Posted 25 November 2022 in Winter Wandering

These cities in Rajasthan are ideal for a winter vacation

The largest state by area in India, Rajasthan boasts a vibrant culture. It has the seventh-largest economy in the country that heavily relies on pastoral income and agriculture. Its name translates to ‘Land of Kings’. Many regions of the state were once a part of Vedic and Indus Valley Civilisation, making it one of the favourite places for archaeologists to visit in India. The state shows steep variations in temperature during winters and hosts many festivals and fares during this time of the year.

Featuring Aravalli Range and the Thar Desert, Rajasthan is established along the Sutlej-Indus valley. The state is also popular for the conservation of wildlife in sanctuaries and national parks. The language spoken here is Rajasthani, and the official language of the state is Hindi. Other languages include Urdu, Bhili and Punjabi.

Since Rajasthan has arid land, therefore, its cuisine is developed from locally available ingredients. A few famous delicacies from the state include kadhi kachori (Ajmer), bikaneri bhujia, ghevar and pyaaj kachori from Jodhpur, marwari bhojnalaya from Marwar and dal-bati-churma.

Kalbelia from the Kalbelia tribe and ghoomar from Jodhpur and Jaipur are the famous folk dances of Rajasthan. It is also renowned for lively paintings, wooden furniture, blue pottery, carpets and colourful fabric pieces. Boasting opulent palaces and forts, the state welcomes a footfall of international and domestic tourists every year.

Here is a list of cities to visit in winter to make the best of your holidays in Rajasthan!

1. Jaipur in winters

Also renowned as the ‘Pink City,’ Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. From peppy pubs to palaces, the city has several tourist spots to explore and make the best of winters. For avid travellers, the capital is the best place to experience the colourful culture of the state.

You can buy blue pottery, embroidered bed sheets, gemstone jewellery, Meenakari work items, bandhani dupatta, etc. A few winter activities that you can indulge in Jaipur include zip-lining at the Neemrana Fort in October and cycling in December. The pleasant weather in these months makes the activities more enjoyable.

A list of places to visit in Jaipur include:

Jal Mahal
Jaipur Zoo
Amber Fort and Palace
Chokhi Dhani
Birla Mandir
Hawa Mahal
Nahargarh Fort
Jantar Mantar
Johari Bazaar
World Trade Park
Spice Court
Anokhi Museum of Hand Painting
Jaipur Wax Museum
Jaigarh Fort
Rambagh Palace
Jaipur Literature Festival
Govind Dev Ji Temple

How to reach Jaipur?

Air: One can reach Jaipur through various IndiGo flights to Jaipur. You can catch a flight from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna, Chennai or any other city in the country. It is only 12.4 km from the city. Jaipur International Airport is the airport in Jaipur.
Railways: Jaipur Junction railway station connects Jaipur with several cities in India. It is located 2.4 km away from the centre of the city. Trains from all around the country arrive frequently in Jaipur.
Road: Jaipur is connected to the rest of India via National Highway 21. Travellers often book a cab or a bus from Delhi, Agra and other nearby tourist destinations to reach Jaipur via road.

How to travel around in Jaipur

You can book a cab or take public transport options like buses and auto-rickshaws to travel around the city and to tourist spots.

2. Mount Abu in winters

Surrounded by the breathtaking Aravalli Range, Mount Abu boasts a stunning landscape of lush green parks and forests. It features religious sites and architectural wonders that attract pilgrims, historians and architecture enthusiasts. The hill station offers peace and solace to travellers.

Mount Abu is famous to shop for colourful bangles, Jaipuri quilts, Kota sarees, sandalwood, etc. During winters, you can indulge in several activities, like boating at Nakki Lake, touring the wildlife sanctuary, hiking to Guru Shikhar and trekking to the Toad Point. The weather in winters is perfect for heavy physical activities since one does not have to bear the scorching summer sun.

A few renowned places to visit in Mount Abu are:

Guru Shikhar
Peace Park
Universal Peace Hall
Dilwara Jain Temple
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary
Shri Raghunath Temple
Nakki Lake
Adhar Devi Temple
Lal Mandir
Mount Abu Bazaar
Brahma Kumari Ashram
Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple
Tibetan Market

How to reach Mount Abu?

