Grand Rajasthan: tigers, palaces and the desert in two weeks

Day 1: Arrive in Jaipur

Jaipur

• Hawa Mahal and the old-city bazaars · 3 h. See the façade from a café terrace opposite, then climb inside. Walk on through Johari Bazaar for jewellery, Bapu Bazaar for block prints and mojris, and Tripolia for brass and lac bangles.

Local tip: See the façade from a café terrace opposite, then climb inside. Walk on through Johari Bazaar for jewellery, Bapu Bazaar for block prints and mojris, and Tripolia for brass and lac bangles.

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Jaipur

Jaipur

• Amber Fort and Panna Meena stepwell · 3.5 h. Go at opening time and walk or take a jeep up — skip the elephant rides. Amber is on Jaipur's two-day composite ticket (about ₹300 for Indians; foreigners pay more), which also covers Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall and Nahargarh.
• City Palace and Jantar Mantar · 3 h. The royal family still lives in part of the palace; the Pritam Niwas courtyard's four peacock gates are the photo stop. Jantar Mantar's giant instruments are next door — a guide makes them make sense.
• Albert Hall Museum by night · 1.5 h. Rajasthan's oldest museum, lit up after dark; it stays open into the evening.

Local tip: Go at opening time and walk or take a jeep up — skip the elephant rides. Amber is on Jaipur's two-day composite ticket (about ₹300 for Indians; foreigners pay more), which also covers Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall and Nahargarh.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Explore Jaipur

Jaipur

• Nahargarh Fort sunset · 2.5 h. The ridge-top fort looks over the whole city; stay for the lights. Jaigarh Fort, with its giant cannon, sits on the same ridge.
• Jal Mahal viewpoint and Galtaji (monkey temple) · 2.5 h. Jal Mahal is seen from the lakeside promenade only. Galtaji's temple and tanks sit in a gorge east of the city, with monkeys everywhere — keep food out of sight.
• Block-printing workshop at Sanganer or Bagru · 3 h. Print your own scarf with a family of printers; the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing near Amber is a good primer (closed Mondays).

Local tip: The ridge-top fort looks over the whole city; stay for the lights. Jaigarh Fort, with its giant cannon, sits on the same ridge.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Jaipur → Ranthambore

Ranthambore · Jaipur to Ranthambore, Train to Sawai Madhopur ~2–2.5h (car ~3h)

• Jeep (gypsy) tiger safari · 3.5 h. Six-seat jeeps run morning and afternoon in assigned zones; book on the Rajasthan forest department's official portal as soon as slots open, with the same ID you will carry. Tiger sightings are never guaranteed — two or three safaris improve the odds.

Local tip: Six-seat jeeps run morning and afternoon in assigned zones; book on the Rajasthan forest department's official portal as soon as slots open, with the same ID you will carry. Tiger sightings are never guaranteed — two or three safaris improve the odds.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Explore Ranthambore

Ranthambore

• Ranthambore Fort and Trinetra Ganesh temple · 2.5 h. The UNESCO-listed hill fort inside the reserve can be visited without a safari permit by road from the main gate; Wednesday is the busy temple day.
• Canter (open bus) safari · 3.5 h. Twenty-seat open trucks are cheaper and easier to book at short notice, but noisier and less flexible than a jeep.
• Dastkar crafts centre and village visit · 1.5 h. A women's craft cooperative selling block prints and embroidery, near the park road.

Local tip: The UNESCO-listed hill fort inside the reserve can be visited without a safari permit by road from the main gate; Wednesday is the busy temple day.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Ranthambore → Bundi

Bundi · Ranthambore to Bundi, Car ~3h

• Garh Palace and the Chitrashala murals · 2.5 h. Turquoise and gold miniature murals cover the Chitrashala's walls; the palace climb is steep and partly unrestored.
• Taragarh Fort · 2 h. Overgrown ramparts with sweeping views; monkeys are bold here, so carry a stick and nothing edible.

Local tip: Turquoise and gold miniature murals cover the Chitrashala's walls; the palace climb is steep and partly unrestored.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Bundi → Udaipur

Udaipur · Bundi to Udaipur, Car ~4.5–5h via Chittorgarh

• City Palace museum · 3 h. Rajasthan's largest palace complex, with mirror-work rooms and lake views from the upper courtyards; go at opening time and add the audio guide.

