UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Rajasthan

Referred to often as the Land of Kings, Rajasthan continues to be one of the most prominent presences in India’s rich cultural legacy. This state – the largest of the nation by area – has succeeded in the safekeeping of the remnants of its historical bequest.

As an act of recognising its socio-cultural importance, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation or UNESCO bestowed nine places of the state with the title of world heritage sites in Rajasthan.

1. Jaisalmer Fort

Jaisalmer Fort has continued to mesmerise enthusiasts of history and art alike – even recurring in some of the greatest literary works from the country. This celebrated piece of architecture – colloquially referred to as the Golden Temple due to its colour – was built under the state’s founder himself, Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal.

• Location: Fort Road, Dhibba Para, Manak Chowk, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer
• Best Time to Visit: As Jaisalmer is a desert city, it is best to travel to the fort during the comparatively chillier months. So, the span of October to March is considered to be ideal in this regard.
• Hours of Operation: The fort remains open to the general public from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day of the week.
• Entry Fee: 
  • For Indian visitors ₹50
  • For foreign visitors ₹250
  • [NOTE: However, please note that if you want to do photography and videography inside the fort, a minimal additional charge must also be paid.]

2. Jantar Mantar

Much like its namesake from New Delhi, Jantar Mantar in Jaipur has been an astonishing example of ancient India’s progressive scientific mentality. This world heritage site in Rajasthan is an observatory consisting of 19 different astronomical equipment like Vrihat Smarat Yantra, Digamsa, Nadivalaya, and Karnti Vritya. Moreover, tourists have routinely gathered at this fort to witness its sundial – which is the biggest of its kind in the entire world.

• Location: Gangori Bazar, J.D.A. Market, Pink City, Jaipur
• Best Time to Visit: October to February is considered the ideal period to visit Jantar Mantar. This way, you can sidestep facing the adverse effect of excessive heat. On the other hand, avoiding monsoon weather enables you to experience the functions of the stone sundial better.
• Hours of Operation: For the general public, this observatory remains open from 9:00 in the morning to 4:30 in the evening. However, you may consider visiting Jantar Mantar at noon. This way, the vertically above position of the sun will allow you to interpret the operations of the instruments present with comparative ease.
• Entry Fee: 
  • For Indian visitors ₹50
  • For foreign visitors ₹200
  • [NOTE: Notably, now you can avail of the tickets via both online and offline means.]

3. Chittorgarh Fort

A former capital of Mewar, the Chittorgarh Fort had been at the centre of crucial political narratives of the Khalji, Rajput, and Mughal dynasties. With its limestone bridge, bricked walls, and adjacent lake, the fort continues to appeal to the aesthetic sensitivity of art enthusiasts. Vijaya Stambha, a tower in this fort built to signify triumph, has gone on to be dubbed as the Symbol of Chittorgarh.

• Location: The present-day city of Chittorgarh is home to this iconic fort, located at its eponymous Chittor Fort Road.
• Best Time to Visit: Winter [December – February] and monsoon [June – September] seasons can provide comfortable weather conditions here. So that way, you can plan an extensive tour.
• Hours of Operation: This fort remains open for visitors throughout the week, although the adjacent museum remains shut on Mondays. This UNESCO world heritage site in Rajasthan allows public entry from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Entry Fee: 
  • For Indian visitors ₹50
  • For children ₹25
  • For foreign visitors ₹200

4. Amber Fort

Also referred to as the Amer Fort, this building is the largest of its kind in Jaipur. Interestingly, this fort remains a prominent testament to the cultural intermingling prevalent in India. For instance, the fort derives its name from the Hindu temple of Lord Shiva. On the other hand, its architectural build – especially for its mirror palace or Sheesh Mahal – is a magnificent expression of Islamic and Rajasthani aesthetics fusion.

• Location: Devisinghpura, Amer, Jaipur
• Best Time to Visit: You can consider the timespan of November to January an ideal period for making a visit to this Amber Fort
• Hours of Operation: You can visit the fort from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the evening. However, noting the tourist interest in witnessing the architectural marvel under the night sky, the state government encouraged night tourism from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
• Entry Fee:
  • For Indian visitors ₹50
  • For foreign visitors ₹550
  • [NOTE: Interestingly, students from both this country and abroad get a significant discount on these entry charges.]

5. Ranthambore Fort

The Ranthambore Fort has been an epicentre of the political ups and downs of Rajasthani history. Believed to be built by the dynasty of Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura, this fort contains several Hindu and Jain temples inside it. Once taken over by the Delhi Sultanate led by Muhammad of Ghor, the fort was later ordained to the Kachwaha Maharajas of Jaipur.

