rajasthan tour tips

The Ultimate Rajasthan Itinerary for 7 or 14 Days (+ Map)

If you’re looking for the perfect Rajasthan itinerary for 1 or 2 weeks, this post is for you! With its magnificent forts, beautiful palaces, vibrant culture and rich history, Rajasthan is one of the top travel destinations in India. If you’re asking me, a trip to India isn’t complete without visiting this colourful state.

Rajasthan is huge, however, and there is a lot to see here. Therefore, it can be a little overwhelming to start planning an itinerary. But that’s exactly where this guide comes in handy – this Rajasthan itinerary for 1 or 2 weeks covers the highlights and it’s perfect for first-timers.

Some of the places included in this itinerary are the holy city of Pushkar , the so-called blue city – Jodhpur and the city of lakes – Udaipur . It will bring you along architectural marvels like the Hawa Mahal, Amer Fort and the Toorji Ka Jhalra stepwell.

If you’d like to see more of India, this itinerary can easily be combined with a visit to Delhi and the Taj Mahal .

But without further ado, let’s dive into this Rajasthan itinerary for 7 or 14 days!

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Itinerary for 7 Days in Rajasthan

Jaipur – Pushkar – Jodhpur – Udaipur

Day 1-2: Jaipur

Let’s kick this itinerary off with a visit to Jaipur , the capital of Rajasthan and India’s so-called “Pink City”. Jaipur is easy to reach from Delhi by train, the ride takes about 4 to 5 hours.

Here, you will find some spectacular sights like the marvellous Hawa Mahal, the enormous Amer Fort, the beautiful Monkey Temple and the colourful Patrika Gate .

Jaipur is also one of the stops on the popular Golden Triangle tourist route , which connects the Pink City to Delhi and Agra (where you will find the world-famous Taj Mahal ).

With its beautiful palaces, forts and temples, this is a city that cannot be missed on any Rajasthan itinerary and two days is just enough to see its most impressive sights!

🏨 Where to stay in Jaipur: Anuraag Villa ($), All Seasons Homestay ($$), The Leela Palace ($$$)

Day 3-4: Pushkar

Pushkar is the next stop on this itinerary. I recommend getting an early start on day 3 to head here in the morning, which takes about 3 hours, and visit this city in the afternoon.

You can either hire a private car, which will save you some time, or travel to Ajmer by train, and then take a bus to Pushkar.

Pushkar is one of my favourite destinations in India. This is one of Rajasthan’s oldest cities and also one of its holiest, making it one of India’s top cultural destinations .

This city is located by the holy Pushkar Lake, which is surrounded by numerous ghats. Apart from the lake and ghats, some of Pushkar’s most famous sights are the Brahma Temple, the Pap Mochani Temple and the Savitri Temple. The last two are located on top of a hill and they offer a magnificent view of the surroundings.

It’s believed that Pushkar Lake was created when Lord Brahma vanquished the demon Vajranash using a lotus flower. When this flower fell to the ground, it created Pushkar Lake. Today, the city is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus.

🏨 Where to stay in Pushkar: Kanhaia Haveli ($), Kothi Pushkar ($$), Hotel White Rabbit ($$$)

🚌 When you’re done exploring Pushkar on day 4, it’s time to head to Jodhpur, the “Blue City”, which is a 4-hour drive from here.

Day 5: Jodhpur

Blue house with green windows in Jodhpur

Jodhpur is the second-largest city in Rajasthan and another one of my favourite cities in India! It’s dubbed the “Blue City” because of its many blue houses that make it incredibly photogenic.

But there is more to Jodhpur than the blue houses alone!

This city is also home to the enormous Mehrangarh Fort, which was built by the founder of Jodhpur in the 15th century and overlooks the blue city. Just a 15-minute walk from here, you will find Jaswant Thada – a beautiful memorial that was built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singhjill and is made entirely out of white marble.

Other places you cannot miss on a visit to Jodhpur are the Toorji Ka Jhalra stepwell, Pachetia Hill for sunset and the Clock Tower and Sardar Market – which are the heart of the city.

🏨 Where to stay in Jodhpur: Bob Hostel ($$), Kesar Heritage Boutique Hotel ($$), Ratan Villas ($$$)

Day 6-7: Udaipur

Let’s head to Udaipur, the final stop on this 2-week itinerary, on day 6. You can easily travel from Jodhpur to Udaipur by private car or bus. The bus takes about 5 hours, but a private car will be faster.

On day 7, the final day of this 2-week itinerary, it’s time to explore Udaipur.

Udaipur, the so-called “City of Lakes” or the “Venice of the East”, is often dubbed India’s most romantic city and it’s easy to understand why!

This city is famous for its mesmerizing lakes, floating palaces, beautiful temples and stunning viewpoints. It’s also a great place to relax on one of the many rooftop terraces.

