15N · 16DRoyal Rajasthan
Mandawa → Jaisalmer → Udaipur → Agra
The grand tour — sixteen days through desert citadels, lake palaces and painted havelis, with time to live in each city rather than pass through it.
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Any conversation about the west of India is incomplete without Rajasthan. This desert state carries an extraordinary richness of culture and history, and its palaces, forts and desert safaris make it India's most visited region after the Golden Triangle — of which Jaipur is itself the third corner.
Travelling here is a blend of culture and history in every city. A Rajasthan tour package typically takes in Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Pushkar, Ranakpur, Bharatpur and Ranthambore. Bikaner, Jaipur and Jaisalmer are known for heritage havelis, fresco art, palaces and forts; Pushkar and Udaipur for their lakes and ancient Jain and Hindu temples. Ranthambore adds the jeep safari — a highlight of the circuit, with sightings of desert species like chital, wild boar, jackal and sloth bear that are uncommon in other Indian national parks.
Distances between these cities are long, and the roads are the reason to come rather than something to endure — which is precisely why Rajasthan is best seen with your own car and driver rather than by train. Stop at the stepwell you spot from the highway, linger over lunch in Bundi, change tomorrow's plan tonight. Choose your vehicle on our car rental page — most families take an Innova, larger groups the Tempo Traveller or Force Urbania.
When to go: keep at least a week for Rajasthan — with several cities to visit, each needs one or two days. Summer is not a good time; the best season runs through the winter months, October to February, when the days are clear and comfortable for sightseeing.