The Rajasthan Big Five

Everyone does Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Pushkar. We rank them by how much they reward time.

1. Udaipur (3 nights)

Most romantic city in India. City Palace, Lake Pichola boat ride at sunset, Bagore ki Haveli dance show (Rs 150). Stay: Taj Lake Palace (Rs 55,000) or Jagat Niwas (Rs 5,500).

2. Jaisalmer (2 nights)

Living fort, Sam sand dunes, camel safari. Stay inside the fort at Suryagarh (Rs 25,000) or Killa Bhawan (Rs 8,000). Desert camps Rs 3,000-12,000 per night.

3. Jodhpur (2 nights)

Mehrangarh Fort is arguably India's best fort. Clock Tower market, Jaswant Thada. Stay at RAAS (Rs 22,000) or Pal Haveli (Rs 6,500).

4. Jaipur (2 nights)

Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, block-print shopping in Bapu Bazaar. Stay at Rambagh Palace (Rs 40,000) or Pearl Palace (Rs 3,500).

5. Pushkar (1 night)

Lake, temple, hippie cafes. Enough for one night unless you hit Camel Fair (November).

Under-Rated Picks

10-Day Itinerary

DaysCity
1-2Jaipur
3-4Jodhpur
5-6Jaisalmer (incl. desert camp)
7Pushkar
8-10Udaipur

Best Time and Budget

October to March. Avoid May-June (45 C+). Budget for two, mid-range hotels, private AC car: Rs 1.2-1.5 lakh for 10 days. Backpacker version: Rs 35,000.

Verdict

Do Udaipur longer than you think, Jaipur shorter. Jaisalmer is the one people regret not adding. Skip Mount Abu on a first trip.