There are many great things to do in Udaipur , from soaking up the atmosphere at the ghats of Lake Pichola to visiting the City Palace and the beautiful Ahar Cenotaphs . If you’re a sucker for beautiful viewpoints, you will want to take the Mansapurna Karni Mata Ropeway too. This ropeway will bring you to the Sri Karni Mata Temple, which offers a spectacular view of the city.

Udaipur is also famous for hosting the Dharohar Dance Show , which is argued to be the most spectacular traditional Rajasthani dance show in all of Rajasthan!

🏨 Where to stay in Udaipur: Peacock Guest House ($), Amet Haveli ($$), The Oberoi Udaivillas ($$$)

Itinerary for 14 Days in Rajasthan

Jaipur – Pushkar – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Jaisalmer – Bikaner

Amer Fort, one of the most famous monuments in Jaipur

Read more about Jaipur in the 1-week itinerary for Rajasthan above.

Read more about Pushkar in the 1-week Rajasthan itinerary above.

Day 5-6: Udaipur

Read more about Udaipur in the 1-week itinerary above.

Day 7-9: Jodhpur

On day 7, it’s time to head to Jodhpur, one of the most photogenic cities in Rajasthan!

The easiest way to get from Udaipur to Jodhpur is by booking a private car or taking the bus. It takes about 7 hours to travel between these cities.

Read more about Jodhpur in the 1-week Rajasthan itinerary earlier in this post.

Day 10-12: Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer desert on the Rajasthan itinerary

Jaisalmer, the gateway to the Thar Desert, is the next stop on this itinerary.

There are direct trains and buses from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer. If you want to save some time, you can take a private car. It takes 5 to 6 hours to travel between these cities.

With 2 weeks in Rajasthan, there’s enough time to head to Jaisalmer . This small desert city is located in the northwest of Rajasthan, not so far from the border with Pakistan .

Jaisalmer is home to India’s only living fort, where you will find plenty of beautiful Havelis. You will also find the peaceful Gadisar Lake here, which used to be the city’s only water source.

What Jaisalmer is most famous for, however, is its desert safaris. Although I did enjoy the desert safari, it’s good to know that the Thar Desert only has small sets of dunes and most parts are scrubs. This being said, I still think checking out the Thar Desert is worth it! Just don’t expect it to be all sand dunes as this is not the case.

If you’re looking for a good agency to book a desert safari (because believe me, there are many and some are horrendous), I can recommend Trotters Jaisalmer . I went on an overnight desert safari with them and it was amazing! We were a small group of three people and there was no one else in the set of dunes they brought us to.

🏨 Where to stay in Jaisalmer: Kings Villa ($), Hotel Suraj ($$), The Gulaal Haveli ($$$)

Day 13-14: Bikaner

Finally, it’s time to go to Bikaner, which is famous for being home to the Rat Temple.

This city is a 5-hour drive from Jaisalmer and you can travel between these cities by train, bus or private car, which is the fastest option.

The last stop on the 14-day Rajasthan itinerary is Bikaner, a city that is most famous for its proximity to the unique Karni Mata Temple or the Rat Temple .

In order to reach this temple, you will have to take the local bus to Deshnok, which is 30 km (18.6 mi) from Bikaner.

As you might have guessed, what makes the Rat Temple so special is that it’s full of rats. In fact, it’s the only temple in the world that worships these animals! Over 25,000 black rats and a few white ones live within its doors. It’s considered good luck if you can spot one of the white ones, as these are considered the incarnations of the Hindu deity Karni Mata and her sons.

Rat Temple of Bikaner for the Rajasthan itinerary

But why rats? I hear you ask.

Well, there are two legends associated with why rats are being worshipped at the Karni Mata Temple:

The rats are soldiers who deserted a nearby battle. Although this was punishable by death, Karni Mata decided to spare them and turned them into rats instead.
When one of the sons of Karni Mata’s sister drowned, Karni Mata begged Yama, the god of death, to bring him back. Yama told her this would interfere with the cycle of birth and death but told her he could reincarnate all the family’s sons as rats. Karni Mata then promised the rats would serve at her temple forever.

Although we can’t be certain which of these legends led to the creation of the Rat Temple, one thing is certain – paying a visit to India’s Karni Mata Temple will be an unforgettable experience! This is one of the most unusual landmarks in Rajasthan .

🏨 Where to stay in Bikaner: Moon Haveli ($), Udai Niwas ($$), Narendra Bhawan ($$$)

Best Time to Visit Rajasthan

Rajasthan is one of the top winter destinations in Asia . Winter is from from October to February and at this time of the year, the temperature won’t be too high here.