• Location: This icon fort is located at Ranthambore Road, Vigyan Nagar, Sawai Madhopur.  It is established inside the Ranthambore National Park, a Project Tiger reserve deriving its name from this fort itself.
• Best Time to Visit: You can consider a timeframe between November to February to enjoy a comfortable journey. However, if you are also interested in wildlife watching at the national park, consider planning a trip in-between the months of April and June.
• Hours of Operation: You can visit this fort within the stretch of 6:00 in the morning and 6:00 in the evening.
• Entry Fee: Free

6. Kumbhalgarh Fort

The 36 kilometre long wall of Kumbhalgarh Fort makes it the second longest of its kind – only behind the iconic Great Wall of China. This fort is over seven centuries old, and yet it has managed to retain its stunning structural integrity. History buffs will find this place especially lucrative, as this fort was the birthplace of Maharana Pratap himself.

• Location: This famous Mewar fortress is located in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, on Aravalli Hills’ westerly range.
• Best Time to Visit: Travel experts advise that it is best to plan your trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort in-between September and March.
• Hours of Operation: This fort remains available for public entrance throughout the week. So, if you are planning to take in the majesty of its design, ensure you have some time to spare and drop by the fort between the hours of 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Entry Fee:
  • For Indian visitors ₹15
  • For visitors from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation ₹15
  • For foreign visitors ₹200

7. Gagron Fort

Originally built under the patronage of Rajput royalty, this fort had later been controlled by noted Sur and Mughal rulers such as Sher Shah and Akbar. Surrounded by water bodies all around it, this island-like fort had also earned the Rajasthani moniker of a Jaladurga or Water Fort. Interestingly, such a location had made it an impenetrable stronghold for the Khinchi kingdom – a Rajput clan that controlled the fortress for three hundred years.

• Location: This culturally significant fort is located in the Rajasthani state of Jhalawar, in the Hadoti region of this nation.
• Best Time to Visit: The months between August and March are appropriate for setting a course for this UNESCO world heritage site in Rajasthan.
• Hours of Operation: Entrance is allowed between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM in this place throughout the year.
• Entry Fee: Free

8. Keoladeo National Park

This sanctuary is a protected territory to ensure the residing fauna can thrive. In 1976, this former hunting ground of the regional royalty was converted into a safe space for its diverse inhabitants. As a tourist, here you can witness different species of birds, fishes, snakes, and lizards, among others.

• Location: This avifauna sanctuary is located in the city of Bharatpur.
• Best Time to Visit: Travellers mostly prefer to drop by this sanctuary during the months of October to February in order to enjoy a comfortable climate condition.
• Hours of Operation: Please note that the hours of operation for this national park may vary based on which time of the year you are visiting it. To elaborate, from March to October, this park remains functional from 6:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. However, the sanctuary remains open for visitors from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM from November to January.
• Entry Fee:
  • For Indian visitors ₹75
  • For foreign visitors ₹200

9. The City of Jaipur

On the 6th of July in 2019, UNESCO announced that it had enlisted the city of Jaipur itself as a world heritage site in Rajasthan. One of the first planned cities of this country, Jaipur has left a mark in the global landscape for its architectural uniqueness. With the historical importance of its temples and forts, the Pink City has more than earned this global recognition.

• Location: Situated in the north-western section of this country, Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan.
• Best Time to Visit: If you are planning to visit the ‘Paris of India’, it is ideal to plan your trip around the winter season. So, consider dropping by Jaipur from October to March as your best course of action.

Note: Prices are updated as of April 2023 and may vary.

If a site has these 9 qualities, according to UNESCO, it can be listed as a World Heritage Site:

• A site that exhibits superlative natural phenomena with extraordinary natural beauty.
• It must showcase a pinnacle of human artistic genius.
• A site has to exhibit a unique example of human settlement that speaks for one or several cultures. Or, land use or sea use can also speak for the interaction between man and the environment.
• It must exhibit a significant interchange of human values in monumental arts, town planning, architecture, technology, or landscape design within a cultural area or over a span of time.
• A site has to be an incredible example of a type of landscape, an architectural or technological association which illustrates marvellous stages in human history.
• A World Heritage Site must bear particular proof of a cultural tradition or an extinct or still-existent civilisation.
• It has to harbour the most emanating natural habitats so that it can constructively conserve biological diversity.
• A site has to be a tremendous example of conclusive ongoing biological and ecological processes in the development and evolution of coastal, terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
• It has to characterise significant moments of Earth's history, which includes a record of life, ongoing geological operations concerning the development of landforms, and crucial physiographic or geomorphic features.