Rajasthan Trip Cost: Explore Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, and Jodhpur Under 25K
TL;DR of What’s Ahead:
- I spent around ₹12.3K on my stay. Booking early is key, as prices spike during peak season. Opt for local hostels instead of big chains. Choose accommodations near city centers to cut transportation costs.
- For travel, I spent about ₹5.5-6K, including trains and buses, with Rapido bikes being the most cost-effective for short distances.
- I spent around ₹5-6K on food, eating mainly street food, but splurged on a Marwari thali and some specialty dishes.
- Entry tickets to forts and palaces cost me around ₹2-2.5K, but discounts for students and seniors are common.
When we started, we enquired through a travel agency to get an idea of how much it would cost for a Rajasthan trip. They pitched a budget of about ₹45K per person. This included a stay, inter-city travel, breakfast and dinner, and other conventional things a travel agency offers for about 10 days.
We aggressively rejected their budget and decided to go with our own plan. However, things happened, and it ended up becoming a solo trip, and this is how I managed under ₹25K for a 13-day trip.
How to Plan a Rajasthan Trip Under ₹25K
Here’s a complete breakdown:
Stay (₹11.5K-₹12.5K)
Before getting into where I stayed, let’s look at some tips that you can follow to save thousands while solo traveling across Rajasthan.
# Tip 1: Book Early; Book Correctly
First and foremost, if you plan to travel to Rajasthan anytime from October to January, book your stay well in advance. For example, finding mud houses or dorms in the desert camps is difficult as Christmas and New Year’s near. In fact, at Zostel Ratanada in Jodhpur, travelers were paying ₹1,200-₹1,800 for a tent.
Even if you manage to find a place to stay during this time, you’ll likely pay x2. For example, I paid around ₹800 per night for a female dorm bed in Udaipur, which during the off-season is not more than ₹400 (if you are traveling off-season, go to the exact location, enquire in a few places, and then book the stay).
Pro Tip: Avoid booking through third-party sites, as they charge commissions. Connect with the hostels/dorms directly. You’ll save ₹200-₹350, at least.
# Tip 2: Skip the Big Chains; Opt for Local Hostels
Instead of well-established and color-coded hostel chains, go for the local ones. A dorm bed in a well-established hostel can be as expensive as a hotel room, or even more. Although they offer slightly better facilities, I got the actual solo traveling experience at a local hostel in Udaipur.
The rise of these big hostel chains has diluted the original hostel culture. What used to be affordable dorm stays have now been impacted by this competition, causing prices to skyrocket. What once cost as little as ₹150-200 a night has now become a norm for ₹1,200 or more, even at locally-run places.
# Tip 3: Location, Location, Location
Where you book your stay will decide your transportation cost. In the case of cities in Rajasthan, make sure you book your stay near the city center:
- Jodhpur: Near Clock Tower
- Udaipur: Somewhere near Lake Pichola/City Palace
- Jaipur: Anywhere near Hawa Mahal (I think that’s where most hostels are located)
- Jaisalmer: Either near or inside the fort
Where I Stayed and What I Think About Them
Here are the places where I stayed, and whether they are worth the money.
Jaipur – The Shallom Backpackers
I paid ₹430 per night here, and honestly, it was good. Since it’s relatively new, the prices are still affordable. The best part? It’s just a 5-6 minute walk from Hawa Mahal. Shallom Backpackers also organizes cultural and musical events at night, which adds a nice vibe. I’d say spend at least 2.5 days in Jaipur to really soak it all in. Verdict? Highly recommend it.
Jaisalmer – Zostel Sam Desert & The Hosteller
I stayed at Zostel Sam Desert (in the desert camp) and The Hosteller (in the city). For Zostel, I paid ₹1,679 for a dorm bed, plus another ₹2,050 that covered snacks, dinner, breakfast, a cultural night, desert sports, and to-and-fro from the city. The stay at the Hosteller cost me ₹1,278/night.
If you’re planning to cover the Tanot border, give yourself two days. Otherwise, one day is enough to explore Jaisalmer. The verdict:
- Zostel Sam Desert was decent, but I think there are better options.
- The Hosteller? Nope. It’s around 1.5–2 km from the fort, the main attraction of the city. If I had to suggest an alternative, I’d say stay somewhere near or within the fort. Moustache Jaisalmer—right outside can be a good option, or explore various homestays inside the fort.
