Rajasthan conjures images of opulent palaces and luxury desert camps, but it is entirely possible to experience this magnificent state on a backpacker's budget. With a little planning and local knowledge, you can see forts, eat like royalty, and sleep in heritage properties without spending more than 1,500-2,000 rupees per day. Here is how.
Budget Breakdown by City
Your daily budget will vary by city. Jaipur and Udaipur are the most expensive, while Pushkar, Bundi, and Jaisalmer offer better value. Here is a realistic per-day breakdown for a solo backpacker:
- Jaipur: 1,800-2,200/day (hostel 500-800, food 400-600, sightseeing 400-500, transport 200-300)
- Udaipur: 1,500-2,000/day (hostel 400-700, food 350-500, sightseeing 300-400, transport 150-200)
- Jaisalmer: 1,200-1,800/day (hostel 300-600, food 300-400, desert safari 400-600, transport 100-200)
- Pushkar: 800-1,200/day (guesthouse 250-400, food 200-300, sightseeing free-200, transport 100)
- Bundi: 700-1,000/day (guesthouse 200-350, food 200-250, sightseeing 100-200, transport 50-100)
Best Budget Stays
Rajasthan has a thriving hostel and guesthouse scene. In Jaipur, Zostel and Moustache Hostel offer dorm beds from 400-600 rupees. In Udaipur, look at Bunkyard Hostel near the lake or any of the family-run guesthouses in the old city lanes. Jaisalmer's fort area has dozens of family-run havelis where rooms start at 300 rupees. Bundi is a goldmine: the haveli guesthouses along Nawal Sagar lake cost 200-400 rupees and often have rooftop terraces with palace views. In Pushkar, the lanes behind Brahma Temple are full of budget guesthouses from 250 rupees.
Getting Around Cheaply
Rajasthan's railway network is your best friend. Book sleeper class (SL) tickets on IRCTC well in advance for fares as low as 150-300 rupees between major cities. The Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer route and the Jaipur-Ajmer-Udaipur route are both well-served by trains. For shorter distances, state transport buses (RSRTC) are reliable and cheap. Avoid hiring private cabs unless you are splitting costs with other travellers. Within cities, use shared auto-rickshaws where available, they cost 10-20 rupees per person.
Street Food That Costs Almost Nothing
Rajasthan's street food is legendary and incredibly cheap. In Jaipur, a plate of pyaaz kachori with chutney costs 20-30 rupees. A full thali at a local dhaba runs 80-120 rupees. In Jodhpur, try makhaniya lassi at Mishrilal for 40 rupees and mirchi vada for 15 rupees. Pushkar offers some of the cheapest food in Rajasthan: Israeli and Indian fusion cafes serve full meals for 100-150 rupees. Dal baati churma, the signature Rajasthani dish, is best eaten at local dhabas where it costs 60-100 rupees per plate.
Free and Cheap Things to Do
- Walk around Jaisalmer Fort for free (it is a living fort with shops and temples inside)
- Watch sunset from Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur (entry just 50 rupees for Indians)
- Visit Pushkar Lake and temples for free
- Explore Bundi's stepwells, which are mostly free to visit
- Attend the evening aarti at Pushkar's Brahma Temple
- Walk the blue city lanes of Jodhpur for free
- Watch sunset at Pichola Lake in Udaipur from the free public ghats
Haggling Tips
Bargaining is expected in Rajasthan's markets. Start at 40% of the quoted price and settle around 50-60%. Never show too much enthusiasm for an item. Walk away if the price does not come down, the shopkeeper will often call you back. Fixed-price government emporiums (Rajasthali) are good benchmarks for understanding fair prices before you hit the bazaars. Avoid shopping near major tourist sites where prices are inflated.
Best Time for Budget Travel
September to November and February to March offer the best combination of pleasant weather and reasonable prices. December and January are peak season with higher prices and crowds. April to June is scorching but extremely cheap, with hotel rates dropping by 50-70%. The monsoon months of July and August see fewer tourists and lower prices, but some desert areas become inaccessible.
Rajasthan proves that budget travel does not mean compromising on experience. Some of the best moments here cost nothing at all: watching a sunset paint a fort golden, sharing chai with a shopkeeper, or getting lost in a medieval lane.
A two-week backpacking trip through Rajasthan covering Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bundi, and Udaipur can be done for 25,000-35,000 rupees including all transport, accommodation, food, and sightseeing. That is an extraordinary deal for one of the richest cultural experiences India has to offer.
