Rajasthan

Sufi shrine city beside a sacred lake, ringed by Aravalli hills.

• SpiritualAjmer Sharif DargahRevered Sufi shrine drawing pilgrims of every faith.
• SpiritualPushkarHoly lake town with a rare Brahma temple and camel fair.
• HeritageAdhai Din ka JhonpraRuined mosque screened by exquisite 12th-century Indo-Islamic carved arches.
• HeritageTaragarh FortHilltop fort with sweeping views over Ajmer.
• NatureAna Sagar LakeOffbeatMughal-era lake with marble pavilions, lovely at sunset.

Aravalli district of tigers, hill forts and monsoon-green lakes close to Delhi.

• WildlifeSariska Tiger ReserveTiger reserve of dry forest, ruins and Hanuman temples.
• HeritageBala QuilaHill fort above Alwar with sweeping valley views.
• HeritageCity Palace AlwarPalace complex with a museum of weapons and miniature paintings.
• NatureSiliserh LakeOffbeatPalace-by-the-lake with boating and bird-watching.
• OffbeatBhangarh FortOffbeatRuined 17th-century town famed for ghost tales; entry only in daylight.

Southern tribal district of the Mahi river, known as the City of Hundred Islands.

• NatureMahi Dam backwatersIsland-dotted reservoir, good for sunsets and quiet boat rides.
• SpiritualTripura Sundari TempleAncient Shakti shrine in a hill-ringed setting.
• SpiritualMangarh DhamOffbeatTribal memorial hill honouring Govind Guru and the Bhil movement.
• HeritageArthuna TemplesOffbeatRuined Paramara-era temple cluster with fine stone carving.

Forested eastern district of waterfalls, ancient temples and quiet hill fortresses.

• HeritageBhand Deora TempleOffbeatCompact 10th-century temple on a lake, called the mini Khajuraho.
• OffbeatShergarh FortOffbeatRiverside fort with Buddhist and Hindu heritage near the Parvati river.
• SpiritualSitabariOffbeatForest pilgrimage site with sacred springs linked to the Ramayana.

Remote Thar border district of block-printing, folk music and ancient ruins.

• HeritageKiradu TemplesOffbeatHaunting 11th-century Solanki temples in the open desert.
• HeritageJuna Barmer Jain TempleOffbeatMedieval Jain temple beside an old hill fort.
• CultureBarmer block-print workshopsHand-block printed cloth in age-old desert patterns.

Home of a UNESCO bird sanctuary and the invincible Jat fort.

• WildlifeKeoladeo National ParkWetland paradise for migratory birds, best explored by cycle-rickshaw.
• HeritageLohagarh FortIron fort that held off British sieges.
• HeritageBharatpur Palace MuseumRoyal residence now a museum of Jat-era artefacts.

Textile town and gateway to Mewar's lesser-known temples and hill forts.

• HeritageBijoliaOffbeatCluster of ancient Shiva temples beside a calm tank.
• NatureMenalOffbeatWaterfall and medieval temple site tucked in a forested gorge.
• HeritageMandalgarh FortOffbeatLarge sprawling hill fort with ruined temples and monsoon greenery.

Sandstone desert city of camels, rat temples and spicy snacks.

• Must-seeJunagarh FortUnconquered fort-palace with ornate interiors and a vintage plane.
• SpiritualKarni Mata Temple (Deshnok)Temple where thousands of sacred rats roam freely.
• HeritageLalgarh PalaceRed sandstone palace by Samuel Swinton Jacob, part-hotel.
• CultureNational Research Centre on CamelWorking camel farm with rides, milk and camel-hide crafts.
• WildlifeGajner Wildlife SanctuaryOffbeatPalace and lake sanctuary for blackbuck and sandgrouse.

Time-warped hill town of stepwells, blue lanes and royal frescoes.

• HeritageTaragarh Fort BundiHill fortress with sweeping views and weathered ramparts.
• HeritageGarh PalaceFaded palace with astonishing Bundi school murals.
• HeritageRaniji ki BaoriIntricately carved 17th-century stepwell, one of Rajasthan's finest.
• NatureBhimlat WaterfallOffbeatSeasonal waterfall and temple in a green gorge.

