Why Rajasthan is a children's country
Indian families travel together, grandparents and cousins included. Bring a child to Rajasthan and every door opens a little wider.
Castles that are real: hidden staircases, cannon on the walls, ramparts to walk and dungeons to imagine.
Animals everywhere: peacocks on hotel lawns, camels in the dunes, monkeys on temple steps, tigers in the forest and blackbuck near Bishnoi villages.
- Children are adored: shopkeepers offer sweets, village grandmothers want to hold the baby, and nobody minds a little noise at dinner.
- Making, not just looking: kites, puppets, block printing and cooking turn a holiday into something children did rather than something they were shown.
- The catch: the classic adult itinerary of long drives and three monuments a day exhausts children by the fourth day. The answer is fewer places and more nights.
Local tip
Before you leave home, read your children one Rajput story and the love story of the Taj Mahal. They will arrive already curious, and the guides will love them for it.
The rhythm of a good family day
Our rule is simple: one big thing in the morning, one small thing in the evening, and a swimming pool in between.
Mornings for the forts: children are at their best before ten, and so are the forts, before the crowds and the heat.
Short guided visits: our guides know how to tell a fort's story to a seven-year-old, and when to stop talking.
Facts to know
- Sights
- Before about ten, while it is cool and quiet
- Midday
- Lunch, pool, nap or a game on the lawn
- Evening
- A short outing, a show or a sunset
- Drives
- A stop every ninety minutes
- Rest day
- One every four or five days
- Long lunches: an hour and a half at the table, then the pool. Nobody has ever complained.
- Gentle evenings: a puppet show, a boat on the lake or chai on a rooftop while the city lights come on.
- A rest day: nothing planned at all. Children love it more than adults expect, and so do the adults.
- Fly the long legs: Jaipur to Udaipur is about six hours by road and about an hour by air. Save the car for shorter days.
What works at each age
A toddler, a ten-year-old and a teenager want very different things from the same fort. We plan for the child you actually have.
Babies and toddlers
The heart of the trip: palace hotels with gardens, pools and space to run. Fewer moves between hotels.
- Carrier over pushchair: forts and old cities are full of steps, ramps and uneven stone. A light folding pushchair still helps in airports.
- Supplies: nappies and baby food are sold in city supermarkets, but brands differ. Bring anything your child relies on.
Children from five to eleven
The golden age: old enough to remember it, young enough to believe every story.
- What they love: the mirrors at Amber, the cannon at Jaigarh, the corridors of Nahargarh, camels at Jaisalmer and tigers at Ranthambore.
- Pure magic: a night in a desert camp, with a campfire and a sky full of stars.
Teenagers
Real stories: guides who talk about Rajput battles, Mughal politics and how Jaipur's astronomers measured time.
- Adventure: jeep safaris, dawn cycling, street-food walks and photography, with zip lines and climbing where they run.
- Space and Wi-Fi: connecting rooms or a room close by, and we check the signal at heritage hotels, where thick walls weaken it.
Three generations
- Two speeds a day: a slower option for grandparents and something energetic for the children, meeting at the pool each evening.
- Read more: our multi-generation journeys explain how we pace it.
The forts children love most
Not every famous monument works for a child. These ones do, again and again, because there is something to climb, find or count.
Amber Fort, the hall of mirrors
- Why: the Sheesh Mahal's ceilings are set with thousands of mirror pieces that turn one candle into a starry sky.
- How: arrive as the gates open. We walk or drive up, and we don't book elephant rides.
Jaigarh, the giant cannon
- Why: the Jaivana, an eighteenth-century cannon cast on the site, often described as the largest cannon on wheels in the world.
- Bonus: the best view down onto Amber Fort and Maota Lake.
Nahargarh, the maze of queens' rooms
- Why: the Madhavendra Bhawan's identical apartments are joined by corridors, so the maharaja could visit each queen without the others knowing. Perfect for hide and seek with a guide.
Mehrangarh, a fort on a cliff
- Why: cannon, palanquins, weapons and the blue city spread out far below. Children love the sieges and the views from the ramparts.
Jaisalmer, a fort where people live
- Why: a golden fort with families, shops and temples inside, and lanes too narrow for cars. It feels like a storybook town.
Kumbhalgarh, the great wall
- Why: a fort wall that runs for kilometres over the hills. Older children love walking a stretch of it at sunrise.
