Flights
Hotels
HolidaysForts, palaces and desert towns
Rajasthan is a big state, and its best-known cities are far apart. Jaipur to Udaipur takes most of a day by road, and Jaisalmer is a long way west of the rest. Pick two or three cities and give each one enough nights.
Jaipur (JAI) has the most flights. Udaipur (UDR) and Jodhpur (JDH) also have direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai, so you can fly into one city and home from another. Trains work well between Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
Best places to visit in Rajasthan
You will not fit all of these into one trip, and you should not try. The itinerary that works is the one where your flights and hotel bases all point at the same route. Travelling with parents, young children or first-time international travellers? Cut the number of hotel changes and stay in areas with easier transport, even if it costs a little more per night.
Jaipur
Amber Fort, the City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar in the old pink city. Reach Amber early, before the crowds, and keep an evening for the markets.
Udaipur
Lakes, the City Palace and sunset over Lake Pichola. It is the easiest city in the state to slow down in, and it works well at the end of a trip.
Jodhpur
Mehrangarh Fort above the blue houses of the old city. Stay near the clock tower if you like walking the old lanes.
Jaisalmer
A golden sandstone fort that people still live in, and desert camps near Sam or Khuri. Go between October and February, because the desert is very hot outside those months.
Pushkar
A small temple town near Ajmer, with a lake and ghats. The Pushkar camel fair in October or November fills the hotels, so book early if your dates fall then.
Ranthambore
A tiger reserve reached from Sawai Madhopur. Safari permits are limited and sell out, and the park closes during the monsoon months.
Suggested route from India
For a first trip: two nights in Jaipur, two in Jodhpur and three in Udaipur, moving by road or train. With three more days, add two nights in Jaisalmer after Jodhpur, or go to Ranthambore after Jaipur for wildlife.
Before you book, check whether your arrival city and departure city should be different. Open-jaw tickets can save backtracking on larger countries, while short-haul trips may work better with one simple return ticket. Also compare baggage allowance, airport transfer cost and hotel check-in timing because those details often decide whether a cheap fare is actually a good fare.
Flights, hotels and booking notes
Delhi to Jaipur flights take about an hour, but the drive is around five hours, so many travellers from Delhi go by road or train. For the cities further away, Delhi to Udaipur flights and Mumbai to Udaipur flights save a long drive, and Mumbai to Jodhpur suits travellers from the west.
A night in a heritage hotel in an old palace or haveli is worth it on most trips, but check the room photos and how far it is from the nearest parking, because old city lanes can be narrow. Prices rise around Diwali, Christmas and New Year.
One more practical check for Rajasthan: look at the local events calendar, school holidays, weather pattern and public transport hours before final payment. A destination can look affordable on the fare screen and become expensive because the best hotel area is sold out, a major festival has raised room rates, or the arrival time forces a private transfer. Build the plan in this order: entry rules, flight gateway, hotel area, local transport, then paid attractions.
Do not choose a trip only from postcard places. The useful plan is the one that connects intent to action: the right trip length, sensible transport, hotels in the correct area and flights that do not make the first day miserable.
Ready to compare fares for this trip? Search FlyX with your preferred dates, then use this guide to choose the route and hotel area that fit your travel style.
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Planning a different destination, or comparing two? These cover the same ground - best months, trip length, routes and where the days are worth spending.