Before you go
Places come from Incredible India and Wikipedia; Rajasthan Tourism and RTDC sites could not be read. Several sights sit in the 2023 districts: Kumbhalgarh and Haldighati (Rajsamand), Jaisamand (Salumbar), Neemrana (Kotputli-Behror), Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur).
Coming up: Pushkar Fair around Kartik Purnima, 24 November 2026 (official dates to confirm); Jaipur Literature Festival 14-18 January 2027.
Top places to visit in Rajasthan
One place from each district that our guide covers in depth.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Shrine of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, visited by pilgrims of all faiths (Incredible India).
Sariska Tiger Reserve
Tiger reserve with leopards, hyenas, deer and over 200 bird species; Siliserh and Somsagar lakes (Incredible India).
Balotra (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Balotra district; formed 7 August 2023 (Wikipedia).
Tripura Sundari Temple
Temple of the goddess Tripura Sundari, counted among the Shakti Peethas (Incredible India).
Baran (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Baran district; formed 10 April 1991 (Wikipedia).
Barmer (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Barmer district; formed date to confirm.
Beawar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Beawar district; formed August 2023 (Wikipedia).
Keoladeo National Park
Wetland bird park: Ramsar site from 1 October 1981, national park from 10 March 1982, World Heritage Site in 1985 (Wikipedia). Incredible India's page for it returned "page not found" on 2 November 2026.
Bhilwara (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Bhilwara district; formed date to confirm.
Junagarh Fort
Founded as Chintamani in 1478 by Rao Bika; present fort completed 17 February 1589 (Incredible India).
Bundi Palace (Garh Palace) and Chitrashala
Cluster of palaces with murals; the Chitrashala shows Radha-Krishna paintings (Incredible India).
Chittorgarh Fort
Fort of about 700 acres some 150-180 m above the town, with 65 historic structures; Incredible India calls it India's largest fort complex (claim). World Heritage as one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Wikipedia).
Tal Chhapar Sanctuary
Blackbuck sanctuary with more than 1,680 blackbuck and migratory birds (Wikipedia).
Chand Baori, Abhaneri
9th-century stepwell about 20 m deep with some 3,500 steps in a geometric pattern (Incredible India); in Dausa district (Wikipedia).
Deeg Bhawan (Deeg Palace)
Palace of the Jat kings (Incredible India; Wikipedia).
Dholpur City Palace (Raj Niwas)
Palace built in the early 19th century by the Dholpur rulers (Incredible India).
Didwana (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Didwana-Kuchaman district; formed 7 August 2023 (Wikipedia).
Dungarpur (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Dungarpur district; formed date to confirm.
Hanumangarh (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Hanumangarh district; formed 12 July 1994 (Wikipedia).
Amber (Amer) Fort
Fort-palace commissioned by Raja Man Singh I in 1592, of pale yellow and pink sandstone above Maota Lake; part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan World Heritage Site (Incredible India; Wikipedia).
Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Qila)
Built in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal; a living fort where many residents still live; World Heritage as one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan (Wikipedia). Incredible India's fort page returned "page not found" on 2 November 2026.
Jalore (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Jalore district; formed date to confirm.
Gagron Fort
Hill and water fort, part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan World Heritage Site (Wikipedia).
Jhunjhunu (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Jhunjhunu district; formed date to confirm.
Mehrangarh Fort
Fort on a 410-ft rock with seven gates; Incredible India cites Time magazine calling it the "Best Fortress in Asia" in 2007 (claim).
Karauli (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Karauli district; formed date to confirm.
Khairthal (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Khairthal-Tijara district; formed 4 August 2023 (Wikipedia).
Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve
Tiger reserve of hills, forests and rivers (Incredible India).
Neemrana Fort
Aravalli fort (Incredible India), built in the 16th century and held by Chauhans until 1947 (Wikipedia, citation needed).
Nagaur Fort
Fort built in the early 12th century and renovated in 2007, with about 90 working fountains (Wikipedia).
Ranakpur Jain Temple (Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara)
White-marble Shvetambara temple to Rishabhanatha, begun in 1389 by Dharna Shah under Rana Kumbha's patronage (Wikipedia).
Phalodi (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Phalodi district; formed 7 August 2023 (Wikipedia).
Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary
Forests and the Jakham river; prehistoric rock engravings (Wikipedia; Incredible India).
Kumbhalgarh Fort
15th-century fort of Rana Kumbha with a 36-km wall and seven gates; birthplace of Maharana Pratap; World Heritage (Incredible India). The "second-longest wall in the world" is Incredible India's claim.
Jaisamand (Dhebar) Lake
Lake of 36 sq km, 14 x 9 km, up to 102 ft deep (Incredible India); in Salumbar district (Wikipedia). "Second-largest artificial lake in Asia" is Incredible India's claim.
Ranthambore National Park
Reserve of 1,334 sq km including a 392 sq km national park, known for daytime tiger sightings (Incredible India, filed under Bharatpur).
Sikar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Sikar district; formed date to confirm.
Dilwara Jain Temples
Marble temples built between the 11th and 16th centuries (Incredible India).
Sri Ganganagar (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Sri Ganganagar district; formed date to confirm.
Tonk (district headquarters)
Headquarters of Tonk district; formed date to confirm.
City Palace, Udaipur
Commissioned by Maharana Udai Singh II and expanded over four centuries (Incredible India).
Districts of Rajasthan 41
41 (nine 2023 districts dissolved 28 Dec 2024) — 41 districts in 7 divisions since nine 2023 districts were dissolved on 28 Dec 2024. Guides live for all 41.
