This hilltop village in the Aravalli Range offers a surprisingly lush oasis in the middle of the desert, surrounded by several lakes and evergreen forests. Small villages in this area provide tourists an opportunity to see life in Rajasthani away from the major cities, and Mount Abu is one of the only places in the region for rigorous mountain trekking. Day hikes and overnight expeditions run through this area, which includes a wildlife sanctuary and several Hindu temples. This is a good place to visit during the summer, as the elevation keeps temperatures more comfortable than in much of Rajasthan.

Cooked vegetables, heavy sauces, flatbreads, and most of all, spices dominate the cuisine in northern India, where arid conditions have dictated cooking practices for centuries. Baati is the most common type of bread in Rajasthan, often served with dal (lentil curry), and while meat is not traditionally a large part of the diet in this region, stewed beef, goat, and boar are now common ingredients in curries, laal maas being the most popular in Rajasthan. Saffron rice and raita, a refreshing yogurt sauce, are usually served with the meal and help to balance the spiciness of many dishes. For dessert, try the doughnut-like balushahi or a guija, a sweet fried dumpling filled with nuts and coconut.

It’s no surprise that India’s land of kings is replete with historic and still-active royal residences, many of which open their doors to tourists looking for the ultimate luxury accommodations. The royal family in Jodhpur still lives in the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the city’s most opulent hotel with an enormous lawn and an imposing exterior perched on a hillside overlooking the city. In Jaipur, the Rambagh Palace was once a hunting lodge and later the residence of the Maharaja offering a more subtle, equally elegant stay with a world-class spa. The Taj Lake Palace, made famous after appearing in a James Bond movie, appears to float above Lake Pichola in Udaipur, originally built as a pleasure palace by Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1746.

Camping in traditional tents among the seemingly endless sand and enormous dunes is quite an epic experience. And to do just that, Jaisalmer is the perfect place, surrounded by the spectacular Thar Desert and home to beautiful temples, forts and palaces. From basic to luxury camping facilities are on offer. For the ultimate luxury desert camping experience, opt for The Serai, complete with spa, lounge bar, outdoor pool, dining tent and spacious rooms with en-suite bathroom.

One of the wildest experiences you can have in Rajasthan is taking a jeep safari tour in one of the many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks scattered around the state. The best ones include Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Tiger Reserve. Taking the jungle safari lets you watch the wildlife in their natural habitat. Tiger, leopards, sloth bears, nilgai, wild boars, sambars, chitals and several species of birds can be spotted. There is lots of action at every turn!

Camel Safari is a quintessential desert experience that lets you explore the rustic and royal side of the state in a way like no other, as well as providing an opportunity to experience the desert lifestyle. The options to take in this experience in Rajasthan are endless. However, the best places to enjoy camel safari are Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Pushkar and Osian.

Though it isn’t an adrenaline-pumping activity, this is one of the most enchanting experiences you can have in the royal state. An elephant ride up the hilly terrain to the main entrance of the majestically beautiful Amer Fort is one of the major highlights of visiting the site. The elephants are adorned with traditional painted patterns and colourful rugs and parasols, and seamlessly takes visitors up the hill to the fort. This ride lasts for about 20-30 minutes (depending on elephant traffic).

One of the largest forts in the country is the Mehrangarh Fort (Jodhpur) that is nestled on top of a vertical cliff, and whizzing along at a high speed over it, on a zip-line is guaranteed to be a mesmerising experience. This enthralling flying fox consists of six zip lines up to 300 meters in length, each one more impressive than the last. Riders can bask in the panoramas of the blue city of Jodhpur, an eco park, two desert lakes and of course, the majestic Mehrangarh Fort. Another perfect location in Rajasthan where you can try out zip-lining is Neemrana Fort. So, if feeling the need for speed, book Flying Fox, one of the best companies offering zip tours in Rajasthan.

Rajasthan is a desert state, so it’s no wonder there are opportunities to go on desert safari. The best place to engage in this exhilarating activity is Jaisalmer, which boasts lots of sand dunes and barren lands. You can opt for traditional desert safari on camels. And, if you wish to take things up a notch, hit the desert landscape in a 4×4 SUV/Jeep – an experience like no other! For the best desert safari, visit Sam Village, about 25 miles west of Jaisalmer. There are several tent resorts here that offer packages including camping, dune bashing and fare. So, take your pick of the best!