Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in INDIA and for good reason! This colourful land of palaces and forts is filled with history and culture and is a must visit place for any traveler. This 7 days Rajasthan itinerary is just enough to give you a taste of this state and show you some of the highlights and lesser known sites.

In this 7 days Rajasthan itinerary, you will get enough time to visit three of the most beautiful places: JaipurUdaipur and Jodhpur. You will get to see some of the magnificient royal forts and palaces, catch a few stunning sunrises and sunsets, marvel at a 500 year old temple in the middle of nowhere and visit a couple of lesser known gems. Are you excited yet? If you have some additional days in hand, you can use that to explore some more places with my alternative itineraries.

This trip will be a thrilling experience and be prepared to return home with unforgettable memories. I hope you enjoy Rajasthan as much as we did and get a lot of useful information and tips from this Rajasthan itinerary to plan your trip and have a great vacation!

Rajasthan itinerary for one week

ABOUT THIS RAJASTHAN ITINERARY

To follow this Rajasthan itinerary you will need 7 full days. So try to reach on the previous evening/night. If that’s not possible, I will suggest an alternative itinerary for day 1.

Rajasthan is a very large state and all these 3 cities are far from each other. You will spend quite a bit of time on inter city transportation. If you want to see all the places mentioned here in this Rajasthan itinerary and maximise your time, I would not suggest using public transportation.  Private cars will be a very comfortable and time saving option in this scenario. We actually did Jaipur to Udaipur by flight, but if that’s not within your budget I will suggest you to take a taxi and have a stop at Kumbhalgarh fort. If you do want to travel by bus/train, make sure to book train tickets from much before and factor in the additional time required.

You can do this itinerary independently and do not require a full time guide.

We typically travel on our own and rarely take tours or hire guides. But Rajasthan is filled with so may historical sites that it does make sense to hire guides there. Luckily, most of the big ones like Jaipur city palace, Udaipur city palace and Mehrangarh fort in Jodhpur offer their own in house guides who can be hired for a reasonable charge. The guide charges are very transparently displayed at the ticket offices of these sites. I loved hearing the palace history and interesting stories from the guides, so this is something I most definitely recommend that you should do too.

Lastly, my itineraries are usually packed with a lot of sightseeing and a few sunrise and sunset missions. Its okay if you want to leave out a few things and sleep in. After all, it’s a vacation right! Pick and choose the places according to your interest and tweak the itinerary to fit you!

Before getting started with this article, here are some essential resources you will need to plan your trip.

  • FLIGHTS: Check and compare flight prices using SKYSCANNER or Google Flights.
  • ACCOMODATION: Get the best range of stay options at BOOKING.COM.
  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: Get your trip insured in these uncertain times with WORLD NOMADS.
  • TRANSPORT: I book all my bus/train/taxi transfers using 12goAsia, a very safe, affordable and convenient option for booking all your transportation requirements.
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THE BEST TIME TO VISIT RAJASTHAN:

The best time to visit is from December to March and this peak tourist season. Most popular sites start getting crowded from 10am onwards. So be ready to reach right at opening time if you want some stunning shots minus people and to take in the sights in some peace. Summer begins from April and sightseeing in the high temperatures becomes very difficult and exhausting.

the best itinerary for Jaipur

7 DAYS RAJASTHAN ITINERARY

DAY 0: Arrive in Jaipur

DAY 1: Jaipur: Sunrise, Amer Place, Panna meena kund, Jagat Shiromani temple, Hawa mahal, Galtaji monkey temple, sunset at Gaitore ki chattriyan

DAY 2: Jaipur: Patrika gate, City palace, Albert Hall museum, Sunset at Nahargarh fort

DAY 3: Jaipur to Udaipur via Kumbhalgarh Fort

DAY 4: Udaipur: City palace, Temple, Sunset Boat Ride, Folk Show

DAY 5: Udaipur: Sunrise at Bahubali hills, Ahar cenotaphs, Karni mata temple, Sajjangarh fort/Fateh Sagar Lake

DAY 6: Udaipur to Jodhpur via Ranakpur Jain temple

DAY 7: Jodhpur : Blue City, Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada and Umaid Bhawan

DAY 8: FLY BACK

DAY 1: JAIPUR

SUNRISE AND AMER FORT

You can start this Rajasthan itinerary with a stunning sunrise from the Amer fort walls at 6-6:30am. You will get one of the best views of Jaipur from here. After that, cross the street and head inside to Amer fort which opens at 8am.

