The best places to visit in Rajasthan with kids

This colourful region of forts and palaces, where maharajahs once ruled and tigers prowl, is the perfect destination for a family holiday in India. It would be easy to spend weeks exploring, wandering the narrow streets of historic cities, cruising across lakes, venturing into deserts and discovering more about Rajasthani life today.

But unless you’ve got unlimited time – and your children have unlimited tolerance for ancient forts – we’ve picked out the best places to visit in Rajasthan with kids to start you off. Some are better for older kids rather than younger travellers, and while it’s easy to combine with Delhi and Agra for the Taj Mahal, you might prefer to skip busy spots like the sacred town of Pushkar on a Rajasthan family holiday. Here’s what not to miss.

Known as the ‘pink city’ thanks to its rose-orange buildings, this is where fairytale views and real-life India meet. Save time to stroll around, watching rickshaws dodge camels, spotting ornate doorways and hidden courtyards and escaping the bustle into the tranquil Jawahar Circle Garden. One of the highlights is the remarkable Wind Palace, or Hawa Mahal, an intricate flourish of architectural details; built by an 18^th century maharajah, it was designed for his harem to be able to look out without being seen, so the eye-catching façade is the main attraction – easy to enjoy with kids of any age.

If you only visit one site in Jaipur with kids, make it the Jantar Mantar or Jaipur Observatory. This collection of 19 astronomical instruments was constructed in 1728 on the orders of Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is still home to the world’s largest stone sundial, the Laghu Samrat Yantra, which can measure the time to within 20 seconds’ accuracy. Elsewhere, you’ll find all kinds of fascinating and bizarre contraptions and ways to enjoy them – stairs climb to nowhere to give you a view down to make calculations, for example, while you could still plot the movement of planets using marble-lined basins.

Another of Jaipur’s biggest attractions, the City Palace is better with older kids – it’s certainly eye-catching but otherwise less fun than the observatory if you can only pick one. The home of the maharajahs of Jaipur, even the vast courtyard will make your jaw drop, plus there’s more decorative pink architecture, as well as courtyards and gardens tucked away through doorways. It also houses a museum, art gallery and various royal displays, including some opulent clothing and historic weapons.

The 16^th century Amber Fort (or Amer Fort) is unmissable, a magnificent citadel of red sandstone and white marble standing on a hilltop just outside Jaipur itself. Perfect to introduce kids to Rajasthani history, you can look down onto Mughal-style gardens, stone temples and even spot crocodiles in the lake before heading inside to explore the royal apartments and ceremonial rooms. One of the big highlights is the Sheesh Mahal, or Mirror Palace, where thousands of tiny reflective surfaces make a glittering mosaic. Elsewhere look out for the elaborately carved and painted Ganesh Gate, named for the Hindu elephant god.

You’ll find a string of reasons why so many houses in Jodhpur’s old town are painted blue, but whichever you choose to believe, the ‘Blue City’ is fantastically atmospheric. Explore the narrow alleyways, soaking up the calming blues as you go before heading to the buzzing markets where you can browse for souvenirs, spices and snacks – leather goods are another popular buy here. Spot the Clock Tower on the way, or escape some of the crowds at the marble Jaswant Thada memorial. You can also take a peek at the Umaid Bhawan Palace, one of the world’s largest private residences – part is still the home of the former royal family of Jodhpur, another section is now a luxury hotel and the rest is a museum.

Another of Rajasthan’s must-visit forts, the Mehrangarh Fort towers above Jodhpur on a 410ft rock and has some fabulous views from the ramparts back down to the blue houses below. One of the most impressive Mughal forts in India, the museum in the former royal apartments tells the story of the city’s royal past – you’ll find a large golden throne, traditional costumes and weapons, so it’s ideal to capture kids’ imaginations. There’s plenty to explore outside too, ambling through carved courtyards and under painted ceilings, before heading to the thick battlements, which ensured the fort was never taken by force.

There’s a lot of competition for the title of Rajasthan’s most picturesque city, but Udaipur is a very strong contender, with its whitewashed houses set on shimmering Lake Pichola and a calmer vibe than other parts of the region. If your kids haven’t had their fill of royal residences, the City Palace has some impressive murals and detailed mosaics, along with wonderful views and the Jagdish temple moments away. But the best things to do in Udaipur with kids is a boat ride on Lake Pichola at sunset, drifting past the gleaming marble Lake Palace which appears to float in the water, as well as passing by ornate mansions, or havelis, and ghats where locals gather at the end of the day.

If you’re hoping to venture a little way off Rajasthan’s beaten track, head into the desert to discover the Golden City Jaisalmer. While the town itself is remote, it’s well connected if you have time to spare for the journey – again, this option is better with older kids. The old town lies inside the walls of the fort, which rises up from the desert like it’s been created from the sands themselves. Inside, you’ll find five palaces all linked to each other, some beautiful Jain temples and more havelis, luxurious townhouses which once belonged to wealthy merchants and nobles.

