Places to Explore

• Ahmedabad

  Founded in AD 1411 by the Muslim sultan Ahmed Shah, Ahmedabad flourished under the Gujarat dynasty and became the seat of the Moghul governors of Gujarat—Jehangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb—all... (more)

• Ajmer

  Roughly three hours' drive from Jaipur, the town of Ajmer has a typically Indian past—with Hindu, Muslim, and colonial influences. Founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th century, the town was... (more)

• Diu

  Diu, a narrow island measuring 11 by 3 km (7 by 2 mi), is an early Portuguese enclave that was taken over by the Indian government in 1961 and is now administered as a federal Union Territory, separate... (more)

• Jaipur

  A Rajasthani proverb asks, "Je na dekhyo Jaipario, To kal men akar kya kario?" ("What have I accomplished in my life, if I have not seen Jaipur?").... Surrounded on three sides by the rugged Aravali Hills... (more)

• Jaisalmer

  Jaisalmer seems like a mirage: its array of sandstone buildings are surrounded by the stark Thar Desert and illuminated in a gold hue by the penetrating sun. The ancient medieval city is defined by its... (more)

• Jodhpur

  Jodhpur is known as the Blue City for it azure-painted houses, especially impressive when viewed from the ramparts of Mehrangarh Fort. A bird's-eye view of the town makes it resemble a sea on the fringe... (more)

• Khimsar

  The 16th-century fort at Khimsar, a three-hour drive from Jodhpur, was once the province of one of Rao Jodha's sons. His descendants still live in the palace. Surrounded by a small village, green fields... (more)

• Mount Abu

  High in the Aravalli Hills, Mount Abu has long been the site of one of Hinduism's most sacred rites, the yagya (fire ritual). Legend has it that the clan of the mighty Agnikula Rajput warriors rose from... (more)

• Nagaur

  Try to visit Nagaur during its colorful cattle fair, in late January or early February. Make sure you check out the remnants of beautiful frescoes on the fort's crumbling walls. The complex has an amazing... (more)

• Osian

  The ancestral home of the Oswal Jains, Osian was one of the strongholds of Jainism in India. Many invasions and several hundred years later, Osian is now a popular Hindu pilgrimage site, with...no significant... (more)

• Patan and Modhera

  Northwest of Ahmedabad, these two groups of ancient cities can be combined in a day trip or worked into a longer road trip to or from Rajasthan.... (more)

• Pushkar

  With more than 500 temples, Pushkar is one of Hinduism's holiest sites and an interesting place to visit even when the famous camel fair is isn't being held. In its narrow traffic-free main bazaar, sadhus... (more)

• Sanganer

  Watch artisans in action throughout this well-known craft town, where nearly every family is involved in the production of block- and screen-printed textiles, blue pottery, or handmade paper.... (more)

• Shekhawati

  This region in northeastern Rajasthan is renowned for its painted havelis and old forts. Shekhawati (literally "garden of shekha") takes its name from Rao Shekhaji, a Rajput king of this region, who was... (more)

• Somnath

  The Gujarati coastline has attracted traders and invaders for centuries.... (more)

• Udaipur

  The jewel of Mewar is Udaipur, the City of Lakes. Some have dubbed it the Venice of the East. In his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Colonel James Tod described the valley of Udaipur as "the most... (more)

• Vadodara

  Vadodara—commonly called Baroda—was, until recently, a laid-back garden city and college town on the banks of the Vishwamitri River. It's now an urban hub with a population of just over 1.5... (more)