The capital of Rajasthan was given a color coat of pink a century ago in honour of a visiting Prince and has since retained this color. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh, the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City Palace, the Observatory and Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past and through the pink rose residential and business areas. Other places which must be visited in Jaipur are Ajmer, Nargarh and Jaigarh Fort and Sanganer Jain Temples.

Visit Dilwara Jain Temples, Achalgarh Fort famous for its Shiva Temple and enjoy a boat-ride on the placid waters of Nakki Lake studded with little islets.

Visit the Tomb of the Sufi Saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the Dargah Sharif Taragarh Fort and some beautiful monuments by the lovely Lake Ana Sagar.

Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary.

This desert town in the north of the state was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a descendant of the founder of Jodhpur, Jodha. It was once an important staging post on the great caravan trade routes. The city is bolstered by imposing walls and has a 16^th century fort housing old palace, temples and a mosque.

Gajner Lake surrounded by the Palaces, Gajner Wild Life Game Sanctuary.

This city with its terraced gardens and arched Rajput houses looks like a two dimensional miniature painting imposed on the landscape. Visit the palace with its intricate spy-holes, secret trap doors and underground passages.

113 kms from Udaipur, the fort of Chittor. Also visit the Vijay Stambh.

32 kms from Bharatpur, Deeg is renowned for its palaces surrounded by gardens.

Throbbing in the heart of the Thar, in burnished sandstone, is an intricately molded wonderland- a city of gilded magic. As the sun sets, the sky goes up in flames and night descends softly, creating new monuments every evening. People still live in these ancient buildings dating from 12^th to 15^th century. Visit Sam Sand Dunes near Jaisalmer and the Desert National Park.

Visit the Meharangarh fort, Moti Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada - an imposing Marble Memoriam. The museum located in the Umaid Public Gardens.

98kms from Udaipur Ranakpur has grand structures and beautiful awe inspiring pillars and sculptures in it's temples. Also visit Ranthambore National Park.

Visit the city Palace, Jagdish Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion Ki bari (Queens Resort for Her Friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (Folk Art Museum). Boat ride on Lake Pichola. Also visit Eklingji, the ancient Palaces and Sas Bahu temples at Nagda.

Located 107km from Jaipur and 200km from Delhi, the sanctuary is in a wooded valley surrounded by barren mountains. It covers 800 sq km (including a core area of 498 sq. km) and has bluebells, sambar, spotted deer, wild boar and, above all, tigers. Project Tiger has been in charge of the sanctuary since 1979. Ranthambhore National Park contains ruined temples as well as a fort, pavilions and a palace (now a hotel) built by the maharajas of Alwar. The sanctuary can be visited year round, except during July/August when the animals move to higher ground. Best time for spotting wildlife is between November and June. You'll see most wildlife in the evening, though tiger sightings are becoming more common during the day.

This traveller-friendly town clings to the side of the small Pushkar Lake with its many bathing ghats and temples. For Hindus, Pushkar is a very important pilgrimage centre. Pushkar is perhaps best known for it's incredible Camel Fair which takes place here each November.

Ranthambhore National Park covering some 400 sq km, is one of the prime examples of Project Tiger's conservation efforts in Rajasthan. According to the 1995 census, the park has a total of 27 tigers. There's still a reasonable chance of seeing one, but you should plan on two or three safaris. Other   wildlife,   especially the larger and   smaller herbivores, are more numerous,

and there's also a considerable bird population here. Even if you don't see a tiger, it's worth the effort for the scenery alone. A system of lakes and rivers is hemmed in by steep high crags and on top of one of these is the extensive and well-preserved Ranthambhore Fort, built in the 10^th century. The area was formerly a hunting preserve of the maharajas. Safaris are undertaken in open-sided jeeps driven by a ranger. If you've ever been on safari in Africa, you might think this is an unduly risky venture, but the tigers appear unconcerned by jeep loads of garrulous tourists touting cameras only meters away from where they're lying. No-one has been mauled or devoured - yet!

The best time to visit the park is between October and April, and the park is closed during the monsoon from 1 June to 1 October.