For a family adventure to remember, it’s hard to beat a camel ride into the dunes of the Thar Desert. The largest desert in India, you can trek from the village of Osian to one of the camel camps for dinner – Reggie’s Camel Camp sits on a 180ft sand dune, one of the highest in the desert. Watch the sunset from the top before eating around the bonfire at the base of the dune, while Rajasthani musicians play traditional music and dancers perform under a star-strewn sky.

Why simply visit a historic fort when you can stay in one? Fort Barli was once home to the rulers of Barli, and is still owned by the same family, but now converted into a hotel so you can quite literally sleep like a king or queen. There’s a chance to tour the 16th century fort and learn more of the stories hidden inside the historic walls, or even dress up in traditional outfits. It’s a great location to experience more daily life in Rajasthan too, with a chance to explore the village by ox cart, visiting a temple and local family, as well as seeing craftsmen at work.

The second-longest continuous wall in the world (after China) is found in Rajasthan at the 14^th century Kumbhalgarh Fort. Stretching for around 22 miles, it took 15 years to build, and winds its way around palaces, step wells, guard stations and more than 350 ruined temples. Sitting 1100 metres above sea level, there are some tremendous views to enjoy, and you can hike part of the wall as you consider the fact that the only time the fort was conquered, it took three armies and they were ousted after just two days. A perfect way to break up the journey between Jodhpur and Udaipur.

If your kids love animals, you shouldn’t miss a visit to the Keoladeo National Park – formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Once a royal hunting reserve, today it protects more than 370 species of birds and animals, including deer and nilgai (Asia’s largest antelope), as well as basking python and birds galore. You can head out on foot, but there are also cycle and rickshaw tours of the park which work well with younger kids. Located around an hour from Agra, it’s a great way to break up the journey to Jaipur too.

Another unusual attraction that’s well worth a stop on the road from Agra to Jaipur, Chand Baori or the Abhaneri step well is one of the deepest and largest step wells in India, stretching around 100ft down into the ground. Built some time during the 8^th-9^th century, the vast well has 3,500 steps leading down to the tank at the bottom, divided into 13 storeys – imagine an upside-down pyramid. It’s deep enough that the temperature drops around 6C as you go down, and was once used by pilgrims visiting the now ruined temple next door.

This important and striking Jain temple was built in the 15 century, made entirely from eye-catching white marble. With 1,444 intricately carved pillars, it’s said the temple was inspired by a dream and the design created after days of meditation, before taking 50 years for thousands of craftsmen, sculptors and labourers to turn it into reality. Even more impressive, no two pillars are the same. Easy to visit on the route from Jodhpur to Udaipur.

Famously one of the best places to see tigers in India, Ranthambore National Park is the place to bring The Jungle Book to life for your family. Like most animal-spotting experiences, this is better for older kids than younger ones, as you can expect dawn starts and a lot of waiting around if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the park’s Bengal tigers. They aren’t the only animals to spot though, with sloth bears, wild boar, monkeys, peacocks and Indian gazelles also living here, along with crocodiles in the lakes and Chambal River.

One of the highlights of any family holiday is being able to try some of the local food, or even better, getting hands on and learning how to make a few traditional dishes yourself. Rajasthani food is often rich and spicy, with lots of vegetarian dishes using lentils and dried berries, as well as ghee (clarified butter) and buttermilk, although there’s plenty which will appeal to kids. Learn from the experts with a cooking class from a local – our Rajasthan family holiday includes a class in Jaipur, although you’ll find other options across the region too, such as in Chittorgarh.

You’ll find plenty of memorably unusual accommodation in Rajasthan (and none of our places to stay are ever bland or boring) but for another experience to remember, save time for a homestay during your time in Rajasthan with kids. It’s a chance to witness everyday life, to see how much is different in local homes – and how much is surprisingly families. Head to one of the villages, such as Chandelao, where a community initiative helps villages earn fair wages while also teaching visitors about rural life – although this is far from your average homestay, as you can bed down in a 300-year-old fort.

Want to escape the crowds and burn off a bit of energy? Grab some bikes and head out of the city on a cycling excursion from Udaipur – it doesn’t take long before you’re out in the countryside enjoying the sights of rural India as you visit some local villages. No need to be an expert cyclist either, as roads are quiet and mostly flat, including time to freewheel around Tiger Lake.

India is famous for its trains, with an astonishing 135,207km of railway track covering the entire country – enough to wrap around the equator more than three times if you laid it end to end. But if you don’t need the rail network to get from A to B while you’re exploring Rajasthan with kids, you can still experience one of the region’s heritage routes. In Deogarh, a couple of hours from Jodhpur and Udaipur, head out on a relaxed two-hour journey aboard a little local train which dates back to the 1930s. Enjoy views of hilly landscapes, small villages and the chance to get chatting to the local passengers travelling on the train with you.