Animals, and how we talk about them
Children ask the best questions, and the hardest. Why can't we ride the elephant? We think the answer is worth giving, kindly and honestly.
No elephant rides: we don't book them at Amber or anywhere else. The elephants that carry visitors work long days on hot stone.
No captive-animal shows: no dancing bears, snake charmers or performing monkeys.
- Tigers instead: a jeep at dawn in Ranthambore, with a naturalist who is good with young people. Sightings are never guaranteed, so we keep expectations gentle.
- Birds by rickshaw: in Bharatpur, children ride cycle-rickshaws with naturalists through the wetland, spotting owls, storks and jackals.
- Leopards on rocks: at Jawai, leopards rest on granite above Rabari villages. One pair of binoculars per child saves a lot of arguments.
- Hands off: no touching or feeding street dogs, monkeys or cattle. At Galtaji, carry nothing that looks like a snack.
- Our wider view: see ethical animal encounters.
Local tip
Safari rules on minimum ages and seating change from time to time. We check them for your dates and book a private jeep so the family sets its own pace.
Things to make and do
Children remember what they did with their own hands far longer than anything they were shown. Every family day should have one.
Fly a kite from a Jaipur rooftop
- How: a kite-maker and an expert flyer on a haveli roof. On 14 January, the whole city joins in. See kite flying.
Work a puppet
- How: kathputli, Rajasthan's string puppets, are worked by families who tell old stories with songs and drums. After a private show, children try it themselves. See puppet theatre.
Print a handkerchief
- How: a morning with a block-printing family in Bagru, stamping cotton with carved wooden blocks. See block printing in Bagru.
Cook in a family kitchen
- How: rolling chapatis, shaping laddoos and frying puris. Our haveli cooking class can be tailored for children.
Tie a turban
- How: a turban-tying session gives every child a photograph and a story. See the Rajasthani turban.
Count the stars
- How: a desert night far from city lights, with a guide and a telescope. See stargazing in the Thar.
Stories to tell them on the way
A fort is a pile of stones until someone tells you who lived there. These are the stories our family tells children in the car.
The nurse who saved a prince: tradition says Panna Dhai, a nurse at Chittorgarh, saved the infant Udai Singh, later founder of Udaipur, by putting her own son in his place. Tell it gently.
The king who measured the sky: Sawai Jai Singh II built giant stone instruments in Jaipur. At the Jantar Mantar, children can watch a sundial's shadow move.
- The palace of winds: Hawa Mahal has 953 small windows so the royal women could watch processions without being seen.
- The people who protect trees: the Bishnoi of Marwar have guarded trees and animals for centuries. Visit their villages, where blackbuck graze near the houses. See Bishnoi villages.
- The tigress of the lakes: Machli held the lakes of Ranthambore for years and was perhaps the most photographed tiger in the world. See Machli the tigress.
- The goddess of the rats: at Deshnoke near Bikaner, a temple where thousands of rats are fed and protected. Children either love it or refuse to go in.
A night in the desert
Ask children what they remember of Rajasthan and most say the same thing: the night in the dunes.
Sunset on the dunes: a gentle camel ride with handlers who care for their animals, or a walk to the top of a dune.
The campfire: folk musicians, hot food and a sky with more stars than most children have ever seen.
- Choosing a camp: proper tents with attached bathrooms and staff who look after children. See luxury desert camps.
- Cold nights: winter nights in the Thar are cold, so pack warm layers, hats and socks.
- Where: the dunes beyond Jaisalmer, or a dune camp near Manvar between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
Udaipur, the gentlest city for small children
If we had to choose one Rajasthani city for a family with a toddler, it would be Udaipur. Everything happens slowly, and most of it happens on or beside the water.
A boat on the lake: a ride on Lake Pichola, with palaces rising from the shore and birds on the ghats. Short, calm and memorable.
Folk dance and puppets: the evening show at Bagore ki Haveli, with dancers balancing pots and puppets that make every child laugh.
- Up high: a cable-car ride to the hill above the lake suits every age, with the whole city laid out below.
- A garden of fountains: Saheliyon ki Bari, the garden of the maidens, where the fountains are perfect for small hands.
- A lake hotel: pools, gardens and boats make the hotel feel like part of the holiday. See our Udaipur luxury hotels guide.
