Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949, when all erstwhile princely states ruled by Rajputs, known as Rajputana, merged into the Dominion of India. The only difference between erstwhile Rajputana and Rajasthan is that certain portions of what had been British India, in the former province of Ajmer-Merwara, were included.

Rajsthan's one of the  main attractions is its palaces and forts. Each one is more beautiful then the other. Tourists from home and the abroad flock in Rajasthan to visit the pink city and state's capital Jaipur, the palace and lake city Udaipr.

Rajasthan is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert), which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with Pakistan. The region borders Pakistan to the west, Gujarat to the southwest, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast and Punjab to the north. Rajasthan covers an area of 132,150 sq mi or 342,269 kmē (about the size of Germany).

Today, years after the last bugle was sounded, and after the warring kingdoms of erstwhile Rajputana, sheathed their swords, the desert appears romantic, its arts, the expression of a brave yet sensitive race, its architecture the embodiment of strength and grace. It is as if, in celebration of life itself.

The appearance of its grand forts perched on rocky hills still tell the story of the bravery of its men and the stoic sacrifice of its women, and the chivalrous old world manners of all.

The magic of Rajasthan is unequalled in the world for its heritage, culture, safaris, sand dunes and lush green forests with its wildlife. Rajasthan is often expressed as huge open-air museum with relic so well preserved for the travellers and the curious of the day.

It is action-packed with outdoors too; take a safari on horses, camels, elephants or even jeeps with the Aravalis - India's oldest mountain range in the backdrop, or caress your eyes on the sloppy sand dunes, or trail a tiger or just watch birds on wetland. Or you can choose to pamper yourself in the lavish heritage properties.

Take part in the vibrant dances with swords & swirling skirts, with lamps & horses. Buy exclusive craft of mirror work embroidery, metal and leather craft. Exalt the beautiful miniature & pichwai paintings. Taste the distinct cuisine. Rajasthan has something for everyone, just choose your activity. Live like a prince in the land of kings & princes.

Get In

By plane
Rajasthan is one of the larger Indian states and distances are long, making planes a fairly good option for getting in. Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur all have airports with direct links to many major cities, though if coming from a smaller city, one has to go via Delhi.

By train
Overnight trains from Delhi and Mumbai reach most of Rajasthan's major cities. For points further out, like Jaisalmer, you'll be looking at a second day on the train as well. The Shatabdi and Rajdhani express are excellent trains and have excellent service.

Another option is Palace on Wheels which is a week long luxury train ride through Rajasthan.

By road
The National Highway 8 which runs through Rajasthan is excellent and connects Delhi to Mumbai. Though Mumbai may be too far away, this is the most popular way to travel to travel to Jaipur from Delhi as the road is in excellent condition and the drive can easily be completed in under 4hrs.

Best Time to Visit: October to March

Capital: Jaipur

Climate: Hot and Dry Summers (45oC Max and 32oC Min), Pleasant Winters (27oC Min and 10oC Max)

Languages: Rajasthani, Hindi, Sindhi and English

Religions: Hindus, Muslims, Jains and Sikhs

Airports: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Bikaner and Kota

Rajasthan is divided into 33 districts and seven divisions:

Ajmer Division: Ajmer, Bhilwara, Nagaur, Tonk.
Bharatpur Division: Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur.
Bikaner Division: Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh.
Jaipur Division: Jaipur, Alwar, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Dausa.
Jodhpur Division: Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jodhpur District, Pali, Sirohi.
Kota Division: Baran, Bundi, Jhalawar, Kota.
Udaipur Division: Banswara District, Chittorgarh District, Pratapgarh District, Dungarpur District, Udaipur, Rajsamand

Major Cities: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer, Alwar, Pushkar, Bharatpur, Mt Abu, Sariska and Ranthambore.

Fairs: Ajmer Urs, Banganga Fair , Karni Mata Fair , Nagaur Fair , Pushkar Fair

Forts:
Amber Fort        [Jaipur]
Chittorgarh Fort  [Udaipur]
Jaigarh Fort       [Jaipur]
Mehrangarh Fort [Jodhpur]
Jaisalmer Fort
Sonar Quila        [Jaisalmer]
Kishangarh Fort  [Ajmer]
Kumbhalgarh Fort [Udaipur]
Nahargarh Fort   [Jaipur]
Junagarh Fort     [Bikaner]
Taragarh Fort     [Ajmer-Pushkar]