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RAJASTHAN • WHERE LEVISTAY BEGAN
Rajasthan
Twelve destinations. Twelve completely different versions of the same extraordinary state. This is where our knowledge runs deepest, our relationships are most personal, and our standard was first established.
THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING WE DO
Rajasthan Is Not Where We Started.
It Is Where We Stayed.
Most luxury platforms claim expertise across a country the size of a continent. We made a different choice. Before recommending a single property anywhere else in India, we decided to know one state completely — its forts, its lakes, its desert camps, its wildlife corridors and the families who have run its finest hotels for generations. That state is Rajasthan, and four years into this work, we are still learning things about it.
What makes Rajasthan genuinely unlike anywhere else in India — or arguably the world — is the density of distinct experiences packed into a single state. Jaisalmer’s living desert fort has nothing in common with Udaipur’s lake palaces. Jawai’s leopard-inhabited granite hills share no landscape with Ranthambore’s tiger forests. Jaipur’s bazaars and Pushkar’s sacred lake are different again. Most countries do not contain this much variety. Rajasthan contains it within a single state’s borders.
Our twelve curated destinations were not chosen to cover the map evenly. Some regions of Rajasthan have no listing from us at all, because we have not yet found a property there that meets our standard. Each destination earned its place individually — and within each one, our collection remains intentionally small.
This is also where every test we apply elsewhere was first developed. The five-point standard, the tier system, the personal WhatsApp booking model — all of it was built and refined here before we ever considered curating a property beyond this state’s borders. When we expanded into Beyond Rajasthan, we took this exact standard with us. We did not lower it for a wider map.
EXPLORE RAJASTHAN
Iconic Destinations & Hidden Retreats
Levistay curates luxury heritage hotels, palace stays and boutique experiences across the finest destinations of Rajasthan & beyond — from Rajasthan’s royal palaces and desert camps to the wildlife lodges of the North and coastal retreats of the South. Every destination in our collection is home to properties that have earned their place through genuine quality, extraordinary stories and consistently exceptional guest experiences. Explore our current collection below.
The golden dunes of the Thar Desert beyond Jaisalmer city — where Rajasthan's most extraordinary desert camp experiences await.
Where ancient sandstone forts rise from the Thar Desert and golden dunes stretch to the horizon.
India's most regal city — home to former Maharaja residences, world-class palace hotels and extraordinary heritage havelis.
The ancient seat of the Rathore rulers, dominated by the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort and the extraordinary blue-painted lanes of the old city.
One of Rajasthan's best-kept secrets — a tranquil desert village that is home to some of India's most extraordinary boutique luxury experiences.
Rajasthan's most romantic destination and home to some of India's most celebrated luxury hotels.
Rajasthan's spiritual heart — set around its ancient sacred lake and the only Brahma temple in the world.
The only hill station in Rajasthan — rising from the Aravalli Range with cool temperatures, and a landscape unlike anywhere else in the state
One of India's most remarkable wildlife destinations — where leopards roam freely among ancient granite outcrops and the wilderness stretches endlessly across the Aravalli landscape
Rajasthan's most underrated royal city — home to magnificent sandstone havelis, an extraordinary fort and one of India's finest heritage palace hotels.
Home to a UNESCO World Heritage Fort with the world's second longest wall — Kumbhalgarh sits in some of Rajasthan's most dramatic landscape.
India's most famous tiger reserve — where the drama of wildlife encounters meets the elegance of Rajasthan's finest luxury lodges.
The Levistay Selection Process
One Framework. Every Rajasthan Property.
Whether we are curating a legendary heritage palace in the heart of Jodhpur, an avant-garde desert camp amidst the dunes of Jaisalmer, or a wilderness leopard lodge in the rugged hills of Jawai — the five questions we ask before listing any property never change. Geography does not alter the standard; it only heightens it.
01.
The Story Test
Can we describe its narrative in three sentences that genuinely excite a discerning traveller? If it lacks a story, it lacks a soul.
02.
The Destination Test
Is the property inseparable from its landscape? Would the experience be meaningless if the property were moved elsewhere?
03.
The Experience Test
Does it offer at least one singular experience—a ritual, a view, or a service—unavailable anywhere else?
