Reenact your favourite scene from Octopussy at the Lake Palace in Udaipur.

Picture: Graeme Israel

As raucous and unpredictable as the family drunk, Rajasthan is India at its most brazen and extraordinary.

The state will startle you with its barrage of colour as much as it awes you with its postcard-perfect panoramas.

The sensory overload doesn't end at the visuals; Rajasthani food is a real kick in the taste buds. A saffron lassi is the perfect antidote for travelers who need a reprieve from the spice.

Whether you want to reenact your favourite scene from Octopussy at the Lake Palace in Udaipur (the Bond film was shot here) or ogle the magnificent blue city of Jodhpur (there are also white and pink cities if you're picky about colour), Rajasthan has what you're looking for.

If you can overlook the smell and the scuttling, the rat temple in Deshnok is worth checking out. Don't be shy; it's most auspicious if a rat crawls over your foot.