Rajasthan Budget Trip Under ₹10,000: Your Ultimate Affordable Travel Guide
A Rajasthan budget trip sounds like something most people believe is impossible, but with the right planning, it can turn into an affordable and unforgettable experience. I used to believe the same until I actually did it.Last October, I packed my bag, set a hard limit of ₹10,000 (everything included: travel from Delhi, stay, food, […]
A Rajasthan budget trip sounds like something most people believe is impossible, but with the right planning, it can turn into an affordable and unforgettable experience. I used to believe the same until I actually did it.
Last October, I packed my bag, set a hard limit of ₹10,000 (everything included: travel from Delhi, stay, food, entry fees, the works), and spent 5 days exploring Jaipur and Jodhpur. And honestly? It was one of the best trips of my life.
I’m Khushi Vaid, author of TravellerScoop. I am writing about real travel, not the curated Instagram version. This Rajasthan travel guide is everything I learned the hard way, compiled into one place so you don’t have to figure it out yourself.
Whether you’re a solo traveler, a college student planning your first big trip, or just someone who wants to see the Pink City without blowing your savings, this budget trip under ₹10,000 guide is for you.
How to Plan a Rajasthan Budget Trip Under ₹10,000?
A Rajasthan budget trip under 10,000 is unreal; it can be really easy if you have your choices sorted. Everything included in this Rajasthan travel guide budget is real and things you can follow, and all these tips I know from travelling so many times in Rajasthan without compromising it with the true experience of travelling.
According to 2025 travel data, a solo traveler can comfortably do a 5-day trip to Rajasthan covering 2 major cities for ₹9,500–₹10,500, including transport from Delhi. That works out to roughly ₹2,000 per day, which, if you’ve traveled anywhere else in India, you know is quite reasonable for a full sightseeing trip.
The other reason Rajasthan works so well on a budget is the train network. Indian Railways links Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Jaisalmer with reliable, affordable connections. A sleeper-class train from Delhi to Jaipur costs just ₹270–₹350 if booked in advance on IRCTC. Compare that to a flight, and you save ₹2,000 or more right there, money that goes straight toward food and experiences.
Which Cities to Visit on a Rajasthan Budget Trip Under ₹10,000
The biggest mistake first-timers make is trying to cover all of Rajasthan in one trip. That’s a recipe for exhaustion and overspending on transport. For a proper Rajasthan 5-day itinerary under ₹10,000, pick 1–2 cities max. Here’s what each city offers and what it actually costs.
1. Jaipur
It is the best starting point for first-timers. It has everything: Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, and some of the best street food in India. Entry fees for Indians are ₹100–₹200 per monument. A dorm bed at a hostel like Zostel or Moustache runs ₹400–₹600 per night. Pyaaz Kachori for breakfast costs ₹25. The old city is extremely walkable, which saves a lot on local transport.
2. Jodhpur
It is the better pick if you want atmosphere over crowds. The electric blue neighborhoods surrounding Mehrangarh Fort are surreal, and the fort itself, one of India’s most dramatic structures, costs just ₹100 entry for Indians. Eat Mirchi Vada at Shri Mishrilal Hotel for ₹20 and stay near Navchokiya in guesthouses at ₹350–₹500 per night. The whole city is less touristy than Jaipur, which keeps every price lower.
3. Udaipur
It works best for couples or anyone who wants lake views without spending lake-hotel money. Guesthouses near Gangaur Ghat start at ₹500 per night with actual views of the water. The City Palace entry for Indians is ₹300. The sunset from Sajjangarh, the Monsoon Palace, is completely free and one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed. One important tip: avoid the lakeside restaurants. They’re tourist-priced. Walk 5 minutes inland, and Thali prices immediately drop in half.
4. Jaisalmer
It costs more to reach, roughly ₹800–₹1,200 from Jodhpur by train, but it rewards you well. The living golden fort, the Thar Desert dunes, and short camel rides at ₹200–₹300. Budget stays inside the fort start at ₹400 per night. I’d recommend adding Jaisalmer as a 2-day extension if you have a little flexibility in the budget.
5. Pushkar
It is small, quiet, and genuinely affordable. Guesthouses near Pushkar Lake cost ₹300–₹500 per night. The Brahma Temple is free. Malpua with Rabri costs ₹40 and is the best cheap dessert in Rajasthan. Pushkar is easy to combine with Jaipur, just 1.5 hours by bus at ₹80–₹100.
Complete Budget Breakdown: Rajasthan in ₹10,000 (5 Days, Solo from Delhi)
Here is the actual breakdown from my Jaipur and Jodhpur trip. No estimates, no rounding up to make it look better than it was.
