Jaipur/Udaipur/Jaisalmer: Major tourist destinations in Rajasthan such as Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, and several heritage towns were crippled with heavy traffic congestion due to a sharp surge in tourist footfall this Christmas season. Official data shows monuments in Jaipur alone attracted about 4.5 lakh visitors in the 8 days starting Dec 21, compared with about 3.6 lakh during the same period last year, marking a year-on-year increase of nearly 23%.While the increased inflow benefited hotels, guides, and transport operators, residents and daily commuters faced long delays and restricted mobility on city roads. The old city area was extremely crowded, with pedestrians struggling to move through narrow lanes. Queues at the City Palace ticket counters stretched for hours, testing the patience of visitors.A corporate executive in Jaipur said that repeated episodes of traffic congestion tested public patience and called for more effective planning to balance tourism growth with urban liveability.The state govt and local authorities had made advance arrangements to manage traffic, including diversions, temporary roadblocks, and deployment of additional police and home guards. However, the unprecedented volume of domestic and foreign tourists overwhelmed these measures. Roads leading to major monuments, shopping areas, and hotels remained clogged for hours, particularly during evening peak time.In Udaipur, tourists reported severe gridlock near Fateh Sagar Lake and the Shilpgram exhibition area. One visitor said it took nearly one hour to travel just one kilometre after exiting the exhibition, adding that diversions and frequent roadblocks added to the frustration. Jaisalmer experienced a similar situation, with locals finding it difficult to step out for routine work amid the influx of tourists. Mayank Kumar, a hotelier, said more than 5 to 6 lakh tourists arrived in the city since Dec 20, leading to intense pressure on its narrow lanes. To manage the situation, authorities banned the entry of 2- and 3-wheelers into the Golden Fort area during peak hours. Tourist guide Arun Purohit said traffic jams were frequent near Sonar Fort and other popular attractions, but visitors largely remained cooperative despite the delays.