Air: Airways offer the nearest route to Udaipur, from where you can reach Mount Abu by road. Located 175.7 km from the hill station, the airport has a cab and other road transportation facilities to take you to your destination.
Railways: Mount Abu has a railway station that connects it to the rest of the cities in Rajasthan and the country. The station is 27.3 km from the centre of the hill station.
Roadways: This hill station in Rajasthan is well-connected to nearby cities via a roads network. You can always catch a bus, hire a taxi or rent a car to reach Mount Abu from your location.

How to travel around in Mount Abu

Local transportation mediums like buses, rental cars and taxis are the best mediums to travel around the hill station.

The weather of Rajasthan during the winter season

In most of the regions, summers are extremely hot, and the temperature touches the 48°C mark. It typically remains dry throughout the year because of the geographical location. However, monsoons are pleasant, and winters, from November to February, are the perfect time to book a vacation to Rajasthan.

During winters, the temperature during the day can be 27°C, and by the night, it can fall below 10°C. The fresh atmosphere and pleasant mornings make it hassle-free to tour around the state.

3. Udaipur in winters

With serene lakes and charming buildings, Udaipur is one of the famous tourist destinations to enjoy winter vacations in Rajasthan. It is a paradise for architecture and shopping enthusiasts.

It is famous for metal decorative items, wall hangings, bags, wall clocks, jackets, shawls, paintings, handicrafts and sculptures. In the winter season, Udaipur is charmed by festive vibes. You can take part in many celebrations, like Udaipur World Music Festival (February), World Living Heritage Festival (October), Shilpgram Art Fair (November or December), Kumbhalgarh Festival (December), etc. All these festivals are conducted in winter.

Here is a list of tourist places to visit in Udaipur:

JagdishTemple
Jiyan Sagar
Udaipur City Palace
Saheliyon Ki Bari
Jagmandir
Sajjangarh Palace
Lake Pichola
Rajsamand Lake
Maharana Pratap Memorial
Jaisamand Lake
Fateh Sagar Lake
Udaisagar Lake
Vintage Car Museum
Doodh Talai

How to reach Udaipur?

Air: Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur offers quick access to the city from various other parts of the country. Various IndiGo flight routes are operational. It is located 20 km from the city.
Railways: One can find frequent trains arriving at the Udaipur City railway station. You can travel here from Delhi, Jaipur, Jabalpur, Mumbai, Bengaluru, etc.
Road: Udaipur is connected to nearby cities and states via amazing road networks. You can catch a bus, book a rental car or hop in a taxi from Delhi, Indore, Kota, Ahmedabad, Agra and other cities in India.

How to travel around in Udaipur

Travellers and tourists can take an auto-rickshaw or cab to travel around Udaipur. It is a budget-friendly choice, and you can explore all the tourist destinations without hassle.

4. Jodhpur in winters

Renowned for the legacy of Marwar rulers and cultural heritage, Jodhpur is also famous as the ‘Blue City’ because houses here boast different hues of blue. It has many forts and temples to visit. The city’s backdrop is a beauty to behold among several other cities of Rajasthan. It features shimmering lakes and a mesmerising landscape.

You can buy bandhani fabric, antiques, footwear, red chillies and traditional clothes for men and women. Camel safari, camping, paragliding, desert safari and zip-lining are popular activities to undertake in Jodhpur around the winter season because the weather is comfortable.

Check out the list below for recommendations of tourist places in Jodhpur:

Jodhpur Government Museum
Bishnoi Village
Kaylana Lake
Jaswant Thada
Mehrangarh Fort
Mandore Gardens
Bal Samand Lake
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Mahamandir Temple
Toorji Ka Jhalra
Hanwant Mahal
Marwar Festival
Jodhpur International Desert Kite Festival
ShastriCircle
Masuriya Hill Garden
Machiya Safari Park
Chamunda Mata Temple

How to reach Jodhpur?

Air: One can reach Jodhpur through various IndiGo flight routes. You can catch a flight to Jodhpur from New Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other metropolitan cities in India.
Railways: You can book a train from Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and other cities to Jodhpur. Travellers can also experience a lavish journey on the Palace of Wheels train.
Road: AC and non-AC buses and taxis are the best mediums of road transportation to reach Jodhpur from Delhi, Jaipur and other nearby cities.

How to travel around in Jodhpur

Tourists can take a cab, taxi or an auto-rickshaw to explore the tourist spots in Jodhpur. It makes it easy to get through the crowded spaces without experiencing any hustle.

