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Best Rajasthan Village Tours

A must have experience is the Bishnoi Village Safari that tours through the quaint and small village near the city of Jodhpur. There can be two derivations of the word “Bishnoi”. One relates to the Hindu god, Vishnu. The other broken into ‘bish’ and “noi” meaning twenty and nine respectively. This refers to the twenty nine principles that Bishnoi’s follow. Bishnoi village safari is a must include in your Rajasthan village tours.

The Bishnoi tribe is well known for animal and plant conservation. These villagers protect their soil from erosion by planting fodder for their cattle. Being able deft agriculturists and shepherds, the people from here are also famous for their block printing work. Not only that, many of the village people have made a mark in fields like Information Technology and Defence.

Most of them though, are still attached to their own land. Bishnoi people are great with clay and are a master in this art. But, unfortunately, pottery is slowly dying because many villagers are looking at other lucrative and better-earning professions.

On your way to these villages, you will notice Chinkaras and other wildlife roaming freely. If you are lucky enough, you might even spot cranes on your way to the village area. The terrain leading to the Bishnoi villages is usually rugged but you will find a few patches of greenery on the desert.

You can travel to this village on a jeep or camel safari. The real highlight of Bishnoi Village Safari is a homestay in the village for one night. You must understand that this village is not very large, in reality; they have small hamlets known as dhannis.

They live in clean, small round mud huts, with thatched roofs. The floor of the huts is plastered with mud. The rugged land surrounding this place is best for hiking that gives a great sight of the wildlife and scenic beauty of the place. During the Bishnoi Village Safari, you can also interact with the villagers. You can try your hands at milking cows and creating pots.

Location: Jodhpur

Best time to go: October to March

Things to do in Bishnoi Village: Jeep Safari, Camel Safari, Bird watching

Amongst the village tours of Rajasthan, the Khuri Sand Dunes is a lesser known tourist destination. These dunes are situated in Khrui village, located 42 kms from the city of Jaisalmer. You can easily reach this part of the Thar Desert within thirty minutes from the city of Jaisalmer. 

Though Khuri is not as popular as Saam Sand Dunes, it definitely provides an enjoyable experience. The good aspect of this place is that they have managed to escape the commercialization.

The tourists visiting this place can enjoy a camel safari where the animals are elaborately decorated. The unique houses made of mud and thatched straws here further enhances the appeal of the village. One of the advantages of the Khuri Sand Dunes tour is that you get to stay with the locals in their mud houses.

One night can be spent in the village with the locals and another in the desert, among the sand dunes. Kalbeliya dance, star gazing, awesome authentic Rajasthani food, camel races and camel polo are all a part of the desert safari. Evening bonfires and folk music will also take your breath away and make this visit a memorable experience!

It is here that you get to spot rare birds such as Demoiselle cranes and the Great Indian Bustard. While you are here, do visit the nearby Desert National Park. This is one of the largest national parks in India and houses over one twenty migratory and resident birds and if you are a fun loving person or you are with your friends you must visit Jaisalmer as it offers amazing adventurous activities that can be done here.

Location: 42 Kms from Jaisalmer

Best time to go: October to March

Things to do in Khuri Village: Camel Safari, Overnight stay in Sand Dunes, Visit Khuri village reservoir, Village Walk,Visit Desert National Park.

You cannot miss visiting the Bijaipur village when on a Rajasthan village tours. This village is situated on the foothills of the Vindhyachal and is located in the south-east corner of the state of Rajasthan and surrounded by Jacaranda and Flame of the Forest. Castle Bijaipur is situated within the heart of the village in its fortified walls. This place was first to be converted into a heritage hotel in 1991.

The ruling family of the village still resides in the castle and overlooks the heritage hotel. The current family is the thirteenth generation of the ruling dynasty. This castle was built in the sixteenth century by Rao Vijay Singh, a descendant of the great warrior Shakti Singh, younger sibling of Maharana Pratap. It had a specific location in the kingdom of Mewar for defending the Mughal and Maratha armies.

Today, this place is a haven of peace and the current generation has a cool stable of horses. You can take one out for a ride in the countryside, go bird watching in the nearby lakes and streams. If you are a yoga tour enthusiast then you can take classes daily at dawn from a practising yogi here.

The hotel also offers a wildlife safari and horse safari. This will help you get a glimpse of the rich wildlife in the state. You can make day trips to Menal Temple, Pangarh Lake and Chittorgarh Fort. If you want to experience royalty then make all your explorations on a horseback.

Since this castle is located on the foothills of Vindhyachal, you can easily go for trekking around the area. Visit the nearby farmlands, villages and hunting lodges. The treks are personally designed to suit all your needs.

You can celebrate ceremonies in Rajasthan village tours either lavishly or modestly, depending on what you want. The family living at the castle will offer their suggestions and also help in with the preparations. Your stay is often followed by a bonfire and a gala dinner that remains etched in your memory forever.

Location: Chittorgarh

Best time to go: October to March

Things to do in Bijaipur Village: Horse Safari, Bird Watching, Visit to Pangarh Lake, Village Walk

The Samode Village is at a distance of 42 kms from Jaipur in Rajasthan, which is en route to Shekhawati. This is a very small and beautiful village is mainly known for its forts and haveli. A perfect getaway for your family, a tour of the Samode Village will give you a feel of the present rural life in India, along with its cultural traditions.

When visiting Samode you must take a camel safari for an experience of a lifetime. A camel safari is a great way to explore the village and enjoy watching the real daily customs and traditions. On your exploration trip, you can also interact with the people living in Samode Village as they are popular for their warm nature.

Here, you can visit the historical lanes, forts and palaces in Samode Village. A camel ride can be entertaining and fun to move to the village area. Your visit to Rajasthan village tours will be incomplete if you do not witness the musical evening put up by the villagers. Unique and rare instruments are played with enthralling folk songs and dances. This is a very colourful show. 

Another must-see here is the Samode Palace. This is an architectural marvel and was gifted to Gopal Singhji, by his father Prithviraj Singhji. Here, the walls are beautifully painted; the ceilings of the durbar are exquisite. 

The palace has now been converted into a heritage hotel. When in Samode Village you can also make an excursion trip to the Shekhavati which is a two to three-hour drive from the village. Shekhavati is popular for the mural paintings, wall paintings, and havelis.

Location: 42 Kms from Jaipur

Best time to go: October to March

Things to do in Samode Village: Village Camel Safari, Nature Walks, Dine at Samode Palace 

Mandawa is a small and beautiful town that lies in the heart of the Shekhavati region in Rajasthan. Popular for its havelis and forts, the architecture and structure of this town suggest that it was a hotspot in the bygone era.  Mandawa, the small town is located approximately 190 km off Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan.

The small and busy market town of Mandawa was settled in the eighteenth century by the rich merchant families of the region. The havelis and baolis were constructed during this time by the wealthy merchants and have beautiful paintings decorating the walls. With the migration of these merchant families to other regions, the old settlement was not looked after properly. But despite the ignorance, the beauty of the architecture has not completely faded away.

A visit to Rajasthan village tours remains incomplete if you do not visit the beautiful Castle Mandawa which provides a real sense of discovery at every turn. The battlements offer a perfect view of the whole city, the stunning peacock weather van, arched window overlooking a garden and a garden that is usually visited by “peacocks”! The best thing about this place is that no two rooms are alike. In one room you can find the murals, in another, you can see the beauty of a marble fountain.

The Castle Mandawa has been turned into a heritage hotel where you can easily stay and feel like a king or queen! There are other popular havelis that you can visit during your stay in Mandawa. Chowkhani Haveli, Saraf Haveli, Ladia Haveli are some of the splendid examples. These havelis boast of splendid gateways, paintings and mural work. You must explore the town in a camel or a horse safari as this will provide you with an earthy feeling and will double the adventure.

Location: 190 kms from Jaipur

Best time to go: October to March

Things to do in Mandawa Village: Camel Ride, Walking tour of painted Havelis.