{"id":149896,"date":"2023-02-24T10:28:25","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T10:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=149896"},"modified":"2023-02-27T14:49:20","modified_gmt":"2023-02-27T14:49:20","slug":"what-to-do-in-rajasthan-a-2-week-itinerary-of-3-colourful-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/what-to-do-in-rajasthan-a-2-week-itinerary-of-3-colourful-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do in Rajasthan, a 2-week itinerary of 3 colourful cities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vivid colours, camels and elephants, delicious food, and an ancient history… If Rajasthan isn\u2019t on your travel bucket list, you need to add it now. Commonly known as the \u201cDesert State\u201d, the area spans across Northern India\u2019s Thar desert. It’s packed with a rich variety of wildlife, as well as beautiful Havelis, hill forts and palaces. You could easily spend months exploring this diverse region, but if you only have two weeks, here is our list of what to do in Rajasthan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jump straight to:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Day 1-6 \u2013 Jaipur<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

Day 6-9 \u2013 Jodhpur<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

Day 9-14 \u2013 Jaisalmer<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Day 1-6 \u2013 Jaipur<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jaipur, or the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan. And by pink, we mean PINK. You\u2019ll struggle to see more peach and terracotta buildings anywhere else in the world. This busy, bustling city is the perfect mix of old and new India, with lively marketplaces, historical landmarks and magnificent temples. While you\u2019re in Jaipur, you NEED to check out…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The City Palace<\/h3>\n
\"\"
@relaxandwander<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The City Palace was built at the same time Jaipur was established and continues to be the home of the Jaipur royal family. It\u2019s open both day and night, but day tickets are slightly cheaper at 300 rupees. The palace\u2019s architecture is guaranteed to knock your socks off, with every part of the building covered in beautiful, intricate detail. With your ticket, you can visit the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum to learn about the royal family; an armoury and textile museum which displays a colourful range of clothing; and an art exhibition. There are also market spaces inside the palace walls. But unless something particularly catches your eye, wait until you leave the palace to explore the surrounding markets which sell similar products at much cheaper prices.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jal Mahal (and Night Market)<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jal Mahal, or the \u201cwater palace\u201d, floats on Man Sagar Lake. Yeah you heard me, floats. The huge, impressive structure was first built in the 18th<\/sup> century by Maharaja Jai Singh II for his queens to hang out in. Check out Jal Mahal at dusk to see twinkling palace lights reflected on the water and explore the surrounding night market. This specific market sells traditional Rajasthani textiles with fabric printing techniques that are special to the region. There is also a wide range of food and chai stalls for you to stuff your face and even a stage where you can see live music and dance performances.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Amber Fort<\/h3>\n
\"\"
@_maan_sidhu_<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Amber Fort is located just outside of Jaipur in Amer, but you can easily travel there in 25 minutes by auto rickshaw or taxi. Entry costs approximately 200 rupees. It is a bit of a walk up to the fort, but trust me, the views from the top are well worth it. Working elephants patrol the area and you\u2019ll often see them walking along the pathways as you climb. When you finally reach the top, wander through three beautiful courtyards with marble columns, fountains and mirror-studded ceilings. You cannot enter the palace as it is still in use, but you can walk past the entrance and view the gardens from the palace veranda.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hanuman\u2019s Temple<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This famous Hindu temple, also known as the \u201cMonkey Temple\u201d, is located in the hilly region of Khania-Balaji, 10km outside of Jaipur. Dedicated to Hanuman, monkey God and companion to Lord Rama, the temple is home to a huge troop of macaque monkeys. These monkeys are protected due to their sacred status and connection to Hanuman. The temple complex is made up of several different buildings and places of worship. The buildings are breathtaking, with some of them built into the surrounding rocky landscape.<\/p>\n

Hanuman\u2019s Temple is 200 rupees to visit, but I also recommend that you bring some small change as there are different points where you can make donations. You will see the macaques happily roaming around the temple grounds, chilling out with their family members and bathing in the temple springs. There are also places you can purchase nuts if you want to offer them food.<\/p>\n

