Rajasthan Tour Packages

Rajasthan, known or Rajasthan in India is the largest State, one of the most historic and possibly the best known among those planning a trip to India. Rajasthan portrays the most iconic images of India which reflect in huge forts, turbans, beautiful temples, colorful saris, endless mustaches etc. Rajasthan tour packages are among the most popular India tours. The most visited and popular destinations in Rajasthan are Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. These places are considered ‘must see’ in any tour of Rajasthan.

The capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur, a bustling city packed with interesting attractions and various activities to do. Jaipur forms part of the Golden Triangle (alongside Delhi and Agra) and is a great gateway to lesser-known destinations within Rajasthan. There are three main forts in Jaipur: Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort and Jaigarh Fort. Also worth exploring is City Palace, an impressive combination of Mughal and Rajput design that is so vast that most travelers cannot see it all in a single day, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar. Jaipur is also home to several temples, as well as a large bazaar that comes alive every night as the sun goes down.

Udaipur is known as the City of Lakes. The lakes, therefore, are main attractions of Udaipur. Two of the largest lakes, Fateh Sagar and Pichola, are man-made, but that doesn't make them any less beautiful. The main reason to visit Udaipur is the City Palace of Udaipur, a collection of palatial buildings, temples, museums and gardens with a wide variety of architectural styles. Shrines, temples, royal residences, and art collections are also available to admire inside the City Palace. Just north of the palace is Jagdish Temple, the most famous temple in Udaipur. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple features impressive carvings and is now an iconic landmark in the city.

Also known as the Golden City, Jaisalmer is an extraordinary city on the fringes of the Thar desert. The dominant feature of Jaisalmer is Jaisalmer Fort or Sonar Qila which is still an inhabited space. Unlike virtually all other forts in India, the Jaisalmer Fort is fully functional. Inside the fort, a visitor can see private residences, shops and even restaurants. There are bazaars where one can buy souvenirs like bronze statues, silver jewelry etc. Within the walls of the fort, there are also several temples of great historical and architectural importance. The Jain temples date back to the 12th century and most are open to the public in the morning.

Jodhpur, or the Blue City of Rajasthan, lies on the edge of the Thar Desert. Its nickname is derived from the clusters of houses painted in blue. Jodhpur is a historical destination with plenty of appeal. A tour of Jodhpur remains incomplete without a visit to the 15th century Mehrangarh Fort, the largest fort in all of Rajasthan. The fort complex is home to an impressive mirrored hall, intricate sandstone screens at Zenana Deodi, the Chamunda Mataji temple, and even great local life that really bring the fort to life.

In addition these cities, there are some other destinations like Bikaner, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh etc which are well worth a visit for their history and ancient monuments. Pushkar, a pilgrimage of the Hindus, should be explored by the tourists interested in spiritual and religious practices.

The city of Chittorgarh is known for its glorious history and Chittorgarh Fort. Built in the 7th century AD, the fort is one of the largest in India and is guarded by seven gates. The fort is huge and being able to see it all in one day can be a challenge. The Tower of Victory, built in the 15th century AD, is very characteristic and beautifully illuminated every night. Rana Kumbha Palace (the oldest part of the fort), Kumbha Shyam Temple, Meera Bai Temple (honors Vishnu and has a large collection of idols) etc are some of the prominent attractions within the fort.

Although the city of Bikaner is home to a palace, a historic fort, and even a camel research center, many Indians know it as a special destination for its cuisine. One of the local specialties is Kesar Kulfi, a sweet ice cream dessert that is delicious and refreshing in a hot afternoon. Desert safaris are also popular in Bikaner, and camel treks can be taken through the desert to explore the local culture and scenery. Bikaner's great tourist attraction is undoubtedly Junagarh Fort, built in the 16th century and now home to an extensive museum on the region.

Ajmer is a bustling city, located just 14 kilometers from the pilgrimage town of Pushkar. The city of Ajmer gets its name from “Ajay Meru”, which can be roughly translated as “invincible hill”. Ajmer can be a perfect representation of the diversity of Indian culture and ethics, showing a perfect mix of religion, social classes, culture, etc, coexisting and flourishing in harmony. Ajmer is a pilgrimage center for both Hindus and Muslims; as it is the final resting place of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti, visited by Muslims from all over the world.

Kota, formerly known as Kotah, is located 240 kilometers south of the state capital, Jaipur. Situated on the banks of the Chambal River, it is famous for its training institutes for engineering and medical entrance examinations. It is also called "Education City of India". The city of Kota was once a part of the ancient Rajput kingdom of Bundi. It became a separate princely state in the 17th century. Apart from the various monuments that reflect the glory of the city, Kota is also known for its palaces and gardens.

