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Palaces, Camel Caravans, Fairs and Forts – Rajasthan is every bit of the Arabian dream to come true. Literally meaning the ‘land of the kings’, the state of Rajasthan does everything with an essence of royalty. Classic examples include the breath-taking palaces, commanding forts atop hills, miles of deserts, and even stunning lakes. However, even if you look past these tourist attractions, the local markets will drive you crazy with world-renowned handcrafted fabrics, jewellery, traditional arts & crafts and Mojris (handcrafted footwear). This Rajasthan itinerary has been carefully drafted to extract the most out of your 7-day stay in this heritage state. This itinerary can definitely be a part of your trip to Incredible India.
No doubt the colour of each and every city draws a good number of tourists
to Rajasthan. The striking colour of the turbans that the men adore, the colour
of the women’s bangles, and even the cities Jaipur (Pink City), Udaipur (White
City), Jodhpur (Blue City) are all associated with colours. There’s no better
place to see all these colours come live than the most popular annual camel
fair in Pushkar which is conducted in the months of October to November.
Literally any city can be considered as the starting point of your Rajasthan
trip. However, we’ve given you an ideal travel plan to follow in this travel
guide to Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Itinerary Snapshot
Day 1: Arrival at Jaipur exploring the city
Day 2: Travel to Udaipur and explore the city
Day 3: Explore the local life in Udaipur
Day 4: Leave for Jodhpur via Ranakpur and explore the city
Day 5: Travel to Jaisalmer
Day 6: Jaisalmer-Sodakore tents
Day 7: Sodakore to Jodhpur
Planning Your Rajasthan Tour
How to reach
Rajasthan?
As mentioned, any popular city of Rajasthan can serve as a starting point
to initiate your trip. In this case, we recommend the city of Jaipur due to the
ease of transportation facilities available there. It is also the state capital
and also amongst the most popular attractions of Rajasthan. Jaipur is well
connected to other important cities through well-established Airways and
Roadways. The city also has a railway station which can be used to commute to
other parts of the state. Famous metro cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai,
Hyderabad and Kolkata have very good connectivity to Jaipur.
What are the most popular tourist destinations in Rajasthan?
Rajasthan is home
to a number of palaces, beautiful deserts, lakes as well as scenic mountains.
Some of the popular destinations in Rajasthan are as follows:
- Jodhpur: Also referred to as the ‘Blue City’,
Jodhpur is well known for its blue houses, snacks, and the famous Mehrangarh
Fort. - Jaipur: Also referred to as the ‘Pink City’,
Jaipur is a perfect example of the traditional and modern architecture co-existing
in a single place. - Udaipur: Also referred to as the ‘city of the
lakes’ and the ‘Venice of the East’, Udaipur is surrounded by the scenic
Aravali Hills in all of its directions making the city extremely beautiful. - Chittorgarh: The city used to serve as the
capital of the Mewar Kingdom. It is basically a land of forts, immortal
folklore, and beautiful citadels. - Mount Abu: The only hill station in the state
of Rajasthan, Mount Abu is known for its cold atmosphere and lush green beauty.
The place is also famous for the Dilwara temple which has one of the most
attractive architecture in India. - Jaisalmer: Also known as the ‘golden city’, the
city is famous for its golden sand dunes as well as golden honey sandstone. The
city also has a good number of Jain temples, havelis, and is famous for camel
rides.
Getting around
in Rajasthan?
The state of Rajasthan is easily accessible through the intercity buses.
One of the best ways to experience the entire state is by hiring a private taxi
which are easily available in Jaipur and in most major cities. Such services
can be booked online and will cost you around Rs. 20,000 to 30,000 for an 8-day
trip Rajasthan trip.
What is the best season to plan a Rajasthan tour?
If you want to explore the most beautiful places of Rajasthan, it is recommended to plan your Rajasthan itinerary in the winter season. Planning a trip between the months of November to February will be quite ideal. Rajasthan usually observes extreme temperatures during summers and winters.
Where to stay in
Rajasthan and the type of hotels available there?
