Beyond Jaipur, Rajasthan opens into a wide circuit of fort cities and small towns: blue-walled Jodhpur under Mehrangarh, lakeside Udaipur, the golden sandstone fort of Jaisalmer on the edge of the Thar, camel-country Bikaner, the pilgrimage towns of Pushkar and Ajmer, the great ramparts of Chittorgarh, painted Bundi, the hill station of Mount Abu and the tiger reserve at Ranthambore. It suits travellers who want architecture, crafts, music and food with a strong sense of place.
The main trade-off is distance. The state is large, and most legs are four to six hours by road, so trying to see everything in one trip leads to exhaustion. Pick one arc: Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer for a classic west loop, or Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Bundi, Ranthambore and Pushkar for an eastern one. Summer heat from April to June is severe, especially in the desert, and winter nights in Jaisalmer can be surprisingly cold.
For parents and seniors, Rajasthan is rewarding but needs planning. Forts sit on hills, with ramps, uneven stone and many steps; Mehrangarh has a lift for part of the climb, while Jaisalmer and Chittorgarh mean more walking. Heritage hotels are atmospheric but may have stairs and no lifts, so ask before booking. Udaipur and Mount Abu are the gentlest bases, and a slower trip with two nights in each town works far better than a new hotel every day.
- Ideal trip
- 7–12 days
- Destinations
- 10
- Best season
- Roughly October to March is the best window, with comfortable days and cold desert nights from December to February. Avoid May and June, when desert temperatures can be extreme, and note that Ranthambore's core safari zones usually close during the monsoon, roughly July to September.
- Start from
- Jodhpur
Destinations in this region
The central base between Udaipur and the desert, with Mehrangarh Fort, the blue old city and good road and rail links.
Read the full Jodhpur guide →- Udaipur · Rajasthan
Lakes, palaces and boat rides make it the gentlest stop and a good place to start or end.
Read the full Udaipur guide → - Jaisalmer · Rajasthan
A living sandstone fort and the easiest access to the Thar Desert dunes.
Read the full Jaisalmer guide → - Bikaner · Rajasthan
Junagarh Fort and a less visited desert town, often paired with Jaisalmer on a northern arc.
Read the full Bikaner guide → - Pushkar · Rajasthan
A small lakeside pilgrimage town with ghats and temples, calm outside the camel fair.
Read the full Pushkar guide → - Ajmer · Rajasthan
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah and rail links, usually visited together with nearby Pushkar.
Read the full Ajmer guide → - Chittorgarh · Rajasthan
One of Rajasthan's largest hill forts, easily reached from Udaipur and largely toured by car.
Read the full Chittorgarh guide → - Bundi · Rajasthan
Stepwells and painted palace walls in a quieter town that breaks the drive towards Ranthambore.
Read the full Bundi guide → - Mount Abu · Rajasthan
Rajasthan's only hill station, with the Dilwara temples and cooler air, a short drive from Udaipur.
Read the full Mount Abu guide → - Ranthambore · Rajasthan
Adds a wildlife break, with tiger safaris beside a historic fort, on the eastern side of the circuit.
Read the full Ranthambore guide →
Suggested routes
7-day Udaipur, Jodhpur & Jaisalmer
- Day 1 — Udaipur. Arrive and rest. In the late afternoon, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola, one of the easiest ways to see the city without walking.
- Day 2 — Udaipur. Visit the City Palace in the morning, allowing time for its many staircases and pausing in the courtyards. Rest after lunch, then an easy evening at a lakeside viewpoint or Saheliyon ki Bari garden.
- Day 3 — Udaipur to Jodhpur. Drive to Jodhpur after breakfast, roughly 5–6 hours with breaks. Check in and rest; a short evening walk near the clock tower market is optional.
- Day 4 — Jodhpur. Mehrangarh Fort early, using the lift for part of the ascent, followed by Jaswant Thada nearby. Afternoon rest, and an unhurried evening in the old city or at the hotel.
- Day 5 — Jodhpur to Jaisalmer. Drive west to Jaisalmer, roughly 5–6 hours through open desert country, or take a train. Rest on arrival and watch the fort glow at sunset from a rooftop.
- Day 6 — Jaisalmer. Walk into Jaisalmer Fort in the cool of the morning and see Patwon ki Haveli, pacing the lanes and steps carefully. Rest in the afternoon, then drive out to the dunes near sunset; a jeep is easier than a camel for most older travellers.
- Day 7 — Jaisalmer. A calm morning at Gadisar Lake before departing by a seasonal flight, an overnight train, or the drive back towards Jodhpur.
12-day Rajasthan with Ranthambore
- Day 1 — Udaipur. Arrive and rest, with an evening boat ride on Lake Pichola.
