The Best Land of King’s Itinerary: 12 Days in India’s Rajasthan

Day 10 Jodhpur to Jaisalmer

Day 11 Jaisalmer

Day 12 Jaisalmer- Delhi




DETAILED ITINERARY



Day 1: Arrive in New Delhi


It’s time to get your head out of the clouds: after a long plane ride, welcome to New Delhi Airport! Within 20-30 minutes, one can get from the airport to the city centre. Upon arrival, follow signs to the Airport Express metro line (“Orange line”) stop at New Delhi Railway Station.

Unpack away that luggage and start day one by visiting Chandni Chowk! Start your morning in the heart of the beast, Chandni Chowk. Delhi’s largest and busiest market is not for the faint-hearted and is best visited in the morning before it gets really crowded.

From here, take a rickshaw or tuk-tuk to Jama Masjid. Dating back to 1656, it is one of India’s largest mosques. The courtyard alone can accommodate up to 25,000 people. Ascend the 40m high minaret for 360° views of the old city.

Another tuk-tuk ride away is the Red Fort or Lal Qila. Built in 1639 by Shah Jahan, it was home to reigning Mughal emperors until 1857. A sprawling complex of over 250 acres, perambulate its ramparts and learn about its colourful history of sieges, plunder and exiles.

If Old Delhi is chaos, then New Delhi is organized chaos. From the Red Fort, head down south to the relative calm, making sure you ask your taxi driver to go via India Gate for an obligatory photo opportunity and optional ice cream stop. Have lunch at Café Lota, located opposite Purana Qila and within the Crafts Museum. A tranquil space serving traditional Indian food from around the country, with a modern twist.

Venture further south to Haus Khaz Village, a trendy part of town where the bright young people of Delhi frequent. Here too there are plenty of independent boutiques selling everything from designer clothing to dusty antiques.

Dinner at the Coast cafe is a great spot for traditional South Indian dishes, before, if you’ve got any gas left in your tank, a quick refuel at Social on dry-ice cocktails and kamikaze shots.



Day 2: Start your day in Delhi and End your night in Agra



Kick-start your tryst with Delhi by visiting the Akshardham Temple right next to the Games Village. Akshardham is well connected by metro blue line. you can also reach there by local bus, auto/taxi. It will take you 2-3 hours to explore this temple complex, which is designed in accordance with ancient Vedic texts. Constructed entirely with Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble, it has a blend of architectural styles from across India.

Then head over to Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Delhi's only Archaeological Park, spread over 200 acres in Mehrauli, houses 100 historically significant monuments built over five centuries. Qutub Minar is well connected by metro yellow line and Buses. Among its attractions are the Jamali Kamali Mosque, Quli Khan's Tomb, Gandhak ki Baoli, Rajon ki Baoli, Madhi Masjid and Balban's tomb - all within walking distance of one another.

Subsequent to your visit to the Qutub Complex, you can either have food at the Ambavata Complex in Mehrauli, which is about 2km from the Qutub complex. You can use auto or taxi to reach here. You could also head to Connaught Place (CP) by metro train.The distance is about 15kms Ambavata Complex has a very popular Thai restaurant. Connaught Place is a hub for speciality and multicuisine restaurants and fast-food joints.

The most popular way of getting from Delhi to Agra is by train. The main railway station in Delhi is New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS), near Paharganj, although some trains to Agra also depart Delhi from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station (NZM), which is about 20 minutes south of NDLS. The main railway station in Agra is Agra Cantonment (AGC)

Check into your Agra hotel before heading to Subhash Bazaar! Things to do in Agra is incomplete without mentioning the city’s buzzing market. Agra is famous for Leather products, handicrafts, jewelry, and marble replicas!

Finally end your night at the Agra Fort is a royal residence of Mughal emperors of India. Explore the impressive building of this historical fort which includes, Moti Masjid, Musamman Burj, Diwan-i-Khas, Shahjahani Mahal, and Jahangiri Mahal. Watch the night lights dazzle and shine before you head back to your hotel to rest.



