Places to visit in Rajasthan during summers

Rajasthan has always been a tourist hub because of its rich history and culture. In fact, the state is also known as ‘The Land of the Kings’ for the same reason.

Well, it is true that because of the stupendous and honourable history of the state, we have these magnificent forts and palaces to visit and adore. Each fort and each palace has a story of it and its existence. Apart from that, even the temples and Ghats speak so much about spirituality. But what’s common about most of the attractions is the noteworthy architecture that it boasts of. Be it merely a carving on the pillar inside the temple, the design is so eye catchy that you will be lifted in awe.

To add to this, there are also lakes and wildlife sanctuaries in the state that enhance the overall tourist experience. It is true in a sense that Rajasthan leaves no stone unturned to offer one of the best tourist experiences to any kind of traveller, be it; solo, family and friends or with your partner.
Coming to the fact that people say Rajasthan is not worth visiting during the summer season, it is wrong. Rajasthan has its own charm during the months of summer. Imagine dipping your legs or taking a dip in ice cold water of the lake in Udaipur and finding a respite from the troubling heat. Isn’t it exciting?

There a multiple other reasons to be in Rajasthan during the summers, this was just one of them. There are a number of festivals and events that are held during the summer season, which you can and must attend because it is an experience of a lifetime.

We have got together a list of the 10 best cities you must visit this summer, for an escapade in Rajasthan.

1UDAIPUR

Udaipur – The Lake City/Kashmir of Rajasthan/Venice of the East….now those are honourable mentions for the city.

After that, the land of lakes and palaces really doesn’t need any introduction. It is famous as the most romantic city in the state, in fact, let’s just say the county. Udaipur’s landscape leaves you mesmerized and with the backing of the serene Lake Pichola and the beautiful backdrop of the Aravalli hills, the city becomes a charmer in itself. The city also presents a fascinating art scene, historic bazaars and of course the tranquil boat rides.

The main reason for visiting Udaipur during the summers is to take a dip in the serene water lakes. Instead of freezing in the cold and missing out on a boat ride, the better option is to visit the city of lakes during the summer season and fancy the lakes of Udaipur.

Here is a list of the top 5 places and spots you must visit when you are in Udaipur.

• City Palace – The Palace has an assortment of Mahals, courtyards, pavilions, corridors, terraces, rooms and hanging gardens.
• Lake Pichola – The Lake is the oldest and one of the largest lakes of the city. It observes lakhs of tourists because of its tranquillity and beauty.
• Fateh Sagar Lake – The atmosphere here is calm, and tourists enjoy the blanket of tranquillity the place warms them up with.
• Sahelion Ki Bari Garden – The beautiful garden is located in one of the shores of Fateh Sagar Lake. It has expensive lawns, adorable walking lanes and attractive fountains.
• Ambrai Ghats – Located on the banks of the serene Pichola Lake, Ambrai Ghat is famous for the splendid view of the natural landscape around it.

2MOUNT ABU

Rajasthan’s only hill station is Mount Abu.

It nestles among green forests and is quite unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan. The hill station is a hit with honeymooners owing to its stupendous beauty. It has a colourful mix of rustic abodes of tribal communities and posh houses. The British style bungalows and royal holiday lodges are an addition to its package. The city is covered in vast stretches of green forests, serene lakes, and waterfalls. The region will allow you to revel amidst panoramic vistas and will not disappoint you at all.

When all of Rajasthan is busy being heat up by the sun, Mount Abu serves as a getaway. The hill station offers you a comparatively cooler climate and keeps you away from the sun. The winters in Mount Abu are particularly very cold and hence summer is the best climate for you to be in this city.
Apart from that, you can also be a part of the Mount Abu summer festival. This makes it the perfect place to visit in Rajasthan in April.

In addition to that, we have put together a list of the topmost place you must visit in Mount Abu.

• Dilwara Temple – It is said that huge pieces of marble stones were transported on elephant backs to this remote bumpy area of Mount Abu so that the architecture of the place is not comprised on.
• Nakki Lake – Go there for the beautiful sunset and amazing boating experience.
• Guru Shikhar View Point – This peak is the home to the temple of Dattatreya, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the peak is called Guru Shikhar after him.
• Achalgarh Fort – Achalgarh, also known as Achalgadh, is one of the numerous wonderful medieval landmarks in Mount Abu.
• Honeymoon Point – This is a perfect spot that would describe a fairy tale view.

