Planning a holiday to Rajasthan? Where to stay, what to do, how much it will cost

The ‘land of kings’ in the north-west India is the largest and one of the most exotic states in the country. It stands out for its opulent palaces and , stunning architecture, rich wildlife, vibrant culture and folk music, and spicy . While many of its palaces have been converted into heritage hotels and are the preferred setting for lavish weddings, several others are among the top tourist attractions worldwide.

Known primarily for its Thar desert, the state has a varied topography, including lush Aravali forests and wetlands, and is part of the Golden Triangle, a popular tourist circuit. JAIPUR OCTOBER TO MARCH The fastest way to reach Rajasthan is by air, with the Delhi-Jaipur flight taking about an hour. The cheapest one-way flight is for Rs.

1,720 on Skyscanner. You can also take a train from Delhi to Jaipur, which will take 4-6 hours. The sleeper class fare starts at Rs.

210 and 2A class fare starts from Rs. 795 for a February journey on Ixigo. Another option is to travel by road via bus (Rs.

280-900, 5. 5-6. 5 hours) or cab (Rs.

2,700 onwards). Rs. 1,720 (Delhi-Jaipur, 55 mts) Rs.

795 onwards (Class 2A) (5 hrs, 30 mts) One way, per person. Flight cost on Skyscanner. Train cost on Ixigo.

Since it is a favoured destination for domestic and international tourists, it has a wide variety of stay options. While Udaipur and Jodhpur have some of the most expensive hotels, cheaper accommodation is also available in all cities. You can also pick hotels at the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation site https://rtdc.

tourism. rajasthan. gov.

in/client/hotellist. aspx. Rs.

36,000 for 9 nights (Rs. 2,500-4 lakh) Traditional Rajasthani cuisine is spicy and flavourful. Some well-known dishes include dal bati churma (lentil, wheat dough balls, and sweet wheat crumble), laal maas (spicy mutton curry), gatte ki sabji (chickpea dumplings in gravy), machli jaisamandi (spicy fish curry), ker sangri (bean, berry vegetable), and snacks like kachori (fried, stuffed dough balls) and mirchi vada (stuffed fried green chilli).

Top desserts include ghevar (made with flour, ghee, milk and sugar), mohan thal (roasted gram flour, ghee, sugar) and choorma ladoo (crushed bati with ghee, sugar). Rs. 800-2,000 per person, per day Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Jaipur City Palace, Rambagh Palace (Jaipur), Laxmi Vilas Palace, Lalgarh Palace (Bikaner), Lake Palace, Udaipur City Palace, Jag Mandir (Udaipur), Umaid Bhawan (Jodhpur).

Jaisalmer (Jaisalmer), Amer, Nahargarh (Jaipur), Chittorgarh (Chittorgarh), Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur), Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand), Mehrangarh (Jodhpur), Taragarh (Bundi), Junagarh (Bikaner), Neemrana (Alwar). : Keoladeo Ghana (Bharatpur), Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur), Mukundara (Chittorgarh), Desert (Jaisalmer), Sariska (Alwar). Band Baretha (Bharatpur), Gajner (Bikaner), Machiya Safari (Jodhpur), Ramgarh Vishdhari (Bundi), Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand), Mount Abu (Mount Abu).

Jantar Mantar, Birla Mandir (Jaipur), Ajmer Sharif dargah (Ajmer), Chand Baori stepwell (Dausa), Jaswant Thada (Jodhpur), Ranakpur Jain (Pali). In the pink city, visit Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall Museum, Birla temple and its many forts and palaces. Shop for jewellery, handicrafts,traditional clothes, footwear and bangles at one of its many markets: Johari bazaar, Tripolia, Chandpole, Bapu, Nehru bazaar, etc.

Don’t miss the traditional cuisine at Chokhi Dhani. About 3 hours away is Ajmer, where you can visit the Ajmer Sharif Dargah and move to Pushkar, about 30 minutes away. Visit the Brahma temple, Pushkar lake, Savitri temple and Rangji temple.

Arrive in this beautiful city via Chittorgarh, where you can visit the fort. A backdrop for film shoots and celeb weddings, Udaipur has stunning palaces like City Palace on the banks of Lake Pichola, a mustvisit with its many mahals within the complex. Visit the Lake Palace, Jagdish temple and Jag Mandir.

Go to old city for shopping. In the lovely hill town 3 hours from Udaipur, visit the Dilwara Jain temple, Nakki lake, Toad Rock and the wildlife sanctuary. Start with Mehrangarh fort and don’t skip the Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal and Zenana Deodi.

Also visit the Jaswant Thada with its royal cenotaph. Shop for handicraft and textiles at National Handloom and Bishnoi Village Art. Arrive in 5 hours and visit Jaisalmer fort and Gadisar lake.

Check out the sand dunes with jeep and camel safari. Also visit Patwon ki haveli and Jain temples. The must-visits here are the Junagarh fort, Laxmi Vilas Palace and Karni Mata temple.

Have street food at Bhujia bazaar and raj kachori at Chappan Bhog. .