Top 10 Places to Visit in Rajasthan

Rajasthan It’s the largest state in India. It is called “Dharti Dhora Ri” OR “Land of Sand” because it covers the great Thar Desert in it. Rajasthan is such an interesting state, that it makes for a difficult task to pick which places to visit. This post showcases 10 of some of the best places to visit in Rajasthan. 

In Rajasthan, with your every step the language changes. Generally, the language is known as Rajasthani. But in Jodhpur it is called Marwari and in Mewar it is called Mewari. Slight twist in pronunciations mixed with new words. But not to worry, other than Rajasthani people here speak Hindi, English and Punjabi too.

All the big cities start with letter J like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer…

And, every village here has its own story and history.

So, with more than 100 places to visit in Rajasthan, it is hard to select the most interesting ones.

And, if you have ever hustled to select places to visit in your trip, I know you can relate to me here.

Anyway, here you go, a list of handpicked places to visit in Rajasthan.

Top 10 places to visit in Rajasthan:

1. Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Jodhpur is called Blue City and Sun City. You should visit to find out why it has these nicknames.

Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest Forts in India. It is located at the center of the city. It is a private owned and well maintained Fort. If you have not visited the Mehrangarh Fort, you have not seen the Jodhpur.

This fort is 500 years old and its architecture is wonderful. It has several treasures of the royal family. And it has a great museum which contain palanquins, swords, armors and things that warriors used.

People performing Rajasthani folk music and dance are surely not to be missed.

From the top of the fort, you get a full view of Jodhpur City. So, photographers would not want to miss this shot.

And, don’t forget to visit Chamunda Mata Mandir, an ancient temple, which is admired by all of Jodhpur. During Navratra crowds of locals come here to visit Mata Rani.

2. Arna Jharna: The Desert Museum of Rajasthan, Jodhpur

Arna Jharna is 18 kms away from the city. It’s still not that far and if your hotel is Nirali Dhani, it is rather close.

You can find out many things about the rich culture of Rajasthan, all stored in a single place – stories of gods and history.

They have traditional huts, musical instruments, various types of brooms, puppets and rare bushes. I found a cool bush named “Google”, nothing related with search engine Google.

They also show how various species of grasses are used for making various household tools and equipment.

Worth a visit if you want to take a close look at what Rajasthani culture is and how it evolved.

Tip: If you are visiting Jodhpur in Rajasthan and have 2-3 days stay, check out these 25 Places to visit in Jodhpur.

3. Amer Fort, Jaipur

This fort is a masterpiece of the history of Rajasthan. It is well preserved. The Amber Fort is a must see in Jaipur. The architecture is stunning.

Hire a tour guide so that you can understand the history behind this place. Rs. 250-300 is enough for a good guide.

The fort is built on a hill, so to get there you can ride on the back of an elephant. It’s fun.

Sheesh Mahal (Hall of Mirrors) is the main highlight of Amber Fort. The walls contain thousands of mirrors who add up to create a breathtaking effect. That’s why it has good photographic opportunities. Also, there is a temple in this fort. Visit it before everything because it closes between 12-4 PM.

4. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built the Hawa Mahal palace in 1799. It is built with Pink and Red colored stone, thus it is reddish in color.

It is hard to believe but there are something like 953 windows on this building. These are called Jharokas, decorated with intricate lattice work. The royal women observed the street festivals from these windows.

This building is a stunning and iconic piece of architecture in Rajasthan.

5. Tanot Mata Temple, Jaisalmer

Here is the official history of Tanot Mata Temple by BSF of India: Tanot Mata.This temple is located close to Indo-Pak border. The border is 20

This temple is located close to the Indo-Pak border (India-Pakistan). The border is 20 kms from this temple and the temple is maintained by the Indian Army.

According to history, during the Indo-Pak war of 1965, Pakistan fired a lot of bombs but none of the bombs could hit this temple. Even the bombs which fell nearby the temple didn’t explode.

These unexploded bombs are now kept in the temple as a show piece. There are actual unexploded bombs kept there and photos of the wartime.

