Rajasthan has so much to offer and see, with long travel distances between top sites, that a trip here requires meticulously formulation and planning. The following overview can help design your Rajasthan vacations well.

The three big towns of Rajasthan are Jaipur, the “Pink City”, Jodhpur, the “Blue city” and Udaipur, the “White City”; all are worthy destinations, not least because they offer easy access to great excursion.
The tiny Jaisalmer or “Golden City” , is the most awkward to reach, and while some find it the highlight of their Rajasthan Tour, other feel it is worth the schlep it takes to get there, given the state of its decaying fort and untrammeled development beneath it.

For most the entry point is the capital city of Jaipur, near the eastern border which is the third stopover (the others being nearby Delhi and Agra) of the much traveled Golden Triangle tour.
The few hours from the city will take you to Ranthambore National Park- where you have good chances of spotting the wild tigers and Bharatpur’s Keoladeo National Park, a must see for birders. Jaipur is also within driving distance of Shekhawati and its painted towns and havelis.

For someone with limited time it is better to fly off direct to Udaipur- this is arguably Rajasthan’s most attractive city. Explore the undiscovered palaces of Dungarpur, or head much further out west to Mount Abu (the states only hill station and scared pilgrimage of the Jains).

As mentioned, the state’s other captivating but endangered city is Jaisalmer, which is rather inconveniently situated in the far flung western outreaches of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert; to get there you have to either set off from Jodhpur or travel via the desert town of Bikaner.

Nisha Khan