Ajmer
Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Adhai Din ka Jhonpra, Ana Sagar, and Pushkar's lake, Brahma temple and fair.Highlights: Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Adhai Din ka Jhonpra, Pushkar and Pushkar LakeAlwar
Sariska Tiger Reserve, Bhangarh, Bala Quila and the City Palace of the old princely state.Highlights: Sariska Tiger Reserve, Bhangarh FortBalotra
Siwana Fort and the Mallinath cattle fair at Tilwara.Banswara
"City of a Hundred Islands" on the Mahi: Tripura Sundari, Mahi Dam and Madareshwar.Highlights: Tripura Sundari TempleBaran
Ramgarh crater and the Bhand Devra temple.Barmer
Thar desert district: Jagdamba temple, block prints and the Thar festival.Beawar
Former British cantonment town; Todgarh-Raoli wildlife sanctuary.Bharatpur
Keoladeo National Park, a World Heritage bird sanctuary, and the old Jat capital.Highlights: Keoladeo National ParkBhilwara
Textile town of Mewar; Bijolia, Jahazpur and Shahpura.Bikaner
Junagarh Fort, Karni Mata at Deshnoke, Gajner, Kolayat and the camel research centre.Highlights: Junagarh Fort, Karni Mata Temple, DeshnokeBundi
Painted palaces, Taragarh and stepwells; Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve.Highlights: Bundi Palace (Garh Palace) and Chitrashala, Taragarh Fort, Rani ji ki BaoriChittorgarh
Chittorgarh Fort, the World Heritage citadel of Mewar; the Baroli temples and Bassi sanctuary.Highlights: Chittorgarh FortChuru
Tal Chhapar blackbuck sanctuary in Shekhawati.Highlights: Tal Chhapar SanctuaryDausa
Chand Baori at Abhaneri, Mehandipur Balaji and Bhandarej, on the Jaipur-Agra road.Highlights: Chand Baori, Abhaneri, Mehandipur Balaji TempleDeeg
Deeg's Jat water palaces and Kaman's Braj pilgrimage sites.Highlights: Deeg Bhawan (Deeg Palace)Dholpur
Chambal-side town: the City Palace, Nihal Tower and Damoh waterfalls.Highlights: Dholpur City Palace (Raj Niwas)Didwana-Kuchaman
Ladnu's Jain temples and Kuchaman Fort.Dungarpur
A 13th-century palace fort on a rock.Hanumangarh
Bhatner Fort on the Ghaggar.Jaipur
The Pink City: Amber, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and the hill forts of Jaigarh and Nahargarh.Highlights: Amber (Amer) Fort, City Palace, Jaipur, Hawa MahalJaisalmer
The Golden City: a living fort, carved havelis, Sam dunes, Desert National Park and the border shrines.Highlights: Jaisalmer Fort (Sonar Qila), Patwon ki Haveli, Sam Sand DunesJalore
Granite country of south-west Rajasthan.Jhalawar
Gagron water fort (World Heritage) and Jhalrapatan's temples.Highlights: Gagron FortJhunjhunu
Shekhawati painted havelis: Mandawa, Nawalgarh, Khetri; Pilani's science museum.Jodhpur
The Blue City: Mehrangarh, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan, Mandore and Osian.Highlights: Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan PalaceKarauli
Kaila Devi, Madan Mohan temple and Shri Mahavirji.Highlights: Kaila Devi TempleKhairthal-Tijara
New district carved from Alwar in 2023; the Tijara Jain temple.Kota
Chambal city: Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve, Godavari Dham and the Seven Wonders Park.Highlights: Mukundara Hills Tiger ReserveKotputli-Behror
Neemrana Fort and stepwell, the Ashokan sites at Viratnagar and Bansur fort.Highlights: Neemrana FortNagaur
Nagaur (Ahhichatragarh) Fort, Khinvsar, Merta's Meera temple and Kharnal.Highlights: Nagaur FortPali
Ranakpur's marble Jain temple, Jawai and the Om Banna shrine.Highlights: Ranakpur Jain Temple (Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara)Phalodi
New desert district carved from Jodhpur in 2023.Pratapgarh
Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary and Gotameshwar.Highlights: Sita Mata Wildlife SanctuaryRajsamand
Kumbhalgarh Fort (World Heritage), Haldighati, Nathdwara and Rajsamand Lake.Highlights: Kumbhalgarh Fort, Haldighati, Shrinathji Temple, NathdwaraSalumbar
Jaisamand (Dhebar) Lake.Highlights: Jaisamand (Dhebar) LakeSawai Madhopur
Ranthambore: tigers in a World Heritage hill fort.Highlights: Ranthambore National Park, Ranthambore FortSikar
Shekhawati district; the Khatu Shyam temple.Highlights: Khatu Shyam TempleSirohi
Mount Abu, Rajasthan's hill station: Dilwara temples, Guru Shikhar and Nakki Lake.Highlights: Dilwara Jain Temples, Guru ShikharSri Ganganagar
Canal-irrigated north; Anupgarh fort and the Hindumalkot border.Tonk
Nawabi Tonk: Sunehri Kothi, the Arabic and Persian Research Institute and Bisalpur dam.Udaipur
City of Lakes: the City Palace on Lake Pichola, Lake Palace, Jagdish Temple and Saheliyon ki Bari.Highlights: City Palace, Udaipur, Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple
Festivals and dates to plan around
- Pushkar Fair — Pushkar, Ajmer: About seven days around Kartik Purnima (Wikipedia); Kartik Purnima is 24 Nov 2026
- Jaipur Literature Festival — Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur: 14-18 Jan 2027 (The Telegraph, 9 Oct 2026)
- Desert Festival — Jaisalmer and Sam dunes: Three days; 2027 dates to confirm (Incredible India)
- Thar festival — Barmer: March (Wikipedia)
- Mallinath cattle fair — Tilwara, Balotra: April, about two weeks (Wikipedia)