The state that has the most ‘colored cities’ – Rajasthan is colored with vibrancy, fairytale palaces, heritage culture. All the top shades are visible in these cities “Pink, Blue, Brown, White city – Colorful Rajasthan”.

The royal state of north western India dazzles with opulence of the Kings palaces, ancient art, colorful fabric, and preserved culture. This is history that still is present in the colored cities – Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Udaipur. Hotels, railways, accommodations, traditional cuisine to help you to enjoy your stay here.

How to Reach

There are various ways to travel by train to Rajasthan which is comfortable and economical. There is a Jaipur International Airport and many domestic airports in various cities such as Bikaner, Kota, railway stations with well connected trains and travel by car is also an easy way to reach here.

1. The Pink City – Jaipur

This capital city of Rajasthan is roughly 3 – 4 hours drive from the national capital – Delhi. This is a popular tourist destinations in India as it also forms the famous Golden Triangle Circuit including Agra which houses the beautiful marble Taj Mahal. If you’re hearing these colored themed cities within this massive state of Rajasthan for the first time you’re thinking how they got the names of the colors.

Many buildings were constructed using pink sandstone that reflects the sun and looks vibrant here. Earlier, in the eighteenth century many buildings were painted rose pink in color as there was a visit from the royals from England.

Here are the top tourist destinations in Jaipur, Rajasthan are:

Amber Fort, Jal Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar Observatory

Where to Stay in Jaipur

Take an accommodation closer to the old side of city known as Pink City. Luxury hotels are The Lalit, Rambagh Palace, Rajmahal Palace, The Oberoi Rajvilas, Samode Palace etc. You can also do the walk and check out this beautiful city including traditional cuisine, go shopping at Pink City Market, and sightseeing.

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2. The Blue City – Jodhpur

There is a massive desert in Rajasthan and the Blue City is situated here famous for sand dunes, Balsamand Lake and many more things. Also known as the gateway to Thar desert, this Brahmapuri region, the old city of Jodhpur has several houses painted in blue shades. Due to extreme heat the buildings were also colored blue as the color is believed to keep the houses cool.

There are several popular destinations to visit in Jodhpur are:

Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Mandore Garden, Kailana Lake, Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, Clock Tower and old city markets.

Where to Stay in Jodhpur

As per your requirement and budget there are various accommodations available. You can choose a luxurious king’s experience stay at Muragarh Resort. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Vivanta by Taj – Hari Mahal, RAAS, Ratan Vilas, Pal Haveli and many other hotels to stay in Jodhpur.

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3. The Golden City – Jaisalmer

This city preserves the old mansions and carvings on buildings showing great art of the ancient artisans. They are blended with various Mughali, Rajput architecture inside the walled in city of Jaisalmer Fort which is also known as Sonar Qila. The defense fort is also recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Most popular places to visit in Jaisalmer are:

Bada Bagh, Jaisalmer Fort, Patwon Ki Haveli, Salim Singh Ki Haveli, Sam Sand Dunes, Gadisar Lake etc.

Where to Stay in Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is the ideal destinations for adventure lovers. There are numerous accommodation options are available in Jaisalmer. If you looking for Ultimate luxury choose “The Serai”, Rajwada Fort, Suryagarh, Damodra Desert Camp etc.

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4. The White City – Udaipur

The picturesque tourist destination in the hot state of Rajasthan has a city of lakes – Udaipur with many water reservoirs and artificial lakes. The city is famous for Lake Palace and most of the top monuments in Rajasthan constructed with white marble. Hence, the city of lakes is also the White City of Rajasthan.

Lake Pichola is one of the top lakes with several sightseeing spots situated in and around the lake. The Jag Mandir is a temple within the lake and there is Nehru garden which is an island garden situated in Lake Pichola. A visit to Taj Lake Palace is a must do when you visit this city. Other famous lakes include Fatehsagar Lake, Saheliyon Ki Bari, and Doodh Talai lakes.

Where to Stay in Udaipur

The best place for an amazing memorable experience is definitely the Taj Lake Palace constructed on an island within the lake and you need to take a boat ride to reach the ‘floating Palace of Udaipur’.

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Rajasthani Cuisine

There are many hotels of various budget but it is an amazing experience to dine or lunch at the famous heritage hotels in Rajasthan. Many food outlets are based in a portion of palaces or forts serving multi cuisine including traditional, continental and international.

Rajasthan is famous for tangy and spicy light snacks type of food and sweets. Your trip to any of these colorful cities of Rajasthan listed here is incomplete without tasting the famed Dal Churma and Rajasthani Thali. Other tasty foods include Bajre Ka Sogra, Lahsun Chutney, Gatte Ka Saag, Laal Maas, Rajasthani Khadi, Mirchi Vada, Mawa Kachori, Laapsi, Malai Lassi and others. Most of the food is prepared with lesser water and more of dairy products like Yogurt, Milk Cream, Ghee and Milk and nutritious grams and cereals.

Suggested Read: Top 10 Mouthwatering Rajasthani Desserts You Should Try

Things to do in Rajasthan

• Go Shopping at Flea Market or other popular shopping markets in Rajasthan for various things.
• Drink Malai Lassi as you go shopping in Sardar Market in Jodhpur, the Blue city.
• Take a Boat Ride on Udaipur’s Lake Pichola
• Visit the Jaswant Thada, Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace.
  Witness the culture preserved in cuisine, folk music and dance, colorful fabrics, houses, etc.
• Go for Elephant ride to Amber Fort
• Ride a camel on Sand dunes
• Capture the golden sunrise and sunset
• See the Sonar Qila reflecting sunlight and looking like gold in the Golden City, Jaisalmer.

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Best Time to Visit Rajasthan

Rajasthan is situated in the north western region and a huge part is covered with dry and hot desert with almost no water. It gets blistering hot in daytime and nights get very cold. The rest of the region is also very dry, arid and hot.

However, Udaipur has a lot of water and there is also one of the popular hill stations in India called Mount Abu situated in Rajasthan. So, it is best to visit the colorful cities of Rajasthan during the months of October to March or the tourist season months of December to February. Avoid summers but winter nights can also get freezing cold.

Useful Tips

• Always carry sufficient mineral water during visits, sightseeing, etc.
• Wear light clothes or summer clothes to keep cool and cover from harmful sun.
• Take hat, shades, scarf, high SPF sunscreen, and anything to protect you from sun.
• Taste the local cuisine but not allow the desert to get dirty by littering, etc.
• Remember that most sightseeing destinations are explored by walk so wear comfortable and durable footwear avoiding heels, etc.
• Rajasthan is mostly filled with palaces and forts showing the opulence of ancient Maharajahs. These are built on height over a hill so, there is a lot of walking and climbing to do. Plan your diet to keep healthy and energy levels up.
• While visiting old forts, temples, jungles, etc., you might see many monkeys in groups, keep alert.
• When traveling by auto make sure to settle for a suitable fare after some negotiations on fare.
• Do proper research, plan your trip with reputed and trusted travel agents and book in advance to avoid unavailability or possible high prices. Make your trip a memorable trip to Rajasthan’s colorful cities with India’s Palace on Wheels train.

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Related Posts:

• Gadisar Lake, Jaisalmer – What to Know Before You Go
• Top 5 Desert Safari Destinations in Rajasthan
• Sariska National Park – A Detailed Guide
• City Palace, Udaipur – A Complete Guide
• 10 Things to Do in Udaipur
• Top 10 Palaces to Visit in Rajasthan

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