Jodhpur – Madpackers & Zostel Ratanada
Madpackers cost me ₹600 per night, and Zostel Ratanada was ₹802. I spent about 2.5 days in Jodhpur since I fell ill. Otherwise, 1.5 days should be just fine. I wouldn’t recommend either of these hostels. Both are pretty far from the Clock Tower, which is where all the action is.
That said, if you’re someone who’s all about luxury, Zostel Ratanada might be your thing. But for budget travelers or anyone who wants to stay closer to the Clock Tower, skip it. Fellow travelers recommended Bob’s Hostel.
Udaipur – Nomadic Hostel
Paid ₹800 per night here, and oh boy, I loved this place. If you’re covering Chittorgarh as well, give yourself four days. If not, 2.5–3 days should be enough to explore Udaipur. I’d highly recommend Nomadic—no second thoughts.
You’ll meet many solo travelers, and the hosts are great company. They light bonfires at night, and everyone gathers around, sharing random, fascinating stories. It’s within walking distance of the City Palace, Gangaur Ghat, Jagdish Temple, and Karni Mata Temple. Honestly, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to plan more solo trips.
How Much Did I Spend on Stays
Coming to the overall breakdown, I spent around 12.3K on the stay. However, I checked out early in some cases, which brings down the optimized cost to around ₹11.4K.
| Stay | Total Cost | Optimized Cost |
| Shallom Backpackers, Jaipur | ₹1,718 | 1,288 (I overestimated the time it would take me to explore Jaipur) |
| Zostel Sam Desert Camp | ₹3,729 | – |
| The Hosteller Jaisalmer | ₹1,278 | – |
| Madpackers Jodhpur | ₹800 | – |
| Zostel Ratanada Jodhpur | ₹2,406 | – |
| Nomadic Udaipur | ₹2,400 | ₹1,600 (I left a day early) |
| Total | ₹12,331 | ₹11,423 |
To summarize, you will most likely spend not more than 11.5K on your stay as a solo traveler in Rajasthan during the peak season months of December and January.
Travel (₹5.5K-6K)
Note: I don’t remember the exact amount. The estimate also includes my Mumbai to Jaipur train and Udaipur to Mumbai bus journeys, which were approximate ₹2,365. Also, I opted for an auto in Jaipur, so I ended up spending a bit more. Otherwise, you can easily manage under ₹5.5K.
For solo travelers, Rapido bikes are by far the most convenient option. If you need an auto-rickshaw, it’s best to book through apps like Rapido, Uber, or Ola. I experienced this firsthand in Jodhpur, where auto-rickshaw drivers were asking for ₹200 to take me from the bus stop to my hostel. However, I was able to get there for ₹80 by using a Rapido rickshaw.
In Jaisalmer, there are no Rapidos, and rickshaw drivers would try to lure and might charge over ₹100 for less than a kilometer. So, be careful. You’ll require transport only to reach the desert camp and the Tanot Border. Since they are almost 50 km and 120 km respectively from the main city, hire a proper taxi service.
To travel between cities, the cheapest option would be government buses. They offer a 50% discount for female travelers on Redbus. However, I recommend them only if you have a companion because, for some reason, they were very empty.
I opted for private buses, which charge anywhere between ₹350 and ₹600, depending on the type of bus. During winters, opt for non/ac seater buses as inter-city journeys are not more than 6 hours.
Food (₹5K-6K)
There are two ways to go about food.
- Follow social media pages for food recommendations.
- Or, ask travelers and locals.
For example, I met a girl in my dorm who had quit her job, had been traveling for 6 months, and was about to leave since she started missing her mother, gave me a list of food places I must explore in Jodhpur. And I swear, people there have nailed it when it comes to food. If I ever return to Jodhpur, it will be only for food. Now that we’re already on that topic, here’s what I tried:
- Marwari Thali at Gypsy Sardarpura: It’s an unlimited buffet with over 31 Marwari dishes for about 530 per plate. I knew I would be eating like there was no tomorrow, so I went on an empty stomach and did what I do best: put my phone on silent and eat like a Bakasur. And I take extreme pride in saying this: I ate everything that was served and left the thali clean enough to see my face in it. Make sure you go to the restaurant in person rather than placing an order.
