Rajasthan

Rajasthan lies largely within the Thar Desert, where caravan routes once connected India with Central Asia and the wider Silk Road, carrying textiles, spices and precious stones. Some towns along these routes prospered from trade; over the centuries, Rajput rulers – members of Rajasthan’s warrior dynasties – built forts, palaces and walled cities that still define the state today. Travellers can enjoy Jaipur’s rose-coloured sandstone palaces and busy bazaars; Udaipur’s limewashed waterside palaces that shine white against the backdrop of rugged Aravalli hills; Jaisalmer’s golden fort, still home to a living community; and Mehrangarh Fort, which rises over 120 metres (393 feet) above the sea of blue-washed houses in Jodhpur that confer its Blue City nickname. Beyond the colour-coded cities, explore the arid countryside dotted with traditional villages, take a tiger safari in Ranthambore National Park, once a royal hunting ground, or track leopards among the rocky Jawai hills in Pali district.