Travel guides / India
Rajasthan tourist places you just can’t miss
Eleven palaces, forts, lakes and parks worth the trip — from Jaipur’s Pink City to Ranthambore’s tigers.
K
Kulpreet SinghUpdated Nov 2026 · 5 min read
Eleven palaces, forts, lakes and parks worth the trip — from Jaipur’s Pink City to Ranthambore’s tigers.
Rajasthan is known for its palaces, colourful markets and desert landscapes. Here are 11 places to put on your list — grouped by city, so you can plan a route.
Amer Fort sits on a ridge above Maota Lake, about 11 km from Jaipur. Raja Man Singh I began building it in the late 16th century, and later rulers kept adding to it, so you walk through a mix of Rajput and Mughal styles.
Don’t miss the Sheesh Mahal, a hall covered in tiny mirror mosaics, and the Diwan-e-Aam, where the king met the public. Amer is one of the six Hill Forts of Rajasthan listed by UNESCO.
Best time · October to March, early morning before the tour buses
Tip · Combine it with Jaigarh and Nahargarh forts on the same ridge
The “Palace of the Winds” was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh so royal women could watch street life without being seen. Its five-storey pink sandstone facade has 953 small latticed windows.
The facade looks best at sunrise. For the classic photo, head to one of the rooftop cafés across the road.
Best time · Sunrise for photos; the inside is quick to explore
Begun by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II when he founded Jaipur in the 1720s, the City Palace is still partly home to the former royal family.
Look for the four painted gates of Pitam Niwas Chowk, each representing a season, and the two giant silver urns in the Diwan-e-Khas. The Mubarak Mahal museum holds royal textiles and costumes.
Right next to the City Palace, this UNESCO-listed observatory was completed in 1734 by Sawai Jai Singh II. Its 19 stone instruments track time, stars and planets.
The highlight is the Samrat Yantra, one of the world’s largest stone sundials. Hire a guide here — the instruments make far more sense when someone explains them.
Tip · Visit it straight after the City Palace; they are a two-minute walk apart
Built in 1734 on the edge of the Aravalli hills, Nahargarh was a retreat and defence post overlooking Jaipur. Inside, the Madhavendra Bhawan has nine connected apartments built for the king’s queens.
Most people come for the view: it’s the best sunset spot in the city, with all of Jaipur spread out below.
Best time · Late afternoon, staying for sunset
The white marble Lake Palace, built in the 1740s by Maharana Jagat Singh II, seems to float in the middle of Lake Pichola. It is now a luxury hotel, so only guests can go inside.
You can still enjoy it: take a boat ride on Lake Pichola or watch it light up at dusk from the ghats or the City Palace of Udaipur.
Tip · Book an evening boat ride for the best views
Fateh Sagar is Udaipur’s more relaxed lake, ringed by hills and a long promenade popular with locals in the evening.
Take a boat out to Nehru Garden on its island, then walk up nearby Moti Magri for views across the water.
This island palace on Lake Pichola was completed in the 17th century by the rulers of Mewar. The Mughal prince Khurram, later Emperor Shah Jahan, is said to have sheltered here.
Boats leave from the City Palace jetty. Stay for a drink on the island as the sun sets behind the hills.
Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, the five Jain temples at Dilwara are famous for marble carving so fine it looks like lace.
Photography is not allowed inside, visitors are expected to dress modestly, and opening hours for non-Jain visitors are limited — check the current timings before you go.
Getting there · Mount Abu is Rajasthan’s only hill station, about 2.5 km from the temples
Ranthambore is one of the best places in India to see a wild tiger. Jeep and canter safaris run through set zones, with a ruined 10th-century fort watching over the park.
Safari seats are limited, so book well ahead on the official Rajasthan forest department website. The core zones close during the monsoon.
Best time · October to June; tiger sightings are most common in the hot months, March to May
Founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal, the “Golden Fort” rises out of the Thar Desert in yellow sandstone. It is one of the few forts in the world where people still live, with shops, homes and guesthouses inside its walls.
Pair it with an evening at the Sam sand dunes for a camel ride under the stars.
Best time · November to February, when desert days are mild
Jaipur is the easiest starting point, with the most flight connections. A classic loop is Jaipur (3 days) → Ranthambore (2 days) → Udaipur (3 days) → Mount Abu (1 day) → Jaisalmer (2 days). The cooler months, October to March, are the most comfortable time to travel.
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