No phone network, no market, and army bunkers, all make the whole trip filled with thrill.

6. Baba Ramdev Temple, Jaisalmer

On the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer highway, there is a place called Pokhran. The Baba Ramdev Temple is situated at a distance of about 15 kms from Pokhran.

Earlier the village was known as Runeche. But the village now is known as Ramdevra. It was named after Baba Ramdevji, a Tanwar Rajput and a saint who took Samādhi in the year 1384.

This is a big spiritual location for devotees. People from Rajasthan, Gujarat & other states of India come here for Baba Ramdev.

The Darshan gives immense peace in the mind & soul. Once you do the Darshan, sit there for a while and meditate. Do not miss the evening Maha-Aarti.

7. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur

Keoladeo National Park is located in Bharatpur. It is also called Keoladeo Ghana National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Do visit this place if you are a bird/nature lover and bird photographer.

Beyond its gate lie lush green trees, lakes with little islands, you’ll find a heaven for birds.

Start early, because in this case, the early birds are out to get the worms.

The park opens at 6:30, and if you are in at that time, you’ll see peacocks an arm’s length away. As the day progresses, the birds retreat further into the vegetation and are harder to spot.

Don’t expect the same birds or animals on your every visit.

8. Lake Pichola Hotel, Udaipur

This is a lake hotel situated at the bank of Lake Pichola. It has a stunning view of Lake Pichola from the lake view room.

The food is delicious and the live music that plays takes you to another world.

They have clean and big rooms and the hotel staff is caring and helping in nature.

Morning and evening views are stunning.

9. Shrinathji Temple, Nathdwara

The Shrinathji Temple is located in the Aravalli hills, in Rajsamand District.

Shreenathji, the lord of Nathdwara, is Lord Krishna in manifestation.

This temple worships Krishna in his child form. The rituals are built up as to represent the caring for a small child who can be moody.

So people going for darshan should have ample time at hand. As the temple may be closed for darshan at random times, really.

The unique feature of the temple is that Prasad is in the form of raw food materials like vegetables and milk. It is tasty!

Phones, cameras and leather items are not allowed inside. So be careful and leave them in your hotel room.

10. Bhangarh Fort, Alwar

Bhangharh is said to be the most haunted place in India. So I would not advise going alone.

Always plan a visit in groups and have an early start so that you are back before evening.

Partly because of ghost stories and partly because of the road, the place is deserted.

There’s a big risk of damaging the car tires and getting stuck. And with no sign of any help available anywhere close by.

There is no entry fee and closes at 6 PM. No one is allowed after sunset and before sunrise.

Additional Helpful Resources

I know you have read much or skimmed much. But here are some interesting articles that will help you on your trip…

• 71 Things not to do in Jodhpur: A funny and witty article about cultural practices.
• Different Types of Indian Women Clothing: A great guide for women about Indian clothing.
• 201+ India Travel Tips: These are real life battle-tested tips.
• Top 26 Places to Visit in Jaipur

Here is What to do Next…

Choosing places to visit can make or break your tour. So if you are traveling for the first time to Rajasthan, go with this list.

About transport, I will suggest that you travel in a car. The benefits are:

1. You can visit these places and villages surrounding them.
2. With chains of National and State highways, it will be faster.
3. The journey will too become entertaining rather than the destination.
4. Sometimes the hotel will be away from the destination and taxi might not be available.
5. Who knows in the way you might find some cool place and you want to check it out.

And at last, I have been living in Jodhpur for the last 20 years.

I have myself traveled to many places in Rajasthan and there are many places that I have yet to explore.

So, if you come here to visit Jodhpur, feel free to drop me a hello. We might go on an adventure together 😉

Namaste,

Pankaj Solanki

PS: You can ask your questions in the comments section.

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AUTHOR BIO: Pankaj Solanki is a writer and traveler. He helps Rajasthan travelers at SuncityJodhpur.com. He invites you to visit Rajasthan and experience it with full energy.