Fort of Rajput legend, with towers, palaces and spiritual shrines.

• Must-seeChittorgarh FortUNESCO hill fort with towers, palaces and stories of jauhar.
• SpiritualSanwariyaji TemplePopular Krishna shrine at Mandaphia, busy at festivals.
• WildlifeBassi Wildlife SanctuaryOffbeatForest sanctuary for leopards and deer, rarely visited.
• HeritageBhainsrorgarhOffbeatChambal-side fort now a quiet heritage retreat.

Shekhawati gateway famous for painted havelis and a blackbuck sanctuary.

• HeritageChuru HavelisMerchant mansions with faded wall paintings and carved facades.
• SpiritualSalasar BalajiHanuman shrine with a large fair and pilgrim crowds.
• WildlifeTal Chhapar SanctuaryOffbeatGrassland sanctuary famed for blackbuck and migrating harriers.

Gateway to Jaipur with one of India's deepest and most photogenic stepwells.

• Must-seeChand Baori (Abhaneri)Deep geometric stepwell with thousands of carved steps.
• HeritageHarshat Mata TempleRuined 9th-century temple beside Chand Baori.
• SpiritualMehandipur BalajiHanuman temple known for ritual healing practices.

Red-sandstone district on the Chambal with palaces and quiet river stretches.

• WildlifeVan Vihar SanctuaryOffbeatForest sanctuary with deer, sambar and good birdlife.
• HeritageDholpur PalaceElegant royal retreat now a heritage hotel.
• SpiritualMachkund TirthOffbeatSacred pond complex with many small temples.

City of stone-carvers and hills, known for its stone-carved palaces.

• HeritageJuna MahalSeven-storey medieval palace with miniature frescoes.
• HeritageUdai Bilas PalacePalace above Gaib Sagar lake, part heritage hotel.
• HeritageDeo Somnath TempleOffbeatTwelfth-century stone temple with elaborate carved halls.
• SpiritualBaneshwar DhamOffbeatConfluence shrine beloved by Bhil tribal communities.

Northern canal district with Harappan ruins and a Bhatner border fort.

• HeritageBhatner FortOne of India's oldest forts, long a frontier citadel.
• HeritageKalibanganOffbeatExcavated Indus Valley town with fire altars.
• SpiritualGogamediPilgrimage centre for Goga Ji with a huge fair.

Pink City of palaces, markets and forts at the heart of the Golden Triangle.

• Must-seeAmber FortHilltop fort-palace with mirror work and elephant-era grandeur.
• Must-seeCity PalaceRoyal residence with museums and courtyards still used today.
• Must-seeHawa MahalHoneycombed pink facade built for royal women to watch street life.
• HeritageJantar MantarUNESCO observatory of giant astronomical instruments.
• HeritageNahargarh FortSunset-viewing fort over the Pink City.
• HeritagePanna Meena ka KundOffbeatSymmetrical step-well, tourist-light and photogenic.

Golden fortress city rising from the dunes of the Thar Desert.

• Must-seeJaisalmer FortLiving golden fort with havelis, shops and Jain temples.
• AdventureSam Sand DunesCamel safaris, sunset and desert camping.
• HeritagePatwon ki HaveliCluster of ornate merchant mansions.
• HeritageGadisar LakeAncient lake with sandstone ghats and temples.
• OffbeatKuldharaOffbeatAbandoned Paliwal village, legendary and atmospheric; fee applies.
• HeritageLodurva Jain TemplesOffbeatFine carved Jain temples of the old Bhatti capital.

Granite district with a hill fort and a high hill temple.

• HeritageJalore FortSturdy hill fort over a granite town.
• SpiritualSundha Mata TempleHilltop shrine with panoramic views.
• HeritageBhinmalOffbeatAncient trading town with old temples and wells.

Green southeast district of forts, caves and a lovely sun temple.

