Perfect Rajasthan Itinerary For 2 Weeks In India

Train is the quickest and most efficient way of moving around Rajasthan. The official booking website is tricky for foreigners to use so I suggest buying tickets on the 12go website. There are several train classes with AC First Class Sleeper being the best, then AC2, AC3 and Sleeper Class being the cheapest.

Buses are also an easy option that can be booked on 12go. However, trains generally feel more atmospheric and typical of the India travel experience, so I rarely take buses in India apart from places trains don’t operate like the mountainous regions of Dharamsala and Rishikesh (not in Rajasthan).

Flights are cheap in India and often the most convenient way to move large distances, such as between north and south. But for Rajasthan, the journeys are short enough to do it all by train.

Travel insurance for India – although I’ve had 3 trouble-free trips, you’d be mad to travel India without insurance. Getting sick is common and health and safety isn’t always the best.

I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s affordable but covers everything you need including valuables and pre-existing health conditions. Last time I claimed, they paid out within 48 hours! Get a quote now.

For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing.

14 day Rajasthan travel itineraries

The fast-paced 2 week itinerary:

• Day 1 – explore Delhi
• Day 2 – travel to Agra
• Day 3 – early Taj sunrise and travel to Jaipur
• Day 4-5 – Jaipur
• Day 6 – travel to Ranthambore and afternoon safari
• Day 7 – morning safari and travel to Pushkar
• Day 8 – Pushkar
• Day 9-10 – Udaipur
• Days 11-12 – Jodhpur
• Days 13-14 – Jaisalmer.
• Note – this is for those hell-bent on doing & seeing everything in a short holiday! I would personally do this over 3 weeks instead.

The leisurely 2 week itinerary:

• Day 1 – Delhi
• Day 2 – travel to Agra
• Day 3 – Agra
• Day 4-7 – Jaipur
• Day 8-9 – Pushkar
• Day 11-12 – Udaipur
• Day 13-14 – Jodhpur.
• Note – this 2 week Rajasthan itinerary skips Ranthambore Nat Park and Jaisalmer city. This is because it’s my least favourite of the cities and the furthest away, but if you’re keen to camp in the desert, skip Udaipur instead. This will save you time as it‘s quite far south.

At the risk of starting on a negative note, Delhi is not my favourite city in the world. It’s relentlessly crowded and hectic with bad pollution, intermittent (at best) pavements and little respite from the chaos. Still, this is where your Rajasthan trip itinerary will likely begin and, since you’ll be fresh into your India travels, you should still have energy!

Things to do in Delhi:

• Take a rickshaw ride around Old Delhi and stop to see and smell colourful spice markets
• Visit the Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal fortress with museums inside
• In the evening, visit India Gate, an arch commemorating Indian soldiers killed in WWI. It’s an atmospheric area where locals hang out and will definitely want to snap selfies with you!
• Walk around the upmarket Hauz Khas neighbourhood (South Delhi) known for historic ruins and fashionable cafes
• Visit the Lotus Temple also in South Delhi.

Tours & activities in India – I suggest GetYourGuide and Viator for day tours and activities in India. They’re competitively priced and led by local guides to help you navigate the craziness of Delhi!

Where to stay in Delhi

In terms of the best Delhi neighbourhoods to stay, it’s tempting to pick somewhere near Old Delhi but this can be VERY hectic. A better option is to stay in calmer Central New Delhi (near Connaught Place) or somewhere in residential, leafy South Delhi like Hauz Khas. Just factor in plenty of time to get around the city in traffic!

Hostels in Delhi: J House in upscale South Delhi with beds from €8 inc breakfast & dinner | Joey’s Hostel near to the centre with free Wi-Fi, Xbox, TV and rooftop from €4.

Hotels in Delhi: great options are Bloomrooms with spacious rooms, a 24-hour front desk, laundry facilities and daily breakfast. Prakash Kutir B&B is a lovely hotel in Kaus Hauz with rooftop views.

Many people would say a Rajasthan itinerary is incomplete without gawping at the famous Taj Mahal! Having seen it with my own eyes, I’m inclined to agree.

If you’re on a tight time frame and just want to see the Taj, you can take a guided day tour from Delhi. Alternatively, stay overnight in Agra so you can get up early and see the World Wonder at sunrise. You could head onwards to Jaipur later that day, or tour the other Agra attractions and stay a second night.

Although the Taj gets all the attention (and rightly so), there are several other worthwhile things to do in Agra for example visiting Itmad-ud-Daula known as the ‘baby Taj’, plus Agra Fort and other mausoleums.

Tip for visiting the Taj Mahal – bring just your phone and water. Security is high so, if you want to enter in good time before the crowds arrive, you’ll waste time having your bag searched. Items like phone stands and tripods are not allowed.

Where to stay in Agra

For a splash-out hotel, Taj Hotel & Convention Centre with a rooftop pool is the place to be. On a budget, opt for Thomas Home Stay or Sidhartha.

