When winter comes as bliss to escape the sweltering heat wave, people in Rajasthan welcome it by saying ‘Khamma Ghani’ (‘hello’ in the native language) with the numerous socio-cultural festivities held all over the state. The prettier and colourful – what winter makes the place. The season lasts from November to February and it certainly is one of the best places to explore in India in winter.
As per the tourism calendar, during this time, Rajasthan sees a major tourist footfall as the pleasant weather becomes ideal for exploring vivid corners of the state. Besides, the lively festivals of Rajasthan, happening all through the season in different districts with different purposes make this place a perfect winter retreat. The cherry on the cake is the migratory birds that make it a delight for bird-watchers and photographers coming all across the world.
Like this, there are countless reasons to plan a winter trip to Rajasthan. Let us tell you about some of the best winter destinations in Rajasthan below.
- Pushkar
- Mount Abu
- Ranthambore National Park
- Jaisalmer
- Jaipur
- Jodhpur
- Udaipur
- Keoladeo National Park
- Bikaner
- Bera
- Ranakpur
- Mewar
Explore Popular Rajasthan Winter Tour Packages
Pushkar, Explore the Pushkar Festival!
One of the famous festivals of Rajasthan that alone attracts millions of visitors from all over the world – Pushkar Fair or Pushkar Camel Festival is an annual fair, celebrated on the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima in late October or early November. It’s a multi-day livestock trading fair that includes celebrations in all forms.
Moreover, thousands of Hindu devotees come to Pushkar during this time to take a holy bath in the sacred lake of Pushkar and pray in Brahma Temple. Experiencing the festival and the gatherings is undoubtedly a special experience while visiting Pushkar, the top travel destination in Rajasthan in winter.
Pushkar Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- Do not miss watching the sunrise on the ghats of Pushkar Lake.
- If you love to capture photographs of the fair and the people, try to go early in the fairground before it officially starts.
- Prior bookings of hotels and transport are mandatory as the place becomes full with tourists coming from all over the world.
- Enjoy the surrounding desert and the temples.
- Be aware of the scams.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Mount Abu, Visit the Sacred Pilgrimages!
An oasis on earth, Mount Abu is one of the best places to visit in Rajasthan in winter. Located at a height of 1,220 metres, the hill station attracts a multitude of travellers wanting to explore the vibrant temples, rivers, lakes and waterfalls in chilling weather.
From walking around the frosted Nakki Lake to enjoying buying things in Mount Abu markets, from hiking to the highest point, Guru Shikhar to attending the Winter Festival, the season allows tourists to explore every neck of the woods in Mount Abu, which is also the best destination for honeymoon couples in the northwest India. Indulging in the uniqueness of Rajasthani cuisines and enjoying spellbinding fireworks during the Winter Festival is the perk of visiting the place in winter.
Mount Abu Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- Explore the rich culture and heritage of Mount Abu in the Winter Festival held in the last week of December.
- Pack winter clothes as the temperature sometimes goes beyond 12 degrees Celsius.
- Book your stays in advance for a hassle-free travel experience.
- Make sure to make a plan to visit Dilwara Temple, one of the most beautiful Jain Temples in the world.
- Make a plan for at least two to three days to cover all of the places in Mount Abu including the festival.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Ranthambore National Park, Meet Popular Wildlife of India!
Wondering why Ranthambore National Park is one of the best winter tourist places in Rajasthan, we have you covered. First of all, the park remains open from mid-October to March and winter is the ideal time to experience wildlife safaris, comfortably in pleasant weather. During November to February, you will see the animals basking under the sun in the broad daylight.
Secondly, the place becomes a birdwatcher’s haven in winter. Apart from its in-house species like waterfowl, grey hornbills, serpent eagle, flycatchers, cormorant and many more, innumerable migratory birds flock near the water bodies of the park during the winter. Apart from these two reasons, there are age-old temples and stunning ruins that look more captivating in winter.
