Are you planning Rajasthan private tours? If your visit to India is first-time, you most likely will spend some time on Rajasthan Trip. This would be a really reasonable choice considering its easy access from Delhi, the outstanding cultural attractions on offer, and—of course—the superb food. Where all your concentration is on seeing the actual sites instead of negotiating sometimes large distances between them.
Alright, before you start Googling “Is Agra in Rajasistan?” (which it isn’t), if you’re on the route there from Delhi you really shouldn’t miss the opportunity to visit the crowning glory of the city – the Taj Mahal – in all its marble over-the-top splendour. Especially since the three-hour trip is only.
Actually, there are two additional reasons for coming. One is the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula, often known as “Baby Taj,” built five years before the well-known larger sibling, and perhaps motivated the latter. The other is Agra Fort, residence of Mughal Dynasty kings till 1638.
Most cities would provide enough reason for one to visit on their own. Agra, meanwhile, is unique among cities. Rising from the scrubland around the famous Taj Mahal, the white marble dome almost balances the city’s unrelenting ugly.
From Agra, our first point of visit in Rajasthan is Jaipur four hours away. The state capital, The Pink City, is famed for its color—that of its buildings. We loved coming here particularly with Gopal, our usual rickshaw driver, who whirled us about his city, which will always be imprinted in our memories. If you have time to spend a day or two, locate him and let him show what real Indian hospitality is all about. What therefore might one expect? Possibly best of all is the huge Amer Fort, some 11km outside of town and spectacularly positioned on top of a hill looking down the valley below. Though you would most certainly not be alone, you may very well be the only non-Indian there.
The next destination is Bundi, a three-hour trip south of Jaipur and not one of the primary attractions of Rajasistan. But not just because it comes without many of the annoyances you may run into in some of its larger, more brazen neighbours.
Here the pace is as slow as it gets. This looks to be a part of Rajasthan that has not experienced the development of urban sprawl harming many other parts of the state. It still feels thus to be a little market town. For the visitor, too, it is all the better.
From its centre green lake, tiny alleys dotted with colourful, sometimes run-down homes lead to the hilltop Palace – which now is largely a shell but nonetheless a fascinating visit. Kipling did say, “the work of goblins rather than of men.”
Four hours then is the trip back north to the ancient pilgrimage site of Pushkar. Like Bundi, it has a lake as well. As a result, the city has a fascinating mix of people, Hindu pilgrims and backpacking tourists attracted here to encounter the mysticism. That and occasionally the bhang lassi.
Known also as the City of Lakes, the city is encircled by manufactured lakes. The City Royal, the largest royal complex in Rajasthan, draws most visitors. And walking around this is rather lovely. Should we be required to recommend one Rajasitan palace for visitation? If you want a treat, like The Taj Lake Palace, Leela Palace Udaipur, or the Oberoi Udaivillas, the city actually offers some of the most well-known and expensive hotels in the country.
You will then be heading north from the Blue City of Jodhpur. Before you get here, however, you definitely HAVE to visit two magnificent sites along the road.
First is in Ranakpur, a rather boring town. One travels mostly for the amazing Jain temple with its around 1400-plus finely carved marble pillars. Though we’re not really architectural buffs, they are a very beautiful sight and none two pillars are exactly the same. One also values the amazing workmanship on the ceilings and the large sculptures.
It is only open to foreigners between 12 noon and 5 pm; shoes are not allowed within the temple, hence carry socks. You get an audio tour for a 200 rupee admittance ticket (plus 100 rupees for a camera), which also deters the people in there who would approach you and ask further “donations”.
Just one hour’s drive from Ranakpur, the great Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of the under-visited sites in Rajasthan. At this point, one might be forgiven for perceiving Rajasistan as being one endless procession of palaces, temples, and fortresses. And if you are strolling around in 40-degree heat gawking at historic buildings and your imagination is not sparked, you may well be suffering cultural burn-out by now. But just wait on; you will find maybe our favourite location in Rajasthan here.
Apart being a Unesco World Heritage site, Kumbhalgarh is the second largest fort in Rajasthan. At the top, the neighbouring Aravalli Range’s vistas as well as the boundary walls snaking 36km (22 miles) into the Thar Desert are amazing.
Like Bundi, it has numerous blue-painted houses to keep occupants cool in the extreme desert heat. Like other Rajasitan cities, it has a great fort but also a historic centre strewn with bazaars and little mediaeval streets. If you really want to take a day off from culture, then here is maybe the perfect place. Just be aware, however, getting lost is rather easy!
Combining trains, buses, and local taxis for Rajasthan private tours can let one travel very fairly cheap between the many sites. If you have loads of spare time and the headaches this method causes worry you, this is fantastic. Like us, however, you may want to choose something a bit cosier if you’re heading in April when the temperatures sometimes run 40 degrees Celsius.