Things to do in Jaipur:

• Amer Fort (Amber Palace) – this majestic fort surrounded by mountaintop walls is worth a visit for the intriguing ‘palace of mirrors’ and pastel wall art created from natural vegetable dyes. Don’t miss the stepwell! On the downside, the entry fee is high at 500 rupees, and the sad elephant rides outside are heartbreaking to see.
• Nahargarh Fort – this fort isn’t half as impressive but the panoramic views over Jaipur are far superior. Entry is 200 rupees and it’s a 20-minute drive from Jaipur (I paid 500 for the return trip with a tuk-tuk driver).
• Hawa Mahal – this 18th-century pink palace with hundreds of windows was once a residence for wealthy wives to look but not be seen. Snap your photos from outside (or Wind View Cafe across the road) or pay to go inside and learn about the history via an informative headset.
• City Palace – this is another place with a high entry fee (700 rupees plus 3,500 rupees (!) if you wish to go into Chhavi Niwas blue room, one of the most Instagrammable places in Jaipur). Is it worth it? To see the beautifully painted doors with the regular ticket, yes. I didn’t do Chhavi Niwas, though.
• Jantar Mantar – built for astronomical observations in the 1700s, this is one of the most impressive and accurate premodern observatories in the world! If you’re intrigued by horoscopes, even more reason to visit.

Getting to & around Jaipur

Read next: Everything to do in Pushkar

Where to eat and drink in Pushkar:

• Sonu Juice for a healthy, fruity breakfast
• Laughing Buddha Cafe for veggie food
• Ganga Laffa & Falafel Restaurant for yummy Israeli food
• Dream Tibetan Kitchen Restaurant for momos – don’t miss the dessert ones with Nutella!
• Coffee Temple @ U Turn Hotel for the best French Press coffee in town.

Hotel – stay at Hotel Moti Mahal to take advantage of the swimming pool, relaxing grounds and roof terrace restaurant. Book from €25 a night.

Hostel – the best-rated hostels are Moustache Hostel with a colourful courtyard, organised activities to meet others, and dorms from €4 a night; Madpackers Hostel with a rooftop cafe and yoga classes, and Zostel with a pool.

For more Pushkar accommodation, browse hotels on Booking.com and hostels on Hostelworld.

Getting to & around Udaipur

The Blue City is another necessary addition to any 2 week Rajasthan itinerary. Jodhpur’s nickname is no exaggeration. Vast swathes of the city are washed in two different shades of blue: historically, one for Brahma priests (individuals at the top of the complex Indian social caste system) and others for jewellery makers.

Why all the blue? The mix of copper sulphate and limestone wards off bugs and gives the city a calming air.

Things to do in Jodhpur:

• Mehrangarh Fort – set atop a 120m hill, this spectacular palace founded in 1459 by Rajput ruler, Rao Jodha is a wonder, far superior to Jaipur’s Amer Fort. The museum displays unique art and materials used in its construction like gold, tiger eye, indigo and turquoise. Entry is 600 rupees.
• Jaswant Thada – this striking white marble building is the final resting place of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, built in 1899 by his son. As it’s moments from the Fort, it’s well worth visiting.
• Umaid Bhawan Palace – this ancient palace has been converted into a 5-star hotel and celebrity wedding venue. Without splashing out €500 to stay overnight, you can tour the property and visit the museum as a tourist for 100 rupees.
• Ghanta Ghar (clock tower) and surrounding streets including the Stepwell – these historic features of the ancient city give character to the otherwise hectic streets.
• Street art in the Blue Corridor – don’t miss these funky modern murals showing Indian people and culture!

Bus is the best way to travel if coming from Udaipur. Journies take around 4 hours and prices start from 300 rupees.

To get around Jodhpur, it’s easy to walk in the city centre near the Clock Tower and blue streets. In fact, half the fun is finding atmospheric blue alleys. However, you’ll want to get a taxi up to Mehrangarh Fort.

Here, you’ll have dinner and beers and stay warm beside the fire while admiring the incredible stars and milky way. Although sleeping outside may seem scary or uncomfortable, I can assure you that’s not the case. It’s such a fun experience and I slept well! Just pack a sleeping mask or you’ll walk up early.

Word of warning – many companies offer desert camping excursions using camelback safari to get there. I HIGHLY recommend avoiding these because the camels are badly treated. Please take a tour by Jeep instead!

By the time you’ve travelled to Jaisalmer close to the border with Pakistan, you’re a long, long way from your starting (and probably finishing) point of New Delhi!

I recently travelled from Jaisalmer back to Delhi by train and although it was a long 18-hour journey, it wasn’t terrible. We boarded at 11pm and went straight to bed, then woke up and spent the day eating and reading while watching the world slip by before arriving at 5pm.

It’s worth noting I did this journey with friends rather than solo. If I had been travelling solo like I often do in India, I feel perfectly safe getting trains alone in the daytime but I’m not sure I’d take a night sleeper by myself.

Use 12go to book train journeys in India. I recommend the AC2 (air conditioning second class) sleeper because it’s comfy and affordable. For an upgrade, get AC1 or, to save money, go for AC3.

The winter is January and February while summer is March to May. Then, there’s a few months of monsoon and temperatures return to pleasant levels by October.

The best time for backpacking in Rajasthan is November to March. Outside of this season, it’s either very hot or stormy. However, I visited before in August and things weren’t too bad.