Rajasthan is the largest state in India in terms of area and one of the most popular destinations in the country for both domestic and international tourists. Rajasthan is known for its great natural beauty and its golden desert as well as its historic forts and palaces, art and culture. Tourism in Rajasthan is flourishing and accounts for 80% of Rajasthan’s Gross Domestic Product. The ancient palaces of Jaipur, beautiful and romantic lakes of Udaipur, the desert and sand dunes of Jaisalmer, the Jain temples at Mount Abu, the colourful cattle fair at Pushkar and the grand Umaid Bhavan Palace of Jodhpur, to name a few, are some of the key attractions of the state.
Jaipur
The capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is a place you can plan for a weekend leisure trip from Bharatpur, Agra or Delhi. Be it the monuments or the palaces, the variety of foods or shopping destinations, everything is great about this city. You will be able to get the royal feeling even today as you enter the city.
Udaipur
Also known as the 'Venice of the East', Udaipur used to be the capital of Sisodiya Rajputs of Mewar. The palaces still look regally good and the Rajputana style of architecture is dominant. The city is located in the foothills of the Aravali mountains. There are many palaces, forts, temples and market places in the city which are counted as the tourist attractions of the city. The city is planned, and its people very hospitable.
Jodhpur
Jodhpur is the largest and second most populated city of Rajasthan. The other name of Jodhpur is the 'Sun City' for the sunny weather it has. The main attractions of the city are forts, palaces and the walled old city.
Jaisalmer
The other name of Jaisalmer is the 'Golden City'. It is located in the heart of Thar Desert. The feature that makes the city unique is its architecture. In fact, the city itself is one of the largest forts in the world as it is completely walled. The top attractions of this city are Jaisalmer Fort, Bada Bagh, Patwon-ki-Haveli, Sam Sand Dunes, the Thar Heritage Museum, Gadisar Lake, Desert Nation Park and Silk Route Art Gallery.
Bikaner
Popular for forts and food, Bikaner has also something which is very unique and it's the windowpanes called "jharokhas". People who are fond of food and want to tickle their taste buds with authentic taste of Rajasthani food must visit Bikaner. Apart from the food and forts, the temples of the city are equally notable.
Pushkar
When people get to hear the name of this city, the first thing that comes to their mind is that of the annual camel festival. The camel festival in Pushkar runs for five days, where people sell and buy livestock. However, that is not the only asset the city has; it is also known for being the holy city and the only temple of Lord Brahma in the world is in Pushkar itself. It is said that the Pushkar Lake was formed by the tears of Lord Shiva.
Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh was once the capital of Mewar and birthplace of many historical figures such as the great Maharana Pratap and Hindu saint, Meera Bai. There are many temples, forts and palaces in the city which boast extraordinary architectural designs and artistic mastery. One of the famous attractions of Chittorgarh is the Chittorgarh Fort, which is considered as the largest fort in India.
Mount Abu
The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is a part of Sirohi district and located in the Aravali mountain range. The place has a lot of historical as well as religious significance. Mount Abu's name has been mentioned as Arbuda Mountain in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Unlike other places and cities of Rajasthan, Mount Abu experiences relatively low temperatures.
