Between the 8th and 11th centuries, Rajasthan witnessed a great architectural development. The temples located in different parts of the state testify to the aesthetic ideals. The temple of Kalika Mata in Chittor and the temple of Lord Shiva at Baroli typify the 10th century temple architecture in Rajasthan. Twelve miles from Udaipur, you come across the temple of Ekalinga Mahadev (built in the 8th century) which features quite an unusual structure. Close by is the village of Nagada, where you can visit a good number of beautifully sculpted ancient temples. The Dilwara Jain temples of Mount Abu and the Mahavira Temple at Ghanerao in southern Rajasthan and Ranakpur near Udaipur are other fine examples of the 10th century architecture. Besides the above mentioned, travellers also need to visit the Jain temples of Jaisalmer and the Hindu temples of Pushkar, which also boasts the only Brahma Temple in India.

Wildlife holidays in Rajasthan are much in demand by travellers these days. Rajasthan is home to a number of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The Ranthambore National Park (located between the Aravali and the Vindhya ranges) covers an area of 400 sq km and is known for its ‘friendly’ Royal Bengal tigers. One of the finest tiger reserves in the country, the Sariska National Park (200 km from Delhi) offers to see a large variety of both animal and bird species. Bird lovers can head straight to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a World Heritage Site, which is home to around 353 species of birds. The park is located at Bharatpur (56 km from Agra). At a distance of 40 km from Jaisalmer, the Desert National Park serves as a brilliant example of the desert (Thar) eco-system. Also plan to visit the Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mount Abu Sanctuary, the Jaisamand Sanctuary, the Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary etc.

One of the best options to explore the cultural heritage of Rajasthan is by planning a stay at one of its palace-turned-hotels. Not only will you observe the Rajput architecture, but you’ll also be able to meet with and talk to Rajput lords that still reside in many of these palaces. The Oberoi Udaivilas has won the World’s Best Hotel (2007) award. The Umaid Bhawan Palace of Jodhpur happens to be one of the largest residences in the world. Hotel Rambagh Palace of Jaipur, apart from its traditional charm, boasts the ‘most beautiful gardens’ in the world. Located in the foothills of the Aravali Ranges is yet another old world wonder- Hotel Samode Palace. Hotel Lake Palace (originally known as Jag Niwas) in Udaipur stands in the middle of Lake Pichola beautifully girdled by hills. Other popular palace hotels include Hotel Narain Niwas Palace (Jaipur), Hotel Samode Haveli (Jaipur), Hotel Gorbandh Palace (Bikaner), Hotel Prakash Palace (Udaipur) etc.

Seeing the increasing tourist inflow, the Tourism Department has introduced a number of interesting festivals, apart from the traditional fairs and festivals that the Rajasthanis have been celebrating for ages. The Camel Festival (January) of Bikaner includes numerous fun activities revolving around the camel. The best breed competition, tug of war, camel dance and acrobatics are some highlights of this festival, organised to the backdrop of the Junagarh Fort. Another big draw for tourists is the Pushkar Camel Fair (November) which hosts around 50,000 camels- sold, preened, pierced, raced and decorated. The Desert Festival (January/February) of Jaisalmer includes turban-tying competitions, tug of war, camel polo, folk performances and camel parade by the jawans of BSF. The cattle fair (February) of Nagaur attracts a good number of visitors as well; it is popular for its chilly market, largest in India. There are many more!