Ranthambore Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- Wear sober sweatshirts with eco-friendly dyes and carry a muffler and a pair of gloves.
- There are two slots from 7 AM to 10:30 AM and 2 PM to 5:30 PM for wildlife jungle safari. Book your slot in advance.
- Make all bookings beforehand to have a hassle-free travel experience.
- Follow the instructions given by the officials.
- Do not disturb the wildlife as the park belongs to them, you are the visitor.
- Do not litter the area by throwing plastic wrappers or bottles here and there. Use the designated dustbins.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Jaisalmer, Catch the Glimpses of the Living Fort!
If you don’t want to get sunburned after having an exciting camel safari in the desert of Jaisalmer, choose winter to fulfil your wish. Jaisalmer is one of the ideal winter holiday destinations in Rajasthan that allows travellers to enjoy a unique experience offering umpteen things to do.
Be it an experience of staying in desert camps or exploring the living fort, Sonar Quila or Golden Fort, be it listening to folk music in the Desert Festival (held in January/February) or having a picnic on the banks of Gadisagar Lake, you will be thrilled to enjoy each moment Jaisalmer offers to its visitors in winter season. And, lastly, if you’re a fan of the ‘Border’ movie, visiting the famous Tanot Mata Temple and Longewala Post will surely be one of the enticing moments of your Jaisalmer trip.
Jaisalmer Rajasthan Travel Tips
- Ensure to keep desert-appropriate clothes with you.
- Make sure to book your desert camp in advance.
- If you want to attend the Desert Festival, check the dates before booking your tickets.
- Stargazing is one of the best things you might experience in desert camping. Do learn a little bit about the stars to enjoy thoroughly.
- Do not miss watching the stunning sunsets from the desert.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Jaipur, Have a History Tour with Modernity!
The ‘Pink City’ aka Jaipur is a must-visit place if you are planning a trip to Rajasthan for winter break. On a bright sunny day, when the winter sky perfectly contrasts with the multiple colourful windows of the Hawa Mahal – it looks jaw-dropping. With so much fun lined up, visiting Jaipur in winter is undoubtedly one of its kind.
There is no dearth of places in Jaipur for travelling with your family and friends in winter. The planned and modern city has proven tracks of history in every corner and it yields an idiosyncratic experience. A classic sightseeing tour in Jaipur on a chilly morning always starts with visiting Birla Mandir and then to Albert Hall Museum. Then after having breakfast with Kachori, you can move towards the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace, and then Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort, one by one. Do not miss visiting Jantar Mantar where the guide will talk about the ancient way of observing time and will take you back to the history books.
Jaipur Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- Make sure to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival which happens in late January every year.
- Don’t miss eating Dal – Bati – Churma, Ghevar and Kachori in Jaipur.
- Buy authentic handicrafts at the right price, get help from the locals.
- Visit the Nahargarh Fort in broad daylight to see the city as ‘Pink City.’ Otherwise, it becomes Fog City in the late afternoon.
- Do not eat non-veg food in your hired car without taking permission from the driver or guide.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Jodhpur, Savour the Marwari Lifestyle!
Another popular tourist destination in Rajasthan, Jodhpur is a treasure trove with regal forts, magnificent Havelis, tranquil lakes, decorated gardens, ancient temples, crowded markets and many more. There is always a special mention of the expansive Thar Desert, for which Jodhpur is known as the ‘Gateway to the Thar,’ and that also makes it a popular choice for winter vacation among tourists.
Winter is definitely the best time to visit Jodhpur as it is located close to the desert. Apart from the ease of exploring in pleasant weather, the festivals like Desert Kite Festival and Maand Festival also play a major role in attracting a huge number of tourists this time. Besides visiting places like Mandore Gardens, Jaswant Thada, Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace, relishing the authentic Marwari cuisine is also a major part of the Jodhpur trip that you should not miss.