04.
The Luxury Test
Would a guest paying ₹25,000 per night feel genuinely well served – not just comfortable? We vet for intuitive hospitality, not just soft linens.
05.
The Pride Test
Would we personally recommend this to our most discerning peer without a second of hesitation? We don’t list hotels; we stake our reputation.
If a property fails even a single test, it is not listed. No paid placements. No exceptions. This is why our collection remains small—because every stay must genuinely deserve its place.
INDIA IN NUMBERS
Why India Rewards the Curious Traveller
Eight facts about India that most travellers discover only after their first journey — and that explain why one visit is never enough.
2
UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions, spanning seven sites
Six hill forts and the Pink City of Jaipur — recognised not for one monument, but for an entire architectural language that still defines the state today.
70%
Of India's entire camel population
More camels live and work in Rajasthan than anywhere else in the country — animals still central to desert transport, trade and the Pushkar Fair itself.
7
Distinct schools of miniature painting
Mewar, Kishangarh, Bundi and others each developed their own colour, style and subject — one state producing seven entirely different visual traditions.
50+
Leopards living alongside villagers, with no fences
Jawai's granite hills hold one of the only places on earth where wild leopards and shepherd communities share the same open landscape, daily, without conflict.
19
Former princely kingdoms, unified into one state
Before 1949, Rajasthan was a patchwork of independent royal courts — which is why no two forts, palaces or traditions here ever look quite the same.
342,000+
Square kilometres, India's largest state
Roughly the size of Germany — large enough to hold a desert, a hill range, a wetland and a tiger forest, often within a single day's drive.
100+
Forts and palaces still standing across the state
From single-room outposts to entire walled cities, Rajasthan's rulers built more fortified architecture than almost anywhere else on the subcontinent.
∞
Twelve destinations, twelve completely different landscapes — and we are still discovering new reasons to recommend going further into the state we call home
Every reason to go further — we are to make it happen.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Questions About Our Rajasthan Collection
Everything you need to know about how we curate, book and recommend stays across our twelve founding destinations — answered honestly, the same way we’d answer it over conversation.
For a first visit, three destinations across 10 to 12 nights allows genuine depth without rushing — typically a desert destination like Jaisalmer, a lake city like Udaipur, and either Jodhpur or Jaipur. Returning guests often add Jawai or Ranthambore for wildlife.
This page covers our founding collection — twelve destinations within Rajasthan, where our expertise is deepest and most personal. Beyond Rajasthan covers our newer expansion into seven further regions of India and beyond. Both follow the exact same curation standard.
Udaipur is our most frequent honeymoon recommendation for its lake palaces and romantic skyline, though Jaisalmer’s desert camps offer a more adventurous alternative for couples who want something less conventional.
Jawai offers something Ranthambore cannot — leopards living openly alongside shepherd communities with no fences separating wildlife from daily village life. It is a fundamentally different and rarer experience than a fenced reserve.
Distances vary significantly — Jodhpur to Udaipur is around 4 hours by road, while Jaisalmer to Jaipur is closer to 8 hours. We typically recommend internal flights for longer hops and private transfers for shorter ones, and we coordinate this as part of planning your journey.
Not yet, and we are honest about that. Some destinations like Jaisalmer and Udaipur have strong representation across Signature, Privé and Escapes. Others currently have fewer tiers represented because the right properties have not yet met our standard at every price point.
Dechu is a quieter desert destination near Jaisalmer’s dune system — an alternative for guests who want the Thar Desert experience away from Sam’s higher visitor traffic. We recommend it specifically for guests on a return visit to Rajasthan who have already experienced Sam Sand Dunes and want something more removed.
First-time visitors typically combine Jaipur, Udaipur and Jaisalmer for the broadest introduction to Rajasthan’s architecture, lakes and desert in one circuit. Returning guests often gravitate toward Jawai, Bikaner or Dechu — destinations that reward a second, slower visit once the major cities are already familiar.
Yes — this is increasingly common among our guests. A typical combined journey might pair Jaisalmer and Udaipur with a Kerala backwater stay, or Jodhpur and Jawai with a few nights in the Himalayan North. Tell us your full journey and we will coordinate it as one seamless itinerary.