A majority of cities in Rajasthan can offer you a plenty of stay options at extremely economical prices. Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur can promise you lavish stay experience in every royal sense if you are willing to shell some good amount of money. You can also prefer to stay in homestays if you are not looking forward to spending more than a day in a single place.
What type of
food options are available in Rajasthan for vegetarians?
Just like any other Indian city, Rajasthan has plenty of options when it comes to vegetarians. The state is popular for its traditional cuisine which consists of Dal Baati Choorma, Khadi and mouth-watering deserts such as Ghewar. You can also prefer to explore the street foods which you come across while travelling.
Is the trip to
Rajasthan affordable for budget travellers and back packers?
Yes. You can choose to opt for shared accommodation while travelling across Rajasthan. If you are trying to keep your budget low, then it is best recommended to opt for lodging facilities which are quite economical.
Is Rajasthan a
suitable choice for senior citizens as well as child travellers?
Rajasthan is extremely suitable for travellers across all the age groups. However, the older people may not be able to explore the Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh forts as they can come across mobility issues. As an alternative, they can explore the City Palace in Udaipur and Amber fort in Jaipur which has much better accessibility. Children can enjoy the sight of the prestigious palaces, beautiful deserts and scenic lakes.
Details Of 7- Day Rajasthan Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at Jaipur Airport and explore the city
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The Pink City of India, Jaipur is nothing but a cultural extravaganza. The city is known for its long history but is also the most cosmopolitan city of Rajasthan. The city is well connected to all the major cities in India through airways, roadways and railways. It is also well equipped with government operated buses; several buses from Delhi frequently travel to Jaipur and other major cities of Rajasthan.
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There are several amazing things that you can do in the city of Jaipur. Here are few of the things that you can do on the first day of your Rajasthan trip. First up is a visit to the Amer Fort. You can start your Rajasthan trip through a hot air balloon which gazes over the Majestic Amer Fort.
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You can also prefer to explore the Fort on foot. If you are very much interested in the history of the place, then you can hire a local tourist to give you a detailed tour of the place.
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Your next places to visit can be any of these, depending on the time you have: City Palace, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, and Albert Hall Museum.
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Next, you can go exploring Badi Chaupar. You can experience the local life by taking a walk through the bustling streets of Johari Bazaar and Badi Chopar. Here you will come across a good number of street foods, antique shops, traditional art and handicrafts of Rajasthan.
Day 2
Travel to Udaipur and explore the city
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You can either take an overnight train or book a flight directly to Udaipur. Located on the banks of the beautiful Pichola lake, Udaipur is one of the most romantic city of Rajasthan. Located amongst the beautiful Aravali Hills, the city is also referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’.
Udaipur is a perfect example of beautiful
palaces, historic past, chivalry, lakes, temples and gardens all in a single
place. Udai Singh founded Udaipur in 1568 A.D.
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You can enjoy boat ride on Pichola Lake while looking at its main attractions: Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas. The Pichola Lake is about 3 kms wide and 4 kms in length. Jag Niwas was built for the prince of Mewar and is now a 5-star hotel. The lake is surrounded by a good number of palaces, gardens and temples.
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The City Palace of Udaipur is located along the Eastern shore of the Pichola Lake. You can also prefer to go for a boat ride from the Bansi Ghat. You can now retreat to your hotel and have a pleasant night stay.
Day 3
Explore the local life in Udaipur
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After your morning breakfast, you can proceed for a tour of Udaipur city. You can choose to visit the Jagdish Temple built by Maharana Jagat Singh of Mewar in 1651 A D. The temple is built in Indo Aryan architectural style and is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Vishnu.
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You can then visit the City Palace of Udaipur. Standing on a rocky structure, the palace has beautiful balconies, cupolas and towers with wonderful view of the Pichola Lake. The palace has 11 mahals constructed by the successors of Maharajas of Udaipur over a span of 300 years! The palace also has a Darbar hall and crystal gallery. The sculptures of the palace are known for the music, motives as well as mirror work.
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In the evening, you can prefer to explore Saheliyon ki Bari. The place is an ornamental garden which has been built in honour of the royal ladies recreational purposes.
