Rajasthan by Train in Winter: Golden Triangle and Desert Routes

Winter is the right season for Rajasthan. From roughly October to March the days are warm, the nights are cool, and the forts and desert are at their most comfortable. The only real risk is fog on the north Indian plains in late December and January, which slows trains on the Delhi side of the trip.

This guide sets out three circuits you can build by train: the Golden Triangle leg into Jaipur, the desert run from Jaipur to Jaisalmer, and a lakes leg to Udaipur. Each one has a clear train and a sensible number of days.

Pick your circuit

Circuit 1: Delhi to Jaipur on the Golden Triangle leg

The morning Shatabdi is the most convenient way from Delhi to Jaipur. 12015 Ajmer Shatabdi leaves New Delhi at 06:10, reaches Jaipur at 10:35 and continues to Ajmer, reaching it at 12:50 in our timetable. That gives you a full first afternoon in Jaipur. The return is 12016 Shatabdi, which leaves Ajmer at 15:50 and reaches New Delhi at 22:30.

If you are doing the full Golden Triangle, Agra lies between Delhi and Jaipur, though the Shatabdi does not stop there. The full day-by-day version is in the Golden Triangle by train five-day itinerary, and three days in Jaipur from Delhi covers the city in detail.

Circuit 2: Jaipur to Jaisalmer, the desert run

Jaisalmer is the strongest reason to take a train in winter. The desert is cool and clear in the morning, and the fort is the highlight of the trip. The overnight train makes the journey work: 12468 Leelan SF Express leaves Jaipur at 16:25 and reaches Jaisalmer at 05:05 the next morning, a run of 12 hours 40 minutes, in our timetable. It runs daily.

Another option is 12249 Swarn Nagari Express, which passes Jaipur late in the evening and reaches Jaisalmer at 09:00 in our timetable. Pick the Leelan if you want the earlier finish and the Swarn Nagari if you want a later arrival with a longer evening in Jaipur. For the return, 12467 Leelan Express runs from Jaisalmer to Jaipur daily.

Desert highlights and how to reach them

Jaisalmer is small enough to explore in two days. The fort, the old havelis and Gadisar Lake are all close together. Our guide things to do in Jaisalmer after you get off the train lists the distances from the station. The Sam Sand Dunes are farther out, roughly 40 km, and need a taxi or a desert camp booking.

Jodhpur is on the Swarn Nagari route (the Leelan runs via Bikaner instead). It is a large junction with many trains, so it is a good place to break the journey or to connect from other cities. The blue old city and Mehrangarh Fort are close to the Jodhpur station, as covered in the Jodhpur station guide.

Circuit 3: Delhi to Udaipur and the lakes

For Udaipur from Delhi, the overnight Mewar Express is the simplest choice. 12963 Mewar Express runs from Nizamuddin to Udaipur City daily, with a running time of about 13 hours, so you wake up on the lake side. The return is 12964 Mewar Express, which runs from Udaipur City to Nizamuddin daily.

Udaipur can end a trip that starts in the desert if you are willing to change trains, and Ajmer Junction is a common change point. The seven-day forts circuit covers the order in more detail. For Udaipur itself, the 12991 UDZ JP Superfast is a daily link back to Jaipur.

The Pushkar stop in November

If your Rajasthan trip falls in late November, add a stop at Pushkar. The camel fair peaks around Kartik Purnima, and Ajmer Junction is the station to use. Our guide to the sights around Ajmer station covers the nearby towns, and the Pushkar fair post in this series has the train details.

Eastern link: Bikaner from Kolkata

Bikaner is reached directly from the east by the 12259 BKN Duronto Express, which runs from Sealdah on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday in our timetable. It is a useful option if you are starting in Kolkata and want to skip Delhi. Check its running days before you plan the connection.

Winter fog and what it does to your schedule

The main winter risk on a Rajasthan trip is not heat but fog on the Delhi side. Trains from the north can run late in late December and early January, which can mean missing your Jaipur connection. Build a buffer of a few hours on the first day, and check the live status of your train the evening before. Fog season train delays by route explains which lines are most affected.

Festivals to plan around

• Pushkar Camel Fair, November. Around Kartik Purnima, which falls near 24 November 2026. Dates are set locally, so confirm them before you book.
• Jaisalmer Desert Festival, around late January and February. The date changes from year to year, so confirm it with the Rajasthan tourism board before you plan.

Festival crowds can fill trains and hotels well ahead of time. If you are not sure about the dates, search seat availability on the planner for the exact days, not just the month.

What to pack for a Rajasthan winter

• Layers. Mornings and nights in the desert are cold. Days are warm. A fleece and a light jacket cover both.
• Comfortable shoes. The forts and the old city lanes are steep and uneven.
• A sleep kit for the overnight trains. A light blanket and a sleep mask help on sleeper and AC coaches.
• Helplines. Save 139 for railway help and 112 for emergencies.

A simple seven-day order

If you have one week, a practical order is Delhi to Jaipur, then Jaipur to Jaisalmer, two days in the desert, then back towards Ajmer and Udaipur. The full version, with the change points and the days, is in the Rajasthan forts circuit by train. An overnight train on the long legs can save a hotel night.