Day 3: Start your day in Agra visit then head to Jaipur


Today will be a long day! Head to the Taj Mahal before 6am when the gates open for the day. This glorious monument is at its best under the early morning sun. It is the best time to click pictures as not only is the light wonderful but it’s relatively less crowded too.

After breakfast visit the sprawling Agra Fort and explore its vast grounds with a certified guide. Post lunch proceed to Itimad-ud-daulah and Sikandra (Akbar’s serenely beautiful tomb).

Afterwards it time to head to your next city! From Agra, take a 4 hour train ride to the beautiful city of Jaipur! Drop off your luggage and head out to explore the town!

A strategically important fort for the Rajputs, the Nahargarh Fort offers stunning views of Jaipur. Up in the hills of Jaipur, the Nahargarh Fort walls wind along the ridges of the mountains. Standing on the fort wall surfaces you will overlook communities teeming with intense action. If you arrive before sunset you can stray with the gallery or the wax gallery. The best time to visit is in the evening, watch the sunset and then hang out around to catch the visual treat that is the city skyline, when Jaipur is all lit up.

Love biking? You can ride up to the fort and hang out outside for a bit (entry into the fort is restricted after 5pm), enjoying the cool evening breeze. End your visit at the Padao Restaurant, a delicious multi-cuisine eatery, located nearby.


Day 4: Welcome to Jaipur

The morning focuses on the grand City Palace, which is the official residence of the Maharajah of Jaipur. The palace is centrally located and takes around 2 hours to fully explore all the staterooms, museums and art exhibitions. Highlights of the city palace include; The highly decorative Peacock Gate, the massive silver vessels in the Diwan-I-Khas and the armory, with its collection of gruesome and opulent weapons spanning the history of Jaipur.

The afternoon explores the pink city, the historic center of Jaipur and the area surrounding the City Palace. This is busy, hectic and chaotic Jaipur, expect to be hassled by touts, choked by pollution and worn down by the heat but there are some great monuments. If all the hassle gets too much, head to Jantar Mantar for a moment of peace and calm. The afternoon concludes by watching the sunset at the sun temple.

Afterwards, head to Hawa Mahal! This is another architectural gem which means Palace of Wind. You might have seen it numerous times in different travel magazines, tours covering Jaipur. The palace was built to allow imperial ladies to enjoy festive events happening outdoors. It has 953 home windows and they are constructed as there will certainly be an awesome wind flowing through the palace irrespective of the period.

End the night at Club Naila, one of the most happening nightclubs in Jaipur, A place to hang out, chill, drink, groove & swivel on power-packed music beats, played all night long by local artists and DJs. You can also get very good offers on food and drinks at this place during the night visit. Also, catch your favorite sporting events streaming live on giant screens all around the club.


Day 5: Day trip to Ranthambore

Time for a day trip to Ranthambore National Park! You can opt for a tour with Jaipur Ranthambore one day tour package. Jaipur Ranthambore tour offers the opportunity to visit and explore Ranthambore's wildlife for tiger sighting and other key wildlife species. Spend your day tracking Tigers and viewing other wildlife attractions of the park.

A driver will pick you up from your preferred location or hotel in Jaipur in an air-conditioned car to proceed for Ranthambore National Park. It’s a 3 hour long ride so you can take a short nap in the car!

After reaching at the national park which is famous for tigers all across the world. A general identification process will be there before entering the forest. After that a gypsy will be assigned to you and will be guided to view the natural habitat of leopard, bear, deer, hyena, wild boar, tigers and various other wildlife animals. After completion of your park safari, the gypsy will return back at the starting point.

After exploring Ranthambore National Park, you will be driven back to Jaipur. This wildlife tour will always remain in your mind for all the years to come.