• Must-seeGagron FortUNESCO hill fort surrounded by water on three sides.
• HeritageJhalrapatan Sun TempleBeautiful temple with sculpted walls at Jhalrapatan.
• OffbeatKolvi CavesOffbeatRock-cut Buddhist caves with a huge Buddha figure.
• HeritageGarh Palace JhalawarRoyal palace and museum with murals.

Shekhawati heartland of painted havelis and merchant townships.

• HeritageMandawaFresco-covered havelis in a vintage merchant town.
• HeritageNawalgarhHaveli town with painted mansions and a lively market.
• HeritageKhetri MahalSprawling palace with a wind-catcher design.
• SpiritualRani Sati TempleOne of Rajasthan's largest shrine complexes.

Blue city under a mighty fort, gateway to the Thar.

• Must-seeMehrangarh FortTowering fort with an excellent museum and audio guide.
• HeritageJaswant ThadaWhite marble memorial that glows at sunset.
• CultureClock Tower and Sardar MarketSpice, textile and handicraft market in the old city.
• HeritageMandore GardensAncient capital with cenotaphs and gardens.
• HeritageOsianMedieval temple town at the desert's edge.
• CultureBishnoi villagesOffbeatVillage safari with pottery, weaving and blackbuck sightings.

Red sandstone city of temples, quiet lanes and ravines.

• SpiritualMadan Mohan Ji TempleCherished Krishna temple at Karauli.
• HeritageCity Palace KarauliLovely palace with courts and frescoes.
• OffbeatTimangarh FortOffbeatRemote hill fort seldom visited by tourists.
• SpiritualKaila Devi TempleMajor pilgrim temple set in the forested hills.

Chambal river city with palaces, coaching centres and wildlife nearby.

• HeritageKota Garh PalaceFort-palace with murals and a fine museum.
• NatureChambal RiverfrontEvening promenades and gharial spotting along the river.
• CultureSeven Wonders ParkScale replicas of world monuments, lit at night.
• OffbeatGaradia MahadevOffbeatTemple on a Chambal river canyon edge, striking at sunset.

Heartland of fairs, forts and mustard fields in Marwar.

• HeritageNagaur FortLarge fort with fountains, murals and a vast courtyard.
• HeritageKhimsar Fort and DunesHeritage fort hotel beside quiet sand dunes.
• SpiritualMeera Bai Temple, MertaTemple to the mystic poet saint Meera Bai.

Textile district with Jain Ranakpur and leopard country at Jawai.

• Must-seeRanakpur Jain TemplePristine marble temple with 1,444 carved pillars.
• WildlifeJawai Leopard HillsRare granite hills where leopards live near villages.
• HeritageGhaneraoOffbeatQuiet fort-village with a Royal Camp feel and Jain temples.
• SpiritualParshuram MahadevOffbeatRemote cave shrine on the edge of Kumbhalgarh forest.

Forested south district known for flying squirrels and the Thewa jewellery art.

• WildlifeSitamata Wildlife SanctuaryForested sanctuary famed for flying squirrels and rare wildlife.
• SpiritualGautameshwar MahadevAncient temple on a river bank.
• CultureThewa jewellery workshopsOffbeatGold-on-glass art by a single guild family.

Home of Kumbhalgarh fort and the Shrinathji shrine.

• Must-seeKumbhalgarh FortMassive fort with the world's second longest wall in sight.
• SpiritualNathdwaraShrinathji shrine and pichhwai art centre.
• HeritageHaldighatiHistoric battlefield and museum of Maharana Pratap.
• SpiritualKankroli DwarkadhishOffbeatQuiet Vaishnav temple overlooking Rajsamand Lake.

Tiger country around the famous Ranthambore.

• Must-seeRanthambore National ParkTiger reserve with ruins, lakes and jeep safaris.
• HeritageRanthambore FortUNESCO fort inside the park, with a temple.
• OffbeatChauth ka BarwaraOffbeatVillage with a hilltop temple and local fairs.
• SpiritualTrinetra Ganesh TempleAncient Ganesh shrine inside the fort.

