Rajasthan is breathtaking, exciting, humbling and welcoming. Discover ornate palaces, temples and havelis (mansions) scattered around colorfully painted cities. Spot local birdlife and mighty tigers. Explore sacred lakes, the rolling Aravalli Hills and the vast Thar Desert. Join lively festivals and sample distinctive Rajasthani cuisine.

This largest state in India dominates the country’s northwestern corner, arising after the unification of more than 20 rival kingdoms that once made up the British-era Rajputana (Land of Kings) region. Visit undulating hills in the southeast and a barren desert in the northwest.

In the foothills of the Aravalli Hills is Jaipur, the Pink City awash with red-hued façades and bustling bazaars. Relax at waterside palaces in Udaipur around the entrancing Lake Pichola. Visit storybook forts in Bundi and Chittaurgarh or experience the magnetism of bohemian Pushkar. Escape the heat at Mount Abu, a picturesque hill station and the state’s highest point.

The northwestern topography changes to dry desert landscapes. Explore the blue-painted cityscape of Jodhpur, home of the grand Mehrangarh Fort. Check out exquisitely decorated havelis in Bikaner and Shekhawti or Deshnok’s curious rat temple. Go to remote Jaisalmer, the Golden City, and admire the captivating city life within the imposing Jaisalmer Fort. This is the main starting point for camel safaris across the shifting sand dunes of the Thar Desert.

Wildlife abounds in Rajasthan too. Look for Bengal tigers on jeep safaris in Ranthambore National Park and Sariska National Park. Spot more than 350 bird species in Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary.

Time your visit to coincide with passionately celebrated festivals. Innumerable kites turn the skies into a rainbow of colors during January’s Jaipur Kite Festival. Witness the gathering of hundreds of gaily dressed camels and their turban-wearing owners at November’s Pushkar Fair.

Reach Rajasthan by flying to airports in Jaipur, Jodhpur or Udaipur and travel via intercity buses, trains or even camels. For adventure, relaxation or walking in the footsteps of Rajput kings, Rajasthan provides visitors with long-lasting memories.