Palace hotels: Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur
8 days, 7 nights: Jaipur (2N), Jodhpur (2N), Udaipur (3N). Best time to go: Oct–Mar.
Day 1: Arrive in 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
Day 3: Jaipur → Jodhpur
Jodhpur · Jaipur to Jodhpur, Train ~5–6h (car ~5.5h)
- 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.
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.
Day 4: Explore Jodhpur
Jodhpur
- 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.
- Bishnoi village jeep safari · 4 h. Visit the conservation-minded Bishnoi community, potters and weavers; blackbuck and chinkara graze near the villages.
Local tip: An Art Deco palace, part hotel and part royal residence; the small museum and vintage cars are open to visitors.
Day 5: Jodhpur → Udaipur
Udaipur · Jodhpur to Udaipur, Car ~5h direct, or 6–7h with stops at Ranakpur
- 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.
Day 6: 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.
- Saheliyon ki Bari and Fateh Sagar · 2 h
- 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.
Local tip: Boats leave from the City Palace jetties; the sunset trip costs more and stops at the Jag Mandir island palace.
Day 7: Explore Udaipur
Udaipur
- Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace) sunset · 2 h. A hilltop palace in a wildlife sanctuary west of town; vehicles take you up from the gate.
- 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.
Local tip: A hilltop palace in a wildlife sanctuary west of town; vehicles take you up from the gate.
Day 8: Depart from Udaipur
Udaipur
Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.
Where to stay
- Jaipur (2 nights): C-Scheme, Civil Lines and heritage havelis. Restored havelis with courtyards and pools, central for the forts and restaurants.
- Jodhpur (2 nights): Heritage havelis below Mehrangarh. Restored havelis with stepwell or fort views and rooftop restaurants.
- Udaipur (3 nights): Lakeside havelis in the old city and Hanuman Ghat. Restored havelis on the water with views across Lake Pichola.