Regal Rajasthan is the India of storybooks. A land of palaces and powerful forts, chivalrous Kings and battle-scarred heritage, maharajas and tiger-filled parks, it’s vivid, magical and everything you ever imagined India to be. On the practical side of things, it's the country’s second largest state and one of the most well-developed. For most visitors the first stop is hustling, bustling Delhi, usually followed by a variation of the famous Golden Triangle route (with or without Agra) that will swoop you from fairy-tale deserts to jungles and exquisite cities. And that brings us nicely to our next point: wherever you wander in Rajasthan, you’ll find a history that’s very much alive, permeating the state with pride and charisma, and glimpses of the dazzling culture. It might have a reputation as beginner’s India but once you scratch the surface, you could stay here forever…