3RANTHAMBORE

One of the best national parks of the country is at Ranthambore. It is known to have “friendly” tigers and chances of sighting one here is reasonably better than many other tiger reserves of India.

Along with this, Ranthambore has one of the richest flora and fauna. It is said that it was a former royal hunting ground and home to tigers, leopards and marsh crocodiles. The cities landmarks include the imposing Ranthambore Fort and the Ganesh Mandir temple. Also in the park, Padam Talao Lake is known for its abundance of water lilies.

The reason Ranthambore is the most appropriate place to visit in Rajasthan in May is that in this scorching summer heat your chances of spotting a tiger are higher than in any other season. The tigers come near the lake to fetch for water and that’s when you can spot this majestic beauty up close, right in front of you, with its tongue out sipping water from the lake. Now that’s an experience you will not be able to witness so often during the winter season.

But, there are many other spots and attractions to visit during your trip to Ranthambore. Here is a list of the top 5 places you must check out.

• Ranthambore Fort – Ranthambore Fort has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• Kacheeda Valley – Panther population of the reserve resides here. Panthers don’t usually leave this area in order to avoid conflict with the tigers. Bears are also found here.
• Ganesh Trinetra Temple – It is said that the local post office receives and delivers thousands of invitation cards to this temple as people symbolically send the first invitation card for major functions like weddings, house warming, etc. to Lord Ganesh.
• Padam Lake – The Lake is the largest lake in the Ranthambore and it is visited by most of the animals in the mornings.
• Jogi Mahal – The architectural beauty of the palace is worth exploring and it also houses the second largest banyan tree in the country.

4JAIPUR

The capital of the state, Jaipur, is the best place to visit in Rajasthan in March because of the Gangaur Festival.

Rajasthan is one of the hottest states during summer but if you choose to be in the right city at the right time than it should not be an issue. Similarly, Jaipur is one of those cities that is, a must-visit during summers. The reason is the Gangur Festival that is organized in the city of Jaipur each year. The festival takes places during the months of March or April. Gangaur is all about honouring the goddess Gauri and celebrating love and marriage. It is a very spiritually inclined festival but it is worth being there and experiencing the rituals and love that is spread around by the locals. Married women worship Gauri for the good health and longevity of their husbands. Unmarried women worship her to be blessed with a good husband. So all you ladies out there, you know what to do.

The rituals of the festival extend to around 18 days. On the last day, colourful processions of bejewelled images of the goddess Gauri wind their way all over the city, accompanied by local bands.

Apart from being a part of the festival, you can also thoroughly enjoy the lavish forts and palaces that the city has to offer to you.

In addition to the festival, there are many other places to visit in Jaipur. Here is a list that will help you further.

• City Palace – Situated in the heart of the old City, it occupies about one seventh of the old city area. The palace is a blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture.
• Hawa Mahal – The 5 storied stunning monuments has a total number of 953 windows with hanging latticed balconies.
• Jantar Mantar – The observatory consists of an enormous sun-dial that still provides accurate time.
• Jal Mahal – This small palace is set in the middle of Man Sagar Lake and a paved causeway leads up to the beautiful water palace.
• Jaigarh Fort – The world biggest cannon on wheels, ‘Jai Ban’ is positioned here.

5CHITTORGARH

Chittorgarh is an important tourist place in Rajasthan. The tourism in Chittorgarh revolves around the impregnable fort that is bordered by cliffs. The fort houses palaces, temples, lawns and lakes. All of which are of great interest to tourists looking for the best historical travel place to visit in Rajasthan in June.

They say that the story of Chittorgarh is a saga of valour and sacrifice. The town was sacked three times and its defenders had to make the sacrifice. The Fort of Chittorgarh offers travellers an insight into the life of the Great Rajput rulers, who laid down their lives fighting a superior enemy instead of leading a life of slavery.