Jodhpur Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- If you want to explore the Marwari lifestyle, culture, tradition and food in one place, make sure to attend the Marwari Festival.
- Have a desert safari and feel an adrenaline rush.
- Take a stroll around Ranisar Lake and delve into the history.
- Stay in a heritage hotel for a lavish experience.
- Join a cooking class and learn to cook delicious Marwari recipes.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Udaipur, Relish Royal Culture of the Lake City!
Confused about whether to add Udaipur on your winter trip? Well, it is best explored with a bit of nip in the weather. Let us give you an example. Can you imagine yourself having a relaxing boat ride on a lake with a background of awe-inspiring royal palaces along with colourful hues in the sky? Welcome to Udaipur then.
One of the best places to visit in Rajasthan, Udaipur offers many reasons to travel in winter. The architecture of the royal palaces looks magnificent with a backdrop of the winter sky. The reflection of the setting sun on the lakes looks charismatic in the evening. The richness of winter food makes a delightful addition to Rajasthani cuisines. The weather becomes perfect to stroll through the markets without getting exhausted. And, the cultural festival held in December, called Shilpgram Utsav, completes the picture with a splash of colours. Hope, these reasons are enough to add Udaipur to your Rajasthan sightseeing tour in winter.
Udaipur Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- Spend quality time at the banks of the lakes in winter. You’ll love it.
- Book a lakeside hotel in advance to cherish the winter mornings.
- Cover yourself properly whenever you are visiting the religious places in Udaipur.
- Do not speak ill about anything in Udaipur. The locals might not welcome your comments.
- Make sure to visit the palaces of different architectural styles, if you love to learn about ancient architecture.
- Bargain in the markets to get stuff at the right price. Be like a local.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Keoladeo National Park, Spot Siberian Crane in Winter!
A historical man-made bird sanctuary of Bharatpur, Keoladeo National Park was formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Originally a royal hunting reserve and a game reserve in the British period, Keoladeo is now one of the most important bird feeding and breeding grounds in the world. The park is located at the confluence of the Banganga and Gambhir rivers and spreads across 2,873 hectares of grasslands, woodlands and wetlands.
This famous avifauna sanctuary is a paradise for bird watchers as it is home to more than 370 species of birds. And the abundance of migratory birds coming from Siberia, China, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan makes the park one of the must-see destinations in winter. Moreover, Keoladeo National Park is the only place in India where you can spot Siberian cranes during the winter. With the enormous colonies of colourful birds, the noiseless pollution-free park becomes a centre of attraction in Rajasthan during the winter.
Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- The park remains open from 6:30 AM to 5 PM in winter.
- You can choose any of the safaris available from the bicycle, horse tongas and rickshaws. However, it is recommended to take a rickshaw or bicycle as both are noiseless and allow you to spot a greater number of birds.
- Do not disturb or tease the animals wandering in the park.
- Do not feed anything to the birds.
- For better photography, try to reach the park early in the morning.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Bikaner, Make Your Winter Trip Chilled with Bikaneri Bhujia!
Located in the heart of Rajasthan, Bikaner experiences an extreme rise in temperature in summer. So, it becomes the perfect winter getaway when the temperature drops and the weather gets nippy. The temperature ranges between 5 and 23 degrees Celsius, which allows the travellers to have a comfortable sightseeing tour through the places.
There is a wide range of tourist places in Bikaner that come with different attractions. From historical forts with a marvellous blend of architecture like Junagarh Fort and Rampuria Haveli to sandstone-carved Jain temples like Bhandasar Jain Temple and Shri Laxminath Temple, Bikaner has always been a famous tourist spot in Rajasthan. It’s the place where you will find a gate (read: Kote Gate) that separates the old city from the new, which is also the shopper’s paradise for travellers. To mention, a camel safari in the Thar desert has to be added to your list to make your Bikaner trip more memorable.
Bikaner Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- Pack warm clothes as the temperature sometimes drops to 4 degrees celsius in winter.
