Stepwells that look like optical illusions, painted towns, a fort wall that runs for miles — the places our guides love most, often just a short detour from the famous cities.
01India's most hypnotic stepwell
Dug in the 8th–9th century, Chand Baori plunges some 13 levels into the earth through around 3,500 perfectly symmetrical steps. It was built to store monsoon water and offer a cool retreat from the desert heat — and it still looks like an optical illusion carved in stone.
Combine with the carved Harshat Mata temple next door. It sits neatly between Jaipur and Ranthambore or Agra.
Pair it with Jaipur
02The painted town Kipling admired
A sleepy town of blue houses beneath the hilltop Taragarh Fort. Bundi's palace hides the Chitrashala, rooms covered in exquisite murals, and the town has dozens of stepwells, including the ornate Raniji ki Baori. Rudyard Kipling wrote admiringly of the palace in his travel letters.
Stay a night to explore the old lanes at dusk — it pairs well with a Ranthambore safari.
Pair it with Ranthambore
03The Great Wall of India
Built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century, Kumbhalgarh's walls snake for around 36 km over the Aravalli hills — among the longest continuous fortifications in the world. Part of the UNESCO-listed Hill Forts of Rajasthan, it is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap.
Stay for the evening light-and-sound show, then continue to Ranakpur the next morning.
Pair it with Udaipur
04A forest of 1,444 marble pillars
This 15th-century temple to Adinatha is a masterpiece of white marble, with 1,444 intricately carved pillars — famously, no two are the same. Sunlight shifts through the halls during the day, changing the colour of the stone from gold to pale blue.
Dress modestly and leave leather items behind. Visitors are usually admitted from midday.
Pair it with Udaipur
05An open-air gallery of painted mansions
In the 18th and 19th centuries, wealthy Marwari merchants covered their havelis in frescoes — gods and legends alongside trains, cars and even Europeans in top hats. Mandawa is the best base for wandering Shekhawati's painted lanes.
A natural stop between Delhi or Jaipur and Bikaner. Hire a local guide to unlock the stories in the paintings.
Pair it with Bikaner
06Ancient temples on the edge of the dunes
Once a thriving trading town on the caravan routes, Osian holds a remarkable cluster of Hindu and Jain temples from the 8th to 12th centuries, including the hilltop Sachiya Mata temple. Sand dunes just outside town make for a quiet sunset camel ride.
An easy half-day from Jodhpur, or a stop on the drive to Jaisalmer.
Pair it with Jodhpur
07India's largest fort, steeped in legend
Spread across a 180-metre-high plateau, Chittorgarh is the largest fort in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its nine-storey Vijay Stambh, the Tower of Victory, was raised by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century, and the ruins echo with tales of Rajput valour.
Allow half a day; a guide brings the palaces, temples and towers to life.
Pair it with UdaipurAny of these can be built into one of our journeys or a private custom route — usually with no extra planning fee.