Delhi to Jaipur by sleeper class train booked 3 weeks in advance came to ₹280. The Jaipur to Jodhpur express train was ₹340. The return from Jodhpur to Delhi cost ₹390. Five nights in hostel dorm beds at an average of ₹450 per night came to ₹2,250.
Food across 5 days—thalis, street food, and chai—averaged ₹250 per day, totaling ₹1,250. Entry fees for Amber Fort, Mehrangarh, Hawa Mahal, and City Palace came to ₹700 combined. Local transport within the cities — autos and e-rickshaws — was ₹600. Miscellaneous spending on water, a SIM top-up, and a couple of small souvenirs came to ₹400.
The actual total I spent was ₹6,210. The remaining ₹3,790 of my ₹10,000 budget sat completely untouched as a buffer. If you’re traveling from UP, Rajasthan, or MP, your train costs will be even lower, and you could comfortably stretch this budget to three cities.
Day-by-Day Itinerary: 5-Day Rajasthan Budget Trip
A simple 5-day Rajasthan budget trip itinerary covering Jaipur and Jodhpur with smart travel, affordable stays, and must-see experiences, all within ₹10,000
Day 1: Arrive in Jaipur
Take an early morning train from Delhi and reach Jaipur by 11–12 PM. Check into your hostel, freshen up, and head straight to the old city. Walk to Hawa Mahal (₹50 entry for Indians), then wander through Johari Bazaar.
For dinner, grab masala chai and a Pyaaz Kachori at any roadside stall near MI Road, the whole thing costs ₹40 and beats any sit-down restaurant in the area.
Day 2: Amber Fort and City Palace
Start by 7 AM to beat the crowds at Amber Fort. The light at sunrise on the sandstone walls is genuinely something else. Entry is ₹100 for Indians. Walk the fort thoroughly and skip the elephant ride; it’s expensive and not worth it ethically or financially.
In the afternoon, visit City Palace (₹200 entry) and Jantar Mantar (₹50). For the evening, head to Nahargarh Fort, where entry is free after 5 PM, and the sunset view over the entire city is the best in Jaipur.
Day 3: Travel to Jodhpur
Take a morning train, about 5–6 hours, and ₹340 in sleeper class. Check into a guesthouse near the clock tower area, which puts you within walking distance of Mehrangarh Fort and the main bazaars. Spend the evening walking through the blue-painted streets of Navchokiya.
The sight of Mehrangarh looming above those blue houses at dusk is free and completely unforgettable. Dinner, Makhaniya Lassi, and Mirchi Vada at Shri Mishrilal Hotel for ₹60.
Day 4: Mehrangarh Fort and the Blue City
Mehrangarh Fort is one of the most dramatic structures in all of India, a massive fort perched 125 meters above the city on a sheer rock face. Entry for Indians is ₹100. Spend 3–4 hours exploring it. In the afternoon, explore Sardar Market (free) and visit Jaswant Thada, a beautiful marble cenotaph that most tourists skip, for just ₹30 entry.
Day 5: Morning walk and return
Wake up early and walk the blue lanes one last time before they fill with tourists. Have a proper Rajasthani thali breakfast for ₹120. Head to the station for your return train to Delhi. If you’ve followed this plan, you’ll arrive home with money still in your pocket.
Top Money-Saving Tips for a Cheap Rajasthan Tour
Book trains on IRCTC at least 3 weeks in advance. Sleeper class fills up fast and at the last minute. Tatkal tickets cost 2–3x more. Download the IRCTC app and set seat alerts for your preferred routes.
Eat where locals eat. Bhojnalayas and dhabas near bus stands and railway stations serve unlimited thalis for ₹120–₹180. Never eat at a rooftop café with a fort view unless you’re happy paying ₹300 for a mediocre meal. The best food in Rajasthan is always on the street.
Stay in hostels, not hotels. Zostel, Moustache, and Stayville operate in every major Rajasthan city. Dorm beds cost ₹300–₹600, and you’ll meet other travelers who share tips and sometimes split auto fares, which drives your daily cost down further.
Travel overnight between cities whenever possible. Overnight trains save an entire night’s accommodation cost. The Jodhpur to Jaisalmer overnight train is a classic backpacker move; you fall asleep in one city and wake up in another.
Use e-rickshaws for short distances. Ola and Uber work in Jaipur and Jodhpur, but surge pricing is real. E-rickshaws cost ₹20–₹40 for most trips within the old city. Walking anything under 1.5 km, you’ll discover better things along the way anyway.
Visit during the shoulder season. Late September to November gives you great weather without the peak-season price hikes. April to June is the cheapest of all; hostels drop 30–40%, but you’ll need to do all your sightseeing before 10 AM and after 5 PM to handle the heat.
