Top 10 Places to Visit in Rajasthan for Your Next Trip

Best Places to Visit in Rajasthan: Top Cities, Forts, Deserts & Holy Towns

Looking for a holiday filled with royal palaces, colourful bazaars, golden deserts, wildlife safaris and sacred lakes? Rajasthan is one of India’s most exciting states for travellers, combining grand history with strong living traditions, warm hospitality and unforgettable landscapes. From iconic cities like Jaipur and Udaipur to desert outposts such as Jaisalmer and Bikaner, each destination offers its own atmosphere, food and stories. Use this updated guide to the best places to visit in Rajasthan to plan a first‑time trip or refine a longer itinerary across the state.

Jaipur – The Pink City

Jaipur, Rajasthan’s capital, is known as the “Pink City” for the terracotta façades of its old walled quarter. It combines royal palaces, lively markets, stepwells and modern cafés, making it the natural starting point for most Rajasthan trips. Within the old city you can explore the City Palace complex, the honeycomb windows of Hawa Mahal and the Jantar Mantar observatory, while nearby Amber Fort offers hilltop views, courtyards and beautifully decorated halls.

Beyond the main monuments, Jaipur has become a hub for boutique stays, rooftop restaurants, heritage walks and shopping for textiles, jewellery and handicrafts. Short drives take you to Nahargarh Fort for sunset over the city, Jal Mahal in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, and quieter temples and viewpoints in the surrounding Aravalli hills.

Udaipur – City of Lakes

Often called the “City of Lakes”, Udaipur is one of India’s most romantic destinations, with palaces and havelis reflected in the waters of Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar Lake. The vast City Palace complex dominates the lakeside, housing courtyards, museums and balconies with superb views of the water and surrounding hills. Evening boat rides on Lake Pichola reveal the illuminated palaces and ghats and are a highlight for many travellers.

Udaipur also acts as a good base for day trips to Kumbhalgarh Fort, known for its long walls and hilltop setting, or Ranakpur Jain Temple, famous for its intricate marble pillars and quiet forest valley. The city’s compact lanes, rooftop cafés and artisan shops make it easy to slow down and enjoy a few relaxed days on most Rajasthan itineraries.

Jodhpur – The Blue City

Jodhpur, nicknamed the “Blue City” for the indigo‑washed houses under its fort, lies on the edge of the Thar Desert and is one of Rajasthan’s most photogenic stops. The massive Mehrangarh Fort rises above the old town, with courtyards, palace rooms, a museum and viewpoints that showcase both the cityscape and the surrounding desert.

After exploring the fort, wander through the old city around the clock tower and Sardar Market for spice stalls, handicrafts and street food. Jodhpur also gives easy access to nearby villages for jeep excursions, as well as the elegant Umaid Bhawan Palace, part royal residence and part luxury hotel.

Bikaner – Desert City with Sweets & Forts

Bikaner, set in the northern desert, is known for its impressive Junagarh Fort, camel‑breeding heritage and famous snacks and sweets. Junagarh Fort, unlike many Rajasthani forts, stands on the plain rather than a hill but still surprises visitors with richly decorated palaces, balconies and courtyards. The old city retains narrow lanes, colourful houses and traditional shops, offering a more local feel than some larger centres.

Just outside the city lies the National Research Centre on Camel, where visitors can learn about camel breeding and sample camel milk products. In the nearby desert, sunset camel rides and dune stays are increasingly popular, especially for travellers looking for a quieter alternative to busier desert circuits.

Jaisalmer – Golden Fort & Thar Desert

Jaisalmer, the “Golden City”, rises from the Thar Desert with its sandstone fort, carved havelis and desert camps around Sam and Khuri dunes. Jaisalmer Fort is still a living fort, with houses, temples and shops inside its walls, giving a sense of stepping into another era. Outside, finely carved mansions such as Patwon Ki Haveli showcase detailed stonework and merchant history.

Most visitors include at least one evening in the desert, with camel or jeep rides over sand dunes, cultural performances and night skies free of city lights. With improving road and rail connections, Jaisalmer continues to be one of the top choices for desert experiences in Rajasthan.