Largely no — October to March suits all twelve destinations well. The one exception is Mount Abu, which stays pleasant through the summer months when the rest of Rajasthan is at its hottest, making it a good addition to a circuit planned outside the typical October–March window.
TWELVE CURATED DESTINATIONS
Explore Our Complete Rajasthan Collection
Twelve destinations across the state where Levistay’s knowledge runs deepest — from desert dunes to lake palaces, leopard hills to tiger forests. Every property personally curated. Every stay personally booked.
The Majestic North
The Serene South
The Vibrant West
The Enchanting East
The Enchanting East
The Heart of India
The Heart of India
The Heart of India
The Heart of India
The Mystical Northeast
Beyond Border
Beyond Border
Where the Himalayas meet extraordinary hospitality — alpine lodges, valley retreats and mountain sanctuaries across India’s most dramatic northern landscapes. Properties where the altitude, the silence and the scale are the experience.
KERALA • KARNATAKA • TAMIL NADU
From the tranquil backwaters of Kerala to the spice-scented hills of Coorg and the ancient temples of Tamil Nadu — India’s south holds a different kind of extraordinary. Slower, greener, profoundly restorative.
GOA • MAHARASHTRA • GUJARAT
Where Portuguese heritage meets contemporary coastal luxury, ancient cave temples overlook the Arabian Sea and the salt flats of Kutch stretch toward the horizon. India’s western edge — vivid, layered and unlike anywhere else.
UTTAR PRADESH • WEST BENGAL • ODISHA
From the ancient ghats of Varanasi to the tea gardens of Darjeeling and the living temples of Odisha — India’s east offers spiritual depth, unbroken heritage and travel experiences that no algorithm has yet learned to recommend.
MADHYA PRADESH • CHHATTISGARH
Tiger country and ancient temples — Madhya Pradesh alone holds more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than most countries. India’s geographical and wildlife heart is among its least-curated and most rewarding destinations for the genuine traveller.
SIKKIM • MEGHALAYA • ASSAM • ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Journey to the mystical landscapes of Northeast India, where lush green hills, unique tribal cultures, and stunning natural beauty await. From the living root bridges of Meghalaya to the monasteries of Arunachal Pradesh, this region is truly enchanting.
SIKKIM • MEGHALAYA • ASSAM • ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Journey to the mystical landscapes of Northeast India, where lush green hills, unique tribal cultures, and stunning natural beauty await. From the living root bridges of Meghalaya to the monasteries of Arunachal Pradesh, this region is truly enchanting.
BHUTAN • SRI LANKA • NEPAL • MALDIVES
Venture beyond India to the neighboring gems of Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Each destination offers its own unique charm, from Nepal’s towering peaks to the serene beaches of the Maldives.
BHUTAN • SRI LANKA • NEPAL • MALDIVES
Venture beyond India to the neighboring gems of Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Each destination offers its own unique charm, from Nepal’s towering peaks to the serene beaches of the Maldives.
BHUTAN • SRI LANKA • NEPAL • MALDIVES
Venture beyond India to the neighboring gems of Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Each destination offers its own unique charm, from Nepal’s towering peaks to the serene beaches of the Maldives.
BHUTAN • SRI LANKA • NEPAL • MALDIVES
Venture beyond India to the neighboring gems of Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Each destination offers its own unique charm, from Nepal’s towering peaks to the serene beaches of the Maldives.
BHUTAN • SRI LANKA • NEPAL • MALDIVES
Venture beyond India to the neighboring gems of Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Each destination offers its own unique charm, from Nepal’s towering peaks to the serene beaches of the Maldives.
"Every region is curated with the same local insight and five-point standard that defines our collection."
SPEAK TO A SPECIALIST
Planning a Journey?
Tell us your preferred destination, your travel dates and the kind of experience you are looking for. Whether you are planning a backwater retreat in Kerala, a tiger safari in Madhya Pradesh or a Himalayan monastery journey in Bhutan — one message is all it takes.
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Rajasthan
Rajasthan is where we learned what curation actually means. Everywhere else we go — we take that lesson with us.
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