Rajasthan Travel Guide: Where to Go, What to Eat and What I’d Skip

I came back with 400 pictures, less money in my wallet and a firm belief that this is the best road trip in India. Below is my Rajasthan travel guide, to give you an honest insight into what to do, and what to avoid.

Top places to visit:

• Jaipur – ‘Pink City’ :- Head to Amber Fort before 9am to avoid the heat and tour buses. In the afternoon wander around Johari Bazaar.
• Jodhpur – ‘Blue City’:- Mehrangarh Fort is the best place to get a view of the blue rooftops. End your day with a lassi near the Clock Tower.
• Udaipur – ‘City of Lakes’:- This is the most romantic spot! Take a boat ride on Lake Pichola during sunset and enjoy some dinner on the rooftop with views of the City Palace.
• Jaisalmer – ‘Golden City’:- This was my favourite part of the trip. Spending the night in the Thar Desert with a camel ride, folk music and beautiful starry skies.

Food to try:

Dal baati churma, laal maas, ker sangri & pyaaz kachori. Best when hungry!

What to avoid:

1. Sightseeing during midday (May/June). It’s extremely hot!
2. Expensive dinner packages at the palaces. I found local rooftop cafés much cheaper and better.
3. Trying to fit 6 cities into 5 days. You’ll be sat in the car the entire time.
4. Learning about the traffic challans once you get home.
5. The biggest lesson I learned on my road trip:

Rajasthan has long motorways, speed cameras and Toll Plazas. The distance between Jaipur to Jaisalmer alone is around 550km. Many fines are now digital and you’ll receive an eChallan Rajasthan. This means you may not even get stopped as the fine will be sent to the registered owner. If you want to see how easily this happens, a Jaipur to Jaisalmer road trip story about an unexpected challan shows it can happen to anyone. It matters most if you’re driving a rental, a friend’s car or a second-hand vehicle, because a previous driver’s fine can still show on the vehicle.

Before I left I checked my Rajasthan challan. I’ve listed a couple of ways to check below:

1. Official :- You can check on the Parivahan e-challan website and Rajasthan Traffic Police website. You will be able to see any fines that are related to your vehicle and pay them.
2. Apps/sites :- I used MyMotor which is an Challan Check App and website. All you need to do is enter your vehicle number and it will show you any fines you have. There was no log in needed and all the information was in one place. The date, location, amount and if it had been paid. This app also gives you information about your RC details, insurance, PUC & FASTag. It was great to have everything in one place before heading on a long drive.

If you do find you have any fines then you can pay them online using UPI or net banking. Keep your receipt on your phone. It can sometimes take between 1-3 days for the government to update their records. Set a reminder to check your car insurance and bike insurance and PUC is up to date. Nothing is worse than finding your insurance has lapsed whilst you’re at a checkpoint.

Once you get home make sure to check again. You may get fined during your trip and it can take a few days to show up. Be cautious of any random links in SMSs that say they’re a challan notice. Use the official site or an app that you downloaded.

Best time to visit: October to March.

Palaces will get you the pictures but the road will give you some great stories. Make sure your e challan Rajasthan is clear before you start!