Rajasthan gets most of the attention when couples plan a destination shoot, and fair enough – the forts and lake palaces do a lot of the work on their own. But Ajmer, Jaipur, Udaipur and Rishikesh each bring something different to a wedding album, and picking the wrong one for your story is an easy mistake to make. Rakesh Photography has shot pre-wedding and wedding assignments across all four for close to eight years now, so this is less a sales pitch and more a location guide from people who have actually stood in these spots at 6 AM waiting for the light.
Jaipur: Palaces, Forts, and Golden-Hour Light
Jaipur is usually the first city couples ask about, and it’s the easiest to plan around because almost every heritage backdrop sits within thirty minutes of the city centre.
Where we shoot:
- Hawa Mahal and the old city lanes – early morning, before the crowds and the heat show up, for a candid, street-style set.
- Nahargarh Fort – the hilltop view over Jaipur works best about an hour before sunset.
- Amer Fort and the surrounding hills – grand backdrops, but this one needs a permit sorted a few weeks ahead.
- Jal Mahal – the lake reflection shots are the most requested single frame we get asked for in Jaipur.
A same-day shoot covering two of these locations is realistic. Trying to fit all four into one day usually means rushing the light, so we typically split it across a day and a half if a couple wants the full palace circuit.
Why couples pick Jaipur: it’s easy to reach, hotel options range from budget to genuinely palatial, and the Pink City gives a royal, editorial look without the travel logistics of the Himalayas.
Udaipur: Lakes, Havelis, and Reflections
Udaipur photographs like nowhere else in Rajasthan, mostly because of the water. Lake Pichola changes color through the day, and a lot of the best frames come from timing a boat ride around it rather than standing on a fixed ghat.
Where we shoot:
- Lake Pichola by boat – the City Palace and Jag Mandir in the background, shot from the water instead of the shore, changes the whole feel of the set.
- Ghats along the lake – Ambrai Ghat at sunset is close to a guaranteed good frame; it gets busy, so we go early or stay past the tourist rush.
- Saheliyon ki Bari – gardens and fountains for a softer, more relaxed set if the couple wants something less grand than palace architecture.
- Monsoon Palace – worth the drive up for the wide aerial-style landscape shots, especially with a drone.
Udaipur works well for couples who want the “Venice of the East” look without needing three separate cities to get variety – the water alone gives four or five distinct visual moods in one location.
Ajmer: Pushkar, Dargah Surroundings, and Desert Edges
Ajmer gets underrated because people assume it’s only a religious-tourism stop. It isn’t. Pushkar, twenty minutes away, has the lake ghats, the desert dunes on the outskirts, and a completely different color palette from Jaipur or Udaipur – more sand, less marble.
Where we shoot:
- Pushkar Lake ghats – early morning light on the ghats gives a warm, quiet set that doesn’t need much editing.
- Ajmer’s surrounding dunes – for couples who want a desert feel without the full Jaisalmer trip.
- Anasagar Lake, Ajmer – a calmer, less-photographed option than Pushkar for couples who want privacy over crowds.
- Havelis near the old market – narrow lanes, painted doors, good for a candid walking sequence.
Ajmer suits couples who are already planning a Pushkar trip or a religious ceremony nearby and want the shoot folded into that same visit, rather than a separate destination trip.
Rishikesh: Ganga Ghats, Suspension Bridges, and Forest Backdrops
Rishikesh is the odd one out on this list – it’s not Rajasthan, and the look is completely different: river, forest, mountain foothills, and a much quieter, more spiritual tone than the other three.
Where we shoot:
- Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula – the suspension bridges over the Ganga give a strong, symmetrical frame, best shot in the early morning before foot traffic builds up.
- Ganga ghats near Triveni Ghat – the evening Ganga Aarti creates a natural, warm backdrop if a couple is comfortable shooting around the ceremony.
- Forest roads and riverside trails – for a candid, walking-and-talking style set, away from the more touristy ghats.
- Beatles Ashram area – a quieter, moss-and-stone backdrop that photographs differently from anything in Rajasthan.
Rishikesh works best for couples who want something calmer and less palace-heavy – it’s become a common request from couples who’ve already done a Rajasthan trip for their main wedding and want a second, different-mood set for pre-wedding.
Planning a Multi-City Shoot
A fair number of couples ask about combining two of these in one trip – usually Jaipur and Udaipur, since they’re a five-hour drive apart, or Ajmer and Jaipur, which sit even closer. Rishikesh is the one exception; it’s far enough from the other three that combining it means treating it as a separate trip rather than an add-on.
For a two-city shoot, we plan around three to four days total, including travel time, so nobody is rushing between locations to catch light. Rakesh Photography handles the outfit and concept planning, location scouting, and travel and stay arrangements as part of the package, so the couple isn’t coordinating logistics on top of everything else a wedding already demands.
What’s Included in a Shoot
- Candid pre-wedding and wedding photography
- Cinematic wedding films and highlight reels
- Drone photography and videography for aerial coverage
- Destination planning – location scouting, permits, travel, and stay
- Outfit and concept consultation before the shoot day
Delivery is a curated, hand-edited photo gallery within 15 days, with the cinematic film and printed albums following after.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the look a couple wants. Jaipur gives royal, palace-heavy frames. Udaipur gives water and reflections. Ajmer/Pushkar gives a desert and lake mix. Rishikesh gives river and forest, with a calmer tone. Many couples pick based on which city they’re already visiting for another event.
A single-city shoot covering two or three locations is typically one to two days. A two-city combination (like Jaipur and Udaipur) needs three to four days including travel.
Yes. Permit requirements vary by location and season, and we sort these out as part of destination planning, usually a few weeks ahead of the shoot date.
Drone coverage is available in Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer, and Rishikesh, though some heritage sites restrict drone use near forts and temples – we confirm local rules before the shoot day.
2–3 months ahead is the general recommendation, and earlier during peak wedding season from October to February, since good weather dates fill up first.
Edited photo galleries are delivered within 15 days of the shoot. The cinematic film and printed albums typically follow within 2–4 weeks of the shoot date.
Ready to plan a shoot in Ajmer, Jaipur, Udaipur, or Rishikesh? Schedule a free consultation with Rakesh Photography and we’ll help you pick the right city and dates for your story.