Day 6: Welcome to Pushkar

Rise and shine, it’s time to head to Pushkar! The best way to reach Pushkar is from Jaipur. Buses run regularly from Jaipur everyday and it takes about 3-3.5 hours to reach Pushkar bus stand. Take a direct bus from Shiv Sankar Travels and it will take you about 3 hours before you touch down to your next city! Drop those bags and grab some brunch before you move out to explore this new foreign land!

Anybody residing in India would be well aware of Pushkar Lake. It is considered to be a holy lake that attracts a lot of pilgrims who come here to carry out their religious rites. A dip in the sacred lake is believed to cleanse sins and cure skin diseases. Apart from its religious significance, this lake also adds beauty to the city of Pushkar in Ajmer.

The Brahma Temple situated beside the Pushkar Lake is one of its kinds. The bird motif used in the place is unique one. The place is packed with architectural features. The pillared outdoor hall, stone slabs combined with molten lead in the inside, the marble steps are all very fascinating to the tourists.

Finally, head to the Pushkar Bazaar! Your trip here will be incomplete without the visit to the Pushkar Bazaar. Rose pulp, syrup and gulkand are sold here at reasonable rates. Handicraft items, embroidered fabrics, brass utensils, glass ware, leather bags made of camel skin, and belts and many more such unique items can be purchased in the bustling Pushkar Bazaar.

Day 7: Pushkar

There is no better way to start your day trip than visiting Dargah Sharif and evoke a sense of spirituality and positivity in life. Irrespective of what goes around the world on the basis of religion, this holy shrine welcomes people of different religions, castes, creed and colour to fulfill their wishes and desires.The Dargah Khwaja Gharibnawaz ( R.A) has several tombs, buildings, Daalaans and courtyards of Mughal architecture!

Next, head to The Savitri Temple in Pushkar, which overlooks the entire town and all the surrounding valleys. The temple can be spotted while at the Pushkar Lake and the beauty is, the temple is only a fifteen-minute walk from the lake. It really is the most accessible and a great way to enjoy the view over the whole of Pushkar.

The walk up from the base takes about fifteen minutes, although you may need a few breaks it is quite a steep incline of stairs. There is also a ropeway which is carriages that take you up the mountain on a cable. I’m not sure how much it costs but unless you are afraid of a short workout and some sweat I suggest the stairs. Keep an eye out for monkeys they were quite aggressive and had me on edge, ready for battle.

The next stop of your is a great spectacle of Indo – Islamic architecture, located near the Dargah Sharif and consisting of a quadrangle cloistered on all four sides- Adhai din ka Jhonpra. The interior of the mosque is more like a Hindu temple, with a main hall supported by numerous columns. Three pillars are placed over each other while the roof is supported on square bays. The columns have a unique design and heavily decorated which leave the visitor enchanted. Adhai din ka Jhonpra serves as a perfect example of intermingling of many religions and cultures, with the main gate having inscriptions in Sanskrit. You’ll certainly stand in awe!

Your next destination will make you experience the exquisiteness of the non-natural lake, which is greatly appreciated by travellers. Ana Sagar Lake is bordered by several beauteous pavilions and bony Daulat Bagh gardens. It is unequivocally one of the most scenic sites of Rajasthan. The lake has been a majestic attraction since the 11th century and sprawls over a huge area of over 13 kms. Presently, it acts as a key tourist attraction for Ajmer tourists.

Khobra Behroon temple is situated to the south of the lake. One can hire a boat or a water scooter to reach it and enjoy an admirable ride.

End your night at Sarafa Bazar! Shopping for trinkets and handicrafts in Sarafa Bazar is one of the best things to do in Pushkar. Think Rajasthan and you get colors. Sarafa Bazar is one of the best tourist places in Pushkar. The markets here are a perfect ambassador of Rajasthani handicrafts, textile, jewellery and leather products. From trinkets to turban – the markets like Sarafa Bazar and Bada Bazar have it all that has been fascinating tourists from all across the globe.