Chittorgarh – Land of Legends & a Massive Fort

Chittorgarh is famous for Chittorgarh Fort, one of the largest fort complexes in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the “Hill Forts of Rajasthan” group. Spread over a large hilltop plateau, the fort contains palaces, towers, temples, reservoirs and gateways that reflect centuries of Rajput history and heroism.

Key sights inside include the Vijay Stambh (Victory Tower), Kirti Stambh, Rana Kumbha Palace and the Meera Temple associated with the poet‑saint Meera Bai. Because of the fort’s size, it is best to allow a full day or hire a local guide and vehicle to cover major points comfortably.

Ranthambore – Tigers & Ruined Forts

Ranthambore, in eastern Rajasthan, is best known for Ranthambore National Park, one of India’s most famous tiger reserves. The park’s mix of lakes, forest, rocky ridges and the ruins of Ranthambore Fort on a hilltop creates a dramatic backdrop for wildlife safaris. Safari drives, conducted in open jeeps or larger canters, offer the chance to spot Bengal tigers as well as leopards, sloth bears, deer, crocodiles and a wide range of birds.

Ranthambore Fort itself, part of the same heritage landscape, dates back centuries and has temples, gateways and viewpoints with expansive views over the park. Because safari permits are limited and zones fill quickly, it is important to book safaris well in advance, especially in peak season from October to April.

Pushkar – Holy Lake & Camel Fair

Pushkar is a compact holy town centred on a sacred lake surrounded by bathing ghats and temples. It is especially notable for having one of the very few major temples dedicated to Lord Brahma, attracting pilgrims from across India. The town’s narrow streets are lined with cafés, guesthouses and small shops, making it popular with backpackers and spiritual travellers as well.

Each year around October–November, Pushkar hosts the world‑famous Pushkar Camel Fair, when traders, pilgrims and visitors gather for livestock trading, cultural performances and competitions. Outside the fair dates, Pushkar remains a pleasant place to slow down, walk the ghats at sunrise or sunset, and visit nearby viewpoints in the surrounding hills.

Bundi – Stepwells & Painted Palaces

Bundi is a smaller, less‑visited town that rewards travellers with atmospheric lanes, stepwells and hillside palaces. The town is particularly known for its many stepwells (baoris), including Raniji Ki Baori, an ornate 17th‑century structure with carved pillars and arches. Rising above the town, Taragarh Fort and Garh Palace contain faded but beautiful wall paintings and courtyards with views over the blue‑washed houses below.

Because Bundi sees fewer tourists than the big cities, it offers a more laid‑back, small‑town feel, and can be a good stop between Jaipur, Kota and Udaipur for those interested in traditional architecture and local life.

Mount Abu – Rajasthan’s Hill Station

Mount Abu, the only major hill station in Rajasthan, offers cooler temperatures, lakeside walks and forested slopes in the otherwise hot state. At the town’s centre lies Nakki Lake, where visitors can enjoy boat rides and sunset views over the surrounding hills. The nearby viewpoint at Guru Shikhar, the highest peak in the Aravalli range, gives wide panoramas and a welcome break from the plains.

Mount Abu is also home to the famous Dilwara Jain Temples, considered masterpieces of marble carving with detailed ceilings, pillars and domes dating from the 11th–13th centuries. Many travellers combine Mount Abu with Udaipur or continue towards Gujarat, using it as both a cultural and climate escape within a longer route.

Is Rajasthan worth visiting?

For travellers interested in forts, palaces, colourful bazaars and desert landscapes, Rajasthan is one of the richest regions in India to explore. In a single trip you can experience heritage hotels in former palaces, tiger safaris in Ranthambore, camel rides over dunes near Jaisalmer, lakeside sunsets in Udaipur and sunrise aartis on the ghats of Pushkar. The state’s strong craft traditions, distinctive cuisine and warm hospitality mean many visitors return to discover new corners after their first visit.

Whether you have a week or a month, combining a few of these destinations will give you a good taste of Rajasthan’s royal history, living culture and natural beauty.

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Last Updated: 7 January 2026