Rajasthan Itinerary: Jaipur, Jodhpur & Udaipur in 8 Days
The heart of Rajasthan in eight days.
This route links three of the state's great cities: Jaipur, the Pink City of palaces and hill forts; Jodhpur, the Blue City beneath the vast Mehrangarh Fort; and Udaipur, the City of Lakes with its palaces on Lake Pichola — with the marble Jain temples of Ranakpur and the hill fort of Kumbhalgarh along the way.
Best time: the cool, dry season from about October to March. April–June is very hot in the desert, and the monsoon from July–September brings humidity and some rain.
- Fly into Jaipur (JAI) or arrive from Delhi; take the desert train from Jaipur to Jodhpur, then a private car with a driver for Jodhpur → Ranakpur → Udaipur and the Kumbhalgarh day trip.
- Fly out of Udaipur (UDR), or connect back through Delhi.
- Book trains on IRCTC and monument tickets on the official ASI and Rajasthan-tourism sites.
- Rajasthan's desert cities are hot for much of the year, so start forts and monuments early, carry water, and wear a hat and sunscreen.
- Even in the cool season the midday sun is strong, and Udaipur's lakeside evenings can be pleasant, so pack a light layer.
Where to Stay
Use three bases as the route moves from Jaipur to Jodhpur and Udaipur
Where to Stay
Use three bases as the route moves from Jaipur to Jodhpur and Udaipur
Jaipur
Choose the old walled city or quieter Civil Lines for night 1.
Jodhpur
Stay near the clock tower or below the fort for nights 2–3.
Udaipur
Stay by Lake Pichola or in the old city near the ghats for nights 4–7.
Official links & tickets
Use official government, railway, monument and tourism sites for current requirements and bookings
Official links & tickets
Use official government, railway, monument and tourism sites for current requirements and bookings
India planning, entry and monument tickets
Check national tourism, e-Visa and Archaeological Survey of India information before travel.
Rajasthan and rail planning
Use the official state-tourism and railway sites for current route information.
Budget Snapshot
Getting Around
8-Day Itinerary Breakdown
Day 1: Arrive in Jaipur — Amber Fort & the Palace of Winds
Jaipur International (JAI) → Jaipur base — arrival, Amber Fort and the Hawa Mahal; both are ticketed sites, so aim to reach them by morning or early midday — Amber Fort's last entry is around 17:00, and a late arrival means shifting Amber to Day 2 morning before the train
Arrive in Jaipur and settle in
Fly into Jaipur International (JAI), or take the train or road from Delhi; take the first afternoon easy and adjust before the drive up to Amber.
The Amber Fort
Visit the ticketed hilltop Rajput fort-palace above Maota Lake, with mirrored halls, painted gateways and ramparts climbing the ridge.
The Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)
Visit the ticketed pink-sandstone screen of latticed windows in the old city and climb inside for the city view over the bazaar.
Day 2: The desert train to Jodhpur — Mehrangarh & Jaswant Thada
Jaipur → Jodhpur — the desert train, Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada
The morning train to Jodhpur
Trains run Jaipur–Jodhpur across the Thar's edge in around five to six hours; book ahead on IRCTC, or take a private car if you prefer.
Mehrangarh Fort
Visit the ticketed cliff-top fort towering over Jodhpur, with palace courtyards, a museum and sweeping views over the Blue City.
Jaswant Thada
Visit the ticketed white-marble royal cenotaph of carved domes and chhatris on the ridge just below Mehrangarh.
Day 3: Jodhpur's Blue City — a walk through the old town
Base: Jodhpur — a guided Blue City walk, Sardar Market and the old-town lanes
A guided walk through the Blue City
Take a guided heritage walk through the indigo-washed lanes of Jodhpur's old town, weaving between Brahmin-blue houses, temples and workshops below the fort.
Sardar Market & the Ghanta Ghar clock tower
Wander freely through the bustling Sardar Market around the old sandstone clock tower, among spices, textiles and street food; the market and its lanes are open to all.
The blue lanes of the old town
Stroll freely among the carved, indigo-painted house fronts that give the Blue City its name, best explored slowly on foot.
Day 4: Ranakpur's marble temples & on to Udaipur
Jodhpur → Ranakpur → Udaipur — the marble Jain temple and an Aravalli road transfer; unlike the fort days, don't start early: the Ranakpur temple only admits non-Jain visitors from 12:00 to 17:00, so leave Jodhpur around 9:00–9:30 to arrive after it opens to tourists at noon, then drive on to Udaipur by evening
The Ranakpur Jain Temple
Visit the ticketed 15th-century marble Jain temple famous for its forest of over a thousand individually carved pillars, an easy stop on the road between Jodhpur and Udaipur. Note the temple opens to non-Jain tourists only from 12:00 to 17:00 (mornings are reserved for Jain worship), so time your ~3-hour drive from Jodhpur to arrive after midday rather than starting early.
