Ranakpur temple rules
The Ranakpur temple usually opens to visitors from about noon; check current timings. Leather items such as belts and bags are not allowed inside, and shoulders and knees should be covered.
Rajasthan · 8 days / 7 nights
Classic Rajasthan: Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur and Udaipur in 8 days
The four cities most people picture when they think of Rajasthan: Jaipur's forts and bazaars, the holy lake at Pushkar, Mehrangarh Fort above the blue houses of Jodhpur, and Udaipur's palaces on Lake Pichola. Two nights in each of the three main cities keep the days full but not rushed. This is a sample plan, and every day can be changed.
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Jaipur → Pushkar → Jodhpur → Udaipur
Highlights
What this trip is about
- Amer Fort, the City Palace and Jantar Mantar in Jaipur
- Evening aarti (the lamp ceremony) by the holy lake at Pushkar
- Mehrangarh Fort and the blue-painted lanes of old Jodhpur
- The marble Jain temple at Ranakpur, on the drive to Udaipur
- A sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola in Udaipur
Day by day
The itinerary
A sample plan — every day can be changed.
- Day1
Arrive in Jaipur
Your driver meets you at Jaipur airport, the station or your hotel. In the evening, walk through the bazaars of the old city, painted pink for the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876, and see Albert Hall Museum lit up after dark.
Overnight: Jaipur
- Day2
Amer Fort and the old city
Start early at Amer Fort, about 11 km north of the city, for its sandstone courtyards and the mirrored Sheesh Mahal. After lunch, visit the City Palace, still partly home to the former royal family, and Jantar Mantar next door, an 18th-century observatory of giant stone instruments. Finish at Hawa Mahal, or with sunset from Nahargarh Fort on the ridge.
Overnight: Jaipur
- Day3
Jaipur to Pushkar
Jaipur → Pushkar · about 145 km, 3 hours
Drive to Pushkar by way of Ajmer and check in by lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Brahma temple, one of the very few in India dedicated to Brahma, and walk through the bazaar to the ghats (steps leading down to the water) around the lake. Stay for the evening aarti at sunset.
Overnight: Pushkar
- Day4
Pushkar to Jodhpur
Pushkar → Jodhpur · about 190 km, 3.5–4 hours
Take an unhurried morning in Pushkar, then drive west to Jodhpur, the Blue City. In the late afternoon, walk around the Clock Tower and Sardar Market, an old bazaar of spices, textiles and handicrafts, with Mehrangarh Fort lit up on the hill above.
Overnight: Jodhpur
- Day5
Mehrangarh and the Blue City
Spend the morning at Mehrangarh Fort, founded by Rao Jodha in 1459 on a rock high above the city, with a museum of palanquins, paintings and arms. Visit Jaswant Thada, a white marble memorial nearby, and walk the blue-painted lanes below the fort. In the afternoon, see the museum wing of Umaid Bhawan Palace, completed in 1943 and still partly a royal home.
Overnight: Jodhpur
- Day6
Jodhpur to Udaipur via Ranakpur
Jodhpur → Ranakpur → Udaipur · about 260 km, 5–6 hours plus the temple stop
Leave after breakfast for the Aravalli hills and the Jain temple at Ranakpur, built in the 15th century of light-coloured marble, with more than 1,400 carved pillars. The temple usually opens to visitors from about noon, so the drive is timed to reach it then. Continue through the hills to Udaipur, arriving in the evening.
Overnight: Udaipur
- Day7
Udaipur, the City of Lakes
Begin at the City Palace, built over several centuries on the shore of Lake Pichola, and the 17th-century Jagdish temple near its gate. After lunch, visit Saheliyon ki Bari, an 18th-century garden of fountains and lotus pools, and end with a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola, past the Lake Palace and the island palace of Jag Mandir.
Overnight: Udaipur
- Day8
Departure from Udaipur
Keep the morning free for the old city's lanes, then your driver takes you to Udaipur airport, about 22 km from the city, or the station. If you are travelling on by road, Ahmedabad is about 260 km away.
What's in the price
Included and not included
Usually included
- Hotel stays in your chosen category: 3-star, 4-star, 5-star or heritage
- Daily breakfast
- A private air-conditioned car with driver for the whole trip
- Tolls, parking and interstate taxes
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Sightseeing as in the itinerary
Not included
- Flights and trains
- Monument tickets, boat rides and camera fees
- Guide fees, unless quoted
- Meals not mentioned
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Your quote lists exactly what is included for your dates and hotels.
Best time to go
October to March is the best time for this route, with warm days and cool nights; December and January evenings are cold. April to June is very hot, and the monsoon (July to September) brings rain and green hills.
Good to know
Before you go
Pushkar is a holy town
Meat, eggs and alcohol are not served in Pushkar. At the ghats you may be offered a puja (a prayer ritual) in return for a donation; it is fine to decline politely.
Shoes and scarves
Forts mean ramps, steps and uneven stone, so wear comfortable shoes. Shoes come off at temples, and a scarf is useful for covering shoulders and for the dust on the road.
Questions
Classic Rajasthan: FAQs
How many days do I need for Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur?
Eight days is a comfortable length for Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur, with two nights in each and a night in Pushkar on the way. Adding Jaisalmer and a night in the desert makes it ten or eleven days.
Can we start the Classic Rajasthan tour from Delhi?
Yes. The car can collect you in Delhi and drive to Jaipur on the first day, about 280 km or five to six hours. Adding Agra and the Taj Mahal at the start turns it into a Golden Triangle and Rajasthan tour of about ten days.
Is the Classic Rajasthan tour suitable for children and seniors?
Yes. The Classic Rajasthan tour has two-night stops in its three main cities, and sightseeing can be shortened. Mehrangarh usually has a lift for part of the climb, and jeeps take visitors up the hill to Amer Fort.
Can we upgrade to heritage hotels on the Classic Rajasthan tour?
Yes. Every stop on the Classic Rajasthan tour has heritage hotels, from restored havelis (traditional mansions built around courtyards) to former palaces. You choose the category for each stop, and the quote is itemised.
What kind of car is used on the Classic Rajasthan tour?
The Classic Rajasthan tour runs in a private, air-conditioned car with a driver from Vibrantcar, the group's car rental business. Couples and families usually travel in a sedan or SUV, and groups in a tempo traveller (a 12- to 17-seat minibus) or a coach.
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Make the Classic Rajasthan your own.
Share your dates, who's travelling and what you'd love to see. We'll reply with a day-by-day plan and an itemised quote — no obligation.