There is a reason you must visit the city during the summers. During winters the fort becomes so cold inside that you might want to avoid the long tour. During the summers, it might be really hot on the outside but it is warm inside the fort and it becomes a favourable climate for the long tour of the fort. In addition to that, the city also houses a wildlife sanctuary and there is no better time than the summer season to take a jeep safari and spot wild animals at the lake, while they sip water from the lake.

Apart from the fort there are also a few other places you must check out in the city, below is a list that will help you with your itinerary.

• Vijay Stambh – This architectural wonder is visited by many. Built in Rajput style, it is covered with architectural ornaments, images of Gods and Goddesses and weapons.
• Rana Kumbha Palace – Rana Kumbha is a heritage palace situated near Vijay Stambh inside the Chittorgarh Fort Complex. It is one of the top places to visit in Chittorgarh Fort.
• Fateh Prakash Palace Museum – The Fateh Prakash Palace serves as a museum with a large collection of paintings and various sculptures.
• Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary – This sanctuary houses a number of animals and birds and is known for the forests of teak, bamboo, tendu and amla and also salar.
• Maha Sati – This is the place where Udaipur Rulers used to be cremated.

6BUNDI

Bundi is a captivating town of narrow lanes, blue houses and with a temple at every turn. The step-wells, reflective lakes, and colourful bazaars dominate the town. Dominating Bundi is an increasingly popular traveller hang-out.

A fun fact about the place is that it boasts of famous visitors like Rudyard Kipling, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Virginia Fass, and film maker Satyajit Ray.

The reason you must visit Bundi during the summer is that the step-wells are too cold to be spending time during the winters and the lakes will be never better than during the summers. That makes it the best reason to plan your trip during the summer season. The place has a perfect beat the heat kind of offering. So, without wasting any more time, let’s tell you what are the – to die for attractions in Bundi.

• Taragarh Fort – It is included amongst the most famous forts in Rajasthan for its intricate structures and a highly-regarded painting gallery.
• Moti Mahal – Along with the historic beauty of the Moti Mahal Palace, you can also enjoy the panoramic view of the arid Aravalli hills in the backdrop.
• Nawal Sagar Lake – This Lake has more than a few small islands. It is located in the middle of the city, and hence, one can get to see the reflection of the entire city in this lake.
• Sukh Mahal – It is a belief that the old palace and Sukh Mahal are connected by means of an underground tunnel. The main attraction of the Mahal is a white marble Chhatri (umbrella).
• Step Wells – There are various step wells in the city. These wells were constructed as a means of providing water to the famine prone town of Bundi.

7PUSHKAR

Pushkar has a magnetism all of its own – the spirituality that it holds is quite unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan. Pushkar is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage town, humming with puja (prayers), bells, drums and devotional songs.

The town wraps itself around a holy lake featuring 52 bathing Ghats and 400 temples, including one of the world’s few Brahma temples. The main street is one long bazaar. The result is a muddle of religious and tourist scenes.

Now, we will tell you why you should visit the town during the summer season. The town is known for its holy Ghats where thousands of tourists from all over the globe, come to take a dip and cleanse themselves of all their sins. It is close to impossible to take a dip in the Pushkar Lake and complete your religious devotion if not for the summer season.

There are also other attractions in the city that you must check out after you attain nirvana at the Ghats.

• Aptaeshwar Temple – It is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva with an underground component.
• Rangji Temple – It is a Vishnu temple built in South Indian style that is very different from other temples in North India.
• Man Mahal – This beautiful palace was built as the guest house for Raja Man Singh I and has since been converted into the Hotel Pushkar Palace.
• Brahma Temple – This is the cities’ biggest and most famous temple. So it has to be on your list of places to visit in Pushkar.
• Varah Ghat – The best time to visit the ghat is in the evening when the aarti is held. It is a unique and spiritual experience.

8BHARATPUR

You will be able to explore the regal and vivacious side of Rajasthan on Bharatpur tour. Once an impregnable and heavily fortified city, Bharatpur is now also known as ‘Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan’ and an important travel destination.

The city is famous for its bird sanctuary all over the world; it houses more than 364 species of migratory birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China, and Siberia. But apart from the amazing tourist attractions in the city, there is also one big reason that will bring you to Bharatpur during the summer season and that is the Braj Holi Festival.

