Rajasthan
Discover Rajasthan
Rajasthan (राजस्थान Rājasthān) is a state in the northwest of India. It is mainly arid and its western border is adjacent to Pakistan. The main attractions for travellers are the vast Thar Desert, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world - the Aravalis - and the Rajput heritage which is apparent in the forts, temples and palaces established by Rajput kings such as Bappa Rawal, Rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga and Rana Pratap. Rajasthan literally derives from the Hindustani words meaning "Land of Kings". The state is home to the Thar Desert, a large dry desert that has a wide variety of plants, animals and birds. Part of the Thar Desert is protected and contained in the Desert National Park.
What to Experience in Rajasthan
man in white and green long sleeve shirt standing near brown concrete building during daytime
Amber Fort #1
View of Amer Fort Jaipur Location Sagar lake watch Tower
brown concrete building during daytime
people riding camel on desert during daytime
a large building sitting on top of a lake
Deep summer, extreme heat makes for a marvelous composition!
Camel ride at sand dunes, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
The Amer Fort
three camels are sitting in the sand in the desert
Taste of Rajasthan...
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Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsRajasthan is one of the larger Indian states and distances are long, making planes a fairly good option for getting in. Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur all have airports with direct links to many major cities, though if coming from a smaller city, one has to go via Delhi. Overnight trains from Delhi and Mumbai reach most of Rajasthan's major cities. For points further out, like Jaisalmer, you'll be looking at a second day on the train as well. Vande Bharat, Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express trains are e...
Regions
Explore AreasRajasthan literally derives from the Hindustani words meaning "Land of Kings". The state is home to the Thar Desert, a large dry desert that has a wide variety of plants, animals and birds. Part of th…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
All the cities have public transport in form of buses. Also available are terrain vehicles on hire, but beware of terrain vehicle drivers who overcharge tourists. Railways can be the better travel mode as it is quick and the service on most trains is excellent. But in Rajasthan, roads may be more enjoyable for short distances as the sights of the desert with the hills are beautiful. A popular drive is from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, which is because the flight takes longer overall and the road is exc
Money & Budget
Avoid shopping at outlets guided by the local auto/rickshaw drivers or even with the local tour guide you may have hired as these outlets all claim to have some association with the Rajasthan government or the actual artisans which are generally fabricated claims and you end up paying anywhere between 20-40% above the actual price (including a hefty commission parted by the shopkeeper to the guide
Language & Talk
Most people speak Rajasthani dialects, as well as Hindi and English. In tourist places like Jaipur and Jodhpur, you will find trained English, German and French guides too. You may not be able to understand some people due to the dialect that they speak and at times, they may add words from these dialects while speaking Hindi. This does not mean that they are unable to understand you. In Rajasthan
Safety Information
Safety Overview
As always, be cautious of your environment and be vigilant like any other tourist place. Most cities are closed by evening so it is advisable to not roam around unless you feel safe. Beware of touts. One of the safest ways to travel around is by having a driver who knows their way around Rajasthan. There are many clinics and hospitals in major cities which provide treatment of reasonable quality at relatively inexpensive prices.
Glimpses of Rajasthan
man in white and green long sleeve shirt standing near brown concrete building during daytime
Amber Fort #1
View of Amer Fort Jaipur Location Sagar lake watch Tower
brown concrete building during daytime
people riding camel on desert during daytime
a large building sitting on top of a lake
Deep summer, extreme heat makes for a marvelous composition!
Camel ride at sand dunes, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
The Amer Fort
three camels are sitting in the sand in the desert
man in white and green long sleeve shirt standing near brown concrete building during daytime
Amber Fort #1
View of Amer Fort Jaipur Location Sagar lake watch Tower