Local tip: Rajasthan's largest palace complex, with mirror-work rooms and lake views from the upper courtyards; go at opening time and add the audio guide.

Open day 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Explore Udaipur

Udaipur

• Lake Pichola boat ride to Jag Mandir · 1.5 h. Boats leave from the City Palace jetties; the sunset trip costs more and stops at the Jag Mandir island palace.
• Jagdish Temple and old-city walk · 2 h. The carved 17th-century temple by the palace gate, then the lanes down to Gangaur Ghat and the miniature painting shops.
• Rajasthani cooking class · 3 h. Home kitchens in the old city teach dal, gatte ki sabzi and chapati; vegetarian throughout.
• Vintage and classic car collection · 1 h

Local tip: Boats leave from the City Palace jetties; the sunset trip costs more and stops at the Jag Mandir island palace.

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Explore Udaipur

Udaipur

• Dharohar folk dance at Bagore ki Haveli · 1.5 h. An hour of Rajasthani dances and puppetry in a lakeside haveli courtyard; queue early for good seats.
• Eklingji and Nagda temples · 3 h. The Mewar royal family's Shiva temple 22 km north (phones and cameras deposited at the gate), with the older Saas-Bahu temples at Nagda nearby.
• Saheliyon ki Bari and Fateh Sagar · 2 h

Local tip: An hour of Rajasthani dances and puppetry in a lakeside haveli courtyard; queue early for good seats.

Open day 9 route in Google Maps

Day 10: Udaipur → Kumbhalgarh & Ranakpur

Kumbhalgarh & Ranakpur · Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh & Ranakpur, Car ~2–2.5h

• Kumbhalgarh Fort and wall walk · 3 h. Climb to Badal Mahal for the view, then walk a stretch of the 36 km wall; there is little shade.
• Kumbhalgarh sound and light show · 1 h

Local tip: Climb to Badal Mahal for the view, then walk a stretch of the 36 km wall; there is little shade.

Open day 10 route in Google Maps

Day 11: Kumbhalgarh & Ranakpur → Jodhpur

Jodhpur · Kumbhalgarh & Ranakpur to Jodhpur, Car ~3.5–4h via Ranakpur

• Mehrangarh Fort museum · 3 h. One of India's best-run forts: take the audio guide, see the palanquin and armoury galleries and the Phool Mahal. A lift saves the steepest climb.
• Umaid Bhawan Palace museum · 1.5 h. An Art Deco palace, part hotel and part royal residence; the small museum and vintage cars are open to visitors.

Local tip: One of India's best-run forts: take the audio guide, see the palanquin and armoury galleries and the Phool Mahal. A lift saves the steepest climb.

Open day 11 route in Google Maps

Day 12: Explore Jodhpur

Jodhpur

• Clock Tower, Sardar Market and Toorji ka Jhalra · 2.5 h. Spices, textiles and makhaniya lassi around the Ghanta Ghar, then the restored stepwell nearby.
• Jaswant Thada and Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park · 2 h. The white marble cenotaph below the fort, then easy trails through a restored desert park with fort views.
• Blue City lanes walk · 2 h. The blue-washed Brahmpuri lanes below the fort; a local guide helps you find the viewpoints without trespassing.
• Zipline over Mehrangarh's walls · 1.5 h

Local tip: Spices, textiles and makhaniya lassi around the Ghanta Ghar, then the restored stepwell nearby.

Open day 12 route in Google Maps

Day 13: Jodhpur → Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer · Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, Car ~5h (train ~5–6h)

• Jaisalmer Fort and Jain temples · 3 h. A living fort where families still live; the palace museum and the carved Jain temples (open in the morning) are the highlights. Staying outside the walls eases the strain on the fort's old drains.

Local tip: A living fort where families still live; the palace museum and the carved Jain temples (open in the morning) are the highlights. Staying outside the walls eases the strain on the fort's old drains.

Open day 13 route in Google Maps

Day 14: Explore Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer

• Patwon ki Haveli and the merchant havelis · 2 h
• Gadisar Lake at sunrise · 1.5 h
• Bada Bagh cenotaphs at sunset · 1.5 h
• Kuldhara abandoned village · 1 h

Open day 14 route in Google Maps

Day 15: Depart from Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.