fills Udaipur’s lakes; fewer visitors. Some wildlife parks close their core zones.
Where to go
Rajasthan on a map
Tap a place to open its guide.
The City of Lakes
Udaipur
White palaces reflected in lakes, ringed by the Aravalli hills. Kumbhalgarh, one of the UNESCO hill forts, is a day trip away.
- Lake Pichola
- City Palace
- Jag Mandir
- Fateh Sagar
- Kumbhalgarh Fort (UNESCO)
The Blue City
Jodhpur
Blue houses climb toward Mehrangarh, one of the largest forts in India, on a rock above the Thar desert.
- Mehrangarh Fort
- Jaswant Thada
- Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Toorji ka Jhalra
- Clock Tower market
The Golden City
Jaisalmer
A sandstone fort where people still live, carved havelis, and the dunes of the Thar desert at sunset.
- Jaisalmer Fort (UNESCO)
- Patwon ki Haveli
- Sam dunes
- Gadisar Lake
- Kuldhara
Faith by the lake
Pushkar & Ajmer
Pushkar, a holy town around a lake with one of the very few Brahma temples, hosts a famous camel fair; Ajmer is home to the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
- Pushkar Lake
- Brahma Temple
- Pushkar Fair
- Ajmer Sharif Dargah
- Ana Sagar
Camels and bhujia
Bikaner
A desert city with a fort never taken by force, the camel research centre, and the crisp snack the world knows as Bikaneri bhujia.
- Junagarh Fort
- Karni Mata Temple, Deshnok
- National Research Centre on Camel
- Lalgarh Palace
Tigers in a fort
Ranthambore
One of the best places in India to see a wild tiger, around a hill fort that is a UNESCO site. Core zones usually close for the monsoon, about July to September.
- Ranthambore National Park
- Ranthambore Fort (UNESCO)
- Trinetra Ganesh Temple
Rajput valour
Chittorgarh
The largest fort in India by area, a UNESCO hill fort, full of the stories of Rani Padmini and the Mewar rulers.
- Chittorgarh Fort (UNESCO)
- Vijay Stambh
- Rani Padmini’s Palace
- Kirti Stambh
A birders’ paradise
Bharatpur
Keoladeo National Park, a UNESCO wetland, fills with migratory birds in winter; best explored by bicycle or cycle-rickshaw.
- Keoladeo National Park (UNESCO)
- Lohagarh Fort
- Deeg Palace
The only hill station
Mount Abu
Rajasthan’s cool retreat in the Aravallis, known for the marble carving of the Dilwara Jain temples.
- Dilwara Temples
- Nakki Lake
- Guru Shikhar
Stepwells and murals
Bundi
A quiet town of deep stepwells and palace murals that Rudyard Kipling admired; far less crowded than the big cities.
- Raniji ki Baori
- Garh Palace murals
- Taragarh Fort
Festivals and fairs
Many follow the Hindu lunar calendar, so the dates move each year; Rajasthan Tourism announces them on tourism.rajasthan.gov.in.
| When | Festival | Where |
|---|---|---|
| January | Kite Festival (Makar Sankranti) | Jaipur |
| January | Camel Festival | Bikaner |
| January–February | Nagaur Cattle Fair | Nagaur |
| February | Desert Festival | Jaisalmer |
| March | Holi | All over Rajasthan |
| March–April | Gangaur | Jaipur, Udaipur |
| July–August | Teej | Jaipur |
| October | Marwar Festival | Jodhpur |
| October–November | Diwali | All over Rajasthan |
| October–November | Pushkar Fair | Pushkar |
The best months, place by place
Our reporters’ view of each month, from the weather and the seasons.
- Great
- Fine with care
- Tough or closed
| What to see | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaipur | Great | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Fine with care | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great |
| Udaipur | Great | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great |
| Jodhpur | Great | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Fine with care | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great |
| Jaisalmer | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great |
| Pushkar & Ajmer | Great | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Fine with care | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great |
| Bikaner | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great |
| Ranthambore | Great | Great | Great | Fine with care | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great |
| Chittorgarh | Great | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Fine with care | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great |
| Bharatpur | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Great | Great |
| Mount Abu | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great | Fine with care | Fine with care | Fine with care | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great |
| Bundi | Great | Great | Great | Fine with care | Tough or closed | Tough or closed | Fine with care | Great | Great | Great | Great | Great |
Say it like a local
A few words of Hindi and Rajasthani go a long way. Tap to hear them.
Khamma ghani खम्मा घणी
Rajasthani greeting: hello, with respect
Padharo mhare des पधारो म्हारे देस
Welcome to my land (Rajasthani)
Namaste नमस्ते
Hello, and goodbye
Dhanyavaad धन्यवाद
Thank you
Kitne ka hai? कितने का है?
How much is it?
Thoda kam kijiye थोड़ा कम कीजिए
A little less, please
Nahin chahiye, dhanyavaad नहीं चाहिए, धन्यवाद
I don’t need it, thank you
Kam teekha कम तीखा
Less spicy
Paani पानी
Water
Shauchalay kahan hai? शौचालय कहाँ है?
Where is the toilet?
Dheere chalaiye धीरे चलाइए
Please drive slowly
Mujhe madad chahiye मुझे मदद चाहिए
I need help
Bahut sundar बहुत सुंदर
Very beautiful
Uses your device’s Hindi voice, if it has one.
Good to know
Do I need a visa?
Most visitors need an Indian visa. Many nationalities can apply online for an e-Visa on the Government of India’s official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in. Apply only there, not through look-alike sites.
How do I get around?
Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur have the busiest airports. Trains connect most cities; book on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) site or app. Between nearby towns, a hired car with a driver is common.
What should I wear at temples and mosques?
Cover shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes at the entrance. Some temples do not allow leather or photography; follow the signs.
Is it safe?
Rajasthan welcomes millions of visitors a year. Take ordinary care: use registered taxis or app cabs, agree prices before a ride, and keep valuables close in crowded bazaars. In an emergency dial 112; the Government of India tourist helpline is 1363.
What about water and the heat?
Drink bottled or filtered water. From April to June carry a hat, sunscreen and water, and rest in the afternoon heat.
Can I bargain?
Bargaining is normal in bazaars. For fixed prices, government handicraft emporiums such as Rajasthali sell genuine local crafts.
May I photograph people?
Ask first. Many people are happy to be photographed; some, especially women in villages, may prefer not to be.
Go deeper
Folk music, forts, crafts and food, told in pictures and sound.