Rajasthan Beyond Palaces

Bangla Sahib Gurudwara

Beliefs & Rituals

With its eye-catching golden dome glistening in the sun, Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is a holy place for Sikhs across the world, the holy waters of its pond are believed to have healing properties. Here, you can visit the principal shrine and witness pilgrims partaking in the traditional Langar-style meal that has been cooked by the Gurudwara’s disciples in its community kitchen. If you wish, you can volunteer in the community kitchen as well. Image credits: Nimitnigam, CC-BY-SA

Old Delhi Exploration

Cuisine

Heading down Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, partly on foot, partly by cycle-rickshaw, one can palpably experience the sacred yet secular way of life that is so typical of India. Interestingly, apart from the assortment of stores selling everything from jewelry to sarees, numerous eateries have also been established along these bylanes that add flavor (literally!) to the old market - and tangibly evoke a sense of history. You can also embark on curated food walks in these old quarters. From savoring some of the most mouthwatering snacks to indulging your sweet tooth, from visiting Asia’s largest spice market to..

The Oberoi

Overlooking Delhi’s lush Golf Club greens and the 16th-century Humayun’s Tomb, The Oberoi, New Delhi is an urban landmark of understated luxury. Recently renovated, the hotel blends modern design with Mughal-inspired touches — offering spacious rooms, state-of-the-art technology, and panoramic city views. Guests can indulge in award-winning dining, rejuvenate at the spa and wellness center, or simply retreat into calm at the heart of India’s bustling capital.

The Leela Palace – New Delhi

Luxury Boutique

Imposing, inspiring and right at home among the grand landmarks of the New Delhi’s Diplomatic Enclave, this iconic palace style hotel makes a significant statement in terms of architecture and intent. Its architecture is inspired by Lutyens’ work, art and embellishment by Mrs. Madhu Nair, and its levels of refinement and generosity of space mirror the great palaces of the world.

The Imperial

Luxury Boutique

The Imperial hotel offers the best in luxury as well as comfort with its regal interiors, as elaborate as the backdrop of The Great Gatsby, and an impeccably trained staff. The hotel offers rooms in varying sizes and cost, yet the promised comfort and amenities are in no way compromised upon. The hotel houses museum-worthy artefacts as well as an art gallery among its many corridors. The in-house restaurants are brimming with elegance and reflect the hotel’s art-deco ambience. However, it is The Spice Route, which is its major attraction; an intricately designed restaurant that features exquisite carvings.

Blue City Indigenous Art Trail

Arts, Crafts & Textiles

Set off on a Blue City Walk, where numerous artisans live and work at a variety of indigenous art forms, executed on  handspun textiles. Explore streets peopled with Rangrezz fabric dyers, Bandhej tie-and dyers and Chippa block printers, each community preserving a distinct art form passed down over the generations. The Blue city guards the secrets of  techniques like gota-patti embroidery - needlework of flower-and-leaf motifs, zari embroidery that uses silver and gold  filaments, and the danka ornate needlework of lavish embellishment.

Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park

Art & Architecture

At the foot of Mehrangarh Fort lies the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, a remarkable story of revival. Once an overrun wasteland, it has been carefully restored into a sanctuary of desert ecology. Spread across 70 hectares, the park reveals the hardy flora of the Thar - flowering shrubs, medicinal plants, and resilient grasses that thrive among volcanic rocks and dry riverbeds. Guided trails weave through this rugged terrain, where every turn brings a glimpse of the desert’s quiet resilience, framed by the towering walls of the fort above. The park is as much about history as it is about..

Mihirgarh Marwari Horse Ride

Active Travel & Adventure

In Mihirgarh, ride the legendary Marwari horses, known for their inward-curving ears and unmatched endurance. Once the trusted steeds of Rajput warriors, these horses carry with them centuries of history and pride. As you ride across desert trails and rolling dunes, their graceful gait and noble bearing make the journey feel less like an excursion and more like a passage into Rajasthan’s royal past.

Drive through Bishnoi settlements

Popular Culture

Set off on a jeep safari through the villages of the Bishnois, a sect found in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan who follow the tenets of a saint who preached that destroying nature is like harming mankind. Along the route, you will be welcomed into the houses of the Bishnoi elders, to partake in a quintessential ritual – drinking an infusion of poppy seeds grown on local farms! This is a great chance to learn about the Bishnoi tribe, a community of staunch vegetarians who has been pivotal in reviving the black buck antelope species from the brink of extinction...

Raas Jodhpur

Luxury Boutique

Raas is a boutique hotel and offering a seamless harmony of the authentically old-world and the contemporary comforts right in the heart of the walled city of Jodhpur with magnificent sights of Mehrangarh fort seen from most of the rooms and suites they offer and nearly every part of the hotel. Memorable dining experiences can be had at Darikhana - their specialty dining restaurant, and Baradari - an airy open pavilion for all day dining. The red sandstone unites the new with the old, even as modern designs and patterns in its dressing and carving add an exciting and fresh..

Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace

Luxury Boutique

Set amidst acres of lush gardens, the Umaid Bhawan Palace, a golden yellow sandstone monument is one of the largest residences in the world. Completed in 1943, it is the last of the great palaces of India. Still serving as the primary residence of the royal family of Jodhpur, the Palace also offers luxurious rooms and suites to other guests.

