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What comes to your mind when you hear “Rajasthan”?

Hot deserts, huge palaces and tall camels, right?

Camel rides are a must and visiting those famous palaces like Amber palace and Samode palace in Jaipur, Umaid Bhawan palace in Jodhpur and many more are no doubt mandatory.  One must definitely experience the royal interiors and the architecture of these palaces. These take you away to another world.

You can miss out the regular done and dusted sights but not these unique activities.

Let’s explore some unique experiences in Rajasthan

1. HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES

It isn’t a very popular activity for the visiting tourists. But just imagine, exploring the beauty of the deserts and those huge palaces from 2000ft above the ground in a hot air balloon flying high in the sky. That’s some royalty your eyes can feast on, on the sights, spread far and wide below, for about an hour. There are three cities in Rajasthan where you can enjoy hot air balloon rides – Pushkar, Jaipur and Ranthambore.

Timings – August to march- 6:00 AM to 4:00 pm; April to July- only early mornings to avoid heat related accidents.

Price – varies from 7500/- INR to 12000/- INR

2. ZIP-LINING

Who’s up for some more adventure? Go zipping from one cliff to another and on your way enjoy exquisite views of the fort. Zip line activities available at Neemrana fort and Mehrangarh fort situated in Jaipur and Jodhpur respectively.

Timings – 9 AM to 5 PM.

Price – Varies from 500/- to 1500/- INR

3. SARISKA TIGER RESERVE:

For those who are into wildlife, Sariska Tiger Reserve is a must visit place. It is situated in the Aravalli Hills of Alwar district and is a home for animal species like Tigers, Wild Boars, Sambar deer, Monkeys and Jackals.

Timings – October to June open for all days of week; July to September closed due to rains.

Entry Fees – For Indians- 750/- INR per person; For Foreigners- 1500/- INR per person

4. CHOKHI DHANI:

The name itself says it all. Chokhi dhani means Rajasthani culture and this resort is a celebration of just that. It has catered to travellers and eager foodies for many years now. It serves authentic Rajasthan cuisine with a touch of warm hospitality.

Timings – 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM.

Meals for two – 1600/- INR (approximate)

5. DUNE BASHING:

Rajasthan is a place for way too many adventures that one can’t imagine. Dune Bashing is an extremely popular sport of the desert. Driving an SUV in the endless desert is quite an experience that you will never forget.

Place – Thar desert.

Price – varies from 2000/- to 5000/- per vehicle; None if you own a vehicle.

6. VINTAGE CAR RALLY:

Well, this doesn’t need an explanation. People who love cars and are fond of antiqueness will be absolutely amazed by this showcase of luxury cars.

Place – Jaipur

Price – 250/- INR

Timings – 9:00 AM TO 9:00 PM all days of week.

7. DESERT CAMPING:

Desert Camping is available in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pushkar as well as Jaipur. Who would not want to have delicious authentic food, watch lively folk dances and colourful puppet shows under the starlit sky?

Timings – Best if visited in winters.

Camp Rent – Varies from 1500/- to 4000/- INR

8. ABHANERI STEP WELL: 

Abhaneri step well also known as Chand Baori is a heritage showcase. One must definitely visit if one is fond of architecture. It was once used to harvest rainwater.

Place – Abhaneri

Timings – 8AM to 6 PM.

Entry Fees – nil

9. KALBELIYA TRIBE DANCE:

The Gypsy Dance they say. Don’t miss out on a performance by the kalbelia tribe, where they move to some groovy Rajasthani music.

Place – Jaipur

Entry Fees – nil

10. ANOKHI MUSEUM OF HAND-PRINTING:

It’s totally an offbeat attraction. This cute little textile museum is located in a 16^th century Haveli. They have a huge collection of hand printed textiles. On the rooftop level, you can even try your hand on block printing on a t-shirt or a scarf.

Place – Jaipur

Timings – Tuesday to Sunday 10:30 am to 5:00 pm, closed on Mondays.

Entry Fees – 30/- INR per person

11. MOUNT ABU:

Exhausted from all the heat and humidity? Let’s relax in the coolness of the hill station that is Mt Abu.

Mount Abu is a popular hill station. It has colonial bungalows and royal homestays. Cherry on the top is the small sanctuary that is Mount Abu sanctuary where you can go bird watching and even spot leopards.

Timings – 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM all days of week.

Entry fees – 600/- INR per person.

12. BISHNOI VILLAGE:

There isn’t even a point if you visit a place and don’t learn about their culture, their food, their people and how they are different from you in various aspects. Bhishoni village adds cultural value to the state of Rajasthan. The village is an organization started by the maharajas of Jodhpur to show a glimpse of their culture. The Bhishoni community inhabits the village. The community worshipped trees and started the Chipko movement to save trees. Full day safaris are available though there are no homestays available.

Next time when you plan a trip to Rajasthan don’t forget to go off-beat. BuffyFish can plan and give you a DIY itinerary for these offbeat destinations for free.

Rajasthan is open for tourists with precautions. The monuments that are closed are

1. Jodhpur Monuments.
2. Bikaner – Sadul museum.
3. Jaisalmer – Nathmal ki Haveli
4. All Jain temples and other religious places all over the state including Ranakpur temples.

P.S. The prices and timings mentioned can vary so do cross check with us before visiting.