It’s not recommended to visit Rajasthan during the summer months, which are from April to June. It will be scorching hot at this time of the year with temperatures rising to 48°C (118°F).

Rajasthan can also be visited during the monsoon season, from July to September, which is when I visited the state. There’s no denying that there is rain during the monsoon (and that it’s still quite hot) but it doesn’t rain every day. Overall, I think the monsoon season is a good time to visit Rajasthan if you want to travel outside of the peak season.

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How to Get Around Rajasthan

There are multiple ways to get around Rajasthan, depending on where you’re going. Trains and tourist buses are perfect for longer distances, while local buses and rickshaws are great for short distances.

Train : Rajasthan’s major cities are well connected by train. This is an easy and reliable way to get around the state. Note that there are many different types of trains in India , so make sure to do some research in advance.
Bus : Another easy way to get around Rajasthan is by taking the bus. There are plenty of local buses for short distances and tourist buses for longer distances.
Private driver : The most comfortable way to get around is by taxi or private transportation but this is also the most expensive one.
Rickshaw : You will find plenty of rickshaws in the cities. These are perfect for short distances but be prepared to haggle as rickshaw drivers tend to charge foreigners ten times the normal price. A great way to get a fair price is by downloading the Ola app , though. It works just like Uber but includes bikes and rickshaws.

🚌 When you’re travelling in Rajasthan, it’s better to book your bus and train tickets in advance. This way, you will know for sure that you have a seat. I used 12GoAsia to book my tickets, this is the only website I could find that accepts payments with non-Indian credit cards.

Tips for Travelling in India

India can be a little overwhelming and confusing for first-time visitors. It may not be the easiest country to visit, but it sure is one of the most fascinating ones.

To get the most out of your trip to Rajasthan, there are some things you need to be aware of. So here are some useful tips to help you adjust to India easily.

Dress appropriately: India, and especially the state of Rajasthan, are conservative so be mindful of the culture and dress modestly. It’s okay for women to wear Western clothes but this is not the right place for hot pants and spaghetti tops. I’ve written a detailed post about the subject here: What to Wear in India: Tips + Outfit Ideas . Make sure to check it out to prepare for your trip.
Be wary of scams: Unfortunately, scams are common in Rajasthan, so be wary of them. Research common scams of the place you’re heading to in advance. This way, you won’t be fooled by them.
Learn how to haggle: The price is always negotiable – in many shops, the vendor will quote a high price and expect you to offer a lower one. This will go back and forth until you find a price that works for both of you.
Buy a local sim: A local sim doesn’t cost much and this way, you will have access to the internet to look things up at any time.
Take off your shoes before entering temples: If you’re going to visit many temples, it’s a good idea to wear flip-flops, as these are easy to take off.
Know the Indian head bobble: While people in most countries nod by moving their heads up and down, Indians nod differently – they shake their heads from side to side. This can be a little confusing at first, so it’s good to be aware of it.
Avoid PDA: Avoid public displays of affection if you’re travelling in India with your partner as this is considered inappropriate in Indian culture.
Have an open mind: If this is your first visit to the country, you might experience some culture shock. Be prepared for this and accept the fact that things won’t be like they are at home.
Bring traveller’s diarrhoea medication: Even when they’re careful, many travellers experience the so-called Delhi Belly , so it’s good to be prepared.

Must-reads before heading to India: 🥗 How to AVOID Getting Sick in India 👚 What to Wear in India: Tips + Outfit Ideas 💰 The Cost of Travel in India 🚫 17 Things NOT to Do in India

Rajasthan Itinerary: Final Thoughts

And that was it! I hope you love the colourful state of Rajasthan as much as I do. India is one of my favourite places in the world and I truly loved exploring Rajasthan – it’s simply magical!

If you have more time in India after finishing your Rajasthan itinerary, you could head to the Taj Mahal next. You could also head back to Delhi or go to Mumbai for a day and visit Goa – the possibilities are endless.

Read more about Rajasthan: 🗓 Rajasthan Itinerary for 7 or 14 Days (+ Map) 👮 Is Rajasthan Safe? A Solo Female Traveller’s Perspective 🏛 22 Historical Places in Rajasthan to Visit 🧐 16 Facts About Rajasthan That Might Surprise You

Rajasthan city guides: 🧡 Jaipur Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Perfect Days in the Pink City 🛕 8 Places to Visit in Pushkar in 1 Day (+ 4 if You Have More Time) 💙 Jodhpur Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Perfect Days in the Blue City 💦 2 Days in Udaipur Itinerary: Ultimate Guide to the White City of India 🐫 7 Places to visit in Jaisalmer in 2 days

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Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers is the founder of Laure Wanders. She was born in Belgium and has been travelling solo for years. She currently spends most of her time between Belgium and South Asia and loves helping other travellers plan their adventures abroad.