Is it safe to drink the tap water?

No. Stick strictly to bottled or filtered water, even when brushing your teeth if you have a sensitive stomach.

Should I book trains or hire a car?

For a one-week trip, hire a car. Trains in Rajasthan are iconic but slow, and schedules can eat into your limited vacation time.

Planning a One-Week Rajasthan Circuit: Deserts and Palaces

Focus your week on the 'Golden Triangle' of Rajasthan—Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer—to minimize travel time and maximize palace and desert experiences. Use a combination of private car transfers for short distances and internal flights or overnight trains to jump between these major hubs.

Book your arrival and departure strategically. Fly into Jaipur (JAI) and fly out of Jaisalmer (JSA) or Jodhpur (JDH) to avoid backtracking across the state. This saves you at least 12 hours of driving time.
Hire a private driver. The most efficient way to see the smaller towns between cities is to hire a private car and driver for the week. Expect to pay $50–$70 per day, which covers fuel, tolls, and the driver's accommodation.
Group your sightings. Don't try to see every fort. Pick one major fort per city (e.g., Amer in Jaipur, Mehrangarh in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer Fort) to avoid 'palace fatigue.'
Plan for transit downtime. Distances in Rajasthan are deceptive. A 300km drive can take 7 hours due to road conditions. Always plan transit days in the morning to arrive by late afternoon.

Is it safe to drink the tap water?: No. Stick strictly to bottled or filtered water, even when brushing your teeth if you have a sensitive stomach.
Should I book trains or hire a car?: For a one-week trip, hire a car. Trains in Rajasthan are iconic but slow, and schedules can eat into your limited vacation time.