Jaipur, the third point of the famous “Golden Triangle”, and the capital of the state of Rajasthan is a home to a fascinating collection of monuments and bazaars. Jaipur is also the starting point for forays into eastern Rajasthan. Immediately north of Jaipur, the fabulous painted havelis of the Shekhawati region are attracting increasing numbers of foreign visitors, though the region is best known for Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur, one of the world’s finest bird spotting destinations, and Ranthambore National Park, one of the easiest places on the planet to see tigers in the wild.
West of Jaipur, the pretty little town of Pushkar is famous for its astounding annual camel fair, and has long been Rajasthan’s principal backpacker hangout.
By comparison, surprisingly few tourists venture out to the historic nearby city of Ajmer, Rajasthan’s most important Muslim settlement.
West of Ajmer, Jodhpur also remains relatively overlooked by travellers, despite boasting arguably Rajasthan’s most magnificent fort.
Beyond Jodhpur, the Thar Desert begins in earnest, its rolling, scrubcovered sands enveloping Rajasthan’s two remotest cities.
The first, Bikaner, is renowned for its superb Junagarh fort and for the unique Karni Mata Shrine, or “rat temple”, at Deshnok.
The second, Jaisalmer, is one of the exemplary Rajasthan destinations: a fairy-tale walled city marooned amidst the sands of the Thar, its narrow streets lined with enormously carved havelis and ornate temples.
In stark contrast to the deserts of western Rajasthan, the southern part of the state is notably green and hilly. The main attraction here is the beautiful city of Udaipur, with its romantically tangled skyline of palaces and havelis strung out around the sylvan waters of Lake Pichola. The city of Udaipur is also known as the most romantic city of India.
North of Udaipur is the massive Kumbalgarh fort and the terrific Jain temples at Ranakpur are both easily visited as a day-trip, while there are further spectacular Jain temples west of Udaipur at the engaging little hill station of Mount Abu. Heading east from Udaipur, the superb fort at Chittaurgarh is amongst the most spectacular and historically important in the state, while further east the city of Kota is one of Rajasthan’s most heavily industrialized, but compensates with some outstanding murals at its grand city palace. Even finer examples of Rajasthani painting can be seen nearby at the small town of Bundi, whose laid-back charms are attracting increasing numbers of western visitors.
Things not to miss:
- Pushkar Camel Mela
- Chittaurgarh Fort
- Jain Temples at Ranakpur
- Meherangarh Fort at Jodhpur
- Karni Mata Temple Deshnok
- Ranthambore National Park
- Shekhawati Havelis at North of Jaipur
- Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur
- Camel Trekking in the Thar
- Cities like Jaipur (Pink City), Jodhpur (Sun City), Jaisalmer (Golden City) and Udaipur (the City of Lakes).
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