- Mishrilal Ki Lassi: A shop that has been in business since the 1950s, they serve the best lassis in the whole town. As a lassi newbie, I tried their rabri variation for 50 and really liked it.
- Bhawani Dal Bati Churma: Hands down, the best dal bati I’ve ever had. I remember paying 160.
- Junta Sweet Home: People really hype about their mirchi barra and other chaats, but I personally did not like them much.
- Chaturbhuj: I think the Jodhpur administration should pass a law stating that anyone who leaves the city without trying Chaturbhuj Ke Gulab Jamun should be shot on sight. They are that GOOD. The fact that I left after eating just one piece will be one of the 3 biggest regrets of my life.
- Surya Namkeen: Due to the illness that caught me mid-way, I decided to skip it, but I suggest you don’t.
Most days, I survived on one proper meal. No, I wasn’t on a mission to starve my way to zero-figure. I made sure the one meal was big enough. I used to start my mornings with one methi laddoo that my mother packed for me, followed by a glass of milk. Also, I grabbed bite-sized snacks like channa jor, namkeen, chips, etc.
Once you enter the forts/palaces, it takes anywhere between 3 to 5 hours minimum to explore them. And I am not yet rich enough to afford food inside the fort.
I survived on street food, chaat, and Maggi. I think my most expensive meal was the Marwari Thali, followed by a meal I shared with some travelers in Jaisalmer, which came down to ₹350 per person.
In Udaipur, a fellow traveler and I even stumbled upon a morning Bhandara, where we ate so much that we happily skipped lunch and went straight for the evening snack.
Entry Tickets (₹2K-2.5K)
Most forts and palaces in Rajasthan require an entry ticket. If the property is managed by private entities, be ready to pay anywhere between ₹300-600, depending on the type of ticket you buy. However, if the site is managed by the government or other local authorities, the prices are typically much lower: ₹30-150.
For instance, the Lake Pichola ride in Udaipur is primarily run by the City Palace Authority, offering a combined ticket that costs around ₹600. This ticket covers both the palace tour and the lake ride. However, I recommend opting for a boat ride at Lake Fateh Sagar instead. Interestingly, a return bike ride from the City Palace to Fateh Sagar, combined with the boat ride, is more affordable than the package offered by the Palace.
I also skipped some sites due to ticket price differences. Take Kothari’s Patwon Ki Haveli, for example. One of the havelis is managed by the government, with an entry fee of ₹50, while the other, a more ornately decorated one, costs ₹150.
In most places, they offer 50% discounts for students and also some discounts for children and the elderly. However, I did not like that the charges for foreigners are almost double, except in the Udaipur City Palace.
Personal Opinion: If I were to do this trip again, I would skip all the “City Palace” tours, which primarily include Jaipur’s City Palace, Udaipur’s City Palace, and Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhavan. This would be mainly for two reasons: expensive entry fees, and they are well-staged places that don’t look real. In fact, after a point, they all look the same, unless you have an expert’s eye to spot the differences.
FAQs
Is Rajasthan safe for solo female travelers?
Yes, I found Rajasthan to be extremely safe as a solo female traveler. All cities are well-connected, making it safe to travel within the state. During peak seasons, the livelihood of several people depends on tourism; thus, the locals are warm and welcoming and make sure you feel safe and comfortable.
How to dress up for a Rajasthan trip?
For your Rajasthan trip, pack lightweight cotton and linen clothes for the heat. Include loose-fitting, full-coverage options for comfort and to respect local customs. Don’t forget comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for protection. For winter, add layers like sweaters and shawls.
How to plan a Rajasthan trip for 7 days?
To plan a 7-day Rajasthan trip, focus on 2-3 major cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur.
- Option 1 (Classic): Jaipur (2 days) – Udaipur (3 days) – Jodhpur (2 days).
- Option 2 (Desert Focus): Jaipur (2 days) – Jaisalmer (3 days) – Jodhpur (2 days).
- Option 3 (Wildlife & Heritage): Jaipur (2 days) – Ranthambore (2 days) – Udaipur (3 days).
Book transport and accommodation in advance. Research key attractions in each city and create a flexible day-wise itinerary. Consider travel time between cities.