5. Chittorgarh in winters

Founded by Pratap Singh in 734 AD, Chittorgarh is renowned for its historical palaces. Situated on the banks of the Berach River, it houses the largest fort in India and Asia. The city is also the famous birthplace of rulers like Meera Bai and Maharana Pratap. It is one of the best places in Rajasthan to travel in winter.

Tourists often like to shop for traditional accessories, handicraft items, marble sculptures and decorative stuff, miniature paintings, antiques, dupattas and bangles. Some of the most treasured activities to undertake in Chittorgarh include birdwatching at Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary and cave exploration. You will experience pleasant winter weather and serene surroundings.

Here is a list of attractive tourist spots in Chittorgarh:

Padmini Palace
Maha Sati
Chittorgarh Fort
Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary
Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary
Sathis Deori Temple
Kalika Mata Temple
Rana Kumbha’s Palace
Fateh Prakash Palace
Vijay Stambh
Gaumukh Kund
Meera Temple
Ratan Singh Palace
Tulja Bhawani Temple
Padmavati Palace
Shyama Temple
Kirti Stambh

How to reach Chittorgarh?

Air: The nearest routeto Chittorgarh is via airways, served by Udaipur Airport. From outside the facility, you can book a cab or a bus to reach your destination. The Udaipur Airport is 91.9 km from Chittorgarh.
Railways: Offering amazing connectivity with the Western Indian Railways, Chittorgarh Railway station has direct links to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota and other cities of India.
Road: Chittorgarh is well-connected to nearby states and cities via smooth road networks. Travellers often take a bus or cab to reach their destination.

How to travel around Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh has cabs and inter-city buses available to take you around the multiple attractions here.

6. Bikaner in winters

Bikaner is heaven for travellers because it is a cultural paradise situated amid the Thar Desert. Along with low temperatures, winters also bring the celebration of the Camel Festival in January, making Bikaner one of the most visited cities in Rajasthan around this time. With ancient forts and palaces, one can witness camels enhancing the panoramic scene of sand dunes. Desert Safari is another attraction for tourists in the city. Travellers can buy Bikaner Bhujia, leather mojari, lac bangles, Kundan jewellery, paintings and quilts.

Here is a list of a few places to visit in Bikaner:

Karni Mata Temple
Lalgarh Palace
Bhandasar Jain Temple
Sadul Singh Museum
Junagarh Fort
Gajner Palace
Rampuria Haveli
Shri Laxminath Temple
Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary
Skybird Water Park
Deshnoke
The Royal Cenotaphs
Laxmi Niwas Palace
Shiv Bari Temple
Jorbeer Conservation Reserve

How to reach Bikaner?

Air: To reach Bikaner, the nearest flight routeis via Jodhpur Airport. You can catch a flight from New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and other cities in the country.
Railways: Bikaner Junction facilitates effortless access to the city via Udaipur, Punjab, Delhi, Ajmer, Jodhpur and Kota. You can catch any road transport to reach the hotel.
Road: Buses are available from Agra, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Jodhpur and other nearby cities. You can also catch a cab or rent a taxi to reach the destination.

How to travel around Bikaner

You can travel around the city via local transportation options like taxi or auto-rickshaw. Use a budget-friendly choice to explore tourist places in Bikaner.

Travel tips before visiting Rajasthan in the winter season

Book your flights and hotels beforehand to avoid last-minute hassle and price hike
Carry woollens because nights are chilly
Carry a sunblock cream or a hat to protect your skin during day tours
Carry a torchlight in the bag
Keep your documents like passports, itineraries and government IDs safe in a bag
Do not leave your electronics unattended
Tuk-tuk, battery-operated rickshaws and local buses are the best ways to get around the cities in Rajasthan

The weather of Rajasthan during the winter season

During winters, the temperature during the day can be 27°C, and by the night, it can fall below 10°C. The fresh atmosphere and pleasant mornings make it hassle-free to tour around the state.

Conclusion

Apart from the above-mentioned cities, tourists can also plan a visit to Ajmer, Alwar, Ranakpur, Jaisalmer, Mandawa, Ranthambore, Pushkar and Mewar. You must plan the vacation around several festivals that take place in the state around the winter seasons. The list includes Jaipur Literature Festival, Jaisalmer Desert Festival, Elephant Festival in Jaipur, World Sacred Spirit Festival, Camel Festival in Bikaner, International Kite Festival in Jaipur, Winter Festival in Mount Abu and many others. Explore the opulent forts, colourful markets, lavish palaces and authentic restaurants in Rajasthan this winter.