Day 8: Pushkar to Jodhpur

Grab a cab to your next city in Jodhpur, check in to your hotel and it’s time to set out to relish the famous blue city of Rajasthan!

Post breakfast proceed to Mehrangarh Fort, the major attraction of Jodhpur. It is good to reach here as early in the morning as possible as the fort becomes crowded afterwards. The opening time is 9:00am. If you reach here by this time, it means you will get your entry tickets immediately, without having to wait in a queue.. As of today, it is one of the best maintained forts in India.

Afterwards, you can have lunch in the restaurant near the fort gate.. As you start your journey back from the fort, don’t forget to stop and have a look at the city of Jodhpur from the higher hills where the fort is situated. This part of the city is the oldest, and most of the houses are blue, producing a beautiful scenery - hence why Jodhpur is called the “blue city”.

A stone’s throw away, Rao Jodha Park is your second spot to visit. Although a recent addition to the otherwise old area of Jodhpur, it was built in 2006 to restore the ecosystem of a wasteland in the region. You can see here various species of plants which are suitable to the desert climate. These native plants thrive well in rocky surroundings. Once an almost barren land, the park is now beautifully landscaped and very well maintained.

Jaswant Thada is the cenotaph of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, built in his memory by his son. There are 3 other cenotaphs located in the premises of Jaswant Thada. It’s located on an elevated plateau. And is made of fine marble with very intricate work. The garden around the cenotaph is very well maintained, producing an oasis of green in the middle of a rocky geographical region. At the entrance of Jaswant Thada is a beautiful lake and some really instagram worthy spots on it’s banks. Near the entrance you will find a small counter selling much needed refreshment options like fresh juices and iced tea.

Mandore is the old capital of Jodhpur, which was later abandoned by the Maharajas as they moved to the newly constructed and more robust Mehrangarh Fort. Although you can find mentions of Mandore in eras much older in history, including the Ramayana. It’s a refreshing garden around the cenotaphs of the Maharajas of Jodhpur. Although, it can do with a little more maintenance. As you enter the Mandore Gardens and walk towards the cenotaphs, you will be greeted by large groups of monkeys, for once, making you feel like you are in the monkey forest of Ubud. Next, as you lay eyes on the cenotaphs you will see their resemblance to several ancient temples, particularly those of Angkor Watt. It’s a very worthy spot for photographers. Believe me, you will get some of your best shots here.



Day 9: Jodhpur

Start the second day of your 2 days in Jodhpur early on. Take a ride to the Kaylana Lake early in the morning, before breakfast. Catch up with the beautiful sunrise here, if possible. And return back for breakfast. Or, have your breakfast on your way back into the city. Although a manmade lake built by Pratap Singh in 1872, it is a huge one. It spreads over 84 square kilometers. The lake is also a paradise for bird watchers as they can spot some rare species here. And if you are someone who likes bird photography, this is the best spot for you in Jodhpur for the same.

The home to the royal family of Jodhpur, Umaid Bhavan Palace is one of the largest private residences in the world as of today. The way to Umaid Bhavan Palace is also very well maintained with trails of blooming bougainvillea on both the sides and in the center. Visit here after breakfast and spend around one to one and half hour here looking around.

From Umaid Bhavan Palace, you can next proceed to Ghanta Ghar and Sadar Market. You can have lunch in this area. Since there are several restaurants and even roadside outlets here. This is the perfect place to try some cuisines of Jodhpur, particularly the street food like samosa and jalebi with rabri and very famous makhaniya lassi. There is a particular samosa outlet named Shahi Samosa which is particularly famous. And another outlet named Shri Mishrilal is famous for its Lassi. The Sadar Market is also the main market of Jodhpur, so, in case you want to do some shopping here, you are in the right place. There are 3-4 government emporiums on the main road, which are your best bet if you don’t believe so much in the art of bargaining.

