RegionUsable guide

Rajasthan

State in northwestern India

Photo: sushmita balasubramani, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Rajasthan (Hindi and Rajasthani: राजस्थान Rājasthān) is a state in the northwest of India. It is mainly arid and its western border is adjacent to Pakistan. The main attractions for travellers are the vast Thar Desert, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world - the Aravallis - and the Rajput heritage which is apparent in the forts, temples and palaces established by Rajput kings such as Bappa Rawal, Rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga and Rana Pratap.

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
Overnight trains from Delhi and Mumbai reach most of Rajasthan's major cities. For points further out, like Jaisalmer, you'll be looking at a second day on the train as well.
By car
The National Highway 8 which runs through Rajasthan is excellent and connects Delhi to Mumbai.
By bus
Rajasthan Tourism and Rajasthan State Transport operate luxury air conditioned Volvo bus services between Delhi and Jaipur.
By taxi
Taxis (locally called "call-taxis" since they must be pre-arranged) are available by phone.

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Getting around

All the cities have public transport in form of buses. Also available are terrain vehicles on hire, but beware of terrain vehicle drivers who overcharge tourists.

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Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Jodhpur Airport

Jodhpur · Regional · JDH

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Read before you go to Rajasthan

Articles and travel topics about Rajasthan and India.

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Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandRajasthan (Rajasthani and Hindi: RAH-juhss-thahn), literally meaning the "Land of Kings", is the state of mountains, forts, as well as the Thar Desert, a large dry desert that has a wide variety of plants, animals and…

TalkMost people speak Rajasthani dialects, as well as Hindi and English. In tourist places like Jaipur and Jodhpur, you will find trained English, German and French guides too.

Get inRajasthan is one of the larger Indian states and distances are long, making planes a fairly good option for getting in.

Get aroundAll the cities have public transport in form of buses. Also available are terrain vehicles on hire, but beware of terrain vehicle drivers who overcharge tourists.

SeeRajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destination to observe Indian heritage and royalty closely. Tourists will need at least 2 weeks in the state to see the below famous sights:

DoRanthambore National Park was declared as an Indian Wildlife Sanctuary in 1957 and in 1974 it gained the protection of "Project Tiger".

BuyAvoid shopping at outlets guided by the local auto/rickshaw drivers or even with the local tour guide you may have hired as these outlets all claim to have some association with the Rajasthan government or the actual…

EatDal‑baati‑churma is the state’s signature combination: crisp wheat baati, lentils and sweet churma. It’s filling, rustic and deeply tied to desert culture.

DrinkRajasthan’s drink culture is built around refreshing, everyday beverages that suit its hot, dry climate. Across cities and villages you’ll find stalls serving lassi, buttermilk (chaas) and sweet or spiced milk drinks.

Stay safeRajasthan is generally welcoming and easy to travel through, but its mix of busy cities, desert landscapes and extreme weather means a bit of awareness goes a long way.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Rajasthan" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Rajasthan", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: sushmita balasubramani, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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