Amer/Amber Fort is massive with many different sections within it. It’s easy to spend 2-3 hours here and definitely hire a guide to take you through it while telling the history. There are a lot of instagrammable spots here (Ganesh Pol being one). It’s best to arrive right at opening time so that you can avoid crowds. Places of interest: Suraj pol, Sila Devi temple, Ganesh pol, Diwan-e-aam, Sukh niwas and Sheesh mahal. Entry fee: Rs 25, guide charges extra.

From Amer fort, you can explore 2 other places that are located nearby: Panna Meena ka kund (a popular stepwell) and Jagat Shiromani temple which has beautiful architecture. You will only need a few mins at these 2 places.

NOTE: The sunrise mission involves climbing 400+ steps. Skip it if you have children, elderly citizens, bad knees/medical conditions or if you just wanna sleep in!

HAWA MAHAL (Palace of the Winds)

This 5 storey structure designed in the shape of a honeycomb is one of Jaipur’s iconic sites. It’s best viewed from one of the cafes across the street (Windview café and Tatoo café) where you can also have your lunch.

GALTAJI MONKEY TEMPLE

Post lunch, you can visit this temple complex which lies within a mountain pass set around a natural spring. The Sita Ramji temple here is inhabited by monkeys and has been featured in the National geographic.

GAITORE KI CHATTRIYAN

End your first day with a stunning sunset at this beautiful site which is the crematorium site of the Jaipur royal family and a place to enjoy some peace and tranquility away from the city.

the best itinerary for Jaipur
the best 2 days itinerary for Jaipur
Best places to visit in Jaipur

DAY 2: JAIPUR

PATRIKA GATE

Start the day with a visit to one of the most colourful and prettiest places: Patrika Gate. This is an elaborate pink gate that has a corridor lined with colourful art and murals. Go at 7-8am to avoid the crowds. Entry: Free

JAIPUR CITY PALACE

The complex consists of several courtyards, temples and pavilions. It also houses the most famous doors in India which can be found at Pritam Niwas Chowk. There is also a section dedicated to artists where you can buy artwork and handicrafts. You will need 2-3 hours to see most of the stuff.

ALBERT HALL MUSEUM

The oldest museum of Rajasthan which has beautiful architecture and also houses an Egyptian mummy. The outer gate is a popular photography spot.

NAHARGARH FORT

End your Jaipur stay with a beautiful sunset at Nahargarh fort. The fort is vast and also houses a museum and restaurants.

Best places to visit in Jaipur
instagram hot spots of Jaipur
where to stay in Jaipur

In Jaipur, we chose to stay in Alsisar Haveli. A beautifully restored old haveli which is located only 10 mins away from Hawa Mahal. The rooms are clean and comfortable, there is a pool and an in house restaurant. The service is pretty good. They also arrange private cars for sightseeing and have a sister property at Ranthambhore national park. The price is on the higher end of the midrange category but if you are looking for a unique and experiential stay, this haveli is our recommendation for Jaipur.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE JAIPUR TRAVEL GUIDE AND ITINERARY

ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY OPTION: If you arrive on day 1, skip the sunrise. Depending on your time of arrival head over to the Jaipur city palace and then check out Albert museum. If you have time, go for sunset to Nahargarh fort. On Day 2, head to Patrika gate and Amer Palace. Post lunch, check out Hawa Mahal.

DAY 3: JAIPUR TO UDAIPUR VIA KUMBHALGARH FORT

Today will be your first road trip from Jaipur to Udaipur. The distance between the 2 places is almost 400 kms and it takes around 7 hours by road. To make it more memorable, make a detour at Kumbhalgarh Fort. This is a pretty popular option and there are a number of private car operators who offer this service.

KUMBHALGARH FORT

Kumbhalgarh is a world heritage site and was built sometime in the 13th century by the Rana of Kumbhar. The fort is massive and it’s wall is the second longest one in the world after the ‘Great wall of China’. There are a number of temples within the fort complex and a light and sound show is also held.