Pushkar, a small holy town, is known for its Brahma Temple and its annual camel fair. Brahma is one of the deities in Hindu Trinity. Pushkar is said to be the home of Lord Brahma. Pushkar is also home to several other temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Goddess Savitri and Lord Shiva. In October / November, Pushkar comes alive with a camel fair.

Bundi, a unique destination, is a place widely known for its step wells. Although this means of collecting water is no longer used in the city, Bundi still has over 50 step wells to behold. The most famous is the Queen's Step well, which dates back to the 15th century and has more than 200 steps. Also of note in Bundi is Taragarh Fort, built in the 16th century and now home to an astonishing art collection. Bundi's urban environment is one of the most beautiful in the region due to all the lakes that surround the city.

Ranakpur in India is known worldwide for its Jain Temple, one of the hidden wonders of Rajasthan. It is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur, in a valley to the west of the Aravalli range. Although you have to make a detour to visit it on the way between these two famous cities, it is a stop not to be missed. The temple is built entirely of marble, and is said to be one of the most spectacular Jain temples in existence.

Mount Abu is a hill station with temples and offering exceptional views of the surrounding area. Lake Nakki is a must-see attraction in Mount Abu. One can even hire a rowing boat to sail and admire the hills surrounding the lake. The most famous monuments of tourist interest in Mount Abu are Dilwara Temples. These temples of the Jain religion date back to about the 12th century and are carved out from exquisite white marble.

Mandawa town, founded in the mid-18th century, was once a city inhabited by wealthy merchant families. These families built huge havelis, adorned with impressive wall paintings, for the purpose of making them their residence. However, over time, the traders moved and migrated to other areas, leaving the beautiful havelis in the shadows of anonymity. The main tourist attraction in the city is Fort Mandawa, built in the 18th century and dominating the city. The fort contains a number of beautiful frescoes, paintings of Lord Krishna and ornamental carvings. There is also a hall displaying paintings and antiques.

Rajasthan is known for its glorious history, centuries old traditions, great battles, immense prosperity, intricately carved temples and colourful festivals. Archaeological finds show that Rajasthan has been inhabited for several thousand years. The people of the Harappan times were the first to settle on the banks of the River Sarasvati. Later on, tribal communities, such as the Bhils and Meenas, settled in the area. It was later a part of the great Mauryan Empire during 321-184 BC. In 4th century AD, it became part of Gupta Empire. In 9th century, the Rajput dynasty took over the state, the most prosperous era in Rajasthan's history. The Rajputs were warriors and under their rule, the state grew by leaps and bounds. Walking through the streets of Rajasthan, one can see majestic historical structures, including forts, palaces, and temples built by the Rajput clans. But over the centuries, the Rajput Empire was divided into 21 dynasties and 36 royal clans. The unity between them was lost. In 1192 AD, the barbarian Muslim invaders entered Rajasthan and the pristine culture of Rajasthan got polluted with forcibly imposed Islamic practices.

 Continuous battles took place between Rajput and Islamic forces over supremacy over the region. After Aurangzeb, the Mughal power waned rapidly and the Marathas rose on the scene.

In the early 18th century, the Maratha Empire began to gain power. Under the rule of Peshwa Baji Rao I of Pune, the Maratha Empire expanded into northern Rajasthan and joined the Rajputs. Most of the Rajput ruled kingdoms were under the control of the Maratha Empire and continued to flourish. However, the Marathas declined in power with the arrival of the British East India Company in the late 18th century. Most of the Rajput states joined the East India Company, resulting in the formation of Rajasthan (then known as "Rajputana") as an independent state. The name "Rajasthan" was popularized by James Tod, an employee of the East India Company, who was captivated by the beauty and opulence of the state.

Rajasthan is the largest state in India. It has scores of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the form of forts, palaces, temples, baoris etc. It’s a great destination to explore the village life in India. Another important attraction of Rajasthan is availability of luxury heritage hotels (ancient royal palaces and mansions turned into hotel). Organized group and private tours of Rajasthan are quite popular among the tourists. Rajasthan holiday packages provide several exotic experiences like exploring bazaars, stay in desert camp, elephant ride, camel safari in Thar desert, tiger safari in Ranthambore, birding tour in Bharatpur, boating in Lake Pichola, Bhishnoi village safari, hot air balloon ride etc. Optima Travels offers customized Rajasthan tour packages at reasonable cost with best experiences to explore rich culture and heritage of Rajasthan.