The best Cities to visit in Rajasthan: A prismatic Journey
India’s largest desert state, Rajasthan, is full of history, stunning architecture, fascinating people and beautiful landscapes. Below is my list of the best places to visit in Indias largest state.
We spent almost a month backpacking Rajasthan and overall, had an amazing time. India, in general, can be a culture shock for Western travelers, with modern amenities sometimes far and few between. The smells of the spices, the sounds of the never-ending horns honking and the hot, dry heat will overwhelm you as soon as you leave the airport. But if you embrace this chaos, you will have an amazing time and be longing to return.
Rajasthan and India in general are great locations for budget travelers. Meals can be had for only a few dollars and you can also find 4 star hotels much cheaper than $80 USD a night.
Stepwell in Jodhpur
Jodhpur: The Blue City
Jodhpur, also known as the Blue City, is a city with over 500 years of history. The Brahmin used to paint their houses blue to distinguish their caste. It is also claimed that the blue paint helps to keep their houses cool. Eventually the blue paint spread to even non-Brahmin houses. Around 1.6 million people inhabit the city located in the Thar Desert.
This was our starting point for Rajasthan. We flew from Bangkok directly to Jodhpur. We were approached by several tuk-tuk drivers and eventually bartered for a ride to our hotel. The hotel in the blue city was inexpensive and clean. The staff was very friendly, but also overly friendly at times. We spent a week in Jodhpur exploring the streets and seeing the sights. The narrow streets wind their way past multiple vendors selling spices, clothing and trinkets.
Mehrangarh Fort
I would have to say the main attraction in Jodhpur is the stunning Mehrangarth Fort. The roof of our hotel (and many others) had restaurants with views of the surrounding city and the Fort. The fort was built in the 15th century and towers 400ft above the Blue City. It is currently maintained as a museum and is well preserved. We took a self-guided tour and it did not disappoint. You are transported back in time when you enter the gates. The impressive architecture, and history are worth the visit.
Almost anywhere we went in Jodhpurs busy streets we could almost always see the Fort.
Inside the fort
Looking out over Jodhpur from the fort
Mehrangarh Fort
Jaswant Thada
Only about 1 km out of town lies the “Taj Mahal of Marwar”, Jaswant Thada. Finished in 1906 Jaswant Thada was build in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singhjill of Jodhpur. It is made of white marble and is very impressive and inexpensive to visit. We walked there from our hotel which was more than doable even in the heat of the day. Its a great place to escape the hustle of the city and to just walk around and relax on the grounds, admiring the architecture.
Jaisalmer: The Golden City
To get to Jaisalmer we took an 8 hour bus ride from Jodhpur. The bus ride in itself was an experience. We paid extra to book a tourist bus but it was still crowded. The bus drive flew down narrow dusty roads having multiple close calls, as one does when they drive in India. Jaisalmer is referred to as the Golden City because of its sandstone architecture. Jaisalmer is located in the north east of Rajasthan and is home to approximately 75,000 people.
Walking around the streets can be an adventure in itself. We wandered the narrow streets shopping for leather goods and admiring the havelis.
Gadisar Lake
A living Fort
Unlike in Jodhpur, the fort in Jaisalmer is still occupied. The winding narrow pathways throughout the fort hold hidden shops filled with antique trinkets. Rooftop restaurants can be found with views of the surrounding city where you can relax with some chai. We spent a week here and explored the fort every day and never tired of walking the streets.
Looking at the fort
The streets of Jaisalmer
Camel Safari
One of the main draws to visit Jaisalmer is to go out and stay in the desert, on a camel safari. We booked a one night safari from our hotel (about $40 each) and it turned out to be our favorite thing we did in India. We were picked up at the hotel in a jeep and were taken about an hour away to a nearby small village. The village was primitive-without electricity, but not without charm. When we arrived we were met by two camel herders and a few camels. We ended up riding the camels for an uncomfortable but amazing hour. After having a campfire dinner we ended up sleeping under the stars. The next morning we were taken back to our hotel making a few stops at some interesting ruins in the area.
I highly recommend doing a camel safari.
Desert Sunrise
Desert Sunset
My ride into the desert
Sand Dunes
Udaipur: The White city
Udaipur sits on the banks of Lake Pichola. The city was founded in 1559 and holds a lot of culture. Surrounding the lake there are many cafes that give you views of the lake as you enjoy a delicious chai. Udaipur is known as the white city due to its use of white marble in its buildings. It is also know as the city of lakes because there are five main lakes spread near the city.
We spent a few day in Udaipur. We stayed about a 30 minute walk from Lake Pichola, which we regretted. We should have spent the extra money to stay close to the lake which provided stunning views, but our very tight budget didn’t allow for this. There are also a few palaces to see in the city that can be very crowded but well worth the visit to see the intricate marble architecture.
Rajasthan is an amazing part of India that is less visited by western tourists. It truly feels like you are stepping back in time as an explorer when you visit these cities.