It will be evening by the time you reach Udaipur and check in. So take it easy for tonight, have a nice lakeside dinner and sleep early as the next 2 days will be full of sightseeing.

DAY 4: UDAIPUR CITY PALACE, SUNSET BOAT RIDE AND FOLK SHOW

UDAIPUR CITY PALACE

The most important place to visit in Udaipur as well as the best! Out of all the palaces we visited in Rajasthan, this one was my favourite. It’s the second largest palace in India after the Mysore palace and you can easily spend 3-4 hours here. There are so many pretty corners and lots of interesting stories to hear from the guides. Do hire a guide as you will need him. Must visit corners include: Badi mahal, Krishna vilas, Sheesh mahal, Mor Chowk and the insta famous Blue Room.

Entry: Rs500/pp plus additional guide charges

JAGDISH TEMPLE

The local temple with beautiful intricate designs, drop by after visiting the city palace and also do some shopping in the nearby souvenir stalls.

SUNSET BOAT RIDE ON LAKE PICHOLA

One of the highlights of this 7 days Rajasthan itinerary is doing this super romantic sunset boat ride. The view of the setting sun on the lake surrounded by the Aravalli range is truly breathtaking. You can share a boat or shell out some extra to have a private ride.

Price: Group tours usually cost Rs500/pp. Private ones will charge Rs 2000-3000/boat.

DHAROHAR FOLK SHOW

After the boat ride, ask your boatman to drop you at Gangaur ghat for the very creative folk show at Bagore ki haveli (2mins walk from the ghat gates). The show starts at 7pm daily and is filled with folk music, dances and puppet shows. It’s a nice peek into Rajasthani folk culture. Entry fees: Rs 200/pp plus additional camera charges.

the famous Blue Room at Udaipur city palace
one of the best places to visit in Udaipur
one of the most beautiful sunsets to see in India

DAY 5: BAHUBALI HILLS, AHAR CENOTAPHS, KARNI MATA TEMPLE AND SAJJANGARH FORT/FATEH SAGAR LAKE

BAHUBALI HILLS AND BADI LAKE

Begin the day with a sunrise mission at one of the best places in Rajasthan: Bahubali hills and Badi Lake. The stunning Aravalli mountains overlooking the emerald lake presents a picture perfect postcard and you will fall in love with the place. It’s a very easy 15 mins walk to the top view point. Reach by 6:30 am to catch the sunrise. Hire a tuk tuk driver the previous day who will take you there. It takes around 30 mins from the old city. Following the sunrise, return back to your hotel for breakfast followed by a visit to Ahar cenotaphs.

AHAR CENOTAPHS

These are the burial monuments of Udaipur’s past rulers and lie around 10-12kms from the old city. These forgotten monuments are locally known as Chattris and are a must visit for any culture lover. Entry: Rs 25.

KARNI MATA TEMPLE

Take a cable car ride and visit this temple that is located atop a hill. Rides begin from 9am and cost between Rs 150-400.The views from above are nice and its also a good place to see the sunset.

SUNSET AT SAJJANGARH FORT OR FATEH SAGAR LAKE

You can choose to visit any one of these two places for a beautiful sunset depending on your interests.

If you are looking for some adventure, Sajjangarh fort is the place. A hilltop palace popularly called as Monsoon palace, it can be reached by trekking or via jeep rides. It overlooks the Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary that is popular for bird watching. The sunset from the top is a beautiful sight. Entry Fees: Rs 100 and it’s open till 6pm.

For some family friendly fun, head over to Fateh Sagar Lake and do some boating.

one of the best places to visit in Udaipur is the beautiful Badi lake
The Ahar cenotaphs are one of the best places to visit in Udaipur

WHERE TO STAY IN UDAIPUR

Its best to stay near Pichola lake in the old city. This is the heart of the city, both congested and charming and near to most of the major attractions. Some of my recommendations would be:

  • Zostel (Budget)
  • Moustache (Budget)
  • Lake Pichola hotel (mid range)
  • Jagat Niwas Palace (mid range)
  • Taj Lake palace (Luxury)
where to stay in Udaipur

In Udaipur, we chose Lake Pichola Hotel which is situated right besides Lake Pichola and has one of the best locations. All the rooms have a balcony overlooking the lake and the ghats which is a great spot to see the sunrise. There in house rooftop restaurant ‘Upre’ is very popular for dinners. Excellent buffet breakfast and they also arrange for boat rides on the lake. Price wise, falls in the midrange category. Highly recommended for Udaipur.

