What's the climate like and when is the best time to visit?
Very hot during summers (May to July) and cool to chilly in winters (November to
February), with brief monsoonal rains during July and August. Typical of the desert,
even during summers the nights are quite cool. The best time to visit is between
October and April. However, of late, tourist arrivals have also increased in summers
primarily because the off-season discounts are substantial. Moreover, since the
hotel rooms, tourist buses & cars are air-conditioned, one feels the sun's glare
only while sightseeing or shopping.
What should I carry?
Cool cottons for daywear, Light woolens for the evenings (a warm jacket if you plan
to spend a night on the sand dunes), a couple of pairs of shoes, shorts, sunglasses,
anti sun tanning lotion, camera and... Lots of time and film rolls.
So Rajasthan is attractive. But what about its access?
Rajasthan is easily accessible in India. Well connected by air, rail and road, the
capital city of Jaipur is only 258 kms. From New Delhi, Indias capital. New Delhi
has an International Airport served by important airlines of the world and the embassies
of almost all nations are located here. Rajasthan has four domestic airports at
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer. A good network of Roads and Rails make Rajasthan
highly accessible. Jaipur and other cities are also well connected with Mumbai by
rail and air.
Rajasthan is famous for its palaces of ultimate luxury. Can I stay there like a Maharaja?
Rajasthan has the maximum number of palaces converted into Hotels where a guest
can find the luxuries only a Maharaja (King ) could boast of. There are a few palace
hotels which are internationally renowned for their splendor and opulence like the
sprawling Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, the majestic Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jaodhpur
and the beautiful Lake Palace in Udaipur. The Palaces are equipped with acres of
Gardens, Swimming pools, Receration centres, Billiards, Golf courses, Polo grounds,
Luxury suites, Royal courtyards, Royal welcome, Elephants, Camels, Horses and a
lot of other Royal Comforts. There is even a luxury train, Palace on Wheels for
the tourists!
Why do the men wear turbans in Rajasthan?
There are climatic and social reasons for this factor. Rajasthan remains hot during
the days especially from May to September. People working out during the day under
the sun wear turbans to protect themselves from heatstrokes. The people consider
turban as a symbol of prestige and pride. Anything which is kept over the head holds
in itself a lot of sanctity. The colour, size and style of a persons turban convey
a lot about his social ranking... read more on turbans
A lot of fairs & festivals (hundreds in numbers) are held in Rajasthan. Any particular
reason?
The culture in Rajasthan is predominantly medieval. Fairs and Festivals act as important
mode of socializing, meeting, trading, travelling and entertainment. People from
far off places come alongwith their cattle to attend such fairs. The Fairs are generally
held at some pilgrimage place to mark some holy & auspicious day...read
more on festivals in rajasthan
The Havelis and mansions in Rajasthan have a lot of Jharokhas (balconies), Trellis,
and very small windows. Why?
The sun is overcast all through the year in Rajasthan. Jharokhas are made to let
the people sit in there and have the cool breeze inside. Intricately carved stone
trellis are put to obstruct the sunrays and at the same time keep the free flow
of cool air. Big windows bring a lot of heat inside, hence they are avoided...read more on havelis in rajasthan
What's the best way to deal with money matters while traveling?
In most major cities in India and abroad, you can use your ATM card just as you
do at home (if it is part of one of the major networks) to obtain cash in the local
currency. Check with your bank to see where you can use your card and what fees
are charged. Carry only the debit and credit cards you will use on vacation. Canceling
lost or stolen cards is sometimes difficult and often inconvenient when you are
on vacation.
I'm leaving on my trip tomorrow. How can I cut down on hassles at the airport?
The volume of traffic, plus security and check-in procedures at all major airports,
adds to the time you need before your flights. Plan to arrive at the airport at
least an hour and a half before domestic flights and three hours before international
flights.
Many airlines require verification that the person checking in is the person to
whom the ticket was issued. Carry at least one government-issued photo I.D. such
as a driver's license or passport. A second photo I.D. is required in some airports.
What can I do to make sure my luggage arrives with me at my destination?
When checking bags in at the airport, be sure the airline agent tags them with the
correct city code for your destination. And keep the receipts from those tags in
a safe place. You will need them to identify your luggage in baggage claim, and
you will especially need them if your baggage is delayed or lost. Mark all your
luggage with your name and address (use your business address if possible). Put
personal I.D. inside your bags, too - sometimes baggage tags get torn off during
handling.
How to experience Rajasthan at its best?
While planning your trip we suggest you to consider the festivals which would be
taking place in Rajasthan during your trip for any further information on Festivals
please visit our "Fairs and Festivals" page in Exclusive Rajasthan Section. On this
page you will find the dates of the festivals taking place in Rajasthan and about
the cultural activities that would be taking place during the festivals.
Which Vaccination is required before visiting Rajasthan?