What to Eat in Rajasthan on a Budget
Rajasthani food is one of the great bargains of Indian travel. Dal Baati Churma is the definitive local dish; a full plate at any dhaba costs ₹120–₹150 and is one of the most filling meals you’ll eat anywhere in India. In Jaipur, start every morning with a Pyaaz Kachori, huge, crispy, stuffed with spiced onions, and ₹25 each.
In Jodhpur, the Mirchi Vada (giant green chilli stuffed with potato and deep fried, ₹20) is non-negotiable. The Makhaniya Lassi here is thick, creamy, topped with malai, and worth every rupee of its ₹60–₹80 price.
If you’re heading to Pushkar, have the Malpua with Rabri, sweet fried pancakes with creamy topping for ₹40–₹60, perfect for breakfast or dessert. Ker Sangri, the desert beans and capers cooked with spices, usually come as part of the thali and is unique to Rajasthan; don’t skip it.
My personal meal strategy was thali for lunch (the biggest and best-value meal of the day), street food for breakfast, and a light snack for dinner. This keeps total daily food spend well under ₹250.
Best Time to Visit Rajasthan for a Budget Trip
Timing your trip dramatically affects your total costs. October to February is peak season; the weather is beautiful at 15–25°C, but accommodation prices spike 40–80%. It’s still doable on a budget if you book hostels well in advance.
Late September to early October is my personal recommendation. The monsoon has just ended, the landscape is surprisingly green, temperatures are very manageable, and prices are still at off-season rates. This is exactly when I traveled, and it was perfect.
May to June is the absolute cheapest; hostel beds drop to ₹200–₹300 per night, and the state is very quiet. The trade-off is 40–45°C heat, which is manageable only if you plan sightseeing early in the morning and rest during the afternoon hours.
One thing to always avoid if you’re on a strict budget: the Pushkar Camel Fair period and Diwali. Accommodation prices triple during these dates, and finding a bed at all without booking becomes genuinely difficult.
Conclusion
A Rajasthan budget trip under ₹10,000 isn’t about compromising on experience; it’s about experiencing Rajasthan the right way. The best moments of my trip didn’t cost anything.
Watching the sun rise over Amber Fort. Getting completely lost in Jodhpur’s blue lanes at dusk. Sitting with a cup of chai outside a guesthouse while the fort was lit up above me at night.
The forts, the food, the colors, and the warmth of the people, none of that is locked behind a price tag. The ₹30 Mirchi Vada at a roadside stall in Jodhpur tasted better than any restaurant meal I’ve had on any trip. The sunrise view from Nahargarh Fort, which cost nothing to enter, was more spectacular than any palace I paid to see.
Use this guide, book your trains early, stay in hostels, eat like a local, and just go. Rajasthan doesn’t care how much money you have. It just wants you to show up.
FAQs
1- Is ₹10,000 enough for a Rajasthan trip?
Yes, absolutely. ₹10,000 is enough for a solo traveler to cover a 4–5 day trip from Delhi, including trains, hostel stays, food, and entry fees. My actual spend on a 5-day Jaipur and Jodhpur trip was ₹6,210, with ₹3,790 left untouched as a buffer.
2- Which is the cheapest city to visit in Rajasthan?
Pushkar is the most budget-friendly; guesthouses near Pushkar Lake cost ₹300–₹500 per night, the Brahma Temple is free, and street food is extremely cheap. Jodhpur is a close second because it’s less touristy than Jaipur, and prices across accommodation, food, and transport are all noticeably lower.
3- What is the best time to visit Rajasthan on a budget?
Late September to early November is the sweet spot: pleasant post-monsoon weather, still-affordable off-season prices, and uncrowded sights. April to June is the cheapest overall but requires managing the heat.
4- How many days are enough for a Rajasthan budget trip?
For a ₹10,000 budget, 4–5 days covering 1–2 cities is ideal. Jaipur alone needs 2 full days to see the highlights properly. Add Jodhpur for 2 more days and you have a complete, satisfying trip. For Udaipur or Jaisalmer as well, plan 7–10 days with a slightly higher budget of ₹12,000–₹15,000 from Delhi.
5- What are the must-eat foods in Rajasthan under ₹100?
Pyaaz Kachori in Jaipur at ₹25, Mirchi Vada in Jodhpur at ₹20, Makhaniya Lassi in Jodhpur at ₹60–₹80, Dal Baati Churma at any dhaba at ₹120–₹150 for a full plate, and Malpua with Rabri in Pushkar at ₹40–₹60. A full Rajasthani thali at a local bhojnalaya costs ₹120–₹180 and is typically unlimited. Eating well under ₹250 per day is very achievable.
6- Is Rajasthan safe for solo female travelers?
Rajasthan is generally safe for solo female travelers. Staying in hostels actually increases safety since you’re always around other travelers and staff. Zostel and Moustache Hostel offer female-only dorm options in Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur.
