18 cities, one family's local knowledge
Rajasthan, city by city.
Royal capitals, desert towns, holy lakes and hill stations. Here is what to see, eat and know in each, from people who live here.
The Pink CityJaipur
Rajasthan's capital, founded in 1727, where hilltop forts, a living royal palace and lively bazaars sit within the old city walls.
The City of LakesUdaipur
The former capital of Mewar, a romantic city of white palaces, shimmering lakes and green Aravalli hills.
The Blue CityJodhpur
A city of indigo houses at the edge of the Thar, watched over by the mighty Mehrangarh Fort.
The Golden CityJaisalmer
A golden sandstone city in the heart of the Thar, crowned by one of the world's last living forts.
The Holy TownPushkar
A small, peaceful pilgrimage town wrapped around a sacred lake, famous for its Brahma Temple and autumn camel fair.
Tiger CountryRanthambore
Dry forest, lakes and ancient ruins make Ranthambore one of the best places in India to see wild tigers, watched over by a thousand-year-old fort.
The Camel CountryBikaner
A desert city of red sandstone palaces, painted havelis and famous camels, founded on the caravan routes of the Thar.
The Fort of ValourChittorgarh
Home to India's largest fort and the most stirring stories of Rajput courage.
The Sufi CityAjmer
A city of faith in the Aravalli hills, home to one of the most revered Sufi shrines in South Asia.
The City of StepwellsBundi
A small, unhurried town of blue houses, stepwells and painted palaces tucked below the Aravalli hills.
City on the ChambalKota
A city on the banks of the Chambal river, known for its palace museum, miniature paintings and fine doria saris.
Rajasthan's Hill StationMount Abu
Rajasthan's only hill station, a cool green retreat in the Aravallis, famous for the Dilwara temples.
The Marble TempleRanakpur
A forest valley in the Aravallis, home to one of the most beautiful Jain temples in India.
The Open-Air Art GalleryShekhawati
A region of small towns whose merchant mansions are covered in frescoes, often called the open-air art gallery of Rajasthan.
The Bird HavenBharatpur
A gateway town to Keoladeo, one of Asia's greatest bird sanctuaries, just an hour from Agra.
Gateway to SariskaAlwar
An old Rajput city in the Aravalli hills between Delhi and Jaipur, and the gateway to Sariska Tiger Reserve.
Leopard HillsJawai
Granite hills, a great reservoir and Rabari herding villages, where wild leopards live close to people in a way seen almost nowhere else.
The Painted TownMandawa
A small town in Shekhawati whose merchant mansions are covered in frescoes, from Hindu gods to steam trains, crowned by an old castle.
Tigers of the AravallisSariska
Dry forest, rocky valleys and old ruins in the Aravalli hills, the closest tiger reserve to Delhi and a short drive from Jaipur.
India's CapitalDelhi
The gateway to Rajasthan: a vast capital where Mughal monuments, the bazaars of Old Delhi and the grand avenues of New Delhi sit side by side.
City of the TajAgra
Home to the Taj Mahal and two more UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Agra was the great Mughal capital on the banks of the Yamuna.