Before visiting Rajasthan in India, the Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is
required if a tourist is coming from the Yellow Fever endemic countries. This certificate
conforms to the International Health Regulation. The citizens and travelers coming
from the United States, Canada or United Kingdom, do not require any vaccination
certificate or inoculations. It is highly recommended to get a precautionary measure
vaccination against Hepatitis B, if you plan to stay longer in Rajasthan. To avoid
Malaria and Dengue, carry mosquito repellents, nets or take a course of anti Malaria
tablets.
Can I pay in Euro, US Dollars or through credit cards in Rajasthan?
All the major currencies including Euro, US Dollars and Pounds are accepted in Rajasthan.
All the major credit cards like Visa, Master Card and American Express are also
accepted in the main hotels, restaurants and shopping centers in Rajasthan.
I want to visit the temples, mosques and churches in Rajasthan. What are the different
options for me?
There are various places of pilgrimage in Rajasthan like Ajmer, Pushkar, Jaipur,
Bikaner, Mount Abu and Udaipur. The Dargah Sharif in Ajmer is the place where the
Muslim Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti was buried. The Brahma temple is an important
pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. It is the only one temple of Lord Brahma which
is situated in Pushkar. The Dilwara Jain temples were built in 1031 AD, and among
the finest examples of Jain architecture in India...read more
on temples and pilgrimages in rajasthan
Is there any thing important while visiting temples and mosques in Rajasthan?
Do remember to remove your shoes and sandals while visiting temple, mosques and
churches. Also some temples do not allow leather shoes, belts or handbags in their
premises. When visiting temples, women should cover their body with short or long
sleeves tops and a long skirt or pants. Women should not wear sleeveless dresses
or blouses. Also be alert for signs indicating that non-Hindus may not visit the
inner sanctum of the temple and may see only its outer precincts. If there is no
sign, ask a priest. If you are visiting a temple and are offered a portion of sweet
or fresh coconut or banana, its prasad or sacred food, offered to the gods. Since
its a great honor to be offered, never refuse it, rather accept it and eat it.
If you dont want it, take it and give it to someone else.
In Muslim mosques, do remember that men and women sit in separate areas. You need
to cover your head while visiting the main chamber in the mosque. It is compulsory
for both men and women to cover their head when visiting Sikh Gurudwaras. Before
photographing the inner chamber of sacred temples, be sure to get permission. It
is not permitted to have the picture of main deity in some temples. RajasthanTour4U
will assist you more on about the behaviour and general customs within the Temples
- Pilgrimage page.
Are there any restrictions for the Photography in Rajasthan ? Is there anything I
need to consider while doing photography in Rajasthan?
Rajasthan offers you great photographing options and it is a great fun while photographing
in Rajasthan as you will have enough sunlight most of the time. We suggest you to
bring enough films with you to catch the endless beauty of Rajasthan. In some of
the monuments and wildlife sanctuaries you have to pay the fees for the photography.
At some of the locations photography is not allowed. Do not photograph these objects
otherwise your film can be confiscated. Always take permission before photographing
people. Never photograph airports, railways, railway stations, big bridges, or a
military area. Its good not to photograph Muslim women, women bathing, cremations,
slums, or beggars.
How safe is traveling in Rajasthan?
Rajasthan is comparatively a safe state to travel. Crime rate against foreigners
remain low. However especially to our female guests we recommend not be alone on
the road after late evening just to be on the safer side. In case you need any help
you can call the police at 100 and Ambulance at 102.
How is shopping in Rajasthan ? What shopping I can do in Rajasthan?
Rajasthan is a shoppers paradise. There are various shopping places in Rajasthan.
However, we recommend you to shop from the government approved emporiums. You can
bargain everywhere except in government craft emporiums, government textile shops,
It is better to buy large and expensive items, such as rugs or jewelry, only from
reputable dealers recommended by Indian acquaintances, hotels or your guide.
Here, the tourists can buy the tie-and-dye fabrics in vibrant colours, block printing,
embroidery, wooden furniture, carpets, blue potteries and mirror work in some of
the famous cities of Rajasthan. Other famous handicrafts comprises of Bagaru prints,
Sanganer prints, fine block printed textiles, Meenakari work, Rajasthani Jooties,
wood and ivory carvings, tattoos, lacquer and filigree work, delicately cut precious
stones, semi precious stones, traditional paintings, Kota-doria and lahriya sarees,
murals and exquisite enameled jewelleries. Wood, metal and Stone are used by todays
craftsmen to create decorative and utility items that shoppers often find irresistible..
read more on shopping in rajasthan
Give me general information about local transport available in Rajasthan?
Various means of local transport in Rajasthan ranges from cycle-rickshaws to auto-rickshaws,
taxis and buses. Local buses are usually over crowded and should be avoided. Auto-rickshaw
and taxis are easily available and can be used if necessary. You can ask at information
desks at the airport or in hotels to get an idea of the fare. At major airports,
there are prepaid booths, where you can pay and then you will be given a receipt
to be given to the driver. In small towns, you can look for a cycle-rickshaw, a
three-wheel bicycle with seats for two passengers behind the driver.