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You can also choose to visit the Bhartiya Lok Kala museum. The place is filled with attractive dresses, paintings, ornaments, folk instruments, puppets and masks. The place hosts puppet shows throughout the day. You could visit the Eklingji as well as a Nagda Temple which has been built with white marble on the banks of Bageecha Lake. The place is located at a distance of 22 kms from the city of Udaipur. You can now retreat back to your hotel.
Day 4
Leave for Jodhpur via Ranakpur and
explore the city
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After finishing your morning breakfast, you can check out from the hotel to visit Jodhpur via Ranakpur which is located at a distance of 90 kms and has the largest Jain temple complex in the country. The main temple is dedicated in honour of Adinath, the very first Tirthankara.
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Beautiful intricate carvings, detailed mythological figures, dooms patterns as well as motifs make up the entire place. There are a total of 1444 marble pillars in the complex and each one of them is unique. You can also prefer to visit the Surya Temple as well as the other Jain temples.
Post lunch, you can drive to Jodhpur which is at
a distance of 175 km from Ranakpur. Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar Desert
and is also the largest city of Rajasthan after Jaipur. The city has a mix of
modern as well as traditional buildings.
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The limelight of the entire city is the Mehrangarh Fort which is 125 metres high. The fort was founded by Rao Jodha in the 15th Century. The city is also one of the leading centres of agricultural crops, salt, cattle and camels. The city is also a reminder of the glorious past of the city’s palaces, architectural beauty as well as historical significance.
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Here, majority of the houses are painted with indigo colour which belongs to the Brahmin caste. If you have time, you can also visit the Jaswant Thada built in white marble which is a memorial of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.
Day 5
Travel to
Jaisalmer
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After your morning breakfast on the fifth day of the Rajasthan itinerary, you can check out from the hotel and drive to Jaisalmer City. A fairy-tale town of the Thar Desert, this city was founded by Raja Jaisal around 800 years ago. Jaisalmer is Rajasthan’s most unusual and exotic town.
The city served as an important trading centre due to its strategic location through the camel trade routes. The Havelis built in golden yellow sandstones are still in excellent conditions. The Jaisalmer Fort stands on the Trikuta Hill which is around 80 metres high. The fort has a good number of beautiful Jain temples.
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You can also plan a visit to Jaisalmer during the annual Desert Festival which is conducted in the month of January and February. The festival is filled with colours as well as activities. The place is also famous for its embroidery work, Rajasthani mirror work, stonework, rugs, camel safaris and blankets.
You can then continue for an excursion to the famous Sam sand dunes. It is located at a distance of 42 km from Jaisalmer. The dunes also serve as the closest point to overlook the sandy desert. From this place, you can also observe the motifs as well as the patterns which are created by the shifting sand.
Day 6
Jaisalmer-Sodakore Tents
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You can dedicate this day for a city tour of
Jaisalmer. You can visit some of the famous Havelis that dot the city. The most
famous Haveli is the Patwaon Ki Haveli. Apparently five Jain brothers had built
the Haveli between 1800 and 1860.
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Two other havelis which are open to visitors are the Salim Singh ki Haveli and Nathmal Ki Haveli. The Jaisalmer Fort has 3 walls and 99 bastions surrounding the fort. The fort has overseen several famous battles, between the Bhatis, the Jodhpur Rathore and the Mughals.
Beautiful Jain temples are also present within
the fort and were built during the 12th and the 15th century.
In total, there are around 7 temples within the fort complex.
Day 7
Sodakore-Jodhpur
After enjoying your morning breakfast, you can
travel back to Jodhpur. After you check into the hotel, you can visit the
Sardar Bazaar as well as the clock Tower. You can also visit the local market
where you come across fresh vegetables, silver markets, Indian spices, textile and
Indian sweets.
This colourful market made up of tiny shops
stretches across narrow lanes. Several other shops such as leather handicrafts,
silver ornamentation, ivory ornamentation, lacquer work can also be found here.
Feel free to walk around this colourful market for shopping as well as personal
exploration.
You can now return back to your hotel and leave for your home, and that marks the end of the 7-day Rajasthan itinerary.