- Day 2 — Udaipur. City Palace in the morning, rest after lunch, then a quiet evening by the lake.
- Day 3 — Chittorgarh. Drive to Chittorgarh, roughly 2 hours. Tour the vast hilltop fort by car, stopping at the Vijay Stambh and Rani Padmini's palace; much of it can be seen with short walks from the vehicle. Overnight in Chittorgarh.
- Day 4 — Bundi. Drive to Bundi, roughly 3 hours. Rest, then a gentle late-afternoon visit to Raniji ki Baori stepwell and the lakeside. The palace murals are worth seeing but involve steep climbs, so judge energy levels.
- Day 5 — Ranthambore. Drive to Ranthambore, roughly 3 hours. Check in and rest; safaris need advance booking through the official system, so plan these before the trip.
- Day 6 — Ranthambore. Early-morning safari by jeep or canter, then rest through the middle of the day. An optional afternoon safari, or a visit to the lower parts of Ranthambore Fort if everyone is comfortable.
- Day 7 — Ajmer. Drive to Ajmer, roughly 4–5 hours. Rest, then visit the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in the evening if the family wishes, keeping in mind it can be very crowded.
- Day 8 — Pushkar. Move to Pushkar, under an hour away. Visit the ghats of Pushkar Lake and the Brahma temple at an easy pace, with a long afternoon break.
- Day 9 — Jodhpur. Drive to Jodhpur, roughly 4 hours. Rest on arrival and have an early dinner.
- Day 10 — Jodhpur. Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada in the morning, then an afternoon rest and a relaxed evening.
- Day 11 — Jaisalmer. Drive or take the train to Jaisalmer, roughly 5–6 hours. Sunset views of the fort from a rooftop.
- Day 12 — Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer Fort and havelis in the morning, rest, then the dunes near sunset before departing the next day.
Getting around
Jodhpur and Udaipur have airports with connections to Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, and Jaisalmer has had seasonal flights; Jaipur and Kishangarh airports are useful for Ajmer and Pushkar. The rail network links Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Sawai Madhopur for Ranthambore, including overnight trains, but most families travel by hired car with driver. Approximate road times, traffic dependent: Jodhpur to Jaisalmer roughly 5–6 hours, Jodhpur to Udaipur roughly 5–6 hours, Udaipur to Chittorgarh roughly 2 hours, Chittorgarh to Bundi roughly 3 hours, Bundi to Ranthambore roughly 3 hours, Ajmer to Pushkar under an hour, Udaipur to Mount Abu roughly 3–4 hours, and Bikaner to Jaisalmer roughly 5–6 hours.
Travelling with parents
- Keep road days to one per two nights where possible; the distances in Rajasthan are long, and a new hotel every day wears older travellers out quickly.
- Ask heritage hotels about lifts, stairs and ground-floor rooms before booking, as many historic buildings have steep staircases.
- At Mehrangarh, use the lift for the upper section; at Jaisalmer and Chittorgarh, plan short walks from the car and skip the steepest ramparts.
- For the dunes, a jeep or a short, gentle camel ride with a handler walking alongside is usually easier than a long camel trek; getting on and off a camel can be difficult for people with knee or back problems.
- Desert days can be hot even in winter, while nights are cold; pack layers, sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.
- Safari jeeps at Ranthambore are bumpy and start very early; travellers with back or neck problems may prefer a single safari or a larger canter.
Rajasthan Heritage & Desert FAQs
Can we cover all of Rajasthan in one trip?
Not comfortably. The state is large, and most legs are four to six hours by road. Choose a western loop (Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer) or an eastern one (Chittorgarh, Bundi, Ranthambore, Pushkar) for one trip.
Which Rajasthan town is easiest for elderly parents?
Udaipur and Mount Abu are generally the gentlest, with lakes, boat rides and less climbing. Pushkar is calm outside festival time, but its lanes are narrow and busy.
Is Jaisalmer too hot for seniors?
From roughly April to September it can be very hot. Between November and February days are pleasant and nights cold, which is the best time for older travellers.
Do we need to book Ranthambore safaris in advance?
Yes, safaris are booked through the official system and seats in popular seasons go quickly. Core zones are usually closed during the monsoon, so check the official forest department information for current dates.
Is the Pushkar Camel Fair good for parents?
It is colourful but extremely crowded, hotel prices rise and walking is hard. Families with older travellers may prefer to visit Pushkar on quieter dates.
How do we get to Jaisalmer?
Most people drive from Jodhpur or take a train. Flights to Jaisalmer have operated seasonally, so check with airlines before planning around them.
Sources and further reading
- Incredible India — Rajasthan
- Incredible India — Jodhpur
- Wikipedia — Hill Forts of Rajasthan (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Wikipedia — Jaisalmer Fort
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.