Train from Jaipur to Jodhpur: 5 hrs<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Day 6-9 \u2013 Jodhpur<\/a><\/h2>\n
\"\"
@flicks.nt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With buildings across the city painted in a dreamy sky blue, Rajasthan\u2019s second-largest city is commonly known as the Blue City (there\u2019s a theme forming here!) Well known for its finely crafted furniture, artisan handicrafts, glass bangles, carpets and marble goods, the Blue City has so much more to see than just a nice colour!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mehrangarh Fort<\/h3>\n
\"\"
@chimpontheloose<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jodhpur\u2019s centre point is Mehrangarh Fort, literally meaning \u2018Sun Fort\u2019. The fort was constructed in 1459 by Rajput ruler Rao Jodha. Wear good walking shoes if you aim to explore the full area, which contains marble-structured courtyards and the stunning Jaswant Thada palace. Walk up to the hill known as Bhakurcheeria, the Mountain of Birds, where you can spot griffon vultures circling the city.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sadar Market<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jodhpur\u2019s large Sadar Market revolves around a tall clock tower. Here you can loosen your purse strings in the many stalls which sell jewellery, leatherwork, carpets, Jodhpuri Jutti shoes and bags\u2026 Sadar Market has it all. Haggling is expected. And yeah, you might walk away with two pairs of shoes when you only intended to buy one. But at the very reasonable prices the stalls sell their finely crafted goods for, you\u2019ll leave wishing you had brought a bigger suitcase.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jodhpur Sweets<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve got a sweet tooth, Jodhpur Sweets will be a dream come true. There are so many tasty treats to choose from here, from Mawa Kachori, a syrup-soaked nutmeg-infused doughnut-biscuit, to Rabri Ladoos and Jodhpur\u2019s famous Gulab Halwa, a crunchy, creamy, pistachio biscuit-cake. I\u2019m not drooling, you are.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dinner with a view<\/h3>\n
\"\"
@locomohostel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eat dinner with the magnificent view of Mehrangarh Fort\u00a0lit up at night. Check out Dylan Caf\u00e9\u2019s rooftop<\/a> which serves both lunch and dinner. The kitchen serves a variety of Indian food at very good prices and there are also vegan and vegetarian options. If you\u2019re feeling for somewhere fancy, head to The Hoot @ Ota which serves tasty Italian, Mexican and Indian food on a dreamy terracotta rooftop terrace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0Train from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer: 5 hrs<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Day 9-14 \u2013 Jaisalmer<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For their third city in Rajasthan, a lot of travellers choose to see the romantic lake city of Udaipur (which is also a great spot!) But I recommend travelling further into the desert to see Jaisalmer, the \u201cGolden City\u201d. We\u2019ve now got a rainbow on our hands! With a smaller population, the calm of the city offers a perfect environment for you to reflect on your trip. Your third stop is known for its dramatic fairy-tale architecture built out of sandstone and is the best place for you to experience the magic of the Thar desert first-hand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jaisalmer Fort<\/h3>\n
\"\"
@kalpanarazdan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Journey up to Jaisalmer Fort for a spectacular sunset. Be sure to leave with plenty of time as there are many shops and market stalls to explore on the way up there. Like Jodhpur, the fort is still active, and many people live inside the walls. The building is blindingly beautiful, full of long winding pathways and detailed sandstone structures. You will feel like you\u2019re stepping inside a film set. As you walk up you are likely to see stunning Jain temples \u2013 seven of them inside the fort, built between the 12th<\/sup> and 16th<\/sup> centuries. Remember to remove your shoes and any leather products before stepping inside. Finally, head up to Cafe Kaku<\/a> to watch the sunset with a cup of masala chai. From your birds\u2019 eye view, it will become very clear why Jaisalmer is nicknamed the Golden City.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gadisar Lake<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Take a boat across Gadisar Lake, priced at roughly 100 rupees. In the past, this was once the only source of drinking water for the whole town. But with modern infrastructure, this is no longer the case and the lake has become a peaceful leisure space. The lake is surrounded by many temples\u2019 shrines and Ghats. Sailing across the tranquil water is an experience you won\u2019t want to miss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Camel Safari<\/h3>\n
\"\"
@elmonalama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you\u2019d rather sleep directly under the stars or in a luxury glamping tent, taking a trip into the desert is sure to be the highlight of your stay. There are a lot of different camel safari options you can book, and many hostels will be able to help you arrange your trip (travelling by camel means you will be able to get further into the Thar than by car.) As you leave the green scrubland behind you will journey over golden dunes as far as the eye can see. After sunset, make sure you look up at the night sky. The Thar desert is one of the best places to view the Milky Way in all its glory, as well as many other awe-inspiring constellations. No matter how hot it is during the day, desert temperatures drop drastically at night so be sure to bring some warm clothes!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And with that, we have come to the end of our two-week trip to Rajasthan. This is just a short list of the huge range of things you can do in India\u2019s magnificent desert state. Let us know about your travels in Rajasthan in the comments below.<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h4>\n


\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

You might also like…<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

How To Do Solo Female Travel In India Like A BOSS!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n