Rajasthan

Overview

Rajasthan is India's most colourful state, with the highlights of the pink city of Jaipur, the blue city of Jodhpur and the desert city of Jaisalmer.

History

Rajasthan was the land of the ancient Rajput warrior clans, known for magnificent palaces, harsh deserts and colourful turbans. Jaipur, the pink city, was designed and built in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II of the Kachwaha dynasty of Amber, laid out on a formal plan with buildings uniformly painted terracotta pink, the colour applied across the city in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales. In 2019 Jaipur was inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

Highlights

• •The dazzling mirrored Hall of Mirrors in Amber Fort
• •The imposing Nahargarh Fort overlooking the old city
• •Traditional camel rides through the pink city streets
• •India's celebrated handicraft and textile markets
• •Classical collections in the opulent City Palace museum

Practical tips

• •Winter is the most pleasant season
• •Consider staying in a palace hotel

Practical information

Best time

October to March

Tickets

Amber Fort combined ticket about INR 1,000; City Palace about INR 700

Opening hours

Sights roughly 9:00 to 17:00

Local food

Dal bhat, samosas and Rajasthani milk tea

Getting around

Cycle rickshaws work well in the old city, and Amber Fort is best visited early to avoid the heat

Visa

An e-Visa is required and the tourist application can be submitted online; apply at least a week ahead.

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