Off-Season Travel – Rajasthan Tour Guidelines | India

Off-season travel refers to visiting a place during a period, which is not considered the ideal tourist season due to factors such as climate. It is also referred to as off-peak or low season. It is, essentially, the slow period in tourism terms.

Why should you consider off-season travel?

One simple reason: for the best deals. You will get both flight tickets and accommodation at prices way lower than with what you are bound to get for the peak tourist season.

Other reasons: you can travel with more ease due to less crowd even at main tourist attractions. You are likely to get more discounts on souvenir shopping. Opportunities to interact with the locals are likely to be more.

Why should you choose Rajasthan for off-season travel?

Rajasthan one of the best off-season travel destinations in India.

The peak tourist season in Rajasthan is from October to March. This is the most ideal time for foreign tourists who generally have a hard time handling hot Rajasthani summers. Temperatures can be extremely high and reach 50° Celsius or just below it in some regions of the state. Winters in Rajasthan are also brutal especially in the months of December and January. But winter months are bearable for tourists from USA and Europe where cold temperatures can be even more extreme. For most international visitors to Rajasthan, these winter months can be pleasing.

Visiting Rajasthan from May to June (even April at times) is not ideal. But it is quite possible to take advantage of the off-season monsoon travel in the months of July-September.

It doesn’t rain a lot in Rajasthan. There will be hardly any tourists in these months – both domestic and international. And Rajasthan in the monsoons will look and feel different. You can try food or dishes specific to these rainy months. If you can’t or don’t want to travel during winter months or the peak tourist season, book your flights to India during July, August, or September and explore Rajasthan to your heart’s desire.

How to plan your off-season Rajasthan trip?

You can take a flight to Delhi from major destinations around the world. Once you land in Delhi, you can take a train to Jaipur or travel to the city via road. Both modes of transport are excellent. Within a few hours, you will in the beautiful city of Jaipur; the capital of Rajasthan. The roads from Delhi-NCR to Jaipur are in excellent condition and very picturesque too. You can even stop at some villages on the way for authentic travel experience.

If you do not wish to travel to Jaipur (or have already seen it); you can take trains or flights from Delhi to Jodhpur, Udaipur, or Kishangarh and then explore nearby destinations. But Jaipur connects via road to many regional attractions and important towns. So, as per your itinerary, you can plan your travel from Delhi to Rajasthan. You can book cabs from Delhi Airport or pre-book them via your booking partners.

You can also take flights to Ahmedabad and then travel via road to Mount Abu – Rajasthan’s famed hill station.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Rajasthan in any season –

Destinations:

Cities – Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Bikaner, Kota, Ajmer etc.

Smaller towns – Alwar, Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Pali, Sikar, Tonk, Pushkar, Kishangarh etc.

Villages – Chandelao, (Jodhpur), Mandawa (Shekhawati) Ranakpur (Pali), Samode (Jaipur) etc.

Attractions:

Forts – Amer Fort (Jaipur), Kumbhalgarh Fort (Kumbhalgarh), Ranthambore Fort (Sawai Madhopur), Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur), Jaisalmer Fort (Jaisalmer) etc.

Palaces – City Palace (Jaipur), Lake Palace (Udaipur), Umaid Bhawan Palace (Jodhpur), Neemrana Fort (Neemrana) etc.

Markets – Johari Bazar (Jaipur), Hathi Pol Bazar (Udaipur), Bapu Bazar (Jaipur), Sadar Bazar (Jaisalmer), Sarafa Bazar (Pushkar), Nai Sarak (Jodhpur), Kote Gate (Bikaner), Pansari Bazar (Jaisalmer), Sojati Gate Market (Jodhpur) etc.

Explorations:

Festivals – Teej and Janmashtami

Crafts – Hand block printing, Bhandej (tie and dye), Blue Pottery, Marble Craft, Quilts, Miniature Painting, Enamel Jewelry, Gemstone Jewelry, Puppetry etc.

Experiences – Puppetry Workshop, Traditional Bazar Shopping, Volunteering at animal shelters etc.

Some Itinerary Ideas –

• Travel to Jaipur and take a day or two to tour the city as per your time and schedule. You can spend time exploring the ‘Walled City’ or sampling local delicacies. Then travel via road to Pushkar (around 145 km away) and spend a day there. Visit the holy lake in the evening and see the puja It is peaceful on the ghats as well as in the town.
• Travel to Jaisalmer and spend a day in town. Explore the Thar Desert and visit the main fort and various havelis Then travel by road to nearby towns and villages to get a glimpse of the places near and around the international border India shares with Pakistan. The Wood Fossil Park is a major attraction in town. Jaisalmer is connected with Delhi and other cites via flights and trains.
• Travel to Udaipur, which is one of the most popular cities to visit in Rajasthan. Visit its lakes, temples, and palaces. Check out the nearby villages and indulge in regional food made by the locals. You can fly directly to the city via Delhi or Mumbai. You can also travel by train to the city via various destinations in Rajasthan as well as from Delhi.

If you are looking for the best destinations for off-season travel in India then look no further than Rajasthan. Off-season travel can be exciting to plan. You are also likely to enjoy it more due to the discounts you are sure to get on flight and hotel bookings. You can book flights to many places in India via Indian Eagle and enjoy your holiday to the maximum.

Off-season travel to Rajasthan can be really worthwhile.