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Rajasthan is India’s royal state. Dubbed the ‘Land of Kings’, its rich history can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilisations of 2000 BCE, with excavations in Bundi showing prehistoric settlements.

However, it is the Rajputs for whom Rajasthan is best known. Beginning in the 9th century, this dynasty gave Rajasthan both its initial name of Rajputana and its most profitable period. The Rajputs were a cluster of different communities and clans who came together to share a common ideology and culture, synonymous with being a warrior clan.

The two Rajput kingdoms that stood out were the Sisodias of Mewar whose capital was Chittorgarh (and later Udaipur), and the Rathores of Marwar with Jodhpur as their capital. Many more existed in the region, often fighting against each other. In Indian history, Rajputs are synonymous with tales of chivalry, romance and flamboyance, as told through folk tales.

But the various Rajput clans who set up small kingdoms slowly emerged as a combined force. They were in almost constant conflict with the Mughals, with things coming to a head in the 16th century with Mughal Emperor Akbar. He had married a Rajput princess and formed alliances with some rulers, but the Sisodias and Rathores refused to countenance an allegiance. A 1526 battle saw Akbar take Chittorgarh, with the town’s women famously self-immolating to preserve their honour.

In the 18th century, The British East India Company convinced many of the Rajput states to join them, forming an independent state with the new name of Rajasthan. Most of the rulers became vassals of the British Raj. There were around 19 states which eventually merged into Rajasthan.

Rajasthan and the Golden Triangle is a firm fixture in India's tourism industry and the region has excellent travel infrastructure and services for all travel types and budgets. Here's our essential guide on planning a trip to Rajasthan; highlights, what to see, and how to get around.

Where to go in Rajasthan

Our experts' top picks and hidden gems

  • Visit the Golden Triangle & Taj Mahal

    Visit the Golden Triangle & Taj Mahal

  • Take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake

    Take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake

  • Explore ornate havelis

    Explore ornate havelis

  • Explore Rajasthan's hill forts and palaces

    Explore Rajasthan's hill forts and palaces

  • Explore Ranthambore Fort

    Explore Ranthambore Fort

  • Safari in Ranthambore National Park

    Safari in Ranthambore National Park

  • Spot tigers in Sariska National Park

    Spot tigers in Sariska National Park

  • Birdwatching in Keoladeo National Park

    Birdwatching in Keoladeo National Park

  • See Bundi art in Chitrashala

    See Bundi art in Chitrashala

  • Cruise around Udaipur Lake Palace

    Cruise around Udaipur Lake Palace

  • Get crafty in Udaipur

    Get crafty in Udaipur

  • Take a day trip to Chittorgarh

    Take a day trip to Chittorgarh

  • Chaurasi Khambon Ki Chhatri

    Chaurasi Khambon Ki Chhatri

  • Raniji Ki Baori Stepwell

    Raniji Ki Baori Stepwell

  • Sukh Mahal and Jait Sagar Lake

    Sukh Mahal and Jait Sagar Lake

  • Mandore

    Mandore

  • Bagore Ki Haveli

    Bagore Ki Haveli

  • Saheliyon Ki Bari Park

    Saheliyon Ki Bari Park

  • Monsoon Palace

    Monsoon Palace

  • Karni Mata Temple

    Karni Mata Temple

  • Delwara Temple Complex

    Delwara Temple Complex

  • Rajasthan's chattris and baoris

    Rajasthan's chattris and baoris

  • Fort Palace Museum

    Fort Palace Museum

  • Patwon Ki Haveli

    Patwon Ki Haveli

  • Desert Cultural Centre and Museum

    Desert Cultural Centre and Museum

  • Jaigarh Fort

    Jaigarh Fort

  • Bundi Palace (Garh Palace)

    Bundi Palace (Garh Palace)