- Bikaner has so many places to visit, so a two-day itinerary is always recommended.
- Never forget to taste Bikaneri Bhujia when you are in the city. Find the best shop and indulge in this famous snack.
- After Jaisalmer, you can also experience desert safari and camping in Bikaner.
- Do not forget to seek blessings in Karni Mata Temple.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Bera, Experience a Lifetime Leopard Safari!
Located in Pali District, Bera is a small town, which has been gaining popularity as a leopard country for the past few years. It is located at a distance of around 140 kilometres from Udaipur and can be reached within two hours. As the place is not yet declared as a wildlife sanctuary, there is no restriction to experiencing safaris for a long duration.
Bera is undoubtedly one of the top tourist places in Rajasthan if you are a wildlife enthusiast and planning for a winter break. The place is also known as Jawai, named after the river Jawai flowing through the area. Both the destinations are the same. In Bera, you will find small villages and Jawai is the area where the leopards live. The place is covered by hillocks with caves, making it the ideal habitat for the leopards. There is also another tourist spot near Bera, the Jawai Dam.
Bera Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- Apart from leopards, you can also spot other animals like sloth bears, nilgai, desert cats and hyenas.
- Jawai Dam is the place where you will find a huge number of residents as well as migratory birds.
- Always take a guide with you for a leopard safari.
- Explore the villages and the tradition of the locals.
- Plan for at least three days to explore every bit of Bera and Jawai.
Other Interesting Blog to Read
Ranakpur, Get Enchanted by the Architecture of Marble Jain Temples!
Home to a stunning 15th-century-old Jain Temple, Ranakpur is one of the most preferred family holiday destinations in India. Besides, it’s also a famous pilgrimage site due to the abundance of temples. The temples, as well as the tourist spots in Ranakpur, are best explored in winter as the place becomes extremely hot in summer.
A usual sightseeing tour in Ranakpur starts with visiting the marvellous Ranakpur Jain Temple, which spreads over an area of 4,500 square metres. It is made of white marble that looks stunning on a bright sunny winter morning. The Jain Temple is dedicated to Adinath, who is also known as Rishabanatha. Apart from the temple, you can also explore other places in Ranakpur like Sadri, Surya Narayan Temple, Muchhal Mahavir Temple and Narlai to enjoy your winter vacation in Rajasthan.
Ranakpur Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- Ranakpur Jain Temple remains open from 12 PM to 5 PM.
- There is no entry fee in the temple but the priest might ask you for donations.
- Be fully or semi-covered by clothes when you are visiting the temple.
- If you want to enjoy the authentic vibes of Ranakpur, do not forget to visit Desuri.
- You can have a nature walk to enjoy the beauty of Ranakpur thoroughly.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Mewar, Plunge into the Kumbhalgarh Festival!
If you ask, there is only one reason why we recommend visiting Mewar in winter – Kumbhalgarh Festival. An epitome of entertainment mingled with art and culture; the whole festival is a canvas of Indian culture.
The three-day long festival in December is organised by the Tourism Department of Rajasthan and it is held in the courtyard of the Kumbhalgarh Fort. Apart from the festival, Mewar is also famed for its century-old Kumbhalgarh Fort, which was built by Rana Kumbha. Exploring the age-old ruins along with several temples and the verdant wildlife sanctuaries offers the best memory of a Rajasthan trip in winter.
Mewar Rajasthan Winter Travel Tips
- If you want to capture the amazing moments of the whole festival, we would suggest you survey the place to find better angles.
- Reach the ground early before the festival starts to learn about the artists and their products.
- Enjoy the daytime by shopping for regional stuff like jewellery, handicrafts, ethnic wear and many more.
- Do not miss the nights that are full of entertainment with dance, music and light and sound shows.
- Enjoy the historical puppet show and experience a lifetime moment.
