Rajasthan is the land of forts and palaces, some large, some small, some pretty, some plain, but all of them with a history. The land has seen pleasure, pain, peace, war, luxury, and desert barrenness. Some forts and palaces attract hordes of visitors, while some stand off the beaten track, seeing none but a quiet bird or stray cattle. Each of the forts and palaces in Rajasthan has a tale to tell, a tale from the days gone by, when kings rode off to war, and beautiful queens awaited victory or death, depending on the outcome of the battle.

Rajasthan has seen turbulent times. It was constantly under attacks either from Mughals, British armies, and the Marathas, or faced the destruction caused when Rajput rulers fought each other over territory.

Certain pockets of the region, where rulers made peace with their enemies, or learnt how to hunt with hounds and run with foxes, the grim toll of battle was less. Here, the palaces are more beautiful, the forts less foreboding, and the atmosphere - even after centuries - more relaxed.

When the Rajput rulers were not at war, they lived it up in style. Before the days of democracy, when the rulers had free reign over the land, they built forts and palaces to provide food for work programs in months of famine. They could gift lands to their favorite courtier, and build palaces to house their retinue of wives and concubines. Their pleasure palaces saw evenings of riotous living, complete with dancing girls and dinners consisting of whatever they had hunted that day.

Jaipur:
It is the capital of Rajasthan and also famous as the Pink City owing to the buildings having a pink shade, being built of the local sandstone. This town was established by Jai Singh II and is one of the world's major gem centers. The things to watch here are City Palace or Chandra Mahal, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and Jantar Mantar - The Royal Observatory.

Udaipur:
It is an important stop in the itinerary of Rajasthan and also popular as the "City of Lakes". It has a natural ambiance and is surrounded by hills and mountains. Its stunning palaces have enchanted generations of tourists. The Lake palace is the most important among these and its reflection is mirrored in the tranquil blue waters of Lake Pichola. This charming town was established by Maharana Udai Singh in the year 1568 as the capital of Mewar.

Kumbhalgarh:
It is one of the most captivating destinations of Rajasthan and is located at a distance of 80 km to the north of Udaipur. It is nested in the rugged Aravallis and was built by Maharana Kumbha in the year 1458 upon the remnants of an existing ancient fortress. Kumbhalgarh is also a paradise for the trekkers as it offers a rocky terrain for adventure treks.

Bikaner:
This captivating town is located in the northern region of Rajasthan. The entire town is bounded by high fortifications containing seven-kilometer long wall, which surrounds the old city having five access points built 18th century. Bikaner is well-known for some of the best camel safaris.

Ajmer:
This town deserves a mention in any Rajasthan destination guide and is an important pilgrimage site renowned for the Dargah (tomb) of the famous 13th-century Sufi Saint, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti. Besides, the traditional handicraft works of Ajmer are equally remarkable and enchanting. Ajmer is flanked by Ana Sagar Lake on one side and undulating hills of the Aravali range on the other.

Jodhpur:
Located on the edge of the Thar Desert, this town is popular for a number of impressive forts and palaces that reflect the glory of the bygone era. The most prominent tourist attractions of Jodhpur include Umaid Bhawan Palace, Girdikot & Sardar Market, Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada.