Rajasthan: where the Golden Triangle stops being enough

Start with Jaipur, then keep going

Jaipur is a planned eighteenth-century city with Amber Fort above it, the City Palace at its centre and Jantar Mantar's astronomical instruments beside it. It is the third point of the Golden Triangle and, for many travellers, the point at which they realise they have booked too few days.

Beyond it: Udaipur and its lake palaces, Jodhpur's blue old city beneath Mehrangarh, Jaisalmer's desert fort, and Ranthambore, where the tigers are. Rajasthan is where craft still happens in workshops rather than factories — block printing, blue pottery, gem cutting, miniature painting.

Adding it to a Golden Triangle trip

Three extra days gets you Udaipur properly. Five gets you Udaipur and Jodhpur. If wildlife matters more than palaces, Ranthambore is a two-night detour from Jaipur.