RAJASTHAN : From remnants of a royal age to the magnificent Royal Bengal tiger, the Indian state of Rajasthan has it all, making it a coveted travel destination for tourists worldwide. Home to some of the most significant chapters of Indian history, the desert state has seen the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms alike. Paired with the exotic desert landscape, Rajasthan is one of the crowning jewels of Indian tourism. With a state so large, featuring three distinct landscapes, Rajasthan deserves a lengthy visit.

However, since the notable sites of this beautiful destination are so far from each other, choosing the correct roadmap for the tour becomes very important. Luckily, one can almost never go wrong by kicking it off with the capital city of Jaipur. Known as the pink city, Jaipur has a rich heritage of its own, with numerous notable places to visit, starting with the Amer Palace. The palace still stands in really good shape, basking in its former glory of the royal age of the Rajputs. Noteworthy also are the Hawa Mahal, one of India’s most iconic monuments, Nahargarh Fort, the ancient observatory known as Jantar Mantar, and the famous Jaipur Zoo, among many others. But if urban sightseeing is not to your taste, Rajasthan can offer you a taste of wilderness as well. 

Well-connected to Jaipur is the famed Ranthambore National Park, home to the majestic national animal: the Royal Bengal Tiger. One of the largest in the country, a safari through designated areas of this forest will ensure a tiger sighting, along with a variety of breathtaking bird species. If one gets lucky, they can find a leopard perched atop the gates of the Ranthambore Fort as well. 

Booking a safari in Ranthambore is no hassle too. Most of the luxury accommodations and resorts can arrange a permit, and tourists would be good to go. One can also book the safari online just as easily. The available safaris here are by jeep or open buses. However, jeeps are obviously the better option. One can even hire an entire Safari jeep for themselves, as opposed to the usual ride-share paradigm, and explore the beautiful forest on their own terms. The forest is divided into 12 zones, among which zones 6-10 are best for tiger spotting. But what will constantly grace your eyes throughout the safari is the abundance of peacocks, the majestic national bird of India. 

If you have explored Ranthambore, and your thirst for wilderness is yet to be quenched, head to the beautiful village of Jawai Bera, near Udaipur. A small farming village, Jawai Bera is the ultimate example of the coexistence of man and nature, for the rocky desert in and around the village is spotted with leopards. It has, in recent years, become one of the favorite destinations for wildlife photographers who like to frame this elusive big cat in their natural habitat. Not to mention the breath-taking beauty of the landscape, accented with desert shrubs and rock formations reminiscent of the African savannas.