Best places to visit in Rajasthan this winter

Rajasthan, the land of the Maharajas, is on every traveller’s bucket list. And why not?! A Rajasthan tour has something on offer for every type of traveller. For the adventurer, there is a zip-line experience with the majestic backdrop of Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. For Bollywood movie buffs, a guided tour of the historic Chittorgarh Fort (of Padmavat fame) makes you relive the culture and traditions from the Rajput era. For foodies, there’s no place like Rajasthan. The Lal Maas at Lake Pichola Hotel Udaipur, the Lassi at the MI Road Lassiwala in Jaipur, Ghevar and Pyaaz Kachori found all over the state, are some of the things that will help you pile on the kilos during your trip to this culturally rich state of India.

Along with the tourist places, Rajasthan also offers some of the most unique and rare hotels and properties in India. I have been lucky enough to visit some of these places and through this blog, I hope to take you on a virtual tour through 3 such properties. So jump on, let’s take off.

1. RAAS Chhatrasagar

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Nestled in the middle of an incredible bird sanctuary, the luxury tents (17 in number) of RAAS Chhatrasagar offer an incredible option for a 3-night holiday escape. 2.5 hours from Jodhpur and 4 hours from Jaipur, it is indeed a nice road trip to get to Chhatrasagar. With an incredibly diverse birdlife around, comprising of more than 200 species, guests, with their binoculars on can enjoy sighting of rare birds like green bee-eater, blue kingfishers, and flocks of shoveler ducks. During your 3-day stay here, you can plan a Jeep Safari accompanied by an in-house naturalist, enjoy a bird-watching boat ride in Chhatrasagar lake, indulge in a surprise sundowner overlooking the lush green lands or even simply feast on eyes on star-gazing while sitting around a campfire.

2. Castle Bijaipur

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A 2-hour drive from Udaipur Airport, Castle Bijaipur is a beautiful 16^th century castle located In the Vindhyachal Hills of Rajasthan. The ruling family of Bijaipur converted this beautiful castle into a hotel in 1991 and ever since have been running it not as a hotel, but a home where travellers can experience traditional Rajput hospitality. Every moment you spend at this palace is to the point and surprisingly genuine. At this haven of peace, you can find any spot within the castle and sit back and enjoy a Yoga and Meditation session with the in-house Yoga master. Castle Bijaipur has often been described as a favourite destination for travel groups visiting India to learn and practice Yoga and Meditation. The courteous Castle staff can also organise a Rajput cooking class for you using locally sourced produce. So be it Dal Baati Churma or Jungli Maas, you can try your hand at curating the best dishes that Rajasthan has to offer.  For the younger travellers, the games room offers table tennis and some fun card and board games. The cultural evenings with their traditional Indian music and dancing are a particular highlight here. Step outside the fortified walls of the castle and you can experience an array of activities on offer. Hop on for an early morning Jeep Safari or go for a long horse ride on the beautiful Marwari horses of Bijaipur. Something unique that you can plan here is a fishing holiday which can be arranged on special request. The lakes and rivers around Bijaipur are full of fresh water fish and equipped with their own set of fishing equipment, a team of experts is available to join you on your fishing expedition.

3. Castle Mandawa

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A fortress that has been partly converted into a luxurious heritage hotel, Castle Mandawa is often called the Best Heritage Resort in Rajasthan. A two-hour car ride from Jaipur, Castle Mandawa offers outstandingly reinstated grand luxury suites and rooms, which in the past, were the chambers of the former Maharajas. The installations of vintage furniture in each of these suites and rooms is quite prominent, which takes you on a journey of regal past. As you take a stroll through this majestic castle, you realise that every nook and corner has something enthralling and amazing to offer. Be it the amalgamations of antiquity and state-of-the-art amenities on offer or the excursions and activities like camel safari, horse-riding or just a guided walk through the Shekhavati town of Mandawa.

And that’s just 3 of more than a hundred places that you can explore in this land of the Maharajas this winter. I am looking forward to my next trip. And, while you must have already travelled on a Rajasthan tour package, now aren’t you looking forward to yours too, yet again?

If you liked this, make it a point to check out the Rajasthan Customised Holiday Packages that Veena World has on offer by clicking here. Alternatively, just have a Veena World travel advisor get in touch with you by filling up the enquiry form.

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