At one end of Sadar Market lies Ghanta Ghar – the old clock tower of Jodhpur. As evening approaches, the square near Ghanta Ghar gets abuzz with activity. Vendors setup street side stalls selling various souvenirs and other items that Jodhpur is famous for. Near the Ghanta Ghar, there is a small step well as well which you can visit.

Another manmade lake around Jodhpur, Balsamand Lake lies on the Jodhpur-Mandore road. The lake is a famous picnic spot. So, visiting it after the Sadar Market gives you the perfect opportunity to pack some mouth watering delicacies from the market and head to the lake for a quick picnic. And while you picnic, catch the scene of a beautiful sunset across the lake.

Day 10: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer


Catch the early morning train from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer! The ride will take about 5 hours so you can get some sleep while you are in the train.

Spend a few hours resting up, enjoy breakfast, then take the morning to explore the Fort in Jaisalmer, including the Jain Temple of Ranakpur. It’s fun to just wander the little alleyways, or spend some time walking directly inside the walls and imagine what life would’ve been like hundreds of years ago when the fort was built. Locally known as Sonar Quila (Golden Fort) is located in the heart of Jaisalmer city. It is one of the largest forts in the world and also one of the biggest forts in India to visit as part of Rajasthan tour packages. Jaisalmer Fort is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Nearby, you can head to Nathmalji ki Haveli which was constructed by Maharawal Berisal in 1885 CE, to serve as the residence of Diwan Mohata Nathmal, the then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer. This haveli is famous for its architecture that reflects the fusion of both Rajput and Islamic styles. The building is planned around two courtyards; the one in the front is much smaller than the rear one.

Finally, take a sunset boat ride on Gadsisar Lake! Gadsisar Lake was built as a water reservoir way back in the 14th century by the founding Rajput ruler of Jaisalmer, Rawal Jaisal, but today, it is not used as one. Today Gadsisar Lake is the most attractive tourist hotspot in Jaisalmer. The calm waters of the lake makes it perfect for boating and photographing wonderful scenic vistas and mind-blowing sunrise & sunset views. Birds can be seen wading on the waters, and flying in the azure skies above.

Folklore Museum and Desert Cultural Center situated quite close to the lake. You will enjoy the puppet show in the museum, and various exhibits like coins, musical instruments, textiles, old utensils, rare manuscripts and other artifacts relating to folk history of Rajasthan.

Day 11: Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer borders the mystical Thar desert, and one of the consequential things to do when visiting the ‘golden city’, is an overnight camel safari. From trotting through the sand dunes atop camels, followed by nights under the milky way, it is no wonder that tourists travel from far and wide to take part in this magical experience.

Khaba Fort isn’t one of the popular attractions when visiting the Golden City; however, its compelling history makes it one of the more interesting. The fort and neighbouring village date back to the 13th century. Once inhabited by the Paliwal Brahmins, both were mysteriously abandoned some 200 years ago. It is said, that the inhabitants set a spell that forbids anybody else settling in the village. I don’t know if it’s all just ghost stories, but there is no denying the eerie solitude that consumes the area.

Next head to Jaisalmer Local Bazaar for some Shopping! There are many vibrant options for shopping in Rajasthan. And shopping in the fort city is definitely among the best things to do in Jaisalmer for the shopaholics. With so many options and varieties of handmade products including clothes, jewelry, accessories, bags, footwear, etc, shopping is one of the best things to do in Jaisalmer.

To end the night, Go Rooftop Hopping! The city of Jaisalmer is bursting at the seams with quirky rooftop bars and restaurants. Each of them offering marvellous views over the Golden City. We made an effort to try a new one each day. It is such a great feeling at the end of a busy day to kick back, enjoy an ice cold beer and enjoy the sunset.


Day 12: Departing for Home

Wake up early to catch a morning train back to New Delhi where you will take an evening flight back home.