Alternative transportation options from Jaipur to Udaipur:

*If you want to save both time and money, taking the night train from Jaipur to Udaipur is the best option. Reach Udaipur in the morning and you still get a full day of sightseeing.

*If money is not a problem and you want to save time, catch the morning flight. It takes just under an hour to arrive at Udaipur.

Depending on your mode of transportation and time of arrival, make the necessary changes to this itinerary and plan your sightseeing.

You can see and book Jaipur to Udaipur transport options here.

READ THE COMPLETE UDAIPUR TRAVEL GUIDE HERE

DAY 6: UDAIPUR TO JODHPUR VIA RANAKPUR JAIN TEMPLE

The distance between the 2 cities is 250 kms and will take around 5 hours. Again make a stop to see one of the most beautiful temples in India: Ranakpur Jain temple, a very important Jain pilgrimage site.

The temple was constructed in the 15th century to honour Adinath, the first Tirthankar of Jain cosmology. It is located deep in the forest and mountains and you will get a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. The architecture is simply stunning with plenty of intricate designs on the roof and pillars. Definitely a must visit place !

Timings for tourists: from 12 noon-5pm

By the time you will reach Jodhpur, it will be evening. Check in and head to the local clock tower to see some of the famous Blue streets. Also located nearby is a pretty stepwell: Toorji ka Jhalra.

one of the best places to visit near Udaipur

DAY 7: JODHPUR SIGHTSEEING: BLUE CITY, MEHRANGARH FORT, JASWANT THADA AND UMAID BHAWAN

BLUE STREETS:

Begin your last day of this Rajasthan itinerary with a visit to one of Jodhpur’s most famous places: the Blue City ! Hire a local tuk tuk driver to take you to the older part of Jodhpur called Chandpole or Navchowkiya. From there walk through the narrow bylanes where the houses and walls are all painted in Blue. It’s a photogenic colour for sure, but the place is also a bit dirty. Go early around 8am before photography tours begin.

MEHRANGARH FORT

The most important place to visit in Jodhpur, Mehrangarh fort is the largest in Rajasthan. It was built in the 14th century by Rao Jodha, who laid the foundations of Jodhpur. Its massive and make sure to hire a guide for all the shortcuts.

JASWANT THADA

Located just a short distance from Mehrangarh fort, this beautiful cenotaph is the burial monument of Raja Jaswant Singh 2. It is built of white marble and is commonly known as the Taj mahal of Mewar.

UMAID BHAWAN PALACE

One of the largest royal residences in the world, this palace is divided into 3 parts: the private residence of the royal family, the Taj hotel and a museum that is open to the public.

Mehrangarh fort in Jodhpur
the best places to visit in rajasthan
rajasthan itinerary for one week

WHERE TO STAY IN JODHPUR?

In Jodhpur, we chose to stay at Ratan Vilas, a former royal summer palace with traditional designs, expansive courtyards and beautiful gardens. The rooms are huge and well decoarated. There is an in house pool and a decadent relaxed vibe all around. Service is excellent and its near enough to the main market. Mid range price but well worth the money.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME IN RAJASTHAN

JAISALMER: The Golden City is known for the famous Jaisalmer fort and the Thar desert. Located 280 kms from Jodhpur. Perfect for the culture lover.

RANTHAMBHORE NATIONAL PARK: One of the most famous tiger reserves in India and located 200 kms from Jaipur. Perfect for the adventure and wildlife lover.

AJMER: Houses the famous Ajmer sharif Dargah. Perfect for the spiritual seeker.

PUSHKAR: Famous for it’s one of a kind camel fair that is held annually every winter. Also houses the only Brahma temple in India.

MOUNT ABU: The only hill station in Rajasthan, it has plenty of Hindu and Jain temples.

Hopefully, this one week Rajasthan itinerary gave you all the information and inspiration needed to plan your trip ! Please feel free to comment if you have any questions. Happy planning !

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