Mihir Garh

Wellness & Spa

Mihir Garh is built in 2009 AD, Mihir Garh literally ‘The Fort of the Sun’ is an indulgent initiative is a luxurious boutique hotel located in a desert wilderness, offering an unparalleled insight into Rajasthan’s vivid and colorful rural heritage. Its majestic location welcomes the discerning traveller, to shower him with the legendary hospitality and immerse him in the diverse flavours of the land.

Narlai Stepwell Dinner

Cuisine

In the heart of Rajasthan’s countryside, Rawla Narlai offers one of the most atmospheric dining experiences imaginable. At twilight, lanterns and oil lamps illuminate the ancient stone walls of a 1,100-year-old stepwell, casting a golden glow across its tiers. A path lit by hundreds of flickering diyas guides you down to an intimate setting where the night is alive with silence, broken only by the rustle of the breeze and soft strains of traditional music. As you savor a curated Rajasthani thali under a canopy of stars, the setting feels timeless - part royal feast, part sacred ritual - a..

Rawla Narlai

Heritage Homes/Mansions

Once a 17th-century royal hunting lodge, Rawla Narlai today is a boutique heritage retreat nestled in the Aravalli hills. Surrounded by a sleepy village and rugged landscapes, the property blends Rajput grandeur with intimate charm. Guests here experience Rajasthan differently: dining in a centuries-old stepwell lit by a thousand lamps, waking up to a champagne breakfast atop granite rocks, and strolling through lanes where rural traditions still thrive. With just the right balance of luxury and authenticity, Rawla Narlai transforms a journey through Rajasthan into an unforgettable story.

Jawai Leopard Safari

Wildlife & Wilderness

A leopard safari in Jawai isn’t just about chasing sightings; it’s about immersing yourself in this extraordinary balance between man, beast, and land. Open 4x4 jeeps take you through boulder-strewn valleys at dawn or dusk, when leopards are most active. The thrill of watching a leopard emerge from the rocks, often against a crimson sunset, is matched only by the sense of being in a wilderness still raw and untouched by mass tourism. Unlike the dense jungles of central India, Jawai offers wide, open visibility - giving you a higher chance of spotting leopards, as well as migratory birds, crocodiles..

SUJÁN Jawai

Wildlife Lodges

At the heart of an untrammeled wilderness, where leopards roam wild and free, is SUJÁN Jawai. Designed by the owners, Anjali and Jaisal Singh, it represents a style that combines subtle opulence with abundant adventure. Staying true to the goals for conservation without compromising comfort, the camp has 10 luxurious tents including one double family suite, each with oodles of space and privacy that rest encapsulated in a landscape of towering granite formations, caves, kopjes, Anogeissus scrub and winding sand riverbeds. The vibrant Rabari herdsmen who have shared this land with wildlife for centuries endorse the organic and continuing link..

Ranakpur Temples

Art & Architecture

Set off on a half day excursion to the Ranakpur – a 15th Century multi-spired temple set in a secluded, wooded valley of the Aravalli Hills. With over 1444 elaborately carved pillars to support the majestic cupolas, the sheer scale, architectural complexity and sculptural ornamentation rank Ranakpur’s temples among the finest examples of temple architecture in India. The temple has intriguing mystical symbolism that would bewilder even the most learned scholar, yet its beauty is unparalleled and can be appreciated by all. The main temple with four sides, represents the conquest of the four cardinal directions or the cosmos by..

City Palace & Jagdish Temple

Art & Architecture

Explore the City Palace, with its blend of stern Rajput military architecture and lavish Mughal-inspired decorative art. This is the largest palace in Rajasthan sprawled out over an area of 5 acres, built between the 16th and 20th centuries. Then continue on to the Jagdish Temple, a three-storied wonder of architecture comprising of an intricately sculpted spire, beautifully carved pillars, decorated ceilings and painted walls dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the sustainer in Hindu mythology.

Painting Workshop: jal sanjhi & miniature art

Arts, Crafts & Textiles

Unlock the secrets of jal sanjhi, a rare, 200-year-old art form that involves painting on water, kept alive by one family in Udaipur. Usually portraying scenes from Lord Krishna's life that are skillfully lifted off the surface of water - the jal sanjhi is for the truly intrepid artist! Udaipur is best known for its painting styles namely, the Pichwai and the Phad, as also its Mughal miniatures. The Mughal miniatures depict mythology, court scenes, hunting scenes, and nature, among other motifs - and evolved into different styles across the different desert kingdoms of Rajasthan. Meet with artists to learn..

The Oberoi Udaivilas

Luxury Boutique

This hotel is a traditional Indian palace, which showcases the rich heritage of the Mewar region of Rajasthan in its sprawling courtyards, gently rippling fountains, reflecting pools and verdant gardens. Grand architecture inspired by the palaces of Rajasthan presents a majestic setting for your holiday, with pavilions and domes that lend it an ambience of royalty.

Trident, Gurugram

Urban Abodes

Just minutes from Delhi’s international airport, Trident, Gurgaon is an oasis of calm designed around reflection pools, courtyards, and lush gardens. With contemporary architecture that nods to Mughal influences, the hotel offers spacious rooms, fine dining, and warm hospitality. It’s the perfect stopover for travelers seeking comfort and efficiency before or after their Indian journey.