I am from Delhi and wish to go to Rajasthan with my family. This would be the first time for all of us to be visiting Rajasthan and we need some help in first deciding which destinations we should visit in Rajasthan, as there are so many to choose from and we have only 14 days for the holiday. I need some help to plan the Rajasthan tour which would include the places to visit and how many days to be spent at each destination. I was thinking of visiting three destinations in the 14 day holiday we have which would give each destination around 4-5 days. Thank you.
Hello there, welcome to the forum! Rajasthan is such an exotic state, on one end you have the majestic Thar desert and on the other end you have the historical cities. Once the Land of the Maharajas, the whole state exudes glamour and royalty, from its palaces, forts and temples. Not to mention the thriving wildlife in the region and the endless sandy landscapes. It is difficult to choose just a few places to visit in the state but we cannot deny that there are some places that do stand out from the others. So for me, here are the top five places to include in a tour of Rajasthan: 1. Jaipur - You can start your journey in Jaipur as it's the nearest city in Rajasthan from Delhi. In a way, it's the gateway to the other cities in the state. Amidst the chaos of this capital of the state, a visit here is a must because it is a part of the cultural heritage of the state. Of course the most famous attraction of the city is the Amer Fort and Palace, built from pink and yellow sandstone, it stands as the best evidence of the royal past of the city. But there are also other attractions in the city worth visiting like the Jal Mahal, situated in the middle of a lake or the Hawa Mahal, almost appearing like a beehive from the outside. There are also temples that you can visit here like the Birla Mandir and the Govind Dev Ji Temple. If you ever wondered why Jaipur was called the Pink City, a visit to the City Palace can explain that to you, with its imposing pink walls that look quite stunning as combined with its architecture. If these attractions still haven't convinced you to visit Jaipur, how about knowing that the world's biggest cannon can be found in the Jantar Mantar? Or maybe visiting one of the largest step wells in the world, the Chand Baori. It has about 2,500 steps leading to the bottom of the well and was used to conserve water during the ancient times. Don't forget to try out some of the many restaurants around Jaipur, they're sure to delight the foodie in you. Must visit attractions - Amer Fort & Palace, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Birla Mandir, Govind Dev Ji Temple, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Chand Baori and many more. How many days to spend here - Three to four days. Related threads - Jaipur Travel Guide & Places to Eat in Jaipur 2. Udaipur - Even many years after the rule of the royals, Udaipur still exudes a vibe of grandeur and beauty. Perhaps the many lakes surrounding it is one factor, from the Lake Pichola, Lake Jaisamand and Fateh Sagar. A boat ride along these lakes is sure to erase all your worries and problems away. A visit to the City Palace Complex of Udaipur is sure to leave you spellbound as well. There are over ten palaces to explore here, each unique when it comes to style and architecture. If you're lucky, you might be able to spot the descendants of the royal family of Udaipur here as well. Another must visit here is the Monsoon Palace, where you can get a panoramic view of the city of Udaipur in. Outside the palace, explore the wildlife of the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary. And last but not the least, don't forget to visit the Shilpgram Village Museum, to learn more about the culture of the tribes residing in the region. Even just walking around Udaipur is an experience in itself as you see its colourful street walls and how the locals live their everyday lives. Must visit attractions - Lake Pichola, City Palace, Monsoon Palace, Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Shilpgram Village Museum and many more. How many days to spend here - Three to four days. Related threads - Places to Visit in Udaipur & Best place to visit in Rajasthan 3. Jodhpur - So we had discussed the Pink City and now we have the Blue City, Jodhpur. In terms of attractions and activities, this city doesn't have much to offer unlike Jaipur or Udaipur. However, don't let that discourage you from visiting this beautiful city. For instance, one of the largest and strongest forts in the country, the Mehrangarh Fort is located here. It was built over 500 years by different rulers, thereby giving it its rugged appearance and unique beauty. You can even visit the numerous exhibits here showcasing the armouries, weaponries and even palanquins used by former rulers. The Jaswant Thada is yet another must visit place, with its white facade and intricate lattice carvings. It is an evidence of the former glory of the royal era. You can also enjoy the serenity of the lakes here like the Balsamand Lake and the Kailana Lake. There are also plenty of shopping markets around Jodhpur where you can find vintage items like furnitures and even books so make shopping here a part of your itinerary. Must visit attractions - Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Balsamand Lake, Kailana Lake, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mandore Gardens. How many days to spend here - Two days maximum. Related thread - Places to See in Jodhpur 4. Jaisalmer - Of course a visit to Rajasthan won't be complete without exploring its sand dunes. An overnight stay in the desert is recommended to truly experience the desert life. Jaisalmer, known as the Golden City, has its own attractions as well. There's the Jaisalmer Fort, the only living fort in the country. Here you'll find houses with families, restaurants, hotels and shops. A must do here is eat at a rooftop restaurant to enjoy the views of the fort from above. There are also some temples that you can visit here like the Tanot Mata Temple, Jain Temples and Baba Ramdev Temple. An interesting place to visit as well is the Kuldhara Abandoned Village, where you can see the ruins of about 400 buildings. Some believe that this place is haunted so it can be a thrilling place to visit. Jaisalmer also has a number of palaces to explore like the Patwaon Ki Haveli and the Maharaja's Palace. Must visit attractions - Jaisalmer Fort, Tanot Mata Temple, Jain Temples, Baba Ramdev Temple, Kuldhara Abandoned Village, Patwaon Ki Haveli, Maharaja's Palace and Bada Bagh. How many days to spend here - Three to four days. Related thread - Top Attractions in Jaisalmer 5. Ranthambore - For spotting the wildlife of Rajasthan, then Ranthambore is your best choice for that. The Ranthambore National Park is home to about 68 tigers, which are the main attractions that tourists want to see. But the national park has a teeming wildlife variety, from other mammals like sambars, sloth bears, jackals and hyenas, to reptiles like crocodiles, lizards, snakes and chameleons. There are also many species of birds here like gulls, flamingos, crows, flycatchers and many more. You can also visit the majestic Ranthambore Fort within the park premises. So if you love nature and wildlife, do include Ranthambore in your itinerary. It's about 168 kilometres away from Jaipur though so you need to allot 3 to 4 hours of driving for it. Must visit attractions - Jaisalmer Fort, Tanot Mata Temple, Jain Temples, Baba Ramdev Temple, Kuldhara Abandoned Village, Patwaon Ki Haveli, Maharaja's Palace and Bada Bagh. How many days to spend here - Two days or more. Related thread - Ranthambore Tiger Reserve National Park, How many national parks in Rajasthan? & How many tiger reserves in India? I think these are the must-visit destinations in Rajasthan. Of course, there are also other less commercialised places like Ajmer, Pushkar and Mount Abu. However, to truly get a glimpse of the past of the state, I think these places I listed are a must visit. Once you have explored them, then you can go for the more offbeat places and maybe you can appreciate them more after visiting the more commercialised places. Plus, most of the major attractions of Rajasthan are located in these cities. I hope this helps you! Have fun on your journey!