What to pack for children
A few things are hard to find in Rajasthan, and a few are easier than you think. This is the list we send families.
A baby carrier: pushchairs struggle on the steps, ramps and cobbles of forts and old cities.
Winter layers: hats, gloves and warm jumpers for dawn safaris and desert nights from December to February.
- Sun protection all year: sun hats, sunglasses and high-factor children's sun cream.
- Insect repellent: one suitable for children, especially after the monsoon.
- A small medical kit: with any medicines your children use, and their prescriptions.
- Slip-on shoes: shoes come off at every temple door, and laces slow everyone down.
- Modest clothes: older children need covered shoulders and knees for temples too. Our packing guide has the full list.
Long drives without tears
Children manage road days far better than adults expect, as long as the drives are short and something wonderful waits at the end.
The right car: a large car or van with room to sleep or play. A second car for teenagers is possible.
Child seats: not standard in Indian touring cars. Tell us the ages and we bring the right seats.
- Seat belts: in the back as well as the front, every time.
- Animal bingo: cows, camels, peacocks, monkeys, a painted truck, a wedding band. First to ten chooses dessert.
- Break the road: a stepwell, a temple or a heritage hotel for lunch. Chand Baori at Abhaneri works on every age.
- Trains are a treat: many children love Indian trains, the platforms and the chai sellers. See our trains guide.
- Screens for the last hour: a downloaded film or audiobook, saved for the end of the drive.
Food, water and keeping well
Most parents worry about the food. In practice, children eat very well in Rajasthan, as long as a few simple rules are kept.
Familiar food: good hotels serve rice, dal, chapatis, plain pasta, toast and eggs without a second thought.
New favourites: many children discover they love paneer, mild dal, puris and sweet lassi.
Facts to know
- Water
- Sealed bottled or filtered only, teeth too
- Say
- Bina mirch, without chilli
- Safe choices
- Hot, freshly cooked food, peeled fruit
- Skip
- Raw salads and buffets that have sat for hours
- Before you go
- See your own doctor or a travel clinic
- Clean hands: wash or sanitise before every snack, and after touching animals or handrails.
- The sun: hats, sun cream, water bottles and a rest at midday, even in winter.
- If anyone falls ill: good private hospitals are found in Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur, and your planner will help at once. Read health and safety.
Family journeys we plan most
Most families end up on one of a few shapes. Each one is a starting point we change for your children.
Jaipur, Ranthambore and Udaipur
- Why: forts and kites, then tigers, then boats on the lake. Short drives and one short flight.
- Who it suits: a first family journey with children of five and over.
The family adventure
- Why: Jaipur, Jodhpur, the leopards of Jawai, a night by the wall of Kumbhalgarh, then Udaipur.
- Who it suits: children of roughly six to sixteen who want more than palaces.
With Delhi and Agra
- Why: the Taj Mahal works on every age at sunrise. Keep it to about an hour and tell the love story as you walk.
- Watch for: the Taj is closed to sightseers on Fridays. See our family journeys.
When to travel with children
Heat tires children quickly, so the cool season is a gift. Luckily, it lines up with most school holidays.
School holidays that fit: the October half-term, Christmas and the February half-term all fall in the cool season.
Easter: late March or April is possible, with sightseeing early and the pool in the afternoon.
Facts to know
- Best season
- October to March
- Our favourite
- February
- Busiest weeks
- Christmas and New Year
- Book family rooms
- Nine to twelve months ahead for Christmas
- Cold mornings
- December and January
- April to June: very hot, often above 40°C. We would not suggest a classic family journey then.
- The monsoon: green and quiet, and it can suit older children around Udaipur. Some parks close.
- Festivals: Makar Sankranti in January and Diwali in the autumn are magical with children. See the festival calendar.
Before you go
A little preparation at home makes the first days easier for everyone, especially the youngest travellers.
Visas: every child needs their own. Apply only through the official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in.
One parent travelling: carry a letter of consent from the other, and check your own government's advice.
- Talk about difference: cows on the road and crowds in the bazaar can surprise children. A gentle chat beforehand helps.
- Give them a job: a camera, a sketchbook or a list of animals to spot.
- Learn a greeting together: children who say khamma ghani are greeted with delight.
- Tell us everything: allergies, fears, sleep routines and favourite foods. We pass them to every hotel and guide.
- The practical guide: our travelling with children page covers packing, hotels and transport in full.