Celebrated a few days ahead of the actual colour festival of Holi, the Braj Holi of Bharatpur commemorates the same colourful spirit with great pomp and gusto. The two-day festival has playful activities full of zest and, of course, colours. In fact, the festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna and celebrates his immortal love story with Goddess Radha.

Here is also a list of 5 must-visit places in the city after you are done attending the festival.

• Lohagarh Fort – It is named as the Lohagarh Fort or Iron Fort as British rulers were never able to conquer it.
• Government Museum Bharatpur – The museum primarily consists of stone sculptures, inscriptions, terracotta items, metallic objects, coins, weapons, miniature paintings and local art.
• Bharatpur Palace – The magnificent palace was made in Rajput and Mughal architectural styles.
• Deeg – As per Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna started his parikrama from Goverdan and blessed Deeg with his auspicious presence in his path.
• Ganga Mandir – It is said that around 9 decades were taken to build the temple and is now known for its beautiful architecture.

9AJMER

Ajmer is a popular tourist attraction, in addition to being a pilgrimage centre for both Hindus and Muslims. The final resting place of the Sufi Saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti, is visited by Muslims from all over the world; in fact, the Dargah is revered equally by both Hindus and Muslims. Ajmer is also a well-known learning centre. The Mayo College in Ajmer is one of India’s first schools that acted as the stepping stone for the British style of education and is now one of the popular places to visit in Ajmer.

The reason you must visit Ajmer during the summers is so that you can experience the Ajmer Urs Festival. This festival witnesses over five lakh devotees from every caste, creed and religious faith. These people offer jasmine and rose flowers at the Dargah to seek his blessings. During this celebration, millions of people pay a visit to this Dargah from all over the world.

fter praying for six-day in seclusion, it is said that the honoured saint left for heaven. This is the reason why every year all the devotees celebrate the festival of ‘Urs Ajmer Shariff’ in Islamic calendar’s seventh month and during Rajjab’s first six days.

There are also many other places that you must check out in the city.

• Ana Sagar Lake – Do not forget to take a camera to capture the fantastic and heavenly views of this lake. A visit to the Ana Sagar Lake is a must when you are in Ajmer, for the beauty of this lake can be enjoyed and cherished with friends and family alike.
• Akbar’s Palace and Museum – It is well known for the museum which portrays the age old military weapons and exquisite sculptures.
• Nareli Jain Temple – It is a beautiful marble temple with strikingly appealing designs.
• Durga Bagh Gardens – It is a charming garden on the banks of the majestic Ana Sagar Lake. The garden has a delightful background that enhances its charm.
• Soniji Ki Nasiyan – The so called Red Temple, is a Jain temple dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara.

10JODHPUR

Jodhpur is also known as the Blue City because most houses in the old city are painted in shades of blue. The forts, palaces, temples, havelis, colour and texture make this city worth a visit.

The city was built as the new capital of the state of Marwar. The people of Jodhpur and surrounding areas are hence also commonly called as Marwari’s.

Now to make things even more fun about the city is the Folk Festival. RIFF – Rajasthan International Folk Festival is an annual music and art festival for the promotion of traditional folk music and arts. It is a unique celebration of Indian as well as international music at the Mehrangarh fort. More than 200 musicians from around the globe attend this festival. This footfall makes it an absolute treat for music and art lovers.

After enjoying your time at the festival you can also visit these noteworthy places in Jodhpur.

• Chamunda Mataji Temple – This temple is devoted to Rao Jodha’s favourite goddess and remains a local favourite to this day.
• Moti Mahal (Pearl Hall) – Pearl-coloured inside and decorated with coloured glass windows, this is where the Maharaja held his audiences.
• Jaswant Thada – It is a royal cenotaph built in marble, offering a great view over the city and of the Mehrangarh fort, as well as small well-kept gardens.
• Umaid Bhavan Palace – This is the last great palace built in India. The Maharaja of Jodhpur lives here to this day, but half the building has been converted to a 5-star hotel and there is also a small museum on ground.
• Kaylana Lake – It is a popular picnic spot and a main drinking water source for the city.

So, what are you waiting for? After reading this information on why summer is the best time to visit Rajasthan, all you have to do is select a date and be ready for your getaway. Bon Voyage!