Other Interesting Blogs to Read
Hope, this Rajasthan winter travel guide will help you a lot in visiting the top winter holiday destinations in Rajasthan. These places along with the festivals will let you learn about the royalty, history, culture, tradition and cuisines of Rajasthan, vividly. Do share if you know about any other winter tourist spots in Rajasthan.
Other Important Rajasthan Tourism Links
Like & Follow our social media accounts at Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin & Instagram for getting the latest updates & offers on holiday packages.
Disclaimer: This content is written by our team of expert Travel Writers with deep research. In case you find any incorrect information or missing information, please do send your valuable inputs at webmaster@tourmyindia.com. We will update the content as soon as possible with respect to your inputs.
We do not take credit for some of the licenced paid images used in our blogs, whether from Google Images, Fotolia & Shutterstock. All such images are the copyrights of their respective owners and we try to provide credit for them wherever we can. If, however, any copyright image has been used on our blog, the concerned person can either mail us directly to remove the image or provide credit to whomsoever the image may belong to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it good to visit Rajasthan in winter?
Yes, Rajasthan is one of the best places to visit with family in winters. In Rajasthan, winter lasts from November to February and it is certainly the best time to explore the state. The temperature ranges between 10 and 27 degrees Celsius and the nippy weather becomes perfect to allow travellers enjoy various activities in Rajasthan.
Which are the best places to visit in December in Rajasthan?
Some of the popular points of tourist interest to visit in December in Rajasthan are:
- Pushkar, Explore the Pushkar Festival.
- Mount Abu, Visit the sacred pilgrimages.
- Ranthambore National Park, Meet popular wildlife of India.
- Jaisalmer, Catch the glimpses of the Living Fort.
- Jaipur, Have a tour of history with modernity.
- Jodhpur, Savour the Marwari lifestyle.
- Udaipur, Relish royal culture of the Lake city.
- Keoladeo National Park, Learn about migratory birds.
- Bikaner, Make your winter trip chilled with Bikaneri Bhujia.
- Bera, Experience a Leopard Safari.
- Ranakpur, Get enchanted by the architecture of marble Jain Temples.
- Mewar, Plunge into the Kumbhalgarh Festival.
Which are the popular activities for tourists to experience in winter in Rajasthan?
Popular activities for tourists in Rajasthan visiting during winter season are:
- Spending vacation in the lap of lakes in Udaipur.
- Exploring the Camel Festival in Pushkar.
- Spotting migratory birds in Keoladeo National Park.
- Admiring the Kumbhalgarh Festival in Mewar.
- Witnessing wildlife in Ranthambore National Park.
- Enjoying the colourful Kite Festival in Jaipur.
- Having nature walks at Ranakpur Festival.
- Exploring the richness of Rajasthani culture in the Mount Abu Winter Festival.
Which are the best places to visit in Rajasthan with family in January?
There is no dearth of places in Rajasthan to spend a family vacation in January. Some of them are:
- Udaipur
- Mount Abu
- Jaipur
- Kumbhalgarh
- Keoladeo National Park
- Chittorgarh
- Nagaur
- Pali
Which are the must-visit festivals to see in Rajasthan in winter?
One of the greatest reasons behind the popularity of Rajasthan for being a favourite tourist spot to spend winter holidays is the colourful festivals of Rajasthan. Some of the must-visit radiant festivals to enjoy in Rajasthan in winters are:
- Kumbhalgarh Festival, Kumbhalgarh
- Kite Festival, Jaipur
- Camel Festival, Pushkar
- Winter Festival, Mount Abu
- Ranakpur Festival, Pali
About the author
From the ‘City of Joy,’ Kolkata, Nandini Bhattacharya is a Travel Writer by profession and traveller by passion. She loves to explore places around the world, new cultures, different cuisines and all new things that one can learn outside the home. She also loves to document her journey so that people can be inspired and travel more. Nandini is a nature lover and talks about sustainable tourism. She wants to make this world a good place where people can live healthy and happily.
+91-9212777225
Plan Your trip