Drive on to Udaipur
After the temple, the road winds down through the Aravalli hills from Ranakpur to Udaipur in roughly two to three hours; with the noon temple stop the full Jodhpur–Ranakpur–Udaipur day runs about six to seven hours, so you arrive at the City of Lakes by evening.
Day 5: Udaipur — the City Palace & a Lake Pichola boat
Base: Udaipur — the City Palace and a boat to Jag Mandir on Lake Pichola
The City Palace of Udaipur
Visit the ticketed lakeside palace complex of the Mewar maharanas, a warren of courtyards, balconies and museums rising above Lake Pichola.
A Lake Pichola boat to Jag Mandir
Take a guided boat ride across Lake Pichola to the Jag Mandir island palace, with its domed pavilion and carved stone elephants; go toward sunset for the best light.
Day 6: Udaipur's gardens, a cooking class & the ghats
Base: Udaipur — Saheliyon-ki-Bari, a Rajasthani cooking class and the Lake Pichola ghats
Saheliyon-ki-Bari, the garden of the maidens
Visit the ticketed 18th-century pleasure garden of fountains, lotus pools and marble pavilions built for the queen's ladies-in-waiting.
A Rajasthani cooking class
Join a hands-on cooking class in an Udaipur home or heritage haveli, learning Rajasthani dishes and ending with a shared thali.
Sunset on the Lake Pichola ghats
Take a free evening stroll along Udaipur's lakefront ghats as the palaces light up and reflect in Lake Pichola; no ticket is needed.
Day 7: A day trip to Kumbhalgarh & its great wall
Udaipur → Kumbhalgarh → Udaipur — an Aravalli hill-fort day trip
Drive up into the Aravalli hills
Kumbhalgarh sits a couple of hours north of Udaipur in the Aravalli range; set off early to have the fort and its ramparts to yourself.
Kumbhalgarh Fort & the Great Wall of India
Visit the ticketed UNESCO hill fort ringed by the second-longest continuous wall in the world, winding for kilometres across the ridges; walk a stretch of the ramparts before the drive back to Udaipur.
Day 8: A last lakeside morning & departure
Lake Pichola → Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) — a slow morning, airport transfer and departure
Lakeside morning & transfer to the airport
Enjoy a last slow morning by Lake Pichola, then transfer to Udaipur's Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR).
Fly home from Udaipur
Fly home from Udaipur, or connect back through Delhi for a long-haul departure.
Jaipur through Jodhpur to Udaipur
Seven master-image anchors trace the route from Jaipur through Jodhpur and Ranakpur to Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh.
- 1
Jaipur — Amber Fort
Arrival in Jaipur, Amber Fort and the Palace of Winds
- 2
Jodhpur — Mehrangarh Fort
The desert train and Jodhpur's cliff-top fort
- 3
Jodhpur — the Blue City
A guided walk through Jodhpur's indigo-washed old town
- 4
Ranakpur Jain Temple
The marble Jain temple on the road to Udaipur
- 5
Udaipur — City Palace on Lake Pichola
The City Palace and a Lake Pichola boat to Jag Mandir
- 6
Udaipur — Saheliyon-ki-Bari
Gardens, a Rajasthani cooking class and the lakefront ghats
- 7
Kumbhalgarh Fort day trip
The hill fort and its great wall in the Aravalli hills
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for Rajasthan?
About eight days covers Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur with a stop at Ranakpur and a Kumbhalgarh day trip without rushing; two weeks lets you add Jaisalmer's desert or Pushkar and Bikaner.
What is the best time to visit Rajasthan?
The cool, dry season from roughly October to March is best. April–June is very hot in the desert, and July–September is the monsoon.
How do I get between Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur?
Take the desert train from Jaipur to Jodhpur, then a private car with a driver for Jodhpur → Ranakpur → Udaipur and the Kumbhalgarh day trip. Book trains on IRCTC.
What is the difference between Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur?
Jaipur is the Pink City of palaces and hill forts, Jodhpur is the Blue City beneath the huge Mehrangarh Fort, and Udaipur is the City of Lakes with palaces on Lake Pichola.
Is Ranakpur worth stopping at on the way to Udaipur?
Yes. The 15th-century marble Jain temple is famous for its forest of over a thousand carved pillars and sits conveniently on the Jodhpur–Udaipur road; leather items are usually not allowed inside.
Do I need a visa for India?
Most visitors need a visa. Many nationalities can apply online for an e-Visa through the Government of India portal before travelling.
What should I wear at temples and forts in Rajasthan?
Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes where asked, carry a scarf for religious sites, and expect leather items to be restricted inside Jain temples such as Ranakpur.
Is Rajasthan safe and easy for first-time visitors to India?
Yes. It is one of India's most-travelled regions and very doable with a car and driver; use app cabs or prepaid autos, be firm but polite with touts, and take normal precautions with food, water and valuables.
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