Sports in Rajasthan have always been an interesting way of spending leisure time. Once upon a time horse riding, camel riding and others were the activities, which received royal patronage. Archery was also a popular sport. With the passage of time, however, the kinds of sports played have changed considerably. The royal sports have been replaced by cricket, polo and various kinds of aero sports. As Rajasthan has developed as an important tourist center different kinds of games can be played by the travelers too. The landscape of Rajasthan has provided a golden opportunity for both the locals and tourists to indulge in their kind of sports.
Polo is considered the game of the royal people in Rajasthan. It has also become popular amongst them because their riding skills are quite good. There were separate stables for polo ponies and the team would often constitute of kings and members from royal families. The popular kinds of polo games include Horse Polo. Elephant Polo, Bicycle and Camel Polo. Several polo matches are also organized every year. People of royal lineage as well as professional players take part in it. But mostly these are friendly matches and some of these are also played to serve a social cause.
Cricket has also become an important part of the Rajasthani sports. With the popularity of the game gaining momentum more and more young people are choosing it over other sports. Besides these the flora and fauna of Rajasthan encourages safaris. The wildlife and the interesting vegetation will definitely intrigue a tourist. For nature lovers this is the perfect place. The elephant and camel safaris are quite popular ways of checking out the wildlife. Very few places in the world offer such an interesting way to get acquainted with a region.
The list of aero sports popular in Rajasthan seems endless. Ballooning, Para-sailing, Gliding, paragliding and others can be tried out in Rajasthan. If an individual is interested in trekking then winter is the best time to visit the state. However the monsoon renders the entire landscape with an unprecedented beauty. With several birds flying around, the sound of the peacock and the green gateways make Rajasthan one of the most alluring places to visit.
Golf is another well-liked sport in Rajasthan. Maharaja Man Singh is responsible for the golf course here. Motorcar rallies are fast becoming popular amongst the youth of Rajasthan. The vintage car rallies are generally held in January. People from different parts of the world come here to participate in it. Camping is also popular way of spending holidays in Rajasthan. With suitable locations scatters throughout the state it is a widely tried out adventure sport. Chetoli, Dausa, Kheechan, Ranthambore, Manvar, Sam and Samode are some of the well-known camping spots. Safaris can also be a part of campings.
The large lakes have encouraged water sports in Rajasthan. Boating and angling are quite common here. Gliding through the unperturbed water while enjoy the cool breeze can definitely be a refreshing experience.