Shekhawati district of havelis, hilltop temples and pilgrim crowds.

• SpiritualKhatu ShyamjiHugely popular Krishna shrine, thick with pilgrims.
• HeritageFatehpur HavelisHaveli town with fading frescoes.
• HeritageLakshmangarh FortOld hilltop fort overlooking a grid-plan town.
• HeritageHarshnath TempleOffbeatRuined 10th-century temple on a green hill.

Mount Abu hill station and finely carved Jain temples.

• Must-seeDilwara Jain TemplesDazzling marble temples with filigree-like carvings.
• NatureNakki LakeLake in the hills, popular for boating.
• HillsGuru ShikharHighest point of the Aravallis, with views and a temple.
• HeritageAchalgarhOffbeatHill fort with a Shiva temple of an ancient lineage.

Canal-fed northern farmland, a place of granaries and Punjabi culture.

• SpiritualBuddha Johad GurudwaraOffbeatSikh shrine famed for its sacred pond and fair.
• HeritageAnupgarh FortOffbeatOld border-area fort in Anupgarh town, near the Thar edge.

Quiet district of Nawabi buildings and a giant reservoir.

• HeritageSunehri KothiGold-painted mansion with mirror work.
• NatureBisalpur DamScenic reservoir popular for birds and picnics.
• HeritageTonk Jama MasjidOne of Rajasthan's largest mosques.

City of lakes, palaces and the Aravallis.

• Must-seeCity Palace UdaipurPalace complex rising above Lake Pichola.
• Must-seeLake PicholaBoat trips to Jag Mandir and the sunset.
• HeritageSaheliyon ki BariGarden built for royal women.
• HeritageBagore ki HaveliOld mansion with cultural shows and exhibits.
• HeritageSajjangarh Monsoon PalaceHilltop palace with city views.
• HeritageEklingji and NagdaOffbeatMedieval temple clusters on the Udaipur road.

New district of the Luni river, textile printing and Jain temples.

• SpiritualNakoda Parshwanath Jain TempleMajor Jain pilgrimage site in the Thar fringe.
• HeritageJasolOffbeatOld Rathore town with temples and a fort.
• CultureTilwara cattle fair siteOffbeatLivestock fair town on the Luni river.

Aravalli town of crafts and spring festivals; a district since 2023.

• CultureJawajaOffbeatWeaving village known for woollen and cotton hand-looms.
• NatureBeawar Bhim hillsOffbeatForested hills with small temples and old sites.

Braj-region district with a water-palace and Krishna-linked towns.

• Must-seeDeeg PalaceMughal-inspired palace garden with fountains.
• SpiritualKamanOffbeatBraj temple town with many ancient shrines.

Salt-lake district with an old hill fortress at Kuchaman.

• HeritageKuchaman FortHilltop fort with palaces and old murals.
• NatureDidwana Salt LakeOffbeatSeasonal salt lake with desert birds.

New Alwar-side district with the Tijara Fort Palace and a Jain pilgrim shrine.

• HeritageTijara Fort PalaceFort-palace hotel with sweeping Aravalli views.
• SpiritualChandraprabhu Jain Temple, TijaraOffbeatJain temple with a white marble idol.

Jaipur-Delhi highway district with the Neemrana fort.

• Must-seeNeemrana Fort-Palace15th-century hill fort turned heritage hotel with views.
• HeritageNeemrana BaoriOffbeatStepwell close to the fort.

Salt-trade desert town and demoiselle crane haven.

• WildlifeKhichan Crane VillageWinter home for thousands of demoiselle cranes.
• HeritagePhalodi old townOffbeatHavelis and salt-trade lanes.

Southern Mewar district of lakes, tribal hills and Jain pilgrimages.

• NatureJaisamand LakeOne of Asia's largest artificial lakes, ringed by hills.
• SpiritualRishabhdev (Kesariyaji) TempleOffbeatJain pilgrimage temple revered by tribal communities.