  • Jaswant Thada

    Jaswant Thada

  • Umaid Bhawan Palace

    Umaid Bhawan Palace

  • Jag Mandir Island

    Jag Mandir Island

  • Visit Jaisalmer's Jain temples

    Visit Jaisalmer's Jain temples

  • Camel rides on Sam Sand Dunes

    Camel rides on Sam Sand Dunes

  • Gadisar Lake

    Gadisar Lake

  • Jal Mahal

    Jal Mahal

  • Hawa Mahal

    Hawa Mahal

  • Nahargarh Fort

    Nahargarh Fort

  • Taragarh Fort

    Taragarh Fort

  • Mehrangarh Fort

    Mehrangarh Fort

  • City Palace

    City Palace

  • Jaisalmer Fort

    Jaisalmer Fort

  • Amer Fort

    Amer Fort

Visit the Golden Triangle & Taj Mahal
Experience / India
Visit the Golden Triangle & Taj Mahal
Take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake
Experience / Pushkar
Take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake
Explore ornate havelis
Experience / Jaisalmer
Explore ornate havelis
Explore Rajasthan's hill forts and palaces
Experience / Rajasthan
Explore Rajasthan's hill forts and palaces
Explore Ranthambore Fort
Experience / Ranthambore National Park
Explore Ranthambore Fort
Safari in Ranthambore National Park
Experience / Ranthambore National Park
Safari in Ranthambore National Park
Spot tigers in Sariska National Park
Experience / Rajasthan
Spot tigers in Sariska National Park
Birdwatching in Keoladeo National Park
Experience / Rajasthan
Birdwatching in Keoladeo National Park
See Bundi art in Chitrashala
Experience / Bundi
See Bundi art in Chitrashala
Cruise around Udaipur Lake Palace
Experience / Udaipur
Cruise around Udaipur Lake Palace
Get crafty in Udaipur
Experience / Udaipur
Get crafty in Udaipur
Take a day trip to Chittorgarh
Experience / Udaipur
Take a day trip to Chittorgarh
Chaurasi Khambon Ki Chhatri
Place / Bundi
Chaurasi Khambon Ki Chhatri
Raniji Ki Baori Stepwell
Place / Bundi
Raniji Ki Baori Stepwell
Sukh Mahal and Jait Sagar Lake
Place / Bundi
Sukh Mahal and Jait Sagar Lake
Mandore
Place / Jodhpur
Mandore
Bagore Ki Haveli
Place / Udaipur
Bagore Ki Haveli
Saheliyon Ki Bari Park
Place / Udaipur
Saheliyon Ki Bari Park
Monsoon Palace
Place / Udaipur
Monsoon Palace
Karni Mata Temple
Place / Rajasthan
Karni Mata Temple
Delwara Temple Complex
Place / Rajasthan
Delwara Temple Complex
Rajasthan's chattris and baoris
Experience / Jaisalmer
Rajasthan's chattris and baoris
Fort Palace Museum
Place / Jaisalmer
Fort Palace Museum
Patwon Ki Haveli
Place / Jaisalmer
Patwon Ki Haveli
Desert Cultural Centre and Museum
Place / Jaisalmer
Desert Cultural Centre and Museum
Jaigarh Fort
Place / Jaipur
Jaigarh Fort
Bundi Palace (Garh Palace)
Place / Bundi
Bundi Palace (Garh Palace)
Jaswant Thada
Place / Jodhpur
Jaswant Thada
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Place / Jodhpur
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Jag Mandir Island
Place / Udaipur
Jag Mandir Island
Visit Jaisalmer's Jain temples
Experience / Jaisalmer
Visit Jaisalmer's Jain temples
Camel rides on Sam Sand Dunes
Experience / Jaisalmer
Camel rides on Sam Sand Dunes
Gadisar Lake
Place / Jaisalmer
Gadisar Lake
Jal Mahal
Place / Jaipur
Jal Mahal
Hawa Mahal
Place / Jaipur
Hawa Mahal
Nahargarh Fort
Place / Jaipur
Nahargarh Fort
Taragarh Fort
Place / Bundi
Taragarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort
Place / Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort
City Palace
Place / Udaipur
City Palace
Jaisalmer Fort
Place / Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer Fort
Amer Fort
Place / Jaipur
Amer Fort

Visiting Rajasthan: Need to know

Everything you wish you'd known before you booked

Architecture of Rajasthan

The history of Rajasthan is shown through its many forts, palaces and historical buildings. Almost every major city — and many minor ones — will have some form of architectural wonder to explore.

Temples

Rajasthan’s temples date back to the 4th century, although more ornate and architecturally interesting temples began to develop from the 9th century. These typically had sculptures and marble carvings, such as the stunning Delwara complex at Mount Abu.

Other notable temples include the Brahma Temple in Pushkar, which is one of the few in India dedicated to Brahma. This Hindu god was said to be cursed with having no places of worship on earth. Take a holy dip in Pushkar Lake before offering your prayers in the temple.

For a change of pace, visit the Karni Mata temple in Bikaner, which holds more than 20,000 black rats. Each time a rat dies, a statue is built inside the temple complex.

Havelis

Havelis (mansions) were the homes of rich merchants and traders in Rajasthan’s cities. Decorated with stone carvings and interiors of murals and frescoes, each merchant tried to outdo the next to show their importance and wealth.

Every major city in Rajasthan will have havelis worth visiting, but Jaisalmer is a particular hotspot. Look out for the Patwon Ki haveli and the elephants of Nathmal Ki haveli.

Chattris and baoris

Built to commemorate the region’s maharajas and nobles, chattris (cenotaphs) are a frequent feature of Rajasthan’s architecture. Chattri literally translates as umbrella, which references the dome-like structure that covers the cenotaph.

Rajasthan’s desert location means that conserving water has always been a major issue. Baoris are stepwells that were traditionally built to provide drinking water. Over time, they became meeting places and temples, decorated with sculptures and carvings. The 46m deep Ranji Ki Baori in Bundi is a fine example, showcasing carvings of Lord Vishnu.

Hill forts and palaces

These sprawling complexes often housed whole cities within them, including palaces, temples and trading centres. Built on hillsides, these forts used natural defences to protect themselves, such as forests, deserts and of course, hills. The views from the forts are spectacular.

Although initially conceived for protection from invading armies, these forts quickly became more extravagant as royal families settled in. Some of the best examples of Rajput architecture can be found in its palaces. Two of the most striking are the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur and the City Palace in Udaipur. Look out for the sheesh mahal (hall of mirrors).

Visiting these forts is a chance to experience and imagine Rajasthan in its Rajput period, when kingdoms nudged up against each other and courtly culture helped develop the region’s arts, textiles and music.

There are eight main hill forts in Rajasthan, clustered around the Aravalli mountains. Designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites, these forts were built by Rajput kings and date from the 5th century.

About the author

Off the beaten path in Rajasthan

Lakshmi Sharath

Lakshmi is a writer and travel journalist with 20 years' experience writing on travel within India and beyond, with bylines for the Lonely Planet, the Times of India, The Hindu, and many more.

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